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> i .'3 
 
 i 
 
 A DESCEIPTION OF 
 
 BRITISH COLUMBIA AND YANCOUVER'S ISLAND 
 
 m 
 
10 M DON 
 PBIMTBO BY BP0TII8W00UB AND CO. 
 MliW-bTUBi:! bQUABB 
 
BRITISH COLUMBIA 
 
 AND 
 
 VANCOUVER'S ISLAND 
 
 coupiiisiNa 
 
 A DESCBIFTION OF THESE DEPENDENCIES : THEtB FHTSICAL 
 
 CHAKACTEn, CLIMATE, CAPABILITIES, POFULATIOX, TUADK, NATUBAL niSTOBT, 
 
 OEOLOOT, ETHNOLOGY, GOLD-FIELDS, AND FUIUBE FBOSFEOTS 
 
 AI.KO 
 
 Jin ^mmi af i\t gtannns anb (^uiam iof tfee Uatibc Inbiaits 
 
 BT 
 
 DUNCAN GEORGE FORBES MACBONALI), C.E. 
 
 (Late of the Government Survey Staff of British Columbia, and of tlie Internntional Boundary 
 
 Line of Nortli America) Autlior of ' Wliat tlie Farmers may do willi tlie 
 
 Land ' 'Tlio ParU Exliibition ' * Decimal Coinage ' &c. 
 
 WITH A COMPREHENSIVE MAP 
 
 LONDON 
 LONGMAN, GREEN, LONGMAN, ROBERTS, & GREEN 
 
 18G2 
 
 n 
 
 M 
 
 m 
 
 M 
 
II 
 
 /IS 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 /" 
 
 There has issued from the press a host of articles rehi- 
 tive to tlic colonies of British Columbia and of Vancou- 
 ver's Island, many of which give ample proof that the 
 writers were either ignorant of what they were writing 
 about, or that they were actuated by motives which 
 could meet with little ex no sympathy in England. I 
 am aware that the nooks, and not the arena, of Ufe 
 afford the best refreshment and the most repose. A sense 
 of duty and kindly feeling to the emigrating people of 
 this country induce me, however, to publish a faithful 
 account of British Columbia and Vancouver's Island, 
 in the hope of doing away, to some extent at least, 
 with the misapprehension which exists ii/ a ogard to the 
 peculiar eligibility of these wild and remote regions as 
 a field of settlement. Whilst I entertain not the slight- 
 est doubt as to the richness and extent of auriferous 
 country in British Columbia, and, moreover, believe 
 that its products of gold have more than rivalled those 
 of California or Australia during the corresponding 
 periods of their history, I am also clearly of opinion 
 that its minerals must for long, if not for ever, consti- 
 tute its principal source of wealth, the country being 
 
 
vi 
 
 TRRFACR. 
 
 not naturally calculated to become, cither agriculturally 
 or pastorally, a rich or great province. Indeed, the 
 characteristic feature of this dependency is its richness 
 in gold. It was this which led to its being separated 
 from the Hudson's Bay territories, and being created a 
 distinct colony. It is surely highly censurable, cruel, 
 and unjust, therefore, to induce the sons and daughters 
 of the mother-country to migrate to these distant shores 
 by glowing misrepresentations of the capabilities of the 
 soil and geniahty of the climate. Vancouver's Island, 
 it may be here observed, is a distinct colony, possessing 
 many advantages not to be found in British Columbia. 
 I may sfifely affirm that, in producing this work, I have 
 no interests to promote except those of truth and the 
 prosperity of intending emigrants. Indeed, I can have 
 no possible inducement to advance statements unwar- 
 ranted by facts, or opinions which are not well grounded ; 
 and, feehng sensible that the value of a book depends 
 upon the opportunities afforded to the author of seeing 
 what he describes, such information only as has been 
 verified in this way, or has at least been received on the 
 most undoubted authority, will be placed before the 
 reader. It may not be unimportant, therefore, to men- 
 tion that, having been employed professionally for 
 months together by the Chief Commissioner of Lands 
 and Works of British Columbia, and by the British 
 North American Boundary Commission, as well as by 
 private individuals, few, if any, have had the same 
 advantages of observation. 
 
 <v 
 
TREPACE. 
 
 Vll 
 
 Wl. 1st sketdiing tl.c peculiarities of the country its 
 soil, cLiiiate, and iimrvcllous wealth in gold, I have 
 introcluced a mass of information interesting to tlie 
 general reader, in the hope of rendering the volume 
 worthy of a favourable reception. 
 
 D. G. F. M. 
 
 I'arijament Street, London, SW. 
 Jitne \m-2. 
 
 
 
 m 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CIIAl^EK I. 
 
 ( «cn|?rnphical Position of Rritish Columbia— Extent nnd Oenoml Appenr- 
 anco of tho AFninland — Mountains — Lakes — Ilivors — Forests — 
 Coast — Harbours — Warm Springs — Tho Capital, Now Westminster 
 — Population — Tho Hudson's Bay Company I'ago I 
 
 CILVPTER II. 
 
 Climate — Soil — Geological Researches — Natural ProductioiiS — Mineral 
 Wealth of tho Country — Colonial Estimates for 1802 — Laws — Want 
 of Postal An'angomonts — Country not adapted to Agricultural Pur- 
 suits — Salt JNIarsh, little or no Prairie — A Plaguo of Mosquitoes — 
 Luxuries of London ought not to be expected in the Hackwoods — 
 I'rivations and Change of Social Position in a now Country — Ro- 
 mantic Hopes — Wealth and Labour — Superiority of Educated Labour 
 in the Wilderness — Agriculture, to flourish, must have a Market for 
 its surplus Productions 20 
 
 CHAPTER in. 
 
 Tiritish Columbia not a Pastoral Coimtry — Opinion of the Attorney- 
 CJeneral — The beautiful Prairies of America — Some Places desirable 
 for Settlement — Agriculture an Element of National Wealth — Wise 
 Policy pursued in tho States of America — Obstacles to Settlement in 
 British Columbia — Evil Consequences — The Peasantry in every 
 Country the Honey-Bees — Correspondence with the Chief Commis- 
 sioner relative to the Purchase of Lands — Specidators get the Laud 
 — Free Grants of Land ought to, be given — The Valley of the 
 Ottawa in Canada — It is impolitic to beggar the Settler — Opinion 
 of the Grand Jury of British Cohunbia — Scores gaping for dead 
 Men's Shoes — To Men of Capital the Colony presents a remunerative 
 Field — The crafty blood-thirsty Indian — Extract from the London 
 Times 56 
 
 I 
 
 I ¥1 
 
Il 
 
 
 X CONTENTS. 
 
 CILVPTER IV. 
 
 The Gold Minea — Great Excitement — The Reaction — Gold fine — 
 Extent of the Auriferous Country — Experience of California — Statis- 
 tics of the Produce of the Columbian and Califomian Mines and of the 
 Mining Popidation — Season for Mining on the Eraser — Culmination 
 of the Eraser River Excitement — Conduct of the Government — Gold 
 usually found in the Mountain-Streams and Rivera — The Califomian 
 Mines — Value of Mining Claims — To get Money the Aim of all — 
 Shrieks of Murder at Night — The Passes infested with Indians — 
 Black Sand found at the Eraser — The Miner's Grave — Instances of 
 the Extravagance of Miners — Strange eventful History of a Cat — 
 How IJining Speculations are done — The precious Metal ' doctored ' — 
 Swindling of the Broker : how done — Accounts from the Quesnell 
 jjiver — Silver Ore in Biitish Columbia — The Silver Mines of Mexico 
 — Harsh Treatment of the Miners — Table of Distances to the Stations 
 on the Routes to the Mines by Eraser River — Condition of Trails and 
 Cost of improving them — The Masqueraded Eriend — Route via Co- 
 lumbia River and the Dallas — Table of Distances — Cariboo the new 
 El Dorado — Extracts from the Times and Daily Telegraph . 
 
 Page 73 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The Human Species — Aborigines of British North America — Pro- 
 minent Eeatures in the Life and Character of the Indians — Slaves 
 horribly Abused — The ' Medicine Man ' and the Dead — Mode of 
 Scalping — Young Indians more savage than the Old — Horrible 
 Modes of Torture — Barbarous Conduct of an old Squaw — Shocking 
 Cruelties to an Old Man and Instance of Cannibalism — Horrible 
 Massacre of Emigrants — Cruel Custom of getting rid of the Aged — 
 The Native Beauty — The Indian Villages or Wigwams — The Con- 
 juror seeks the Lost Spirit — Pantomimic Entertainments of the 
 Indians — The Burlesque of a Clergyman — A Beai- in the Wigwam 
 — The Blanket Eeast — The Indians must disappear before the March 
 of Civilisation — Mr. Roebuck on the Aboriginal Races — The Bishop 
 of Columbia too sanguine — P&re Cheraus the Priest — The good 
 Eather's Enthusiasm — Bishop Hill arid tho young Savages — Instance 
 of Indian Revenge — Touching Instance of Parental Affection — The 
 Chiefs Grave — The Wild Rose 125 
 
 CILVPTER VI. 
 
 Natural History of British Columbia — Absence of Animal Life — 
 Tetrao Obsciinis — Tetrao Richardsoni — Species of Crane — Land 
 Animals — Amphibious Animals — Large-homed Owl — White- 
 headed Eagle — Magpie — * Bird of Tiiberty ' — Gold-winged Wood- 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 XI 
 
 peckorj — Condor — Black Eagle of Pallas — Musk-rat — ' Ilalf-broeil ' 
 Trappora more troacherous than the Aborigines — Curiosity in Natural 
 History — Squirrel, when Cooked, a delicious Morsel — Variety of 
 Fish — The Salmon excellent eating — Piscatory Advantages of 
 British Columbia very great — Immense Immigration of Salmon — 
 Salmon a Race of Suicides — The Hudson's Bay Company and Fish- 
 curing — Reptiles and Insects Page 1 72 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 British Columbia presents but a poor Flora — The Lover of Nature ever 
 finds Enjoyment — Varieties of Lupines — Indigenous Grasses — Tlif 
 Boundaiy Commission — The sporting Pleasures of British Columbia 
 all a Myth — Disappointment of the Officers of the Royal Engineers 
 and Royal Marines — In Sleep we picture desperate and bloody 
 Fights — Pleasant Dreams — Danger of having the Indian to guide 
 one through the Thicket — Bear-flesh, and Panther in the Market 
 — Barbarous Mode of killing Deer by the Indian — The Pretty little 
 Fawn — Great Ferocity of the Grizzly — Terrible Fight between a 
 Man and a Bear — A Miner pressed to Death by a Grizzly — The 
 dead Man's Grave — Famishing Wolves rifle the Tomb of its sacred 
 Trust 193 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Proclamation relative to Crown Lands — Remarks on the Measure — 
 Information for Military and Naval Officers proposing to settle iu 
 certain Colonies — Homestead Law of America — Inducing Immi- 
 gi-ation by false Representations most censurable — The Territory 
 should have been left in the hands of the Hudson's Bay Company — 
 Extract from the Times — The civil Creditor and the Soldier — 
 Shameful Treatment of the Military — The Canadian People — Is the 
 Pacific Railroad destined to traverse British Columbia ? — British 
 Columbia Overland Transit Company — Red River Settlements — The 
 San Juan difficulty — How is British Columbia governed .^ — A resi- 
 dent Governor and a Legislature wanted — Attempt to silence the 
 Press, the People subscribe 800/. on the Spot — Gagging of the 
 Government Auctioneer 205 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Emigration an important Feature in the Colonial Policy of England — 
 Land the safest Investment for Capital — A glance at our otlier 
 Colonies — Copious Immigration of Chinese — The Chiuoso a straiijic 
 Race — Account of a Wedding — Account of a Chiueao Dinner — 
 
xu 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Civilisation and the English People — Crown Lands of Canada and 
 Australia — Writings of a Clergyman on British Columbia — Financial 
 Condition of the Colony — Public Loans — No brighter Picture can be 
 presented — Decimal Currency should be adopted in the Colony — 
 Consumption of Merchandise — Population of British Columbia and 
 Vancouver's Island — The bright Side of the Picture . . Page 281 
 
 (i 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 vancouvee's island. 
 
 Situation of Vancouver's Island — Its Colonisation, and Conditions of the 
 Grant — Climate — Soil — Harbours — Town of Victoria — The Laud 
 System — The Legislative Assembly and the Medical Profession — 
 The Church Question — Government Supplies — Census of the Island 
 
 — The Indians — General Society — The Chartered Bank of British 
 Columbia and Vancouver's Island — The London Emigration Society 
 
 — The Island not yet productive — Expense of Living — *Take a 
 Drink ' — Contribution to the Industrial Exhibition of 1862 — Who 
 should and who should not emigrate 833 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 San Fbancisco 383 
 
 CHAPTER Xn. 
 
 Hints to Emigrants — Chinook Jargon and English equivalent Terms — 
 Routes by which Vancouver's Island and British Columbia may be 
 reached, and the expense of each — Overland Route vik Canada 391 
 
 CHAPTER XIIL 
 
 The Colonial Courts in the International Exhibition of 1862 — The 
 French Nation and Expositions of Industry — The Palace at Sydenham 
 
 — The Building at Brompton and Mausoleum to the Memory of the 
 good Prince-Consort 418 
 
 APPENDIX 1. 
 
 Rules and Regidations to be observed in working the Gold Mines of 
 British Columbia 445 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 XIU 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 Cost of Passage in private Ships from Ports in England to New Zealand, 
 Sydney, Melbourne, Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Quebec, Vancouver's 
 Island, and British Columbia — Free and assisted Passages to New 
 South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, 
 Cape of Good Hope, Natal, and Western Australia — Regulations for 
 the Selection of Emigi-ants — Hints to Emigrants to Australia — De- 
 mand for Labour in Canada, New South Wales, Victoria, South Aus- 
 tralia, Western Australia, New Zealand, Cape of Good Hope, and Natal : 
 Wages — Climate of New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, 
 Tasmania, New Zealand, Capo of Good Hope, and Natal — Informa- 
 tion for Naval" and Military Officers — Charges on Land and Expenses 
 of Clearing — Cost of Passage in private Ships from some of the prin- 
 cipal Ports in the United Kingdom — Crown Lands of Canada 
 
 Pago 4(58 
 
 k 
 
 
 (! 
 
i 
 
BKITISH COLUMBIA. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Geographical Position of British Columbia — Extent and General 
 Appearance of tlio Mainland — Mountains — Tjakos — Rivers — Forests — 
 Coast — Harbours — Warm Springs — The Capital, New Westminster 
 — Population — The Hudson's Bay Company. 
 
 i 
 
 The colony of British Columbia is tliat part of British 
 territory on the north-west coast of North America, 
 previously known as New Caledonia. By an Act 
 passed on August 2, 1858 (21 & 22 Vict. cap. 99), 
 this territory has been erected into a colony under 
 the name of British Columbia. It is bounded on the 
 south by the frontier of the United States (i. e., the 
 49th degree of north latitude), on the east by the 
 watershed between the streams which flow into the 
 Pacific Ocean and those which flow into the Atlantic 
 and Icy Oceans, or what is known as the main chain 
 of the Eocky Mountains; on the north by the 55th 
 parallel of latitude, being Simpson's Eiver, and the 
 Finlay branch of Peace Eiver; and on the west by 
 the Pacific Ocean. It includes Queen Charlotte's Island 
 and all other islands adjacent, except Vancouver's 
 Island, which has a special constitution of its own. 
 
 B 
 
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 2 GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION OP BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
 
 It may be well to mention that British America 
 comprises all the mainland north of the United States, 
 except Kussian America. It includes the territory of 
 the Hudson's Bay Company, and the settled provinces 
 in the south-east. The possessions of the Hudson's 
 Bay Compa?iy comprise that portion of British America 
 north of the United States and Canada, with the ex- 
 ception of what is now called British Columbia. 
 
 The general reader would doubtless prefer being told 
 of huge nuggets of goll gathered into the pockets by 
 the handful ; of shovels, cradles, and provisions ; of the 
 shortest and cheapest routes by which the pilgrim can 
 hope to reach the land of golden promise ; rather than 
 of degrees of latitude and longitude, mountains, lakes, 
 and rivers, and the other themes necessary in treating 
 of a wild and all but unexplored country. Situation, 
 climate, soil, and prospects, are all subjects, however, 
 concerning which persons who may have any intention 
 of starting for the new El Dorado will be thankful for 
 a few authentic particulars. 
 
 The computed area of British Columbia is, including 
 Queen's Charlotte's Island, 225,250 square miles, and 
 the general appearance of the country is very pictur- 
 esque. Indeed, the impressions left on the mind are 
 of grandeur, gloomy vastness, awful solitude, rendered 
 more dismal by the howl of beasts of prey. Streams 
 white with foam, flowing amid cliffs and ravines, form- 
 ing at places magnificent waterfalls, whose lonely 
 thunder swells and dies away in the interminable soh- 
 tude of unpeopled space. Tremendous precipices, 
 yawning gulfs, and towering rocks, whose naked backs 
 have withstood the storms of six thousand years, are all 
 there to astonish and rivet the attention. Forests of 
 the deepest green present to the wandering eye vast 
 
GENERAL APPEARANCE OF THE MAINLAND. 
 
 masses of foliajre fresh and fflitterin^ in the sunlif?ht : 
 
 n' 
 
 whilst far above, overhanging clifTs and mountains in 
 the sky, glow piles and pyramids of snow and ice, and 
 glacier gorges of remarkable splendour. It may with 
 truth be said, that in these wild regions you get such 
 awful glimpses of sublime scenery that your very soul 
 is hushed within you. Many views were of intense 
 splendour, as the sun shone upon them with glowing 
 brilliancy. The surface of the country is generally 
 mountainous, rocky, and barren, except where covered 
 with forest trees and underwood. The range of the 
 Kocky Mountains extends from the Isthmus of Panama 
 to the Arctic Ocean. As far north as latitude 38°, the 
 prmcipal chain is called the Sierra Madre ; thence to 
 the Arctic Ocean it is known as the Eocky Mountains. 
 Then there are the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges, 
 which extend from the South of Cahfornia through 
 British Columbia into Eussian America. The Eocky 
 Mountains stretch across the United States, at an ave- 
 rage distance from the Pacific Ocean of about 800 miles. 
 Both this and the Cascade range are bold and inacces- 
 sible, many of the peaks being covered with perpetual 
 snow, and reaching, in some instances, a height of 
 15,000 to 16,000 feet. The region between the Eocky 
 Mountains and the Cascade range is, for the most part, 
 a table-land, with an elevation of from 3,000 to 6,000 
 feet, generally barren and crossed by several chains of 
 considerable height. 
 
