why do the aleuts and people of ghalasat fight

When Chief Chowig demands the promised payment for the otter from the Ghalas-at they refuse to pay the full amount. Chowig knows that the Aleuts have caught 105 bales of otter, but Captain Orlov offers him only one trunk of beads and iron spearheads. Negotiating, the chief demands three more trunks, and Captain Orlov promises to bring them from the ship after packing up the pelts.

To protect the tribe from being cheated, Chowig insists that they leave behind half the pelts until they have paid in full. The demand leads to a brawl between Chowig and a hunter, which quickly turns into a full-scale battle between the Aleuts and the tribe.