Flutterby™! : savages react to civilization 2005-04-13 18:00:45.97604+02

savages react to civilization

2005-04-13 18:00:45.97604+02 by Dan Lyke 0 comments

In Passage to Juneau: A Sea and Its Meanings, Jonathan Raban quotes from the journal of Archibald Menzies, sole civilian on George Vancouver's expedition up Alaska's Inside Passage, in August of 1793:

28th. One of [the] Natives was during this time very anxious in his solicitations to go with us to England & Caps Vancouver seemed inclined to indulge him as it was his own voluntary request, but on the 28th punishments were inflicted on board the Discovery of a very unpleasant nature, on seeing which all of the Natives left the Bay, & he that was before so solicitous to go with us now went away without taking leave of us & never afterwards returned to the Vessels.

Some of the records around this time have been lost, but apparently the incident in question was punishment of a sailor for failure to follow orders.

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