 British Colmnbia is not only a land of snow-clad 
 mountains, chilUng blasts, crystal icicles, yawning 
 ravines, desolate forests, and stately pines, but also of 
 rivers and lakes, rills and springs. Indeed, this vast 
 territory is literally studded with lakes, some of them 
 of considerable magnitude and great depth. Generally 
 
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 4 MOUNTAINS, LAKES, ETC. 
 
 their shape is long and narrow, with rugged irregular 
 margins, and they vary from fifty miles to five or ten in 
 length, and in breadth from seven to two. Their waters 
 are extremely cold and very clear, and fish of excellent 
 quality are tjiken in large quantities, and amongst them 
 a kind of spotted fish, resembling the perch in shape, 
 and averaging from two and a half to four pounds m 
 weight, which is always considered a great delicacy. 
 There is, however, one exception to this clearness of 
 the waters : the Lilooet water is of a turbid, diity green, 
 which refuses even to reflect the glories of the sky. 
 But, on the other hand, I do not think I ever beheld 
 anything more lovely than the Lake of Chilukeneyuko 
 as I once looked down on it by moonlight. Every star 
 in the wide expanse above, as it shone with glittering 
 brightness in its tranquil course, was mirrored in the 
 translucent waters. It was truly a delicious scene, 
 charming and fascinating the senses, and filling the in- 
 most soul with a glow of delight and reverential awe ; 
 for all above, around, and beneath, proc^.iamed the ma- 
 jesty of the Divine Creator. Nothing is more ennobling, 
 nothing more softening, than the contemplation of the 
 beautiful, the peaceful, and the gnind ; and few spots 
 on earth can present these characteiistics more harmo- 
 niously and gloriously combined than do tliis still Lake 
 and silent Valley. 
 
 This silent glen, this silent glen, 
 
 Oh, how I love its solitude ! 
 Far from those busy haunts of men. 
 
 Far from the heartless multitude : 
 No eye save Nature's sovereign beam, 
 
 No breath, but heaven's, to break the dream ; 
 No voice, bxit yonder bubbling sti'cam. 
 
 Dares on the ear intrude. 
 
GLACIER OF LAKE CIIILUKENEYUKR. 
 
 Tlie magnificent glacier of the Lake resembles a mass 
 of gigantic crystals of emerald, partially covered by a 
 mantle of snowy whiteness ; but at every crevice the 
 green ice shines clear in the sun which year after year 
 strives in vain to melt it away. On such scenes even 
 the cold and apathetic coidd hardly look without 
 emotion; the meditative and pious would dwell on 
 them with delight, for they elevate the thoughts to 
 hoher and purer and happier worlds. 
 
 How drear and awful is this solitude ! 
 
 Nature herself is surely dead, and o'er 
 
 Her cold and stiffened corse a winding-sheet, 
 
 Of bright unsullied purity, is thrown. 
 
 How still she lies ! she smiles, she breathes no more. 
 
 Yon drooping elm, whose pale and leafless boughs 
 
 O'erlunig the stream, hath wept itself to death. 
 
 The stream that once did gaily dance and sing 
 
 The liA'e-long day, now, stiff and silent, hes 
 
 Immovable — congeal'd to glittering shingles, 
 
 'T is bcaiitiful in death ! 
 
 At times, whilst clambering among the rugged hills 
 and mountains of British Columbia, buried in solitude, 
 I have seen the skies put on their blackest aspect and 
 all creation hushed as waiting for some coming change; 
 on a sudden the clouds would open, and sheeted light- 
 ning dart fortliin lurid conti'ast with the darkness around, 
 heralding a yet more awful discord — the breathless 
 silence of earth rent asunder by the thunders of the 
 sky. The very echoes from the mountain sides and 
 hollows, as peal followed peal from on high, sounded 
 hke the solemn response, the deep ' Amen,' of Nature to 
 commands from Nature's God. 
 
 I noticed that the trout in the abundantly stocked 
 water lay still. Do fish dread thunder ? The trout is 
 a cold-blooded animal, and some naturalists maintain 
 
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 •it 
 
 THE mVER FHASER. 
 
 tliat he is insensible to pnin. Be it so ; but that does 
 not explain Avhy lie should be so sensitive a nuliiral 
 electrometer. The Greeks and the Eonians believed 
 in the existence of electric fish. Pliny, who collected 
 so many hypotheses, which he mistook for facts, knew 
 that electric fish exist. But I am wandering from 
 the subject of lakes and rivers in this truly wild and 
 barren country. 
 
 The lliver Fraser, which takes its rise at the foot of 
 the Bruno, in the llocky Mountains, is the great artery 
 of the country, and is the only river affording any ex- 
 tensive facilities for navigation, whilst the Harrison, Pitt, 
 Anderson, Thompson, and the Quesnel, are but tribu- 
 taries helping to swell the stream, which flows into the 
 Gulf of Georgia, six miles north of the boundary line. 
 Its current is broad and extremely rapid ; where rocks 
 and precipices exist, the volume of the stream rushes 
 with great fury and terrible noise. The melting snows 
 of summer raise the Fraser some fifty feet, when the 
 current becomes truly frightful. At this season the 
 navigation is very dangerous, owing to the great quan- 
 tity of forest trees, stumps, roots, and logs which float 
 down uj)on its surface ; and in November last, from 
 these causes, thirteen persons were drowned by the 
 upsetting of a canoe. In some places it is deep, whilst 
 in others it is extremely shallow, and abounding in 
 hidden sands, which from their continual change render 
 navigation, except for flat-bottomed steamers, rather 
 hazardous. The river is also difficult of entrance for 
 large vessels on account of its tortuous channel and the 
 numerous shifting banks and shoals at its mouth, which 
 extend for a considerable distance into the Gulf of 
 Georgia. Skippers detest the place, for few vessels go 
 in or out without striking upon some of these. 
 
DANOEUS OF ITS NAVIGATION. 
 
 A report by Capt. lliclmrds, of II. M.'h surveying 
 sliip rimnpcr, states that an extensive bank, or scries 
 of banks, extends westward from the month of the 
 Fraser for a distance of five miles, and that there arc 
 but twelve feet of water at low tide in the shallowest 
 part of the channel, and from eighteen to twenty feet 
 at high tide. This shoal part extends over a mile, and 
 both inside and outside of it tlic depth of water is con- 
 siderably greater. At the outer sand-heads the width 
 of the passage is more than three cables' length ; but 
 it contracts considerably within, and at the shallowest 
 part is not more than a cable and a half in width. 
 Inside tlio bar, however, the river is navigable for 
 vessels of any draught as high as Langly, which is 
 thirty-two miles from its mouth — there being five, 
 seven, and, in some places, ten fathoms of water ; and 
 small flat steamers have even reached Fort Hope, a 
 ftu'ther distance of about forty miles. At Fort Yale it 
 passes through a rocky gorge twenty miles in length, 
 with very sudden bends and cliffs on each side ftilly six 
 hundred feet high, which render the navigation all but 
 impracticable, and extremely perilous even to small 
 boats and canoes. It may be said that the lower por- 
 tion only of this river is adapted to navigation, the 
 upper portion being broken by falls and rapids. The 
 estimated length of the Fraser, reckoning its windings, 
 is seven hundred miles, and many a poor wandering 
 mariner have its foaming waters engulphed to be never 
 afterwards heard of except when friendly hearts at 
 home pour forth their sorrow for his long absence. 
 A trip up this river in summer is very delightful, 
 as the scenery is wild and grand in the extreme. Its 
 banks afford fine views to the artist and the lover of 
 nature, but the signs of industry or traffic upon its 
 
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 • TlIK FORKSTS OF DRITISIl COLUMBIA. 
 
 wjitors are yet too scanty to invito the settlor or the 
 trader. 
 
 Tlie forests are of vast extent, and snlReient to snpply 
 tlic whole world with vahiable tind)er lor generations 
 to come. They are dense, and contain trees of far 
 greater Azq than are nsnally met with in England ; 
 many of the cedars being from twelve to iifteen feet in 
 diameter, and n[)wards of two hnndred feet high. 13nt 
 as there is an immense extent of surface covered with 
 similar timber further south, it must be many years ere 
 a lumbering trade of any consequence will be ctui'ied 
 on in this territory. Of (bourse the vegetable j)roiluc- 
 tions of a country vary with its climate, and vegetation 
 is therefcn'e much less luxuriant in this colony than in 
 tro])i('al lands. Instead of the palm and banana ti-ees 
 we find the cedar, oak, [)()[)lar, ma[)le, and pine ; the 
 willow, cherry, and tew ; besides cotton wood, birch, 
 hazel, and juni])er, with the usual underwood. As we 
 advance northwards, however, trees dwindle into mere 
 shrubs, and in the regions of perpetual snow, vegetation 
 no longer exists. The forests of British Columbia are 
 such tlitit the entire teri'itory appears to the spectator 
 to be one mass of wood. lint these woods arc silent, 
 or resound only with the harsh scream of birds, or the 
 fearful cry of beasts of prey ; no troops of feathered 
 songsters fdl the air with melody, or welcome in the 
 breath of spring with the voice of gladness, and the 
 notes of love. 
 
 The pine, perhaps, claims the first place among 
 valuable timbers, from its wood being durable, straight, 
 elastic, and easily worked. Generally speaking, the 
 timber is the more hard and durable, and more em- 
 balmed in its own turpentine, the colder the situation 
 is and the slower the tree grows. Consequently the 
 
THEIR EXTENT AND CAl'ADILITIES. 
 
 j)ines of British Columbia coiitiiiii such f»rcat quantities 
 of turpentine that, even vvlien the oak cracks into 
 Hphnters as it dries, the pine remains tVesh and elastic. 
 Ot* course it is aot meant that the pine is tlie tree hist 
 met with on tiie conntics of perpetual snow as we 
 ascend high mountains, or nt the verge of veget.'ition as 
 the pole is aj)proael»ed ; yet, after a certain elevation, 
 and north of about 48°, it is by far the most abimdant 
 and valuable timber. Where tlie forests are inacces- 
 sible, however, tliey may be said to be valueless ; and 
 it is only when situated near an arm of tlie sea, the 
 banks of a lake, or a river, where there is no dilliculty 
 of transport, that they can be profitably used for the 
 purj)oses of commerce. 
 
 (Several varieties of fir are found in these forests, the 
 most conunon of which are the Ahies J)ou(/lcmi and 
 the A. ijrandii^. The former makes first-rate spars ; 
 while the latter is a soft wood, white, and open, and 
 not unfrequently cross-grained, when it is valueless ex- 
 cept for fuel. The largest and most picturesque tree of 
 the fir tribe is the A. iiobilis, which towers some 200 
 feet in the air from a base of 30 feet in circumference. 
 
 A species of i)ine growing on tlie banks of the Colum- 
 bia attains a height of 240 I'eet, and is upwards of 50 
 feet in circumference at the base. It has a rough 
 corky bark, from 1 inch to 1 inches thick. The leaves 
 resemble those of the spruce, and tlie timber is of ex- 
 cellent quality and very heavy. A fine specimen is to 
 be seen at +lie Crystal Talace, measuring IIG feet in 
 circumference and 450 feet in height. 
 
 The Pinus Lambcrtiana^ named after Ayliner Bourke 
 Lambert, the author of a most admirable work on the 
 genus Pinus^ is also found here. This species, how- 
 ever, docs not form dense forests like most of the other 
 
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 10 
 
 TIMBER FOR SIIIP-BUILDING. 
 
 pines. It is a very majestic tree ; and one specimen, 
 which had been blown down, was fonnd to be 215 feet 
 in length, with a circumference of 57 feet 9 inches at 3 
 feet from the root, and of 17 feet 5 inches at 134 feet. 
 The trunk of this species is perfectly straight, and clear 
 of branches for about two-thirds of the heii>;ht. The 
 bark is uncommonly smooth, and the whole tree has a 
 most graceful appearance. One singular property is 
 tliat, when the timber is partly burned, the turpentine 
 loses its peculiar flavour, and acquires a sweetish taste, 
 in which state it is used by the natives as a substitute 
 for sugar. 
 
 At times the forests in British Columbia are set on 
 fire by some straggling miner or packer, when the 
 spectacle is most sulihme. The flames leap from tree 
 to tree, and rushing up to their tops, throw out im- 
 mense volumes of fire from the clouds of smoke that 
 float over the burning mass, while the huge trees come 
 down with a tremendous crash. 
 
 Those who have not witnessed such a conflagration 
 can scarcely form a conception of the fury and rapidity 
 with which the red demon rages in the dry summer 
 season, when the underwood, fallen branches, bark, and 
 withered trees, are all so inflammable, and when the 
 surrounding air becomes so rarified by the ilames as to 
 rush and howl through the trees like a hurricane. 
 
 Fearful indeed is the 
 
 roarmg 
 
 and crackinff in the 
 
 woods, resembling the incessant pealing of thunder. 
 
 As there is some fine oak timber in Vancouver's 
 Island, the English Government would do well to see 
 that the best trees are reserved for ship-building, since 
 the British forests are not now so extensive as they once 
 were. It has been stated that a first-rate ship of the 
 line contains 3,000 loads of timber, and that this quan- 
 
THE OAK TREE IN VANCOUVER'S ISLAND. 
 
 11 
 
 titj could not bo grown on a less surface than fifty 
 acres. To maintain, tlierefore, a sufficient supply of 
 timber fit for naval purposes, is not so easy a matter; 
 and it certainly is not a matter tliat slioidd be trilled 
 with, unless it be conceded that the day for wooden 
 ships is past, since tlie practical results of the great 
 naval duel between the Merrimac and Monitor have 
 become known. Whilst selling the lands in these colo- 
 nies, I humbly think, that there should be a stipulation 
 that such timber as might be deemed useful for naval 
 purposes, at all events oak, should be considered as the 
 propertj' of the Crown. Whilst on the topic of oak 
 versus iron, I must say that I very much doubt the 
 possibility of building invulnerable ships, such, at least, 
 as wiU float, I believe that Sir WilUam Armstrong 
 will j^et manufacture powerliil guns, with heavy 
 charges of powder and high velocity of shot, which 
 will prove that the destruction of the Monitor and tlie 
 Merrimac would have been as complete and as instan- 
 taneous under ordnance of great power as that of the 
 Cumberland or Congress. It is, I think, inchsputable, 
 tliat ship's guns can be more powerful than ship- 
 armour, and therefore it is not so much to the im- 
 provement of our ships as to the improvement of our 
 ordnance, that we must turn our attention, if we hope 
 to continue our supremacy on tlie seas. 
 
 It is lamentable to observe the indifTerence with 
 Avhich too many of the land proprietors of Britain treat 
 the great rural improvement of planting the oak. 
 Altliough plantations make but a tardy return, they are 
 nevcrtlieless the least precarious of the modes of in- 
 creasing the value and the future income of estates. 
 This seems to have been fully apparent to the old dying 
 Scotch laird, whose parting words to his son were : — 
 
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 12 GENERAL FEATURES OF THE COAST, WARM SPRINGS, ETC. 
 
 ' Be aye sticking in a tree, Jock ; it will be growing 
 whilst you are sleeping.' 
 
 Tlie coast is bold and rocky from the 49 th parallel 
 of latitude to the Eussian possessions, an extent of about 
 500 miles, exhibiting continued chains of mountains, 
 broken only by the Eiver Fraser, which drains the 
 region stretching eastward from the coast range to 
 the Eocky Mountains. In that portion which lies north 
 of the parallel, there is no harbour with the exception 
 of Burrard's Inlet, about twelve miles up the coast, from 
 the mouth of the Fraser. This inlet is difficult of access, 
 but is well sheltered from the open sea, so as to afford 
 complete safety to vessels. It is situate within six miles 
 of New Westminster by land, and it is to be hoped tliat 
 it is deep enough to admit large sliips, as no town can 
 have an extensive foreign commerce unless its harbour 
 is sufficiently deep and spacious, TJie view of the ocean 
 from the highlands near to this inlet is grand and 
 impressive, whether in placid rest or tossed by storm. 
 
 Warm springs are found in British Columbia. There 
 is one about twenty-four miles nortliAvard from Douglas, 
 which discharges a volume of water of three square 
 inches, with a gurghng sound, indicating chinks in the 
 interior of the rock. The water is soft and agreeable 
 to wash in, and is perfectly clear and colourless ; its 
 temperature 132° Fahrenheit. On a cursory examin- 
 ation it was found to contain chloride of sodium and 
 sulphate of soda ; there has, however, been no accurate 
 analysis made that I am aware of. On each side of 
 the same mass of conglomerate there issues a spring of 
 cold pure water of about the same bulk. The Indians 
 resort to this hot spring, under the persuasion that it 
 possesses miracidous properties. They believe that 
 the silent hours of night a spirit comes to 
 
 -ft 
 
 4r 
 
 during 
 
THE CAPITAL OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
 
 13 
 
 impregnate its waters with remedial properties. It is 
 to these savages a holy spring held in high veneration, 
 whilst it is aU but fatal to the stranger who goes thither 
 to slake his thirst — almost as fatal as the waters 
 of Ileatlmme's Lake. Douglas, where the spring is 
 situated, is at the north end of Harrison Lake, ninety- 
 two miles from the mouth of the Fraser. 
 
