HMS Blossom's barge leaving Point Barrow, 1826, by William Smyth. After a hostile reception, the barge continued south along the shore, passing several villages. At one place, "nineteen ofthe natives came down opposite us, armed with bows, arrows and spears, and imagining that it was our intention to land, motioned us to keep off, and seemed quite prepared for hostilities. Notwithstanding this show of resistance, we still advanced nearer to the shore, as being more out of the current ... at the same time having the arms in readiness in case ofan attack. When within about thirty yards ofthe beach, we lost the wind and continued pulling and towing along shore, the natives walking abreast of us on the beach" (Smyth's account, Beechey narrative).
View of Pori Desengafio (Disenchantment Bay), 1791. This is an "improved" version ofa drawing by Jose Cardero,. The ships entered this bay from Port Mulgrave by a passage through a mountain range.first thought to be the fabled Northwest Passage. Before leaving, the explorers "left enclosed in a bottle, together with the inscription of our survey, the date of which we had taken possession in the name of his Majesty, proved by a coin buried at the side ofthe bottle" (Malaspina voyage). Courtesy Museum of New Mexico and Museo Naval, Madrid.