Page 29 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era
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15.
characterization of the Indians was that 11there is little to
distinguish them from the four-footed inhabitants of their
forests, with the cruelest of which their dispositions seem
16
congenial.11 Americans also emphasized their proclivity for
thievery and dishonesty, but the traders nevertheless desired
the Indians' furs. As a result, all business transactions
'occurred aboard American vessels with the captain allowing only
a few Indian canoes at a time to come near the vessel. Allowing
large numbers of Indians to board the vessel often ended in
"the most disasterous and tragical results. 11 Since in most
cases Indian attacks were unprovoked, the threat of this peril
17
was always present in the fur trade. Nevertheless, such a
hazardous prospect did not deter American masters and merchants
from developing the Northwest fur trade. The ships' crews were
only more wary.
After a spring and summer of sailing along the Coast
trading for furs, vessels left the Northwest. Severe weather
conditions, especially heavy fogs, on the Northwest Coast
during winter months forced captains to seek warmer waters.
16
Shaler, "Journal of a Voyage between China and the
Northwest Coast," p. 139.
17
Bancroft, History of the Northwest Coast, I, 373. All
sources on the Northwest fur trade discuss Indian attacks. The
usual occurrence was that a large number of canoes would surround
a vessel with some Indians coming aboard, all under the pretense
of peaceful trade. At a given signal the Indians would pull out
weapons and attack the crew. Those Indians in canoes would board
the vessel while many more would suddenly appear on shore and
paddle out to support their comrades. Usually they far out-num
1
bered a vessel s crew. No writer seems able to determine the
reason for such attacks other than the Indians 1 11 savage nature. 11
Although deemed uncivilized, the Indians drove hard bargains in
trade and demanded high prices (in terms of types and quantities
of barter) for their furs.