 New Westminster, the capital of British Columbia, 
 has a population of about 300. It stands on a dry 
 rising ground sloping down towards the river Fraser, and 
 is fifteen miles from its mouth. As a military position 
 it is all tliat could be desired, being singularly strong by 
 nature. It is beautifully situated, and much credit is 
 due to Colonel Moody, E.E., who is Chief Commissioner 
 of Lands and Works, for having clioscn so eligible and 
 excellent a position. I natiu^ally feel an interest in the 
 place, having liad the honour of being associated with 
 the Eoyal Engineers in laying it out under the instruc- 
 tions of the Chief Commissioner. The ground plan ex- 
 actly resembles a vertical section of the hull of a sliip, 
 the keel portion being simulated by a bend in the chan- 
 nel of the river. There is an abundant supply of fine 
 spring water, and altogether it possesses many advan- 
 tages. The site has been divided into a number of 
 blocks of various sizes, averaging 6 -f 4 J- chains, and 
 each bloc.' has been subdivided into lots of 66 + 132 
 in extent. It has one or two boarding-houses and res- 
 taurants, a church and school, custom-house, gaol, and 
 miUtary buildings, also a treasury, mint, and assay-office. 
 
 The Columbian correspondent of the Times, Feb. 
 6, 1862, remarks: — 'A most baneful consequence to 
 business has been tlie mistake of having placed the 
 Government Assay-Office in the wrong place. It is at 
 New Westminster, where there is no commerce and only 
 
 
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 14 
 
 POPULATION OF NEW WESTMINSTER. 
 
 300 inhabitants, men, women, and children, and which 
 would be deserted if the Government officials were 
 removed.' This is truly not a very encouraging account 
 of the capital of the Colony for the shareholders of the 
 new banks. 
 
 The British settlers complained very bitterly that the 
 contracts for these buildings had been given, without 
 being advertised for, to Americans, who employed 
 American workmen and used American timber in their 
 construction. Thus much money had been expended 
 in foreign labour, from which the Colony received no 
 benefit whatever, whilst the foreign contractors found 
 it convenient to slip away to California on receipt of the 
 stipulated sums, leaving workmen, bakers, and butchers 
 all in the lurch. There were many competent provin- 
 cials in New Westminster at the time who ought to 
 have been allowed to send in tenders ; and although the 
 employment of foreign contractors may not be con- 
 sidered a monstrous grievance, still it is to be regretted 
 that tenders were not called for from the resident 
 mechanics, as in a small place, of only two or three 
 hundred people, the amount of money expended would 
 have done considerable good. 
 
 The greater number of the white inhabitants of 
 New Westminster, indeed of the entire territory, are 
 men who once lived in the States of America, and who 
 have foresworn their allegiance to their queen and 
 country, and become American citizens. Their new 
 oath binds them to fight against their own countrymen 
 if necessary ; but such persons have no love of country, 
 no idea of patriotism. Their native land and its inhabi- 
 tants they denounce and hate. 
 
 As no doubt statistics of the sale of the New West- 
 minster town lots disposed of at auction on the 1st and 
 
 i 
 
 it 
 
SALES OF TOWN LOTS. 
 
 15 
 
 2nd of June, 1859, and on the 2nd of May, 18G0, will 
 prove interesting, I shall give a short statement of these. 
 In 1859 there were 310 lots sold, 8 remained unsold at 
 the close of the sale, and 112 were reserved for sale in 
 the United Kingdom and the British Colonies. How- 
 ever, the Secretary of State for the Colonies considered 
 such a course to be decidedly objectionable, and of no 
 use except to stimulate the acquisition of property by 
 non-residents, which is one of the worst evils to which 
 a new community is hable. The provision of their 
 reserve was therefore rescinded. On the first day of 
 the resume sale, 132 lots were disposed of, and 178 on 
 the second. The gross amount realised by the sale was 
 17,800/. The highest price paid on any one lot was 
 given by myself, namely, 385/. This would have been 
 high even had the site of the capital been cleared ; but 
 that such a large sum should have been realised for 
 land upon which much must be expended before even 
 temporary habitations can be erected, can only be 
 accounted for by the extraordinary excitement of the 
 time. I am not one of those who place an undue 
 value on town lot sales as indicative of future prosperity 
 to the locality. In 18G0 there were only 33 lots sold 
 in all, there being no bidders. The gross amount of 
 the sale was 5,350/. This is not by any means exces- 
 sive when it is considered that there are Government 
 buildings to be erected, and some have been built, if 
 not upon these lots, at least in the neighbourhood. 
 Indeed, in all towns and villages property continues 
 increasing in value as buildings and improvements go 
 on ; and I am sorry to say, that so little was the demand 
 for New Westminster lots at the time I was leaving 
 the country, that I was obliged to sell mine for less 
 than half what I had paid for them. 
 
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 ■ !iii'f 
 
 IG ESTABLISHMENTS OF THE HUDSON S BAY COMPANY. 
 
 Previous to Colonel Moody's arrival in British 
 Columbia, Governor Douglas had a town site covering 
 900 acres of land, laid out at Fort Langley, a place on 
 the left bank of the Fraser, twenty-eiglit miles from its 
 mouth. This site was divided into 183 blocks of 5 
 + 10 chains, and each block was subdivided into 18 
 building lots of 64 -|- 120 feet in extent. These lots 
 were sold on the 28i;h of Noveml)er, 1858, being the 
 first sale of public lands in that colony. The upset 
 p ice was /S'lOO, or 20/. 16.9. 8(/. per lot. 178 lots were 
 sold on the first day, and 155 on the second day, realis- 
 iiii^ in all about ].4,580/. The prices obtained ranged 
 from ;^100 to ^725. 
 
 Upon Colonel Moody's arrival, however, this site was 
 very properly condemned by him, and one chosen 
 farther down the river, on its riglit bank, as already 
 mentioned, called 'New Westminster.' The purchasers 
 of the lots at Fort Langley were allowed to exchange 
 them for lots in the new capital. It is difficult to con- 
 ceive how so objectionable a site as the one cliosen at 
 Fort Langley could ever have been thought of ; and it 
 was a very fortunate thing that Colonel Moody arrived 
 in time to insist upon the change. 
 
 In several parts of British Columbia the Hudson's 
 Bay Company have trading estabhshments for traffick- 
 ing with the native tribes. The buildings are all con- 
 structed on the same general plan, and located on the 
 banks of lakes and rivers. In ascendinc: Fraser Eiver 
 from New Westminster, the first of these ports arrived 
 at is Fort Langley, thirteen miles from New West- 
 minster. This is an extensive and important station, 
 where the Com]iany keep a large quantity oi ^oods. It 
 is in fact a distributing point to places above, and hither 
 the Indian trappers and hunters resort for supplies. The 
 
DEMORALISATION OP THE INDIANS. 
 
 17 
 
 Company have here a farm of considerable extent, 
 well stocked with cattle and horses, which keep in 
 pretty fair condition considering the coarseness of tlie 
 grass. The land is good and produces fair crops, 
 although never very heavy ones. The Indians in the 
 neighbourhood are sadly demoralised, and useless for 
 any occupation except the chase. The next post is 
 sixty miles farther up, known as Fort Hope, and con- 
 sists of three or four block buildings with an enclosure. 
 The buildings are in a dilapidated state, yet the trade 
 carried on in them is very large. The next place is 
 Fort Yale, thirteen miles from Fort Hope, where there 
 has been lately erected a commodious block store. 
 Fifty miles hence is situate Fort Dallas, and about 
 thirty-four miles above Dallas is Fort Berens. Deflecting 
 about eighty miles east Fort Thompson is reached, 
 which is situated on the north branch of Thompson's 
 Fork, not far distant from the junction with the main 
 stream. This is the only post the Company have in 
 British Columbia to the east of Fraser River. One 
 hundred and thirty miles above Fort Berens is Fort 
 Alexander, named after Sir Alexander Mackenzie, who 
 in 1793 pointed out the spot as favourable for a trading 
 station. This is an important point on the east bank 
 of the Fraser, nearly in latitude 53" north. Besides 
 these may be enumerated Fort Chilcotine, fifty-seven 
 miles south-west from Alexander ; Fort George, a 
 hundred miles north of Alexander; and the less im- 
 portant stations of Fort Fraser, Macleod, and St. James. 
 In the extreme north-west of British Columbia is Fort 
 Simpson, adjacent to the Russian possessions, which is 
 tlie mart for the tribes of Queen Charlotte's Island. It 
 is named after the late Sir George Simpson, for thirty- 
 five years the Chief Governor of tlie Company, who 
 
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 18 
 
 FUR TRADE OP Till;: HUDSON S BAY COMPANY. 
 
 died on September 7, 1860. The fur trade is carried 
 on by the Company, over a much wider field than the 
 territory of Britisli Columbia, the whole northern Con- 
 tinent being within their comprehensive system. This 
 extensive range of country is divided into five depart- 
 ments, in each of which there are several established 
 posts, with a depot where the goods for the trade are 
 kept for distribution among these posts : — 
 
 Dopartmcnta 
 Northern . 
 Southern . 
 Montreal . 
 
 D^pot No. of Posts 
 . York Factoiy, Hudson's Bay . .09 
 
 . Moose Factory 42 
 
 . Lachine 22 
 
 ■-}i'- 
 +1 
 
 Oregon 
 Western . 
 
 . Fort Vancouver, Washington territory 16 
 . Victoria, Vancouver's Island . .15 
 
 .*s 
 
 Thus there are altogether 104 estabhshments, ex- 
 clusive of flying posts, under the sovereignty of this 
 important mercantile firm, wliich pays a dividend of at 
 least ten per cent, on its capital of 500,000/., or 
 50,000/. a-year. Surely this is a forcible proof of 
 what may be extracted from materials so unpromising 
 as the icy plains, the obstructed rivers, the dreary 
 lakes, the wild forests, and the altogether inhospitable 
 climate of British North America, by indomitable 
 energy in commercial enterprise. 
 
 I am not one of those who find fault with every- 
 thing that the Iludson's Bay Company do, nor do I 
 believe tliat business cannot be carried on under their 
 ' monopoly,' as some term it. They have been the 
 pioneers of civilisation in these back settlements, and 
 they have shown the greatest kindness and humanity 
 towards the Indian tribes, when the Americans shot 
 them down like dogs for mere amusement, considering 
 it a very good joke to shoot one at long range, and see 
 him jump as the fatal bullet pierced his heart. It 
 
LIBERAL rOLlCY OF THE COMPANY. 
 
 19 
 
 is Utterly absurd to say that the Hudson's Cay 
 Company is an obstacle to the developcment of the 
 country. Trade and commerce never fail to promote 
 reciprocal advantages, if they be not diverted, crippled, 
 or restrained by narrow policy or local interests. The 
 laws of trade, indeed, are superior to all human legis- 
 lation. They will work out their own channels, and 
 carry their products to those marts which hold out the 
 strongest inducements. The colonies of British Co- 
 lumbia and Vancouver's Island owe much to the Com- 
 pany for their having kept provisions, during the great 
 rush in 1858, from reaching famine prices ; and this 
 is not the only instance in which they have shown 
 both foresight and liberality. 
 
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 CHAPTER II. 
 
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 1 
 
 Climate — Soil — Geological Researches — Natural Productions — Mineral 
 Wealth of the Country — Colonial Estimates for 1802— Laws — Want 
 of Postal Arrangements — Country not adapted to Agricultural Pur- 
 suits — Salt Marsh, little or no Prairie — A Plagiie of Mosquitoes — 
 Luxuries of London ought not to be expected in the Backwoods — 
 Privations and Change of Social Position in a new Country — Ro- 
 mantic Hopes — Wealth and Labour — Superiority of Educated Labour 
 in the Wilderness — Agriculture, to flourish, must have a Market for its 
 surplus Productions. 
 
 The temperature of a place depends principally upon 
 its distance from the equator; there are, however, 
 numerous exceptions to this general law ; some places 
 more remote from the equator being warmer than 
 others which are nearer to it. Moreover, the tem- 
 perature of a place also depends upon the elevation 
 above the level of the sea and its vicinity to the ocean. 
 The higher you ascend above the general surface, the 
 colder the air becomes. Even at the equator, the 
 summits of lofty mountains are perpetually covered 
 with snow. In British Columbia the winters are long 
 and cold, the summers short and hot ; and, although 
 the cUmate is severe, spring is sudden, and the powers 
 of animal and vegetable nature seem to compensate 
 themselves, to some extent, by extraordinary vigour 
 and activity for the short respite allowed them from 
 the long torpor of winter. London, indeed, has a 
 warmer winter than Washington, though the latter is 
 about 850 miles farther south, yet the summer in 
 England is much colder than that of Canada. 
 
VARIABLE CLIMATK OP BIUTISII COLUMBIA. 
 
 2f 
 
 -Mineral 
 !— Want 
 iral Pur- 
 
 [uitoea — 
 woods — 
 ry — Ro- 
 d Labour 
 ket for its 
 
 y upon 
 )wever, 
 5 places 
 ir than 
 e tem- 
 evation 
 ocean. 
 Lce, the 
 or, the 
 overed 
 re long 
 hough 
 owers 
 ensate 
 vigour 
 from 
 has a 
 tter is 
 er in 
 
 We gather from the Penny Magazine that an 
 ingenious theory was some years ago proposed by Mr. 
 Lyell, namely, that all the indications of the former 
 prevalence of warmer climates may be accounted for 
 by a different distribution of land and water ; and we 
 know from geological appearances that a very diffe- 
 rent proportion of superficial land and water must 
 formerly have existed in the northern hemisphere from 
 that which we now find. It is not very easy to state 
 the groiuids of this theory in an abridged form, but 
 the following explanation will, perhaps, convey an 
 intelligible idea of it. "Wherever there is a great 
 expanse of water, like the sea, there is always a more 
 uniform temperature in the adjoining countries through- 
 out the year, less extremes of heat and cold. On the 
 contrary, extensive tracts of land are Hable to con- 
 siderable vicissitudes, and hence the difference of an 
 insular and continental climate in the same parallel of 
 latitude. Victoria in Vancouver's Island, and New 
 Westminster in British Columbia, are nearly in the 
 same latitude, but while at the former place there is 
 comparatively a mild and equable climate, at New 
 Westminster the climate is cold and variable. Moscow 
 and Edinburgh are very nearly in the same latitude, 
 but while at the latter place there is neither extreme 
 cold nor excessive heat, at Moscow the cold in winter 
 is sometimes so intense as to freeze quicksilver, and 
 there are often days in summer as hot as at Naples. 
 In like manner, the higher you ascend, the colder the 
 air becomes; and tlius in lofty mountains, such as 
 -^tna, the sugar-cane grows at the foot, and the lichens 
 of Lapland at the summit. In the lofty mountains of 
 South America are regions of eternal snow under an 
 equatorial sun. If we suppose, therefore, extensive 
 
 ■ -m 
 
9a 
 
 MKTKOUoLOCilCAfi OUSF.UVATIONS. 
 
 K 
 
 ■h\\ 
 
 { : St'! !(■ 
 
 
 ilH 
 
 ' I! 
 
 Ml 
 
 
 ■!! 
 
 * !;• 
 
 .'•it 
 
 continents, lofty mountains, and numerous islands to 
 have existed in soutliern latitudes, wliere there is now 
 a wide expanse of" sea, and an ocean to have occupied 
 the place of northern Europe and Asia, it will be 
 readily conceived, from the principles above stated, 
 that very diflerent climates would exist in the northern 
 hemisphere from what now prevail. 
 
 Exa^'i^erated accounts have been spread in Europe 
 concerning the chmate of British Columbia. It has not 
 the clear skies and line bracing atmosi)here of Canada, 
 as snow, sleet, rain and fog visit the settler in rapid suc- 
 cession, and the winter is, as I have already said, long, 
 commencing in September and lasting until May, whilst 
 the temperature is severe, the thermometer at times 
 falling 30° below zero. The summer heat much re- 
 sembles that of Canada, averaging, according to report, 
 80° at mid-day. Unfortunately, I have not been fur- 
 nished with figures from the observations taken at the 
 Military Camp, New Westminster. Application was 
 made to Captain Parsons, R.E., an ofHcer of lemark- 
 ably obliging disposition, and an enthusiast in meteoro- 
 logical matters, for an epitome of these observations, 
 but he could not furnish it without his superior officer's 
 direct sanction. This was not obtained ; but, under 
 the impression that the information might be taken 
 from notices whicli have appeared from time to time 
 in the Victoria paper, the following results were sup- 
 plied by Colonel Moody's durections : — 
 
 Minhiium Temperature of Air, 1859. 
 
 May 
 
 '» 
 
 mean 
 
 temp, of air 
 
 J lino 
 
 min. 
 
 »' >» 
 
 n 
 
 mean 
 
 '< »i 
 
 July 
 
 min. 
 mean 
 
 
 320 
 55-3 
 39-5 
 61-0 
 
 39-0 
 ni-7 
 
fCXPLORATIOXS OF CAITAIN HLAKISTON. 
 
 80 
 
 Aagmt . 
 
 niin. 
 
 temp, of nir . 
 
 M 
 
 monn 
 
 M »» 
 
 St'picmbcr 
 
 mill. 
 
 M M • 
 
 rf 
 
 moan 
 
 M M 
 
 Octr>bor 
 
 niiii. 
 
 M M • 
 
 n 
 
 mean 
 
 M M 
 
 42*0 
 
 r.a7 
 
 3.S0 
 5(5-1 
 20-5 
 
 451) 
 
 Information as to the winter season, rather than the 
 summer months, would have been more satisfaetory ; 
 but, if men are well clothed and fed, they are a match 
 for the severest weather. It may be remarked tliat 
 the spot chosen for taking the observations is not free 
 from objection, being sheltered by military buildings 
 and by nature, and no doubt very picturesquely em- 
 bosomed in the forest ; but such places are not the 
 most desirable ft)r truthful meteorological observations. 
 
