Russian Alaska
In childhood and adolescence, many were read out by the novels of Emar, Mine-Read and Cooper. It is a pity that in Russia there were no writers who could describe the development of new territories so romantically. There are, of course, wonderful works by N. Zadornov, I. Krap, but they are rather historicalthan adventure-romantic. However, in reality, the development of new sections of America for the inhabitants of Russia was as romantic as in the works of F. Cooper.
However, “romantic” is not an exact word, bearing in itself some kind of “beautiful” experience. The fort, besieged by “bad Indians, girls waiting for salvation in it. Forts, houses - all this was also in the Russian settlements located in America. There was a need for hiking in the woods, for hunting. There were women who needed to be protected from the Indians. Yes, and "bloody" clashes with the Indians lacked.
In order to get an idea of that era, you can look at the map of “Shelikhov's pilgrimage”, which was included in the travel book of 1793 published in the year about the travels of a merchant from Russia, Grigory Shelikhov. It contains information on the majority of Russian settlements that appeared on the American continent at that time. What were they, the settlements of the Russian people in a foreign and distant country?
James Cook in the records made in his diary in 1778, there is such a description: “The village consists of one apartment building and two warehouses; besides the Russians, there live the Kamchadals and the natives as servants or slaves of the Russian people. Other natives live in the same place, apparently independent of the Russians. All those natives who belong to the Russians are men, the Russians took them or bought them from their parents, they must have been still in childhood. There were about 20 natives. All people lived in the same house: Russians in the upper part, Kamchadals in the middle, natives in the lower, where a large cauldron was installed for cooking food, consisting mainly of what the sea gives, with the addition of wild roots and berries. ”
It should be remembered that in those days serfdom was not abolished in Russia, and the English-speaking North American states existed at the expense of slavery. Therefore, the memories of James Cook are built on his relationship with the indigenous peoples, in which the concept of "human rights" simply did not exist.
When could this settlement arise? Judging by the fact that the Indians were bought from their parents "as early as childhood," and by the time they met James Cook they had become adult men, they had sold them about 20 years ago. Thus, we can say that the village on the other side of America was founded somewhere in the 50-ies of the XVIII century. This is confirmed by another remark made by Cook. In it, he talks about changing all the furriers from time to time. Those he met at that time arrived from Okhotsk in the 1776 year, and will have to return there in the 1781 year. Very reminiscent of the modern shift method. Only longer in time. Each watch took about five years. This suggests that the above estimates are fair: the coast of America was settled in ancient times.
Also, the great navigator writes about the settlements of the Russian people, who are on all the main islands between Kamchatka and Unalashka. He mentions that he did not ask when they arrived there, but according to the dependency in which the Indians are from the Russians, he concludes that this happened a long time ago.
The references to Cook are quite pertinent due to the fact that he is an independent source. Naturally, there are other descriptions of the settlements of the Russian people in America, for example, the same Grigory Shelikhov. But being an English navigator, Cook, of course, was not a patriot of Russia, therefore his assessments are quite objective. How were the relations between the settlers from Russia and the Indians determined? It is worth remembering one extremely interesting document that belonged to Catherine II. It dates from April-August 1778 of the year and contains a farewell to Russian traders and industrialists in North America. In particular, there it is noted that those of the merchants who “lay on the islands” will be prohibited from further bargaining in those lands. Thus, the authorities of the Russian state were very sensitive about relations with the Indians. And for the most part their instructions were executed.
It is worth recalling some little-known information for modern people. All children from Indian families, who for various reasons ended up in Russian villages, were taught to read and write. Moreover, the most capable were sent to study further, to the metropolis. There is evidence of an Indian boy who was raised by Baranov, the so-called “ruler of All Russian America.” So the boy subsequently graduated from the navigation school of St. Petersburg, and for those times it is a very worthy level of education.
Was the relationship between the Russians and the indigenous people really so cloudless? Naturally not. All Native American tribes were different. There was enough among them those who did not like white aliens at all. For example, the first capital of Russian America befell the sad fate, it was completely destroyed by the Indians. After that, the new final capital, Novo-Arkhangelsk (now the American city of Sitka), was turned into a well-fortified fortress. And the rest of the settlements had defensive fortifications.
However, let us turn again to the notes of James Cook, to the part where he talks about the morals of the Indians. In particular, according to him, this is one of the most peaceful and tranquil people he has seen. He called their honesty a model for all the more civilized inhabitants of the globe. He connects this, oddly enough, with their communication with the Russians, referring to the fact that other peoples who do not have relations with the inhabitants of Russia have such qualities that are very rare.
It turns out that the Russian settlers were able to realize in time that a good relationship with the locals would bring much more benefit than enmity. The first settlers who arrived in America were mainly engaged in hunting, for the sake of valuable furs, and for sustenance. Of course, such food could not be complete. And later, thanks to the perseverance of the ruler Baranov, in agreement with the Spaniards, a Russian colony was founded in California, dubbed Fort Ross, which provided the most of the colonies north of the colony with bread. Various tropical fruits and vegetables also appeared in the diet, as Baranov managed to establish trade with many of the Pacific Island States.
But no wonder they say: if you want peace, be ready for war. Settlers from Russia have repeatedly said about their readiness to "take on their scot" soldiers from the metropolis. In those years, they made requests to the Commission about the commerce of St. Petersburg to supply them with a military team, artillery, and master gunsmiths for protection.
In the report for this commission, which was later provided to the empress, there is one interesting remark about other countries that have shown interest in the territories of America already under the influence of Russia. It deals with the powers that make for the "appropriation of these countries" various assassinations since the days of Captain Cook's travels. It is evident that analysts of that time were aware of what was happening, but they were not heard.
