He
Assured Comcomly, However, That His Solicitude For The Safety Of
Himself And The Princess Was Superfluous; As, Though The Ship
Belonged To King George, Her Crew Would Not Injure The Americans,
Or Their Indian Allies.
He advised him and his warriors,
therefore, to lay aside their weapons and war shirts, wash off
the paint from their faces and bodies, and appear like clean and
civil savages, to receive the strangers courteously.
Comcomly was sorely puzzled at this advice, which accorded so
little with his Indian notions of receiving a hostile nation, and
it was only after repeated and positive assurances of the
amicable intentions of the strangers that he was induced to lower
his fighting tone. He said something to his warriors explanatory
of this singular posture of affairs, and in vindication, perhaps,
of the pacific temper of his son-in-law. They all gave a shrug
and an Indian grunt of acquiescence, and went off sulkily to
their village, to lay aside their weapons for the present.
The proper arrangements being made for the reception of Captain
Black, that officer caused his ship's boats to be manned, and
landed with befitting state at Astoria. From the talk that had
been made by the Northwest Company of the strength of the place,
and the armament they had required to assist in its reduction, he
expected to find a fortress of some importance. When he beheld
nothing but stockades and bastions, calculated for defense
against naked savages, he felt an emotion of indignant surprise,
mingled with something of the ludicrous. "Is this the fort,"
cried he, "about which I have heard so much talking? D-n me, but
I'd batter it down in two hours with a four pounder!"
When he learned, however, the amount of rich furs that had been
passed into the hands of the Northwesters, he was outrageous, and
insisted that an inventory should be taken of all the property
purchased of the Americans, "with a view to ulterior measures in
England, for the recovery of the value from the Northwest
Company."
As he grew cool, however, he gave over all idea of preferring
such a claim, and reconciled himself, as well as he could, to the
idea of having been forestalled by his bargaining coadjutors.
On the 12th of December, the fate of Astoria was consummated by a
regular ceremonial. Captain Black, attended by his officers,
entered the fort, caused the British standard to be erected,
broke a bottle of wine and declared, in a loud voice, that he
took possession of the establishment and of the country, in the
name of his Britannic Majesty, changing the name of Astoria to
that of Fort George.
The Indian warriors, who had offered their services to repel the
strangers, were present on this occasion. It was explained to
them as being a friendly arrangement and transfer, but they shook
their heads grimly, and considered it an act of subjugation of
their ancient allies. They regretted that they had complied with
M'Dougal's wishes, in laying aside their arms, and remarked,
that, however the Americans might conceal the fact, they were
undoubtedly all slaves; nor could they be persuaded of the
contrary, until they beheld the Raccoon depart without taking
away any prisoners.
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