 The energetic and truly enthusiastic explorer. Cap- 
 tain Thomas Blakiston, R.A., who has just received 
 from the Royal Geographical Society the patrons' 
 gold medal for his admirable survey of the Yang-tse- 
 Kiang, gives us some very valuable information as to 
 climate in his very able Report on the Red River 
 territory in British North America. lie informs us 
 that the mean annual temperature of the whole inte- 
 rior is lower than that of Canada ; that while the 
 mean temperature in the southern part is nearly equal 
 to that of Toronto, the winter climate is much more 
 severi.' ; and that the spring temperature of the western 
 plahis, in latitude 53° north, notwithstanding their eleva- 
 tion, nearly equals that of Toronto, 8° farther south. 
 This gentleman tells us also, with respect to the Red 
 River and Saskatchewan country, that although the 
 smnmer temperature is high, yet the thermometer 
 generally falls to the freezing point at the end of May 
 and August, and tluit occasionally frosts occur in evejy 
 
 
 •i 
 
 ■ I 
 
 '■ '1- 1 
 
 
■ ■jr 
 
 24 
 
 PERIODS WHEN RIVERS NAVIGABLE. 
 
 \l' 
 
 ... " 3 , 
 
 
 iiioiitli ill tlic year. lie states that he has himself, at 
 2,000 feet above the sea, registered the thermometer 
 at 80° on July 17, in latitude 53° ; and but nine 
 days after, not having changed his altitude more than 
 1,000 feet, and to the south of the former position, 
 seen it at 31° at sunrise. He also states that the most 
 exceptional phenomena sometimes occur. In March 
 1858, after two days of magnificent auroral displays and 
 intense magnetic disturbance, a cyclone or revolving 
 storm, which at Eed Eiver, on the 14th, was accom- 
 panied by thunder, passed over the country, bringing 
 rain and a rapid thaw ; a few days afterwards the 
 thermometer was at 2°, and had been 25° below zero 
 on the 1st of the month. 
 
 Although Lake Winnipeg is seldom navigable before 
 June, yet the Eed Eiver and Saskatchewan, having 
 been closed for the previous five months, usually break 
 up about the middle of April ; however, this also 
 varies, for on May 1, 1860, Captain Blakiston crossed 
 the Eed Eiver at 49° parallel on the ice with horses, 
 while on the same day, the snow being on the ground, 
 the thermometer rose to 74°. Altogether, Captain 
 Blakiston's Eeport is most interesting, giving, in very 
 small compass, a great deal of valuable information. 
 
 Indeed, all well-informed travellers represent the 
 cUmute as extremely variable, and the transitions, 
 though periodically regular, as remarkably sudden, if 
 not violent. 
 
 From a circular issued by Her Majesty's Emigration 
 Commissioners we learn that a Mr. M'Lean, one of the 
 Hudson's Bay Company's servants, stated that at 
 Stewart's Lake, in the month of July, lie experienced 
 every possible change of weather within twelve hours : 
 frost in the morning, scorching heat at noon, and then 
 
EXTREMES OP HEAT AND COLD. 
 
 2tf 
 
 rain, liail, and snow. Tlie winter season is subject to 
 the same vicissitudes, though not in such extremes. 
 Ml'. A. C. Anderson, late chief trader of the Hudson's 
 Bay Company's service, a gentleman personally known 
 to me, and on whose evidence I would place reliance, 
 states that snow begins to fall in the mountains early in 
 October ; that the summer chmate about the forks of 
 the Thompson Eiver is dry, and the heat great ; that 
 during winter the thermometer indicates occasionally 
 from 20° to 30° below zero of Fahrenheit, but that 
 such severe cold seldom lasts on the upper parts of 
 Eraser's Eiver for more than three days. The ther- 
 mometer will then continue to fluctuate between zero 
 and the freezing point, until, possibly, another interval 
 of severe cold arrives.* 
 
 * The Columbian correspondent of the Times (Feb. G, 1862) 
 siiys: 'The approaches to the country are now sealed to every 
 means of travelling except on snow shoes, for between the Forks 
 of Quesnell, the nearest inhabited place, and Cariboo, there are 
 eighteen to twenty feet of snow ; ' and (March 25, 1862) * the 
 Chinese who came to this country cannot endure the rigour of the 
 British Columbian winter ; consequently, they have nearly all left 
 for California.' 
 
 In Blue Book, part iv. on British Columbian affairs, issued on the 
 1st of April of this year, I find the following remarks from Governor 
 Douglas in respect to climate : — 
 
 Page 4. — * The roads leading into the country from Hope and 
 Yale have, in consequence of the great depth of snow in the moun- 
 tain passes, been impassable since the beginning of winter to any 
 other mode of transport than by Indian packers.' 
 
 Page 12. — 'While the route is in winter rendered altogether 
 impassable by the great depth of snow.' 
 
 Page 23. — 'The only drawback is the shortness of the working 
 season, which they represent as limited, on the one hand, by the 
 Hooded state of thr river in summer, and, on the other, by the 
 severe cold in winter, which is found to have the effect of preventing 
 the amalgamation of the fine particles of gold.' 
 
 *;' 
 
 
 h^ v-i 
 
 , ! 
 
 r ■■■:% 
 
 s--, 
 
 *;»■' 
 
 ■ym 
 
 '■' PHi 
 
If i4 
 
 «n; 
 
 ill 
 
 
 i 
 
 26 
 
 SUPERIORITY OF THE CLIMATE OF ENGLAND. 
 
 During winter, a traveller northwards in the high- 
 lands of British Columbia must envelope himself in 
 furs to a most inconvenient degree. Horses have been 
 suffocated from ice forming in their nostrils, and their 
 hoofs have burst from the effect of the cold. The 
 raven only, that dark bird of winter, still cleaves the 
 icy air with slow and heavy wing. Inanimate nature 
 yields to the same mighty power. Masses of rock and 
 boulders are torn from their ancient sites ; huge trees 
 are rent asunder, and become icebound to the very 
 heart, splintering the axe of the woodman like glass. 
 The cold is something incredible northwards along the 
 lofty mountain chains, and forcibly recalls to the 
 wearied frost-bitten explorer the sad lot of the wretched 
 exiles in the frost-bound plains of Siberia. 
 
 Tlie climate, therefore, surely does not resemble that 
 of England ; nor is it, as some interested writers have 
 
 Page 30. — * It will lose much of its value unless it be kept open 
 for traffic m winter, by sending out parties of men on snow-shoes 
 to beat the roads after every fall of snow.' 
 
 Page 46. — 'The cold weather put a stop to all mining opera- 
 tions.' 
 
 Page 49. — 'The whole face of the country was still deeply 
 covered with snow.' 
 
 Page 50. — 'The snow, which hitherto had averaged about two 
 feet and a half, commenced to be much deeper, and everything wore 
 the aspect of unbroken winter.' 
 
 Page 51. — ' The rest of the miners were living in holes dug out 
 of the snow, which was between six and seven feet deep.' 
 
 The Canadian News, April 10, 18G2 : 'A thermometer at the 
 Forks, on the morning of the 1st ult., stood eighteen degrees below 
 zero, and at Beaver Lake on the following day, twenty-seven degrees 
 below zero. Snow lay on the ground to the depth of three feet. All 
 the trails were impassable for animals, and our informant and his 
 party footed it to Lillooet. In the diggings nothing was doing. Tlie 
 snow was very deep on Antler Creek, where twenty-fivo men aio 
 wintering.' 
 
,11 
 
 Iiien luc 
 
 EFFECTS OF A VAEIABLE ATMOSPHERE ON HEALTH. 27 
 
 declared, 'Superior to that of Devonshire, and quite 
 Italian.' The merest schoolboy knows that this coun- 
 try is not subject to such sudden and extreme changes 
 as I have noted from my own personal observation and 
 from the experience of gentlemen above suspicion. The 
 sunless forests, too, from their density and extent, shel- 
 ter masses of snow, which render the currents of air 
 excessively cold and damp. In these dreary lands con- 
 sumption and inflammatory complaints are very common, 
 and few escape rheumatism : it should, therefore, not be 
 overlooked by the head of a family, that a long sickness 
 in the backwoods is famine and utter ruin. Li the 
 Avdnter of 1860 the Fraser Eiver had been frozen over, 
 and many perished from starvation and exposure. 
 Early in September 1859, we on the Boundary Com- 
 mission were visited with a heavy snow-storm, the 
 thermometer ranging from 82° in the day to 2G° at 
 night, which made the handling of instruments not so 
 agreeable as the handling of roasted potatoes. Even at 
 Victoria, in Vancouver's Island, in the vicinity of the 
 ocean, the therm^, meter stood at 26° below zero in the 
 beginning of November 1859 ; and, owing to a fall 
 of snow, several feet in depth, sledging became the 
 only mode of external locomotion. 
 
 A suitable temperature is a consideration of very 
 great importance to the emigrant, as its irfluence on 
 production is very marked. A hot climate not only 
 enervates the body, but enfeebles the mind ; it also 
 diminishes the utility of money; and, by rendering 
 houses and clothing less necessary, reheves the inliabi- 
 tants of one great spur to industry and invention. In a 
 very cold one, on the other hand, the powers of nature 
 are benumbed, and the difficulty of preserving life 
 leaves but little time for rendering it comfortable. The 
 
 
 
 
r^ 
 
 iii^:i 
 
 lltiii! 
 
 t ^^i';^' 
 
 , ill.;. 
 
 ^ l,;!!l 
 
 
 f!: 
 
 : 
 
 I . 
 
 ill! 
 
 in 
 
 ■I 
 
 liiil 
 
 28 OPENIj^^O op BRITISH COLUMBIA TO COLONISATION". 
 
 temperature which seems most favourable to the deve- 
 lopement of manufacturing industry is that which is 
 also most conducive to health and longevity, imparting 
 vigour to the frame and force to the intellect ; and, if 
 we may judge from the past, it is foimd especially, if 
 not exclusively, in the eastern hemisphere between the 
 parallels of 45° and 55°, and in the western between 
 39° and 45°, north latitude. Climate exercises also a 
 direct influence upon the durabiHty of buildings, the 
 working of machinery, the dyeing of fabrics, &c., and 
 thus becomes an important element in many kinds of 
 manufactures. Its vicissitudes are so variously esti- 
 mated by dijBerent persons, that it is difficult to describe 
 the atmospheric condition of any country so as to avoid 
 the imputation of undue praise or unwarrantable repro- 
 bation. Doubtless, however, the finest cUmate is that 
 under the influence of which one can Hve the longest, 
 work the hardest, be least dependent upon artificial 
 comforts, and have the fewest ailments. To anyone 
 seeking this standard, the cUmate of British Columbia 
 would not be alluring. 
 
 Many persons fancy that a gem of the brightest lustre 
 was added to the diadem of the Queen by the withdrawal 
 of the province of British Columbia from the jurisdiction 
 of the Hudson's Bay Company, and its having been 
 thrown open to colonisation. Nothing, however, can be 
 farther from the fact ; the territory is extremely rugged, 
 and, as is already remarked, is crossed by high mountain 
 ranges, many of which are covered towards the sum- 
 mit with perpetual snow, and towards the base with 
 dense forests of pine, fir, cedar, cotton wood, alder, and 
 brush. The reports of the richness of the soil are, to a 
 great degree, fabulous. The largest portion of the 
 entire territory is an inhospitable wilderness, wild in 
 
EXTENDED AGRICULTURAL PURSUITS NOT PRACTICABLE. 29 
 
 the extreme, difficult of access, and inhabited only by- 
 Indians, a few factors of the Hudson's Bay Company, 
 and, with rare exceptions, the rudest outcasts of society. 
 It is useless to disguise the fact, that the country is not 
 adapted to agricultural pursuits on any extensive scale. 
 As, however, the rich soil of Upper Canada is not 
 generally found on the immediate banks of lakes and 
 rivers, it is to be hoped that good land may yet be dis- 
 covered in the unexplored regions of British Columbia. 
 Still, it is hard to believe that this dependency will be 
 fully peopled, or that its natural capabilities will render 
 it a desirable home for Britons. It wants fine land ; it 
 wants prairie ; it wants cUmate ; it wants everything, 
 except snow, sleet, and rain. It has not the American 
 prairie nor the Austrahan plain, so beautiful, fertile, 
 and fitted for pasturage and husbandry. Its agricul- 
 tural and grazing facilities are incomparably inferior to 
 those of the United States, the Cape, New Zealand, 
 Austraha, or the Canadas. When the intending emi- 
 grant hears of the mellow Italian softness of the climate, 
 the balmy fragrance of the atmosphere, the serenity of 
 the sky, that the mere upturning of the plough is all that 
 is needful to convert tlie whole territory into a fruitful 
 garden, let him not believe one word of it ; it is all 
 untrue. British Columbia is a miserable country, 
 neither adapted for cattle nor suited for cereals. To the 
 bold and intrepid, who desire a wandering and restless 
 life, who believe in the chances of getting rich by the 
 lucky acquisition of gold, these regions offer certain in- 
 ducements ; but to the industrious, prudent, orderly, and 
 virtuous man, all would be wretchedness. There are so 
 very many contradictory accounts of the state and pro- 
 spects of this territory, that the Englishman who may be 
 thinking of emigrating thither, must be utterly bewildered. 
 
 I: 
 
 
 ■■'■ ■" , :"> 
 
 ■' ■'■-■■♦v-.'i 
 
 :•- 1 
 
 :.m 
 
 
 -^^ % 
 
■" i 
 
 •^llll 
 
 li; 
 
 t 
 
 
 
 '4 : 
 
 i;a 
 
 
 
 ;.'•» 
 
 ifh 
 
 ]V; 
 
 ii« 
 
 '',1 
 
 !!5 
 
 If ! 
 
 W 
 
 30 EXAGGERATED REPORTS CONCERNING THE COLONY. 
 
 These inconsistent statements arise, in a great mea- 
 sure, from the interests or prejudice of tlie writers ; and 
 the present work has been solely prompted by an lionest 
 and earnest desire to warn my countrymen against 
 much of what has been written of the salubrity of cU- 
 mate and the fertihty of soil. These have been greatly 
 exaggerated, and those who beheve in such reports 
 must certainly meet with disappointment. Common 
 humanity demands that the truth regarding these be 
 made publicly known, as they ought to form the first 
 consideration with all emigrants, and as their inferiority 
 is the great obstacle to emigration. How few write 
 with the single view of enabling intending emigrants to 
 form a sound opinion on the choice of a destination I 
 Most persons are biassed in favour of the region over 
 which they themselves have travelled, and not a few 
 loudly commend what they have never seen ; some have 
 a pecuniary interest in the colony described, such as land- 
 jobbers, and the lying agents of capitahsts, who have 
 already made foolish investments ; some, again, hope to 
 mitigate the calamity of their position by trying to bring 
 others into the same scrape ; and some are well paid 
 for writing up what they know to be false. For the 
 authors of these wicked and cruel deceptions there is 
 no legal punishment ; but the cry of the ruined and the 
 heartbroken, who have been led by them to risk health, 
 capital, and happiness, will not pass unheeded or unre- 
 membered before the Great Judge of all men. 
 
 There are so many varieties of soil, originating, as 
 they do, in the destruction of rocks, a process in con- 
 stant operation, that it is only necessary to mention 
 those in which a particular ingredient predominates. 
 These may be primarily divided into sandy, gravelly, 
 clayey, calcareous, peaty, and alluvial. 
 

 ITS GREAT VARIETIES OP SOIL. 
 
 81 
 
 Sandy and gravelly soils owe their name to the 
 siliceous particles of which they are chiefly composed, 
 the fragments of stony matter being comparatively largo 
 in the latter, while in the former they are reduced to 
 powder. Gravelly soils are more productive than sandy 
 soils, although their cultivation is in most instances very 
 diflicult, owing to their loose and porous textiurc pre- 
 venting the profitable application of manure. In short, 
 both must be considered hungry soils, and best adapted 
 to pasturage. 
 
 Clayey soils are so named from their principal consti- 
 tuent, alumina ; and are characterised as stiff, heavy, or 
 cohesive — terms denoting the greater or less preva- 
 lence of their main ingredient. Pure clay is almost 
 impervious to water, and consequently vegetation on 
 such soil is either very scanty or wholly wanting. 
 
 In addition to the bodies already mentioned, cal- 
 careous matter, such as lime, chalk, or marl, must enter 
 into the composition of every soil having any preten- 
 sions to fertihty ; for though, in some cases, it may be 
 dispensed with, it is impossible to bring most crops to 
 perfection without it. 
 
 Peaty soils, again, are formed by successive layers of 
 vegetable matter, such as leaves, trunks, branches, and 
 roots of trees, together with herbaceous plants of every 
 description. This soil accumulates but slowly, requir- 
 ing centuries for its production, although in some cases, 
 as in Ireland for instance, the turf sometimes gains two 
 inches in a year, thus adding considerably to the thick- 
 ness of the soil. Without entering further upon this 
 subject, it may be said, that as peat moss always 
 originates in some moist spot, it is hostile to vegeta- 
 tion, and is generally difficult to bring under profitable 
 cultivation. 
 
 ■ '■ -m 
 
 '■■*' 5 
 
 . ■ 'M 
 
 
!l i 
 
 if 
 
 32 CLASSIFICATION OF THE SOILS MAINLY MET WITH. 
 
 I 1 ' !;i! 
 
 ,vi I I 
 
 Alluvial soils are formed by the deposition of earthy 
 matters, which have been suspended in tlie water of 
 tides and rivers. They consist, therefore, of a variety 
 of ingredients, though composed chiefly of those already 
 described, and are naturally fertile, or capable of being 
 rendered so. 
 
 Having thus generally grouped the different soils, and 
 having partially indicated the productive quahties of 
 each, it would be well to state which sort is mainly 
 met with in the explored portions of British Columbia. 
 For the sake of clearness, they are classified according 
 to their predominance, the first being the most 
 extensive : — 
 
 Sandy and gravelly, largely. 
 
 Alluvial. 
 
 Clayey. 
 
 Peaty. 
 
