Français  Contact Us  Help  Search  Canada Site Volume 1 (1000–1754) Volume 2 (1755-1871) Volume 3 (1872–2000) CHAPTER 1 The Conquest CHAPTER 2 The Revolt of Pontiac and the American Invasion CHAPTER 3 The Coveted Pacific Coast A New Stage for European Struggles Early Explorations of the Northwest Coast The Vikings of the North Pacific New Spanish Explorations Enter Cook and the British Spanish Reaction Russian, British and Spanish Plans The Nootka Incident The Nootka Crisis Garrison Life at Nootka Vancouver and Bodega Y Quadra The Evacuation of Nootka From Sea to Sea CHAPTER 4 The Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 CHAPTER 5 Demobilization CHAPTER 6 The Royal Navy, Ruler of the Seas CHAPTER 7 A Decade of Turbulence APPENDIX A The British Armed Forces APPENDIX B Daily Life of Soldiers and Officers APPENDIX C Uniforms and Arms APPENDIX D Reference      CHAPTER 3 The Coveted Pacific Coast           Garrison Life at Nootka ( 2 pages )           1 2      Improved Relations Between Spanish and Locals                Spanish fort at Nootka in 1793. (Click image to enlarge) While these events were taking place in Europe, life in Nootka was relatively peaceful, although difficult.  The garrison, accustomed to the Mexican climate, was suffering greatly because of cold and illness, even though it was provided with warm clothing and medication.  Several soldiers died, a few deserted, and others were sent to California for treatment.  The garrison had between 73 and 76 soldiers in 1791, between 64 and 73 in 1792, and only 59 by 1793. Pedro de Alberni, commander of the Nootka garrison, did everything possible to regain the friendship of the Amerindians after their withdrawal following the death of Callicum.  They responded to the Spanish overtures and returned to Nootka.  Alberni, a diplomat, even wrote a poem in their language, which his soldiers sang as a choir in honour of their chief, Muquinna: "Muquinna, Muquinna, Muquinna is a great prince, our friend; Spain, Spain, Spain is the friend of Muquinna and Nootka." 53  The chief was delighted and an era of harmony between the Spanish garrison and the Natives ensued.  The very industrious Alberni studied botany, had gardens planted and raised cattle and poultry in this remote presidio to see to the needs of the garrison soldiers and seamen who stayed there during the summer.  Alberni also compiled a Nootka vocabulary with the equivalent words in Spanish.  In addition, he studied meteorology, and his detailed reports for the years 1790 and 1791 are the first to have been effected systematically on the northwest coast.  Alberni left Nootka in 1792, but the Amerindians remembered him for a long time.  The name of this talented Catalan volunteer officer is immortalized in Port Alberni, British Columbia.           Additional Images           Click image to enlarge      1 2   Last Updated: 2004-06-20 Important Notices