Madness, Betrayal and the Lash by Stephen R. Bown

Author:Stephen R. Bown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
ISBN: 9781926685717
Publisher: D & M Publishers
Published: 2010-07-05T00:00:00+00:00

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Meeting of Minds

JUAN FRANCISCO de la Bodega y Quadra had an impressive reputation. Not only was he the commander of the Spanish Pacific squadron at San Blas, Mexico, with responsibility for the entire Pacific coast north of Panama, and a Peruvian-born aristocrat proud of his Castilian blood, but he was also a renowned naval explorer who had navigated as far north as Alaska on at least three voyages in the past twenty years. There was probably no one alive who had seen more of the Pacific coast of North America than Bodega y Quadra.

His portrait presents a sleek, manicured officer whose uniform displays adornments and stylish flourishes. Mysterious and reserved, with one eye concealed in shadows, Bodega y Quadra’s head is askance, as if he viewed the world at a different angle than others did. In the background a quill and ink pot are prominently displayed, denoting him as a man of letters as well as a man of action. The portrait reflects his refinement, his distinction and the value he placed on his sterling reputation. A gentleman in the true sense of the word, he valued his education and his image. Broad-minded and intelligent, Bodega y Quadra was fashionable, curious and highly social. He was also a Spanish patriot, intent on gaining the best deal possible from the British representative sent to meet him at Friendly Cove.

Bodega y Quadra had arrived at Nootka in March and had immediately begun laying the groundwork for negotiations with the British.

He had a lot of catching up to do, because Chief Maquinna and most of his people had had little or nothing to do with the Spanish for the past three years, since one of Martínez’s men had murdered Chief Callicum. Bodega y Quadra, a diplomatic man who shared in the spirit of the Enlightenment, began with a ceremonial visit to Maquinna at his grand lodge. Once he had identified Maquinna as the ranking chief of the loose confederacy in Nootka Sound, he continued to cultivate this relationship throughout the summer with gifts and additional visits, “constantly treat[ing] Macquinna as a friend, singling him out from the rest with the clearest demonstrations of appreciation.” He added that Maquinna “always occupies the first place when he dines at my table. I myself take the trouble of waiting on him, of serving him with as much as he likes, and he makes a lot of my friendship and much appreciates my visits to his rancherias.” The Spanish commander and his entourage visited Maquinna at various places and times, as a result of which they became friends. Bodega y Quadra received fresh fish from Maquinna at regular intervals. His use of silver plate and the formal rituals of the Spaniards’ meals impressed the people of Nootka, who had their own elaborate rituals. Important native leaders shared the Spanish commander’s table nightly, and they were freely invited to his house. Bodega y Quadra gave Maquinna his own bedroom to use when visiting the Spanish settlement.

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