 It may be unnecessary to state that these soils com- 
 bined in various proportions form a receptacle for 
 materials capable of affording nourishment to plants. 
 Although British Columbia possesses hmestone, which 
 is a common indication of fertihty, its effects are neutra- 
 lised by the predominance of magnesia in the compo- 
 sition of the stone. Agricultural chemistry is, to a 
 certain extent, an unattractive study, yet it is essential 
 that it should be well understood by those who expect 
 any rehance to be placed upon their opinions. The 
 constant publication, therefore, in Blue Books and 
 other official documents, of reports on the quality of the 
 soil of British Columbia, emanating from the Chief 
 Justice and others, who, from the peculiar nature of 
 their caUing, have neither gone through the requisite 
 course of study, nor acquired a practical knowledge of 
 agricultural affairs, is simply ridiculous. No one is 
 
1't 
 
 Til. 
 
 f earthy 
 vatcr of 
 L variety 
 ! already 
 of being 
 
 loils, and 
 ilities of 
 1 mainly 
 olumbia. 
 ccording 
 :ie most 
 
 PROBAULE VOLCANOES IX BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
 
 .13 
 
 oils com- 
 tacle for 
 plants, 
 le, which 
 neutra- 
 compo- 
 is, to a 
 essential 
 expect 
 ■IS. The 
 ks and 
 ty of the 
 e Chief 
 ture of 
 equisite 
 [ledge of 
 one is 
 
 3 
 
 qualified to report upon the quality and capabihties of 
 soil who has not had both a scientific and practical agr-i- 
 cultural education ; and this education or knowledge 
 is drawn from a great variety of sources, embracing 
 geology, mineralogy, chemistry, and botany. 
 
 There is, as yet, too little known of the rocks and 
 table-lands between the Eocky Mountains, the Pacific 
 Ocean, and Eussian America, to pronounce upon the 
 wide-spread tertiary strata which cover them ; but cer- 
 tain considerations connected with physical geography 
 suggest that the plains contain various freshwater sedi- 
 ments, and make it probable that a considerable portion 
 is of the miocene date. However, it may be stated 
 that this extensive irregular and mountainous tract 
 embraces rocks of all ancient epochs, from the hypozoic 
 to the coal formation inclusive, and also that it contains 
 many igneous rocks of various ages. 
 
 The geological constitution of the Eocky Mountain 
 chains is still very imperfectly known. Granite and 
 important outcrops of the true gneissic strata are recog- 
 nised, however, throughout nearly the entire range ; 
 and between the loftier ridges are high plateaus 
 composed of cretaceous and tertiary deposits. 
 
 The Cascade Mountains are chiefly composed of 
 granite and igneous rocks, dating from the earliest 
 gneissic and granite masses of the primordial crust to 
 the latest deposits, and eruptions of post-tertiary and 
 existing times. Indeed, there are many indications of 
 recent eruptions, and much to lead us to suppose that 
 volcanoes still smoulder beneath the surface which will 
 one day burst forth in all their terrors anl magnificence. 
 On two or three occasions the author has felt rather 
 severe shocks whilst traversing this mountain range. 
 
 Corals and shells are frequently met with in these 
 
 D 
 
 ■ »i 
 ■•T- 
 
 
 
 ... 'M 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 ■rM 
 
34 
 
 GEOLOGICAL RESEARCHES IN THE COLONY. 
 
 H 
 
 w 
 
 m 
 
 ■?'!( 
 
 ill! 
 ji 
 
 high regions, where the strata are bent and contorted 
 in the most extraordinary manner, as if they liad been 
 acted npon by some powerful force wliile yet in a flexible 
 state. If these elevated strata were deposited in the 
 depths of ocean, how mighty must have been the 
 force which raised them to tlie summits of the highest 
 mountains ; how powerful the agent which eflected so 
 marvellous a change! 
 
 In making a comparative statement, it may be said 
 that the ancient secondary formations constitute pro- 
 bably the greater part of the Continent of British 
 North America. In many districts, the rocky floor of 
 the country is covered with a complex group of deposits, 
 consisting of three or more formations, denoting at least 
 three distinct epochs, and at least three distinct changes 
 in the physical geography. This formation is now 
 commonly known as the 'Northern Boulder Drift.' 
 
 The mountains and hills in the interior of British 
 Columbia rise bold and rugged, with many benches or 
 terraces on their sides, on which are found large 
 boulders and fragments of rock of coarse-grained 
 granite, containing yellow and black mica in large 
 quantities, the former closely resembhng gold, and 
 easily deceiving the uninitiated ; but the disintegrated 
 particles are so much hghter, that, by the use of water, 
 their micaceous nature is soon detected. The granite 
 is occasionally porphyritic, the crystals of felspar being 
 numerous but small. 
 
 In many localities along the Eiver Eraser quartz veins 
 are met with passing through the clay slate and indi- 
 cating metalliferous deposits, as also quartz gravels, and 
 blue and white clay, in which the richest gold deposit 
 is found, especially in the blue clay. Moreover, the 
 beds of the principal rivers and streams abound with 
 
ITS VARIED MINERAL DEPOSITS. 
 
 1)5 
 
 l)oiil(lor.s of granite of every description and colour, 
 beside greenstone and trap. There are also bordering 
 upon, and in tlie vicinity of, tlie Fraser, basalt, porphyry, 
 .'uid granite, in which good specimens of copper have 
 been discovered, as also other evidences of the existence 
 of silver, lead, and other minerals. 
 
 Approaching the Cascade range from the Fraser is 
 found a species of variegated sandstone, in which are 
 evident traces of iron; and, indeed, in many localities 
 tlie exposed surfiice of the rocks is stained red witli 
 iron, and is partially covered with a white substance due 
 to the decomposition of felspar. 
 
 The coal measures of British Columbia consist of 
 argillaceous and siliceous sandstones and quartrose con- 
 glomerates, clays, and coal-slates, and of argillaceous 
 limestones, chiefly of marine origin. This carboni- 
 ferous group is as yet found only to exist along the sea- 
 coast at Burrard's Inlet, six or seven miles from New 
 Westminster ; although there is every reason to believe 
 that it underUes a considerable area ; still so many of 
 the reputed cases of coal discovered in the interior have 
 proved to be deposits of hgnite of cretaceous and even 
 tertiary age, that I am not disposed to assign any of 
 these to the true carboniferous formation. Altogether, 
 the character of the greater part of the explored portion 
 of the country indicates the probability of rich mineral 
 deposits. 
 
 Geological research has hitherto been very meagre 
 indeed. His Excellency the Governor has no faith in 
 its utility, yet geology is one of the noblest of sciences, 
 and a fundamental knowledge of it is essential to the 
 improvement of any country. What anatomy is to 
 the surgeon, geology is to the enlightened agricultu- 
 rist and miner; and if to 'know one's self more 
 
 V 2 
 
 
 1,1 
 
 . : t ■■,■♦ \ ..'. 
 
 , , • k- ■ *'.'■■' nil 
 
 ,' ^•..'..'•.^''■^l| 
 
3G IMrOHTANCK AND KXTKNT OF Tllh COAL FOKMATION. 
 
 ' 
 
 ■ illl'' 
 
 I'if: 
 
 .iSf. 1 
 
 
 ^ ^ 
 
 ' 
 
 ■ 
 
 1 
 
 i \ , 
 
 '" 
 
 i 
 
 really and intollectimlly in relation to one's Maker aiul 
 nei^Ltlilxnir be the highest and most useliil learning, and 
 if 5i(([uaintancc with one's physieal constitntion Ik; next 
 in ini[)()rtance, surely a knowledge of the; struetuii' of 
 the earth we inhabit, of the changes whieii tlnoiigh 
 myriads of ages it has inulergonc, Ji famiUarity with 
 the sources whence we derive our sustenance and our 
 materials for progressing in civilisation, would seem 
 entitled to rank at least third in the scale of impoit- 
 ance and value. 
 
 Eecent explorations have shown tluit gold is not the 
 only valuable mineral in the coimtry. Specimens of 
 silver, copper, and lead have been obtained, as also of 
 iron, coal, zinc, and quicksilver. There arc also various 
 kinds of stone, such as granite, sandst(me, limestone ; 
 also salt, and many other minerals. All this is satis 
 factory, and not many years hence we may have 
 valuable foundries in these mineral regioi s. Good 
 flagging stones are found in some places, and there is 
 no doubt of the existence of strata of marble. There- 
 fore it is deplorable that the ruling powers have not 
 yet sent an experienced geologist to explore and report, 
 without which these sources of wealth are not hkely 
 to be rendered available in our day and generation. 
 Coal is of paramount importance. The first discovery 
 made of this mineral in British Columbia was at Bur- 
 rard's Inlet, six miles from New Westminster, about 
 three years ago. We all know that this most valuable 
 substance lies at the root of all manufacturing and 
 mining operations, and surpasses all other natural pro- 
 ductions in the power of attracting population and 
 industry. 
 
 In reporting on the Red Rivei' Settlements, Captain 
 Blakiston remarks : — 
 
^TION. 
 
 OFFICIAL STATKMKNT REOARDIN'O COLOXIAL RKVENUK. 37 
 
 iker suul 
 
 iin,il, and 
 
 1)0. next 
 
 ll'tUlV »)f 
 
 •ity with 
 and our 
 lid seem 
 [' import- 
 is not the 
 cimens of 
 as also of 
 io various 
 imcstonc ; 
 lis is satis 
 nay have 
 s. Good 
 id there is 
 There- 
 have not 
 A report, 
 ot likely 
 leneration. 
 discovery 
 s at Bur- 
 er, about 
 It valuable 
 [iring and 
 [tural pro- 
 ttion and 
 
 Of conl, I believo tlmt none of secondary formation htw 
 yot Ix'cn found, except in the Arctii' Sea; but what is con- 
 sidered to be a tj'rtiary coal or lignite has been disooveri'd in 
 several phiees, and, curiously einiu;;h, thi; district in which it 
 exists is that in which wood, beinj;- rather scarce, it will in 
 time to como (shouhl it prove suitable for domestic and 
 steam jairijoses) be in large demand. 
 
 A small seam of nine inches in thickness was discovered 
 by Dr. Hector on the Assouri Kiver, near the international 
 boundary, in longitude 104° \V. It also exists in beds from 
 two to two and a-half feet in thickness on the ])anks of the 
 north branch of the Saskatchewan, at Fort Edmonton, and it 
 is said, with little interruption, to Hocky Mcjuntain House, 
 200 miles above, and as the formation containing this deposit 
 extends considerably to the south (lignite being found ou the 
 upper waters of the Missouri), the same substance will 
 probably be found in most of the tributaries of the south 
 branch. It has already been discovered on lied Deer Kiver, 
 in beds so close that out of twenty feet of strata twelve 
 were of coal. This coal of the Upper Saskatchewan is con- 
 sidered to be of a different age to that first louud, but no 
 report has yet appeared of its quality. I have seen it in 
 use at Fort Edmonton for the forge, where it is there 
 preferred to charcoal, but is said to require rather a strong 
 draught. 
 
 Captain Gosset, E.E., Treasurer of British Columbia, 
 stated, on the occasion of the celebration of the forty- 
 first anniversary of Her Majesty's birthday, in 1859, 
 the Customs amounted to 17,000/. The land sales of 
 the colony, with miners' certificates, business licenses, 
 court fines, &c., amounted, in the same year, to 30,600/. 
 Total, 47,600/. No person will dispute that the Cus- 
 toms' revenue is the true index, and that the news- 
 paper report of 150,000/. of revenue for the year 
 1859 is incorrect. The total colonial revenue for 1860 
 was only 53,326/. No return has yet been made for 
 
 ■ v.- 
 
 •<A '1 
 
 
 ''»,.... 
 
 '". -.'i- 
 
 /<:a: 
 
 '' v.v>rai 
 
 \ .>■. 
 
 i;';,,"Vj4| 
 
 
 
 
 ) •,';,'::,'f^ 
 
 'i;"; 
 
 " i''; ■fol 
 
 ^1- •■J 
 
 ,j 4^-«^'^3^ 
 
 Mi'. 
 
 
 ,'■■ 
 
 t'' '■■^/■' w^ 
 
 /;■ ' ; 
 
 '•' . \-'lf^ 
 
 
 
 '^:\ 
 
 ■v-s^j 
 
 ■>:-. ' '. 
 
 ' .^'^l^l'l 
 
 ■ .'. . .' 
 
 
h ■. 
 
 38 MORE PUBLIC METHOD OF EXPENDITURE DESIRABLE. 
 
 !!i!l!! 
 
 liii 
 
 ■II 
 
 I 
 
 the year 1861. The amount of land sales for the year 
 1860 was 10,962/. only, less by 7,915/. than the sales 
 of 1859 ; and I have icason to laiow, although there 
 is as yet no official return, that the land sales of 1861 
 figure considerably below that of 1860. Captain 
 Gosset is a man of large experience, who will prove 
 faithful to his trust, and who will moreover advocate 
 an increase of the sum allotted to works of acknow- 
 ledged public utihty, and a decrease of staff and its 
 concomitant expenses; whilst Mr. Hamley, collector 
 of customs, will superintend his charge with that 
 watchfulness which so prominently characterises him. 
 An increased revenue for the current year may be 
 confidently looked for, considering that great quantities 
 of merchandise have been forced up the Eraser early 
 in the season, in the hope of a large accession of miners 
 to the diggings. It would be wise in the Executive to 
 inform the inhabitants, from time to time, of the 
 manner in which the revenue is to be expended, as 
 the perpetuation of Government secresy on such mat- 
 ters, in so young a colony, can only result in disap- 
 pointment and bad feeling on the part of the people. 
 No good object can be gained by the reticence which 
 rulers and officials evince on such affairs of pubHc 
 interest. Frankness with a people always gives a 
 greater degree of confidence ; and it is only tyros in 
 statesmanship who, trying to ape the cunning of diplo- 
 macy, conceal the most trivial intentions of govern- 
 ment, as if they were carrying out some grand stroke 
 of MachiavelHan poHcy. We wish to see the utmost 
 publicity given to everything affecting the interest of 
 the colony. The money comes from the people, and 
 they ought to know the mannei- in which it is em- 
 ployed. Whilst information has been withheld in the 
 
BLE. 
 
 MAILS BETWEEN BRITISH COLUMBIA AND EUROPE. 39 
 
 the year 
 the sales 
 ^h there 
 of 1861 
 
 Captain 
 111 prove 
 advocate 
 acknow- 
 F and its 
 collector 
 s^ith that 
 dses him. 
 
 may be 
 [quantities 
 aser early 
 of miners 
 ecutive to 
 
 I 
 
 M 
 
 colony, it is satisfactory to find in the Blue Book 
 just published the estimates for the current year ; and 
 as these are of considerable interest, a tabular state- 
 ment of them is here given (see pp. 40-41). 
 
 Tlie civil and criminal laws of England, so far as 
 they are not inapplicable from local circumstances, 
 prevail throughout the colony, subject, of course, to 
 modification by the Queen in Council, or by local 
 legislation. 
 
 The existing arrangements for the transmission of the 
 mails between British Columbia and Europe are very 
 unsatisfactory ; the American steamers actually con- 
 veying them by favour, once in the three weeks, from 
 San Francisco to Vancouver's Island. Scores of letters 
 and newspapers, addressed to persons resident in the 
 colony, by friends at home, and vice versd, never reach 
 their destination. Some time ago, an announcement 
 appeared in a London paper respecting steam commu- 
 nication betw^een Panama and British Columbia. The 
 importance of such an arrangement is so great, that it 
 is earnestly to be hoped that, if not already agreed 
 upon, it will shortly be carried out. The statement 
 was that the tender of Lever and Co., tlie proprietors 
 of the Galway line, for the Australian mail service via 
 Panama, with a branch ofi" to British Columbia, had 
 been accepted. Then followed a correction, which set 
 forth that among the tenders sent in for the Austrahan 
 mail service via Panama, were the follow^ing : — The 
 West India Eoyal Mail Company, 220,000/. ; the 
 Cunard Company, 210,000/. ; Seymour, Peacock, and 
 Co., 130,000/. ; Lever and Co., 119,000/. The last- 
 named being so much lower than any of the others 
 led to the rumour that the Government had accepted 
 it : but not only had Lever and Co.'s tender not been 
 
 
 ':•'- !'^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 1'- ■ )J> T, ^ . 
 
 
 "'^.- -iv.; 
 
 
 
 
 ../&'M 
 
 
 t. 
 
40 
 
 r . 
 
 COLONIAL ESTIMATES, 
 
 :,4 " . 
 
 •I: ■' 
 
 m 
 
 m\- 
 
 Summary of the Detailed Estimates, showing the charge by 
 
 Establishments. 
 
 Deputmcnti 
 
 1. Gnvornor 
 
 2. Colonial Secretary . 
 
 3. Tre.nurer . 
 
 4. Auditor-General 
 
 !>. Assay and Refinery OflSce 
 r> Lands and Works 
 
 7. Customs and Revenue — 
 
 Customs Branch . 
 Revenue Brancli . 
 
 8. Gold Escort 
 
 9. Registrar-General 
 
 10. Post Office . 
 
 1 1 . Harbour M.ister 
 
 Administration of Justice. 
 
 12. Supreme Court . 
 
 13. Attorney-General 
 
 Police and Gaols. 
 
 14. At New Westminster 
 1.5. Douglas 
 
 16. Hope 
 
 17. Rock Creek . 
 
 18. Y-nle 
 l<). Lytton . 
 
 20. I.illooet. 
 
 21. Cariboo . 
 
 '2:1. Inspector of Steam Vessels 
 2.'). Redemption of Bonds 
 
 24. Interest .... 
 
 25. Charitable Allowances 
 2G. Lighthouses 
 
 Sslario 
 
 Fixed 
 
 £ 
 
 l^SO 
 1,700 
 1.H70 
 50l> 
 1,650 
 
 l,.S34 
 250 
 
 422 
 
 400 
 
 1,100 
 
 700 
 
 650 
 300 
 300 
 400 
 350 
 400 
 400 
 
 14,470 
 
 Unflxed 
 
 £ 
 
 150 
 1.50 
 ISO 
 
 1,492 
 
 1,110 
 
 800 
 
 i32 
 
 782 
 384 
 432 
 
 1,008 
 634 
 432 
 432 
 
 4,740 
 
 13,454 
 
 Allowances 
 
 £ a. d. 
 