And the result of ignoring the opinions of experts is well known. Russia ceded its citizens living in Russian America and the territories themselves for a ridiculous amount of 7.2 million dollars, in which she valued dreams of the future in a new land.
However, “romantic” is not an exact word, bearing in itself some kind of “beautiful” experience. The fort, besieged by “bad Indians, girls waiting for salvation in it. Forts, houses - all this was also in the Russian settlements located in America. There was a need for hiking in the woods, for hunting. There were women who needed to be protected from the Indians. Yes, and "bloody" clashes with the Indians lacked.
In order to get an idea of that era, you can look at the map of “Shelikhov's pilgrimage”, which was included in the travel book of 1793 published in the year about the travels of a merchant from Russia, Grigory Shelikhov. It contains information on the majority of Russian settlements that appeared on the American continent at that time. What were they, the settlements of the Russian people in a foreign and distant country?
James Cook in the records made in his diary in 1778, there is such a description: “The village consists of one apartment building and two warehouses; besides the Russians, there live the Kamchadals and the natives as servants or slaves of the Russian people. Other natives live in the same place, apparently independent of the Russians. All those natives who belong to the Russians are men, the Russians took them or bought them from their parents, they must have been still in childhood. There were about 20 natives. All people lived in the same house: Russians in the upper part, Kamchadals in the middle, natives in the lower, where a large cauldron was installed for cooking food, consisting mainly of what the sea gives, with the addition of wild roots and berries. ”
It should be remembered that in those days serfdom was not abolished in Russia, and the English-speaking North American states existed at the expense of slavery. Therefore, the memories of James Cook are built on his relationship with the indigenous peoples, in which the concept of "human rights" simply did not exist.
When could this settlement arise? Judging by the fact that the Indians were bought from their parents "as early as childhood," and by the time they met James Cook they had become adult men, they had sold them about 20 years ago. Thus, we can say that the village on the other side of America was founded somewhere in the 50-ies of the XVIII century. This is confirmed by another remark made by Cook. In it, he talks about changing all the furriers from time to time. Those he met at that time arrived from Okhotsk in the 1776 year, and will have to return there in the 1781 year. Very reminiscent of the modern shift method. Only longer in time. Each watch took about five years. This suggests that the above estimates are fair: the coast of America was settled in ancient times.
Also, the great navigator writes about the settlements of the Russian people, who are on all the main islands between Kamchatka and Unalashka. He mentions that he did not ask when they arrived there, but according to the dependency in which the Indians are from the Russians, he concludes that this happened a long time ago.
The references to Cook are quite pertinent due to the fact that he is an independent source. Naturally, there are other descriptions of the settlements of the Russian people in America, for example, the same Grigory Shelikhov. But being an English navigator, Cook, of course, was not a patriot of Russia, therefore his assessments are quite objective. How were the relations between the settlers from Russia and the Indians determined? It is worth remembering one extremely interesting document that belonged to Catherine II. It dates from April-August 1778 of the year and contains a farewell to Russian traders and industrialists in North America. In particular, there it is noted that those of the merchants who “lay on the islands” will be prohibited from further bargaining in those lands. Thus, the authorities of the Russian state were very sensitive about relations with the Indians. And for the most part their instructions were executed.
It is worth recalling some little-known information for modern people. All children from Indian families, who for various reasons ended up in Russian villages, were taught to read and write. Moreover, the most capable were sent to study further, to the metropolis. There is evidence of an Indian boy who was raised by Baranov, the so-called “ruler of All Russian America.” So the boy subsequently graduated from the navigation school of St. Petersburg, and for those times it is a very worthy level of education.
Was the relationship between the Russians and the indigenous people really so cloudless? Naturally not. All Native American tribes were different. There was enough among them those who did not like white aliens at all. For example, the first capital of Russian America befell the sad fate, it was completely destroyed by the Indians. After that, the new final capital, Novo-Arkhangelsk (now the American city of Sitka), was turned into a well-fortified fortress. And the rest of the settlements had defensive fortifications.
However, let us turn again to the notes of James Cook, to the part where he talks about the morals of the Indians. In particular, according to him, this is one of the most peaceful and tranquil people he has seen. He called their honesty a model for all the more civilized inhabitants of the globe. He connects this, oddly enough, with their communication with the Russians, referring to the fact that other peoples who do not have relations with the inhabitants of Russia have such qualities that are very rare.
It turns out that the Russian settlers were able to realize in time that a good relationship with the locals would bring much more benefit than enmity. The first settlers who arrived in America were mainly engaged in hunting, for the sake of valuable furs, and for sustenance. Of course, such food could not be complete. And later, thanks to the perseverance of the ruler Baranov, in agreement with the Spaniards, a Russian colony was founded in California, dubbed Fort Ross, which provided the most of the colonies north of the colony with bread. Various tropical fruits and vegetables also appeared in the diet, as Baranov managed to establish trade with many of the Pacific Island States.
But no wonder they say: if you want peace, be ready for war. Settlers from Russia have repeatedly said about their readiness to "take on their scot" soldiers from the metropolis. In those years, they made requests to the Commission about the commerce of St. Petersburg to supply them with a military team, artillery, and master gunsmiths for protection.
In the report for this commission, which was later provided to the empress, there is one interesting remark about other countries that have shown interest in the territories of America already under the influence of Russia. It deals with the powers that make for the "appropriation of these countries" various assassinations since the days of Captain Cook's travels. It is evident that analysts of that time were aware of what was happening, but they were not heard.
And the result of ignoring the opinions of experts is well known. Russia ceded its citizens living in Russian America and the territories themselves for a ridiculous amount of 7.2 million dollars, in which she valued dreams of the future in a new land.
Information