Captain Vancouver Collection
Incident off Escape Point
Having traded peacefully with natives from a village in the Behm Canal (Alaska), Vancouver and his party were surprised the following day when visited by a few canoes. Following a peaceful exchange the natives became excessively troublesome – stealing 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.