 328 10 
 300 
 
 72 
 
 300 
 
 1,000 10 
 
 450 
 100 
 30 
 4i0 
 200 
 
 110 
 
 "so 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 20 
 
 60 
 50 
 
 SO 
 
 40 
 
 40 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 1.50 
 
 SO 
 
 300 
 
 2,510 
 
 Total 
 
 of 
 
 Eatab1ishni<'nti 
 
 £ S, (t. 
 
 1,.5.50 
 
 2,300 
 
 2,120 
 
 680 
 
 2,070 
 
 200 
 
 3,136 
 
 1,204 10 
 
 1,460 
 
 900 
 
 522 
 
 5.52 
 
 1,150 
 750 
 
 1,482 
 
 724 
 
 844 
 
 1,.508 r 
 
 I,i'84 
 
 982 
 
 882 
 
 S,340 
 
 31,440 10 C 
 
 It 
 
 •200 
 
 200 
 
 I' 
 
 < 
 
 1,100 
 200 
 
 1,300 
 
 iilHI 
 
 These are heavy Estimates, considering the revenue of the 
 colony ; so heavy, indeed, that it is very doubtful if the expenditure 
 
 However, the cost of living 
 
 can be met without resorting to a loan. 
 
41 
 
 IMATES, 
 
 i charge by 
 
 
 n 
 
 Itl 
 
 es" 
 
 i. 
 
 £ 
 
 
 
 • •• 
 
 
 
 • ■■ 
 
 
 
 ,„ 
 
 
 
 • •• 
 
 
 
 • •• 
 
 
 
 • •• 
 
 '200 
 
 I 3 
 I' 
 
 1,100 
 
 200 
 
 200 
 
 1,300 
 
 [ue of the 
 jxpenditure 
 Ist of living 
 
 BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
 
 Departments of the Colonial Government for the year 1862. 
 
 Exclusive of Establishments. 
 
 =1 
 
 9i 
 
 II 
 
 li 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 P 
 
 II 
 
 O 9 
 
 Hoadi, Street!, 
 
 and 
 
 Bridget 
 
 it 
 
 h 
 
 u 
 
 1° 
 
 Intcrcit 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 •a 
 3 
 
 TOTAL 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 £ 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 • •• 
 
 
 120 
 
 1,000 
 
 • •• 
 
 3,000 
 
 ••• ••• 
 
 400 
 
 • *• 
 
 , 
 
 • •■ 
 
 6,070 
 
 • •• 
 
 !•• 
 
 ... 
 
 50 
 
 • •• 
 
 • *. 
 
 • •• 
 
 100 
 
 • •• 
 
 ■•• ••• 
 
 «•• 
 
 2,450 
 
 
 ••• 
 
 ••* 
 
 100 
 
 • •• 
 
 150 
 
 ••■ •*• 
 
 80 
 
 • •t 
 
 ••• ••• 
 
 ... 
 
 2,450 
 
 • •• 
 
 ••• 
 
 ••• 
 
 80 
 
 • •• 
 
 • ■■ 
 
 ••• ••• 
 
 • ■• 
 
 • ■• 
 
 •«■ ■•■ 
 
 ■ •• 
 
 710 
 
 • ■• 
 
 !!! 
 
 ••• 
 
 SO 
 
 ■ •• 
 
 60 
 
 
 
 ■ •• 
 
 
 ••• ••• 
 
 • a« 
 
 2,170 
 
 • •• 
 
 ••• 
 
 
 ... 
 
 • •• 
 
 ■ •• 
 
 :n,749 19 9 
 
 
 ••• 
 
 •*. ••• 
 
 • •• 
 
 31,949 19 y 
 
 
 ••• 
 
 ••• 
 
 100 
 
 ... 
 
 50 
 
 ••• ••• 
 
 ... 
 
 • •• 
 
 •■■ ••• 
 
 • •« 
 
 3,286 
 
 • •• 
 
 •■• 
 
 ••• 
 
 • •• 
 
 • •1 
 
 50 
 
 ••• ••• 
 
 • •• 
 
 • •• 
 
 «•• ••• 
 
 • •• 
 
 1,454 10 
 
 
 
 
 5,000 
 
 • •• 
 
 ... 
 
 ••• ••• 
 
 • •■ 
 
 • •• 
 
 ••• ••• 
 
 • •• 
 
 6,460 
 
 • •• 
 
 •• 
 
 
 100 
 
 • •• 
 
 60 
 
 ••• ••• 
 
 • *. 
 
 • •• 
 
 ... ••■ 
 
 • •• 
 
 1,050 
 
 
 
 ••• 
 
 • •• 
 
 1,500 
 
 ■ *■ 
 
 ••• ••• 
 
 • *• 
 
 • •• 
 
 ••• ••• 
 
 • •■ 
 
 2,022 
 
 •' 
 
 
 ••• 
 
 75 
 
 • •• 
 
 700 
 
 ••• >•• 
 
 ... 
 
 ••• 
 
 ■•• ••• 
 
 • •• 
 
 1,327 
 
 
 *t* 
 
 
 
 
 • ■• 
 
 ••• •■• 
 
 • •• 
 
 • •• 
 
 ••• •■• 
 
 • ■• 
 
 2.250 
 
 !•• 
 
 ••• 
 
 •■• 
 
 • •f 
 
 • •• 
 
 • ■• 
 
 ■•• ••• 
 
 • •f 
 
 • •• 
 
 
 
 ••« 
 
 950 
 
 • •• 
 
 1,080 
 
 ••• 
 
 
 
 200 
 
 
 • •• 
 
 • ■• 
 
 
 • •• 
 
 2,762 
 
 • •• 
 
 350 
 
 •■• 
 
 "20 
 
 ■ •• 
 
 BO 
 
 
 
 • i* 
 
 **• 
 
 ••• •■• 
 
 • ■• 
 
 1,144 
 
 
 250 
 
 ••• 
 
 20 
 
 ■ •• 
 
 50 
 
 ••• ••• 
 
 • •■ 
 
 • •• 
 
 
 • •• 
 
 1,164 
 
 t<* 
 
 250 
 
 •■• 
 
 50 
 
 • •• 
 
 60 
 
 «•• *■• 
 
 ■ •• 
 
 ... 
 
 
 
 ... 
 
 1,858 
 
 • •• 
 
 350 
 
 ••• 
 
 50 
 
 • •■ 
 
 50 
 
 ••• Vfl* 
 
 20 
 
 • •• 
 
 ■•• •«. 
 
 • •• 
 
 1,554 
 
 • ■• 
 
 800 
 
 ••• 
 
 50 
 
 • •• 
 
 50 
 
 ■•• ••• 
 
 ••• 
 
 • •• 
 
 ••• ••• 
 
 • •• 
 
 1,882 
 
 • •• 
 
 5n0 
 
 96 
 
 20 
 
 ... 
 
 500 
 
 ••• ••• 
 
 ... 
 
 ■ •• 
 
 ••■ ••• 
 
 • ■■ 
 
 2,048 
 
 ... 
 
 1,300 
 
 ... 
 
 200 
 
 • •• 
 
 2,.'i00 
 
 ••• ••• 
 
 ... 
 
 • •• 
 
 •«• •■• 
 
 ... 
 
 9,340 
 
 • •• 
 
 • •• 
 
 
 400 
 
 • •• 
 
 ... 
 
 •.« ••• 
 
 
 • •• 
 
 ••• ••• 
 
 ... 
 
 400 
 
 • •• 
 
 • •• 
 
 '." 
 
 • •• 
 
 • •■ 
 
 ... 
 
 ••■ ••• 
 
 ... 
 
 1,650 
 
 
 
 ... 
 
 1,650 
 
 • •• 
 
 • •■ 
 
 ... 
 
 • •• 
 
 ••• 
 
 ... 
 
 I.* ••• 
 
 ••• 
 
 • •• 
 
 128 10 3 
 
 ... 
 
 128 10 3 
 
 700 
 
 • •• 
 
 ... 
 
 • •• 
 
 • •• 
 
 ... 
 
 •«• ••• 
 
 ••• 
 
 • •• 
 
 ••• • • 
 
 ... 
 
 700 
 
 ... 
 
 • •• 
 
 ... 
 
 • •* 
 
 • •• 
 
 ... 
 
 ... ••• 
 
 *•• 
 
 • •• 
 
 ••• ••• 
 
 800 
 
 800 
 
 700 
 
 4,930 
 
 216 
 
 7,316 
 
 1,500 
 
 7,500 
 
 31,749 19 9 
 
 600 
 
 1,650 
 
 128 10 3 
 
 800 
 
 90,030 
 
 in the country is so great that a reduction of salaries and allowances 
 would seem impossible. Then there is the colonial military ex- 
 penditure, 20,000Z. at least. 
 
 ' ...::l . 
 
 
 •■'*l 
 
 ■■>.; 
 
 :-S,:'tef.^l 
 
 ' i.r 
 
 i.'.'.V '. v'VQI 
 
 
42 
 
 PROPOSED SUBSIDY FOR POSTAL SERVICE. 
 
 M ■ 
 
 im]\ 
 
 i 
 
 §m 
 
 mm 
 
 accepted, but tlie Government had not then decided 
 upon the route. Should the project be accompHshed, 
 Esquimau, in the island of Vancouver, must be the 
 northern terminus. This selection would be a sad 
 drawback to the prosperity of British Columbia ; yet 
 it may be easily foreseen that the harbours of Esqui- 
 malt and Victoria are destined to be the depots for its 
 commerce. One thing is certain, that the trade of the 
 British possessions in that remote part of the world 
 would not be sufficient to support any English company 
 enterprising enough to put on a line of steamers ; and 
 that the matter is, therefore, utterly hopeless, unless 
 the Imperial Government grant an adequate subsidy 
 towards the enterprise. The system of subsidies has 
 undoubtedly become very unpopular in this country ; 
 but then, what is to be done ? Although the people of 
 Victoria and the local government offered to contribute 
 4,000/. a year to any of the steamboat owners of San 
 Francisco who would undertake the postal service, the 
 offer was declined as inadequate ; and were it accepted, 
 it is very doubtful if this voluntary grant could be col- 
 lected from so small a population, with trade so limited 
 and business so dull. It has been stated that Lord Derby's 
 government had not only agreed to grant a subsidy, 
 but that the contract was actually drawn up and ap- 
 proved by the legal advisers of tlie Crown. However, 
 before it was executed the Government refused to 
 ratify it, and probably with some good show of reason. 
 The present Secretary for the Colonies states, in an official 
 despatch, that on subsequent consideration it has been 
 decided that the advantages which would be derived 
 by these northern colonies would not prove equivalent 
 to the large amount of subsidy which would be de- 
 manded for the establishment of this service : and that 
 
EXCESSIVE HUMIDITY OF TITE ATMOSPHERE. 
 
 43 
 
 decided 
 plished, 
 be the 
 ; a sad 
 )ia ; yet 
 F Esqui- 
 ;s for its 
 e of the 
 le world 
 jompany 
 ;rs ; and 
 !, unless 
 subsidy 
 idles has 
 country ; 
 people of 
 >iitribute 
 3 of San 
 vice, the 
 ,ccepted, 
 tl be col- 
 b limited 
 Derby's 
 subsidy, 
 and ap- 
 'owever, 
 used to 
 reason. 
 11 official 
 as been 
 derived 
 livalent 
 be de- 
 nd that 
 
 tJie same cause has precluded Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment from entertaining a proposal submitted to tliem 
 for carrying these mails through Canada and the 
 Hudson's Bay Company's territory. It should be 
 mentioned that both the post-office authorities and 
 tlie officers of the United States mail steamers are at 
 all times most accommodating and attentive. 
 
 The annual fall of water in the shape of rain and 
 snow upon the surface of the territory of Britisli 
 Columbia, is sufficient to cover it to the depth of at 
 least four feet. It comes upon the earth, not daily, in 
 gentle dews, but at unequal intervals, in storms, tem- 
 pests, and showers, pouring down sometimes in a single 
 day more than usually falls in a month, and creating 
 numerous gushing springs on the hill-side, and ruptures 
 in the impervious strata. This humidity is not only 
 highly detrimental to agricultural pursuits, but also to 
 the liealth of the inhabitants. Some enthusiast may, 
 perhaps, say that if too much cold water be an evil, it 
 is in our power to remove it, and so get rid of one, at 
 least, of the causes of our want of success — that 
 
 The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, 
 But in ourselves. 
 
 Doubtless in science, skill, and experience, tliere is tlie 
 remedy to a great degree ; but at what cost ? 
 
 Prairies are few, swampy, and of small extent, and 
 are overhung in summer by clouds of insects, whilst 
 masses of decaying vegetation feed the exhalations witli 
 the seeds of pestilence, and make the balmy air as 
 deadly as grateful. Vegetable life and death are 
 mingled hideously together ; whilst reptiles sport in 
 the stagnant pools, or crawl unharmed over piles of 
 mouldering logs, brush, and ruslios. These low 
 
 Ui' 
 
 •'A ■ 
 
 'B 
 
 W 
 
 
 >';:ff-*i:' 
 
 .■ 1 ■ 
 
 
 ■-. ,>?! 
 
44 
 
 SUFFERINGS CAUSED BY MOSQUITOES. 
 
 |i 
 
 grounds, which, indeed, are Httle else than extended 
 marshes, are also infested with legions of vicious mos- 
 quitoes, which destroy comfort by day and sleep by 
 night. They assail every inch of the body. By day 
 they bite through the socks, by night through the 
 sheets, or they settle upon the nose and forehead, and 
 woe betide the sleeper who has a rent in his curtains. 
 These buzzing insects have actually brought liorses and 
 cattle to a painful and lingering death. So great is the 
 misery which these pests entail upon the human race, 
 that whole families have been forced to leave their 
 homes for months together. 
 
 ' I believe,' says a gentleman writing from Norway, 
 * there is no preventative against their bite, which is 
 instantaneous. They dash through the smoke of strong 
 tobacco like a foxhound through a bullfinch ; ^ney creep 
 under veil or gloves like a ferret into a rabbit-hole ; 
 where they can neither dash nor creep "they bide their 
 own time " with the pertinaceous cunning of a Eed 
 Indian. Wherever the clothes touch the body closely, 
 at the knees and elbows, they swarm in thousands, and 
 bite through and through ; they creep in single file up 
 the seams of gloves, and try each stitch in succession. 
 I have seen my friend's coat and hat so covered, as he 
 walked in front, that I could at any time kill the shape 
 of my hand in mosquitoes at a blow ; and I have seen 
 the unhappy horses so overlaid from ears to tail with 
 a clustering mass of wings, that with the point of my 
 finger, placed anywhere, I could crush several of the 
 bloodthirsty little demons. One question always 
 puzzled me, what do they live on when they don't 
 meet travellers ? ' 
 
 There are extensive tracts on both sides of the mouth 
 of the Fraser river, and elsewhere, which have been 
 
PESTILENTIAL SWAMP-LANDS OF THE COLONY. 45 
 
 tenned ' prairie land.' These, however, are salt- 
 marshes, overflowed by the ocean tides, and by the 
 back waters of the Fraser during its freshets. These 
 flat lands would doubtless be abundantly fe tile were 
 they drained and embanked from the sea and river 
 floods, but in their present condition, filled with cold and 
 stagnant water, they are quite unproductive. It has 
 been proved that similar salt-marsh lands, after the tides 
 have been kept out for a few years, are extremely fer- 
 tile, and being free from stones, timber, and other 
 obstructions, are easily cultivated; yet it requires a 
 great stretch of faith to beheve that a systematic mode 
 of reclaiming them on the Fraser is likely to be adopted 
 within the allotted span of one life, sucli operations, to 
 be remunerative, requiring more capital than early 
 settlers can usually command. Along the rivers in 
 British Columbia several extensive tracts of swamp- 
 lands are met with, which are not only unfit for culti- 
 vation, but are in many instances, by reason of noxious 
 effluvia arising from stagnant water, prejudicial to healtli. 
 I have been on more occasions than one almost thrown 
 into a fever by the pestilential vapours which the mid- 
 summer heat had caused to float from the rich and 
 sUmy sediments of these flats. Moreover, for the re- 
 claiming of salt-marshes and of flats upon rivers, a 
 thorough knowledge of the proper methods of con- 
 structing embankments is requisite ; and as this belongs 
 to a branch of the science of engineering which is not 
 found to form part of the knowledge of the pioneer, 
 there is, at least for the present, very little prospect of 
 seeing these adorned with crops of golden corn. Indeed, 
 it must be many years ere the scientific man can find 
 sufficient inducement to betake himself to that inhospi- 
 table region. It will be conceded, that no farmer ever 
 
 '■'■:% 
 
 
 
 
'I!! 
 
