CHAPTER X 1779-1794 GEORGE VANCOUVER, LAST OF PACIFIC COAST EXPLORERS Activities of Americans, Spanish, and Russians on the West Coast of America arouse England--Vancouver is sent out ostensibly to settle the Quarrel between Fur Traders and Spanish Governors at Nootka--Incidentally, he is to complete the Exploration of America's West Coast and take Possession for England of Unclaimed Territory--The Myth of a Northeast Passage dispelled Forever . . . . . . . . . . . 263 PART III EXPLORATION GIVES PLACE TO FUR TRADE--THE EXPLOITATION OF THE PACIFIC COAST UNDER THE RUSSIAN AMERICAN FUR COMPANY, AND THE RENOWNED LEADER BARANOF CHAPTER XI 1579-1867 THE RUSSIAN AMERICAN FUR COMPANY The Pursuit of the Sable leads Cossacks across Siberia; of the Sea-otter, across the Pacific as far south as California--Caravans of Four Thousand Horses on the Long Trail--Seven Thousand Miles across Europe and Asia--Banditti of the Sea--The Union of All Traders in One Monopoly--Siege and Slaughter of Sitka--How Monroe Doctrine grew out of Russian Fur Trade--Aims of Russia to dominate North Pacific . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293 CHAPTER XII 1747-1818 BARANOF, THE LITTLE CZAR OF THE PACIFIC Baranof lays the Foundations of Russian Empire on the Pacific Coast of America--Shipwrecked on his Way to Alaska, he yet holds his Men in Hand and turns the Ill-hap to Advantage--How he bluffs the Rival Fur Companies in Line--First Russian Ship built in America--Adventures leading the Sea-otter Hunters--Ambushed by the Indians--The Founding of Sitka--Baranof, cast off in his Old Age, dies of Broken Heart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316 INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339 ILLUSTRATIONS Seal Rookery, Commander Islands . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ Peter the Great . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Map of Course followed by Bering . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21 The _St. Peter_ and _St. Paul_, from a rough sketch by Bering's comrade, Steller, the scientist . . . . . . . 29 Steller's Arch on Bering Island, named after the scientist Steller, of Bering's Expedition . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 A Glacier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Sea Cows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Seals in a Rookery on Bering Island . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Mauritius Augustus, Count Benyowsky . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Sir John Hawkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Queen Elizabeth knighting Drake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 The _Golden Hind_ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 Francis Drake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 The Crowning of Drake in California . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 The Silver Map of the World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 Captain James Cook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180