Incident off Escape Point (Captain Vancouver in the Behm Canal, Alaska, USA)

20” x 30” | Oil on board

Having traded peacefully with natives from a village in the Behm Canal (Alaska), Vancouver and his party were visited by a few canoes on the following day.  After a peaceful exchange the natives became excessively troublesome – trying to steal items from the yawl.

An old woman in the stern of the largest canoe encouraged the warriors, who started to throw spears.  Two of the British seamen were injured, but by successfully defending their position, Vancouver’s boats were able to escape.  Vancouver named the position “Escape Point” and the bay from which the natives had come “Traitors Cove”.  An example of how place names, that still survive today, were given.

This is one of over 50 paintings produced to capture the exploration of the West coast of North America by Captain George Vancouver during the summers of 1791, 1792 and 1793.