 M 
 
 : ; 
 
 46 URGENT WANT OF A SYSTEM OF LAND DRAINAOE. 
 
 raised a good crop of grain on wet ground, or on a 
 field where pools of water become masses of ice in 
 winter. In such cases the grain plants are frozen 
 out and perish. In fact, every observing farmer knows 
 that stagnant water, whetlicr on the surface of his soil 
 or within reacli of the roots of his plants, always does 
 them injury. No man ever raised plentiful crops from 
 an over-moist surface and wet sub-soil. Plants, if they 
 do not breathe hke animals, require for their existence 
 and growth almost the same constant supply of air, and, 
 as everybody knows, stagnant water or a marshy soil 
 excludes air. Plants invariably die in soils destitute of 
 oxygen, and absence of air acts in the same manner as 
 an excess of carbonic acid. Nature has indeed done 
 but little to underdrain those British lands. It is well 
 known that heat will not pass downwards in water. 
 If the soil be saturated with water the heat of the sun 
 cannot warm it, and the crop must be a failure. It is 
 only by the motion of the particles of water, that heat 
 is transmitted through its mass ; so that, if we could 
 stop the heated particles from rising, water would not 
 be warmed, except where it touched the vessel contain- 
 ing it. Heat applied to the bottom of a vessel of water 
 warms the particles in contact with the vessel, and these 
 ascending are necessarily succeeded by the colder de- 
 scending, until all be warmed alike. Therefore heat 
 applied to the surface of the water can never warm it, 
 except so far as it is conducted downward by some other 
 medium than the water itself. Heat being propagated 
 in water only by the circulation of the latter, anything 
 which obstructs that circulation prevents the passage of 
 heat ; and soils which the heat of the sun cannot pene- 
 trate, and where the air cannot circulate, are utterly 
 worthless for agricultural piu'poses. All along the 
 
FERTILITY OF THE SALT-MARSIIES WHEN DRAINED. 47 
 
 Atlantic coast of America, and far up the navigable rivers, 
 arc vast tracts of salt-marshes, abimdantly fertile. The 
 marshes, at some cost of ditching, produce what is called 
 ' salt-hay,' which is cut with great labour at low tides, 
 and generally stacked where it grows, upon stakes driven 
 for tlie puj-pose. It is valued, and usually sold, at about 
 half the piice of the best upland meadow hay; and, 
 mixed with other fodder, is eaten by cattle which can 
 get nothing better, and sometimes by way of a condi- 
 ment even by cattle that are well fed. It has been 
 doubted by many, whether this salt-hay is worth the 
 cost of cutting, or, in other words, whether the labour 
 required to ditch the marshes, and cut, cure, and haul 
 the hay, could not be more profitably applied to other 
 branches of farm labour. However, experience proves 
 that although such lands were generally avoided by 
 early settlers, as being comparatively worthless, when 
 drained they became eminently fertile. A farm in 
 America of 160 acres, which was sold five years ago 
 for 100/., has been so much improved by an expenditure 
 of 40/. in draining and ditching, that the owner has re- 
 fused for it an ofier of 600/. So much for the beneficial 
 eflects of the foundation stone of scientific farming, 
 drainage. It is well known that the roots of plants, 
 although they burrow below the surface of the ground, 
 are not on that account insensible to the influences felt 
 by the stem and branches above. On the contrary, 
 they are fully as sensitive to the extremes of moisture 
 and dryness, or of heat and cold. Thus, if leaves and 
 flowers wither beneath the scorching air, so do roots 
 when the earth around them becomes parched ; if the 
 verdant foliage rejoices in the invigorating rain-drop, 
 not less is it grateful to the earth-bound root ; if cold 
 checks or destroys the blossom, and compels the foliage 
 
 
 \] 
 
 ;M ■ «■ 
 
 :'^M 
 
>. . 
 
 u. 
 
 ■; !• 
 
 48 LIMITED FARMING POPULATION IN THE COLONY. 
 
 to shrink and perish, in like manner also the roots arc 
 afTected. On the other hand that warmth which causes 
 the blossom to unfold, and the leaf to open to the in- 
 fluences of the gentle breath of spring, is equally pro- 
 pitious to the root under ground, exciting it to growth, 
 and putting into action all that dynamic force by which 
 the leaves and flowers are supplied with nutriment. Nor is 
 the access of air less important to one than to the other ; 
 both extremities of plants feed on air, the roots more 
 than the leaves. Hence the importance that under- 
 ground climate should be thoroughly understood. 
 
 Governor Douglas remarks, in the Blue Book just 
 published (page 43), 'There is no prospect of a material 
 increase in land sales except through the effect of 
 emigration from Canada and Great Britain, as there is 
 a very small farming population in the colony, the 
 working classes being chiefly miners, accustomed to 
 excitement, fond of adventure, and entertaining, gen- 
 erally, a thorough contempt for the quiet pursuits of 
 life.' True, but the chief cause of the want of agricul- 
 turists in the colony is the want of suitable land for 
 raising crops, and the badness of the chmate. 
 
 Brussels carpets, down pillows, damask curtains, 
 stuffed chau's, silks, and fine linen are not essential to 
 human happiness ; but there are many things which are 
 essential to human comfort, without which the hut of 
 the settler would be little better than the lair of the 
 wolf, and for the manufacture of these there is not at 
 present, nor is there hkely to be for ages to come, a 
 single craftsman resident in the colony. Surely it is 
 madness, in the face of this, for any man to emigrate to 
 a land scourged by the insect plagues and pestiferous 
 vapours of summer, and the piercing blasts of winter, 
 a dreary wilderness of brushwood and swamp. Without 
 
 ;■:■:! 
 
SCARCITY OF COMPETENT DIRECTORS OP LABOUR. 49 
 
 the facilities of farming, British Columbia can never 
 become the resort of the British immigrant who goes 
 forth in search of pastoral occupation and a land of 
 cakes. There, indeed, are found many lone and 
 melancholy valleys, which are so well described by 
 one of the greatest of poets : 
 
 A barren, detested vale, you see, it is ; 
 
 The trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean, 
 
 O'ercomc with moss, and })aleful mistletoe ; 
 
 Here never shines the sun, here nothing breeds, 
 
 Unless the nightly owl or fatal raven. 
 
 And, when they show'd me this abhorred pit, 
 
 They told me, here, at dead hour of the night, 
 
 A thousand fiends, a thousand hissing snakes, 
 
 Ten thousand swelling toads, as many urchins, 
 
 Would make such fearful and confused cries. 
 
 As any mortal body, hearing it. 
 
 Should straight fall mad, or else die suddenly. 
 
 
 These opinions are not suggested by disappointed 
 hopes, or by inability to carry the conveniences and 
 the luxuries of London into the back- woods ; but are 
 well-grounded conclusions, arrived at by observation 
 and experience. Everybody of ordinary information 
 knows that the commonest wants are not so easily 
 supplied as in England, nor is it expected that they 
 sliould be in the wild forests of British Columbia, or in 
 any new colony. 
 
 As may be imagined, there are but few well qualified 
 to direct labour in the territory, such isolated localities 
 not affording enough scope for their abilities. How- 
 ever, in so rough a country, none are more effective as 
 agents of economical production than scientific men; 
 and instead of frittering away the revenue by creating 
 unnecessary offices, some of it ought to be expended 
 
 E 
 
 
 V^ 
 
 -S* ■ v; 
 
 
 ■ ■; '•■.■>..■, 
 
«a 
 
 PROFESSIONAL MEN NOT IN DEMAND. 
 
 upon those who piy into the secrets of nature, wliether 
 concealed in plants, in animals, or in minerals, and 
 who 
 
 Find tongiics in trees, books in running brooks, 
 Sermons in stones, and good in everything. 
 
 Moreover, it should not be overlooked that, away 
 from the centres of population and competition, the 
 face losetli its sharpness. Cities are in nothing more 
 remarkable than in their magnetic influence upon 
 talent of every description ; there talent is appreciated 
 and best paid, and there reputation is worth possessing. 
 Indeed, all professional men of superior attainments 
 manifest a preference for cities, and an abhorrence of 
 isolation. New colonies, however, can only be made 
 to suit professional men of certain classes by having 
 a periodical payment rendered secure to them, either 
 from the H(3me Government or from the Local Treasury. 
 Where there are but few people, there can be but little 
 or no demand for labour ; and so it is in British 
 Columbia. There no demand for professional men 
 exists ; sci'^nce is valueless, and its possessor may 
 starve. 
 
 In Macleod's Elements of Pohtical Economy, a 
 work of remarkable merit, originality, and excellence, 
 section 63, it is well remarked : 
 
 All value is purely local. Results produced for which 
 there is no demand have no value ; or results removed from 
 places where there is a demand for them to places where 
 there is no demand for them, lose their value. If a person 
 were to expend a great deal of labour and expense in learning 
 Chinese, such an accomplishment might be very valuable in 
 London or Paris, where there is usually a demand for such 
 acquirements. The possession of this knowledge has a value 
 
 "illjijlli: 
 
 uliiitfcl 
 
DIFFICULTIES IN Tllli PATH OF THE COLONIST. 51 
 
 in flucli places. But if that person were to go and live in tlie 
 Hebrides, amon<jf the Cottiers, there coiihi be no possible 
 demand for such knowledge there, and consecjuently it would 
 have no value. The same reasoning is luiiversally true; the 
 same principle applies to every other result produced. A 
 guinea has great value in most countries in Europe;, but 
 remove it into the interior of Africa it would have none. 
 A 51. Bank of England note is at present, in London, in all 
 rt^spects eqtial to five sovereigns, and, while it is received with 
 equal readiuess, is of exactly the same value. Removed to 
 a place where people would not receive it, it would lose its 
 value. Among a certain class of people, a Raphael or a 
 Correggio is of inestimable value, others would greatly prefer 
 a fine flaring signboard. In no case, then, is it laboiu' that 
 confers value on a result, but only the demand for it. 
 
 In new colonies, however, persons are not entitled 
 to expect instant wealth ; they should not therefore be 
 over fastidious in looking out for what may exactly 
 suit them, but rather be ready to adopt any opportu- 
 nities which may occur. The experience of the past 
 shows that fortune seldom stoops to take up anyone, 
 and that favourable occasions will not happen precisely 
 in the way that may have been imagined. A man of 
 the artisan or mechanical class must turn mason, joiner, 
 blacksmith, painter, cobbler, anything, as circumstances 
 may require. He must be ever ready to adopt any 
 decent make-shift to earn a potato and salt, or else he 
 will starve. 
 
 Much has been written, and more has been said, in 
 respect to the kind of life led by the pioneer after his 
 arrival in a new colony. It is, however, patent to all 
 that the mode of life, and the privation to be endured, 
 depend much upon the colony the emigrant adopts ns 
 his new home. Generally speaking, there are in every 
 colony four courses open to him : handicraft, mining, 
 
 £ 2 
 
 fff^-^1 
 
 ¥''\ 
 
 
 
52 HARDSHIPS OF THE SETTLER IX BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
 
 i • 
 
 trade, and farming, either as an agriculturist or stock- 
 breeder ; but a man must be of a strong constitution 
 and able and willing to work hard, to live without 
 comforts, to bear heat, and wet, and cold, and to endure 
 great fatigue, if he ever hopes to succeed at all. Com- 
 fort never grows upon the forest trees nor in the rocks 
 and mines ; and no one should go to British Columbia 
 unless he has made up his mind to work of the hardest 
 and coarsest description. Moreover, emigrants never 
 find the openings they had expected. In a few days 
 after their arrival their beautifully laid plans are all 
 upset, and unless they possess a strong determined spirit 
 they are sure to lose heart, especially as they are coming 
 to their last shiUing. It should be remembered, how- 
 ever, that steady resolution, self-reHance, energy, and 
 undaunted courage, may in the long run raise anyone 
 to a position suitable to his taste. The man who will 
 go out to Australia, New Zealand, the Cape, or the 
 Canadas, having no capital but his labour, with stout 
 arms and a stout heart, determined to work and to 
 adapt himself to the new country and its ways, is cer- 
 tain of constant employment at ample wages. But not 
 so in British Columbia, where it would be vain to 
 attempt to describe the hardships endured by the poor 
 half-clad struggUng people. Their cry is, 'Give us food, 
 or we die of hunger ! give us shelter and raiment, or we 
 perish through cold ! ' Poor creatures ! even now the 
 scenes of misery which I have witnessed in that depen- 
 dency rise before me, — men, women, and children 
 famishing for want of a crust of bread in a foreign 
 land, where charity has no existence, and where the 
 most exaggerated tales of wretchedness and crime fall 
 far short of what the newly- arrived colonist feels and 
 witnesses. The older colonies have many advantages, 
 
 t ii 
 
 •^^Sfmmmimm 
 

 MBIA. 
 
 r stock- 
 ititution 
 witliout 
 I endure 
 Com- 
 le rocks 
 olumbia 
 hardest 
 ts never 
 "ew days 
 ; are all 
 ed spirit 
 3 coming 
 ed, how- 
 rgy, and 
 i anyone 
 who will 
 », or the 
 th stout 
 and to 
 is cer- 
 But not 
 vain to 
 he poor 
 us food, 
 [it, or we 
 ow the 
 depen- 
 ;hildren 
 foreign 
 Lere the 
 ime fall 
 lels and 
 ^ntages, 
 
 # 
 
 ADVANTAGES POSSESSED BY OLDER COLONIES. 
 
 53 
 
 and are indeed, in many respects, little different from 
 the old country with regard to lionie comforts. In them 
 a man may arrive friendless and penniless, and ere many 
 years have passed away he may be in the enjoyment of 
 competency, if not indeed of a large fortune. 
 
 The young emigrant of the present day is charac- 
 terised by romantic hopes. He is ambitious, and 
 dreams of sudden riches. He has an idea that on the 
 moment of his arrival he is to be placed in some 
 prominent position, forgetting his perhaps total want 
 of the essential qualifications. The result is generally, 
 indeed almost invariably, a premature failure, which 
 utterly disheartens and cripples him. However, he has 
 only to live a short time in any of the colonies, when 
 his golden dreams will vanish, and he will learn that he 
 must be servant before he is master, that it is neither 
 humiliating nor degrading to be a clerk or subordinate, 
 and that tlie most humble work is better than being 
 idle. Undue haste to be rich not uncommonly ends in 
 failure, whilst a steady and less ambitious course leads 
 to honourable independence. 
 
 There can be no question of the superiority of 
 skilled labour in the forest. The most abundant proof 
 exists that uneducated labour is comparatively un- 
 profitable. Of what use would it be to set a man, who 
 has passed all his life amongst the enjoyments and 
 luxuries of civilisation, to fell a huge tree, or to root 
 out an old stump ? Why, none in the world : it would 
 only excite a smile to see him try to handle his axe. 
 It would be nothing short of madness in unskilled 
 labourers, such as medical men, lawyers, teachers, or 
 London clerks, to go to the bush as cultivators of the 
 soil. He alone who has had experience in improving 
 wild-wooded lands has any chance of success. Even 
 
 rVM 
 
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 1 <• 
 
 
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 i 
 
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 1 • >\ 
 
 ■.■'< .'-ii 
 
 ,■ 'i-\ 
 
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 m 
 
 54 B. COLUMBIA COMPARED WITH OTHER DEPENDENCTES. 
 
 the most fertile soil and the richest mines cannot make 
 a country permanently rich unless worked with intelli- 
 gence. We have not far to seek for examples. Look 
 at the Spaniards, with their mines of silver and gold. 
 Look at England, with its agriculture and commerce. 
 
 The skill that conquers space and time, 
 
 That graces life, that lightens toil, 
 May sjiring from courage more sublime 
 
 Than that which makes a realm its spoil. 
 
 Let Labour, then, look up and see 
 
 His craft no path of honour lacks ; 
 The soldier's rifle yet shall be 
 
 Less honoured than the woodman's axe ! 
 
 British Columbia is very different from Australia, 
 New Zealand, or Natal, where there is such a fine field 
 for shepherding. In those dependencies every man 
 can readily obtain ample employment, with money or 
 without money, according to his capabilities. 
 
 It is also certainly true that agricidture can only 
 flourish where there is a population. The farmer must 
 have a market for his surplus productions, or he must 
 go to the wall. What is a market ? Simply, people ; 
 people employed in the production of something which 
 suppUes human wants. It is therefore evident that the 
 nearer he is to a population, the less he spends in 
 getting his productions to market, and the more he is 
 able to send to his bankers. Unfortunately, British 
 Columbia is but thinly peopled, and the forests are so 
 dense, that much capital will be swallowed up ere they 
 can be subdued into cultivation. 
 
 It is 
 
 It IS quite clear, says Macleod, Elements of Political 
 Economy, sect. 68, that we cannot begin to make profit of 
 anything until its negative value is got rid of. Hence all 
 
IMPEDIMENTS TO THE CREATION OF WEALTH. 
 
 55 
 
 negative values are subtractions from national wealth. AH 
 the money spent upon negative values is only to remove 
 obstructions to the progress of wealth, and it is quite clear 
 that if the cause of those negative values or encumbrances 
 could be removed, the money and industry gpent upon 
 them might be employed upon positive values. Eemove 
 the causes of disease, and the money spent upon doctors, 
 and the doctors themselves, might be employed upon posi- 
 tive values. If my land were not overrun with the forest, 
 or encumbered with old buildings, or deluged by the sea, 
 the money spent upon removing those obstacles might 
 evidently be devoted to develope its fertility, or in other 
 employments of a positive value. The question of money or 
 labour necessary to expend to put it into a condition to be 
 profitable is its negative value. And when anything is in 
 this state, it is evidently necessary that it should produce 
 double profits to the extent of its negative value in order to 
 render it worth doing. 
 
 VJ^r 
 
 
 >'" ■'■'Mm 
 
 ■ .1' 
 
 m 
 
56 
 
 f ;■• 
 
 
 / 
 
 CHAPTEE III. 
 
 British Columbia not a Pastoral Country — Opinion of the Attorney- 
 General — The beautiful Prairies of America — Some Places desirnble 
 for Settlement — Agi'iculture an Element of National Wealth — Wise 
 Policy pursued in the States of America — Obstacles to Settlement in 
 British Columbia — Evil Consequences — The Pettsantry in every 
 Coimtry the Honey-Bees — Correspondence with the Chief Commis- 
 sioner relative to the Purchase of Lands — Speculators get the Land 
 — Free Grants of Land ought to be given — The Valley of the 
 Ottowa in Canada — It is impolitic to beggar the Settler — Opinion 
 of the Grand Jury of British Columbia — Scores gaping for dead 
 Men's Shoes — To Men of Capital the Colony presents a remunerative 
 Field — The crafty blood-thirsty Indian — Extract from the London 
 Times. 
 
