Into the Savage Land

In the middle of the night, October 1850, three British sailors searching for lost countrymen are set upon the rugged shore on the far edge of the vast Russian Empire. Only two will return from this cruel and harsh land called Alyaksa. Edward Adams, a young Victorian-era doctor, was part of an expedition sent to Russian Alaska in search of explorer John Franklin and his crew. As the mission's naturalist, Adams filled a journal with observations, recordings and drawings of his excursion, revealing a person who thrived on new experiences and had a true gift for recording what he observed. Full of drama and adventure, "Into the Savage Land" takes reader back to the Alaska of 1850. Reminiscent of the popular serialised stories that appeared in British papers at the time, the journal presents a first-person account of travels into the interior of the colony and the inherent dangers involved, including freezing temperatures, suspicious Russians and warring Natives. Edited and annotated by Ernest Sipes, this publication offers an exceptional opportunity for students of the literature of Alaska and anyone interested in the region's colourful history.

In October 1850, English physician and naturalist Edward Adams and two other members of the crew of the HMS Enterprise disembarked at the Russian post of St. Michael, Alaska. Their mission was to investigate a vague lead into the disappearance of the expedition led by Sir John Franklin, and the territory they were entering was still a Russian possession. From then until the ship returned for the party in July 1851, Edwards kept a journal, which is the core of this slim and engaging book.

The editor, anthropologist and explorer Ernest Sipes, provides an explanatory foreword, occasional notes, and numerous illustrations and color plates that help bring life to Adams' words. But the gem here is the journal itself. Much of it focuses on Yup'ik life along the Bering Sea coast at the time, and Adams' eye for detail on that score is impressive.

One of the journal's chief historical contributions is Adams' account of the Nulato Massacre of 1851. His companion, Lt. John Barnard, traveling up the Yukon River in search of traces of Franklin, had the incredible bad luck of arriving at Nulato just in time for the attack by Koyukuk River Native people on Nulato's Russian post and Athabaskan village. More than fifty people, including Barnard, were killed. Adams arrived shortly afterwards to view the scene and interview survivors.

Adam was curious and observant, knew his business as a naturalist, and best of all, was good with words. Describing life at St. Michael in the dead of winter, he writes that meadow mice (we call them voles these days) gallop about our rooms day and night in swarms (p.80). When he is lost miles from his snowy backcountry camp on a dark night, he wanders for several hours before the moon illuminates his tracks, revealing that I had walked twice round the mountain...and that I was on my way for another round (p. 67). His vivid description of a multi-colored, dancing aurora may be one of the best in print.

The journal...is a quick, illuminating read about life in western Alaska in the waning days of Russia's American empire.

Review by Dean Littlepage
Alaska History
a publication ofthe Alaska Historical Society
Spring 2009

Ernest Sipes

An annotated journal of Edward Adams. The young Victorian-era doctor was part of an expedition sent to Russian Alaska in 1850 to search for fellow countryman and explorer John Franklin and his crew. As the expedition's naturalist, Adams made observations, recordings and drawings of the excursion, particularly the customs of the local Natives and their interactions with members of the Russian American Company. Adams' writings offer a first-person account of travels into interior Alaska and the inherent dangers involved, including freezing cold temperatures, suspicious Russians and warring Natives.

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