 British Columbia is not a pastoral country, and the 
 waters of the Fraser have no fertilising quahties, which 
 is remarkable, considering the extent of its course. The 
 climate of the northern section, especially, is unfavourable 
 to grazing stock, in consequence of its being situated 
 near ranges of mountains, which are constantly covered 
 with snow. From the circumstance of the annual 
 inundation of the rivers, many of the patches, which 
 resemble small prairies, will always be unfit for hus- 
 bandry. Even were embankments thrown up, these 
 would not prevent the inroads of the water, as there 
 are quicksands in these flats through which it perco- 
 lates; and, owing to its low temperature, the grain 
 would get chilled and destroyed. These lowlands are 
 only valuable as adjuncts to higher lands, and the latter 
 are unfortunately densely covered with wood. The 
 
BEAUTIES OF THE AMERICAX PR/ IRIE. 
 
 57 
 
 Attorney-General of British Columbia has characterised 
 this dependency of the Crown of England as 'a barren 
 and desolate land,' and it cannot be said that he is wrong. 
 There is not, as in Australia, a boundless extent of ter- 
 ritoiy stocked with all that is needed for the sustenta- 
 tion of live stock. The traveller in British Columbia 
 does not experience that joyous sensation felt in roaming 
 over the boundless rolling prairies of the Western States, 
 undulating as the billowy ocean, and clothed in their 
 gorgeous summer garb glistening in the sunhght; flowers 
 of every shade, tint, and perfume, sleeping in scattered 
 profusion upon the green expanse, and rising in reno- 
 vated beauty and fragrance as the passing cloud sweeps 
 over them ; while the alternations of plain and woodland 
 give rise to scenery resembling, but far exceeding, the 
 finest creations of art. At one moment the pilgrim 
 stands upon the crest of some wave-like mound, and 
 beholds clumps of trees floating like islets upon the 
 bosom of an emerald ocean ; at another he splashes 
 through some hidden stream, smooth, fair, and placid, 
 where no rude rocks impede its dimpling course. Hill 
 follows hill, and hollow succeeds hollow, like the calm 
 heaving of the ocean. The lovehest pleasure-grounds, 
 the noblest parks of European kings and princes, on 
 which miUions have been expended, are but poor 
 imitations of the ftiscinating beauties here so profusely 
 spread by nature. There is in the American prairie 
 something that wins the very heart. How widely 
 different the prospect exhibited in the more northern 
 
 regions 
 
 Wliilst, however, British Columbia possesses nothing 
 equal in fertility and inexhaustiblcniess to the prairies of 
 the United States, there are, nevertheless, some portions 
 of the land capable of cultivation, and these tracts 
 
 
 r? \, -V' 
 
 ■; V ■ 
 
 
 
 i, ■•' ill 
 
 . '■ * 
 
 
58 
 
 THE UNITED STATES RIGHT OF PRE-EMPTION 
 
 s • 
 
 
 sliould no longer be sufiercd to remain impervious to 
 colonisation and the requirements of civilised man. The 
 Home Government should not only permit, but should 
 insist upon, such a disposition of these lands as woidd 
 invite capital, foster industry, and encourage immigra- 
 tion. There can be no doubt that England earnestly 
 desires to advance the prosperity of this colony, and it 
 is equally certain that agriculture is the basis of wealth 
 and prosperity in all countries : of this she herself is a 
 notable example. Trade and industry form the basis of 
 her power, yet the revenue derived from manufactures 
 and commerce does not exceed two-thirds of that de- 
 rived from her agriculture alone. This fact surely points 
 out how important it is to encourage farming pursuits. 
 In this noble art Great Britain has taken the lead, and 
 the result is a corresponding amount of national pros- 
 perity and civiUsation. The United States, Eussia, 
 Prussia, and other nations, alike testify to the degree of 
 preeminence, attributed to the agricultural element of 
 national wealth. In the States the wise policy is pur- 
 sued of inducing immigration by securing to the settler 
 the exclusive possession of liis land by the right of pre- 
 emption. This excellent system gives to every head of 
 a family the right to 160 acres upon paying the mini- 
 mum price of one dollar an acre, about four shillings 
 English currency; and he may settle on land at once, 
 whether surveyed or not. This privilege has been of the 
 greatest possible advantage to the immigrant, and has 
 done much towards peopHng vast tracts of territory, 
 besides tending largely to the happiness and prosperity 
 of the great mass of the people ; and it has done more 
 towards the promotion of settlements, and the develope- 
 ment of their agricultural resources, than aU other causes 
 combined. By the operation of this wise law tens of 
 
i;i-. 
 
 NOT PERMITTED BY TUB BRITISH GOVERNMENT. 59 
 
 thousands of indigent families have been enabled to ob- 
 tain comfortable homes, and vast wilds have been brought 
 into cuJ^'.vation and studded with the peaceful dwellings 
 of a prosperous and happy people. Such is the condition 
 of things in the States. How did matters stand in British 
 Columl)ia until very recently ? What has been done to 
 forward the peopling of the country ? The answer is 
 short and simple — nothing. The pohcy pursued has 
 been disastrous in the extreme, unexampled in the 
 history of any other dependency of the British Crowm, 
 and pertinaciously persisted in for reasons unexplained 
 to the public, and to them incomprehensible. Grievously, 
 indeed, have those persons complained who have given 
 consideration to the subject of colonisation, and who 
 have felt deeply interested in the prosperity of the 
 colony; but without avail. Every obstacle had been 
 cast in the way of the agriculturist, who desired to 
 settle, and battle with natural impediments. This no 
 conscientious man can be found to gainsay. The in- 
 flexible reply to one and all had been, that land could 
 not be had even at the Government price, or upon any 
 terms, until first surveyed and put up at auction ; and 
 that squatthig or pre-emption would not only not be 
 tolerated, but such affo;ression would be visited with the 
 summary process of ejectment by the stern arm of the 
 law. Such has been the discourao;in2^ announcement 
 which greeted hundreds of hardy industrious emigrants, 
 who, finding themselves in the colony, and having been 
 at the expense of landing there, had determined upon 
 giving it a trial; and these men had a full knowledge 
 of all the natural obstacles incident to such settlement, 
 and many had ample means to improve their allot- 
 ments, and provide for their immediate support. Lands 
 denied by the marvellous blindness of officials — a blind- 
 
 
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 ■m: A 
 
 V < -V 
 
 m 
 
 ■ '.A 
 
 I.*' . 
 
 
 
 ,' .n 
 
 •:;>'l;%i 
 
60 
 
 OFFICIAL MAXAGEilENT OF THE COLONIES. 
 
 ness as culpable as it is inexplicable ! Has not the 
 colony been strangled in its infancy ? 
 
 It is not upon the rulers who misgovern that the con- 
 sequences of their folly alight : it is upon the workman 
 and the labourer, who have to sustain the burden of 
 maintaining all the other orders of society. It is the 
 working classes, who produce everything by which all 
 others profit, or are sustained in their position. The 
 peasantry are the real honey-bees in every country, but 
 especially so in new colonies ; to drive them away, 
 therefore, exhibits imbecility and utter disregard of 
 the future. It should also be borne in mind that every 
 man who locates himself in a colony becomes the pio- 
 neer of his relatives and neighbours, — that he encou- 
 rages them to follow him. The national history of 
 society shows human migration to be an instinct, and 
 therefore a necessity. 
 
 As it may perhaps be interesting to know how matters 
 in the early history of our colonies are conducted 
 by officials, I shall record a little of my own expe- 
 lience, with the view of opening the eyes of their 
 superiors at home. It may be, however, that instruc- 
 tions from the Home Government formed the real cause 
 of the difficulty, which too often happens from iidden 
 changes in the ministry, and the ignorance which 
 commonly prevails of the real resources of new coun- 
 tries. At all events, I appUed to the Chief Commissioner 
 of Lands, under date March 23, 1859, to purchase on 
 the Government terms, for a few constituents, a thousand 
 acres of land, situate on the banks of the Eraser, 
 altogether away from intended sites of towns, and not 
 mineral lands either, which indeed had no peculiar 
 advantages, the extent embracing vastly more bone and 
 sinew than flesh ; yet the land could not be obtained. 
 
 in 
 
PRIVATE ENTERPRISE SHOULD BE UNIMPEDED. (51 
 
 although it would seem to appear that a clause in the 
 proclamation of His Excellency the Governor, dated 
 FebiTiary 14 of that year, gave ample powers for mak- 
 ing such arrangements as might have given immediate 
 possession in particular localities under special circum- 
 stances. This proclamation set fortli that, ' The price of 
 land not being intended for the sites of towns, and not 
 being expected to be mineral lands, shall be ten shillings 
 per acre, payable one half in cash at the time of tlie 
 sale, and the other half at the end of two years from 
 such sale. Provided that, under special circumstances, 
 some other price, or some other terms of payment, 
 may from time to time be specially announced for par- 
 ticular localities.' Simidtaneous with this application I 
 urged upon the Government officials the desirabihty of 
 setthng up such patches of the country as were in any 
 manner fit for occupation, in the following words : — 
 ' I need hardly say that the rapid settlement of the 
 colony is an object to be fostered ; and as it is impossible 
 to keep the survey in advance of the demand, in a 
 rough country like this at least for a time, I trust that 
 such measures may be taken as will conduce as much 
 as possible to this desideratum, and by which my con- 
 stituents may acquire an early possession of the lands 
 they desire, and not lose the advantage of another year. 
 Every candid observer is now convinced that not giving 
 the bon4 fide settler a right to land at once is a most 
 powerful obstacle to the developement of the colony, 
 and that never can its progress be sure or raj)id until 
 private enterprise floats unobstructed, until the country 
 is comparatively self-supporting, and until the farmer is 
 enabled to bring provisions to the miner's door.' To 
 this communication the Chief Commissioner i'ei)lied, 
 that the persons wanting the land must pay for the 
 
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09 
 
 iVECiOTIATIONS FOR SALE OF LANDS. 
 
 / 
 
 I 
 
 ■^'if'iii! 
 
 survey, and tliat one thousand acres was too small a 
 quantity for him to do anything special in the matter ; 
 overlooking the fact, that if there is anything more hurtful 
 than another to a new country, it is giving away large 
 tracts of land, which acts as a stimulant to speculation 
 and to the crushing of the poor innnigrant. Having 
 conferred with the parties, I again wrote to the Chief 
 Commissioner of Lands on April 5 : ' My constituents 
 are wilHng to be at the expense of the measurements 
 rather than wait until the Government Survey advances 
 to the place. They have requested me, however, to 
 ask leave of absence (being in the employment of the 
 Government laying out the site of the town of Xew 
 Westminster), to enable me to look over the lands, 
 after which they v/ill be in a condition to state the 
 number of thousand acres they would be willing to 
 purchase. Tlie information I would acquire would be 
 of value to the Government in any issue of the case.' 
 Three or four days would have sufficed for examining 
 and reporting upon these lands, but permission was 
 refused. Eumour had it, that leave had not been 
 granted, because Colonel Moody fancied that the soil 
 contained some valuable mineral, as he then believed 
 all British Columbia did. IIow that may have been 
 I know not ; but this I do know, that had not every 
 obstacle been cast in the way, those men woidd have 
 purchased two thousand acres, paid down the Govern- 
 ment price, have had the land surveyed free of cost to 
 the Crown, and have brought its surface as far as prac- 
 ticable under the amehorating influence of sound Eng- 
 lish farming. This same tract of waste is not worth 
 half the money now, in consequence of the depoindation 
 of the colony. There is indeed no cause more in- 
 strumental in the retardation of agriculture than the 
 
DISCOURAGING EBTECTS OF BAD GOVERNMENT. 03 
 
 decrease of population. As inhabitants multiply, demand 
 for the produce of the soil increases, and a correspond- 
 ing tillage follows ; therefore, without a popidatiou 
 equal to what was then in the colonj^ the lands arc not 
 worth the same amount. I had instructions shortly 
 thereafter to purchase upwards of 20,000 acres, if that 
 quantity could be found of farmable land ; and in every 
 case I had been compelled to inform my clients that 
 the lands could not be had at any price until Jirst .sur- 
 royed and put up to auction. By far the greater num- 
 ber of tliesc applicants were able, active, intelligent 
 men, willhig to endure the hardships which pioneers 
 must always expect, ^'hey have since gone, some to 
 the United States, some to Australia, and some to 
 Canada, where they found land conceded to them on 
 liberal terms. All that the Government can now do 
 will never bring back those favourable opportimities 
 for colonising a country which possesses so few advan- 
 tages within itself. A fertile country can stand a great 
 deal of blundering legislation and bad government, but 
 not so poor a country as British Columbia. It was not 
 until petition after petition had been sent to Governor 
 Douglas from the half-starved immigrants that the iron 
 grasp was loosened a little. In 18G0 public remon- 
 strances prevailed, and the price of public lands was 
 reduced to ten shillings per acre under certain restric- 
 tions. But why is the British Columbian settler called 
 upon to pay double for land worth no more than, if so 
 much as, that on the other side of the 49th parallel 
 of latitude ? Can any good reason be given ? Whence, 
 then, this barrier in the way of emigration to Britisli 
 Columbia, and this powerful inducement to choose a 
 home on American soil ? Is it likely that the father of 
 a family will deliberately choose half the quantity of 
 
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 04 n. COLU.MIUA NOT ADVANTAOKOUS TO I'OOU KMIORANTS. 
 
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 land for the suino money, for the sake of beiiifr on the 
 north Hide of the 49th parallel ; or that he will take a 
 long, hazardous, and expensive voyage, even were the 
 lands superior, which they are not, when he can go 
 from England to New York, and travel hundreds of 
 miles into the interior of the States, for a mere trille, 
 and obtain the finest land in the world for a dollar an 
 acre? Besides, the class of men who emigrate arc 
 generally possessed of verj'- limited means, and IGO/. 
 or 80/. cash for IGO acres of waste land is not easily 
 paid by them, juid is indeed in most cases impossible. 
 Moreover, the poor man should have at least 25.v. to 
 r)ut against every acre of imcultivated land he buys, 
 and the capitalist not less than 5/. It is also admitted 
 that the settler must possess some capital to procure 
 the necessaries of life (uid other requirements during 
 the first year, at least, of his occupancy ; and that 
 misery and failure result from all farming operations 
 undertaken without sufficient means to carry them on 
 imtil they give a return. The more that is charged 
 for the land, and the more paid for a passage, the more 
 is taken out of the pocket of the settler, and the less is 
 left him for carrying on operations until he gets a 
 return. By the system pursued in British Columbia, 
 neither the small capitalist, nor the poor man, has any 
 hope of succeeding ; the lands fall into the hands of the 
 rich. There is nc more melancholy sight than that of 
 the settler who, with his family, has removed to a dis- 
 tant country and taken a farm wliich he is not able to 
 cultivate ; all is misery and wretchedness. Indeed, he 
 who selects a farm, and who has means suflftcient to 
 cultivate it, must at the outset ' rough it ; ' but his diflii- 
 culties decrease every year. It is far otherwise with 
 the settler who does not possess the necessary capital. 
 
',■ <■ 
 
 OBSTACLES TO SKTTLKArKNT. 
 
 ns 
 
 His difncultics increase every year in geometriciil 
 progression. lie is obliged to support liis funiily on 
 the crop which should be set aside for seed ; his small 
 stock of cattle disappears ; his land is untilled, unpas- 
 tured, and unfenced ; and he is only desirous to obtain 
 the means of removing himself and his family from the 
 dreary scene. If poverty amongst friends is bitter humi- 
 liation, the woes of hfe become more terrible in a 
 strange land, and a social system in which the poor man 
 ranks but little above a felon. Believe me, hopeful 
 innuigrant, when I warn you that if you cast yourself a 
 jienniless wanderer upon the wild territory of British 
 Columbia, even the very sky over your head will rack 
 you with bitter winds and pitiless tempest, you will 
 almost cease to be a man, and will find yourself worse 
 oflf than the brute, which is clothed and fed and housed. 
 There is no necessity for embarking in so hopeless a 
 speculation as taking up lands in these wild regions, 
 when Australia, New Zealand, the Cape, and the Cana- 
 das are open ; and every man should have sulhcient 
 sense to know that the purchase money is but a portion, 
 and only a small portion, of the outlay necessary to 
 brmg the land into a paying condition. 
 
 It is high time for a full and final abandonment of 
 this hard and repellant land policy; 'not exceeding the 
 sum of five shillings per acre ' should be the stipulation 
 forthwith. It is surely not just that land should rate as 
 high in British Columbia as in AustraUa or New Zea- 
 land, where soil and climate are so infinitely superior. 
 Get settlers into British Columbia and they will raise 
 provisions, make roads, and generally develope the re- 
 sources of the country as far as possible. Indeed, it 
 were better to give the land for nothing than have the 
 country unsettled. What on earth is the good of a 
 
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06 
 
 THE VALLEY OF THE OTTOWA. 
 
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 land without a people ? True, certain lands have been 
 purchased ; but by whom ? By land-sliarks and specu- 
 lators who suffer it to lie idle, the most pernicious of all 
 alienation, and who do not even reside in the colony. 
 
 I cannot see how this territory is to obtain settlers 
 except by offering tlie lands free. The old country is too 
 far away, and the voyage too hazardous and expensive, 
 to expect British emigration witliout some strong in- 
 ducement. Moreover, Canada possesses 350,000 square 
 miles of territory, of which only 40,000 square miles 
 are occupied. A great part of it is much superior in 
 soil, and all of it is equal in climate, to the best parts of 
 Britisli Columbia, and far better situated. Take, for 
 instance, tlie valley of the Ottowa, a region irrigated for 
 hundreds of miles by a complete system of navigable 
 rivers, connected with the port of Montreal by a rail- 
 way, fertile in soil, covered with fine timber, and 
 possessing many inducements for settlement infinitely 
 superior to any in British Columbia. Yet this vast 
 region, so accessible to the poor peasantry of Great 
 Britain, is so far from being settled, that it has never 
 yet been fully surveyed. Is it reasonable to suppose 
 that emigrants will pass by the mouth of this vast valley 
 in order to bury themselves in a region cut off from the 
 rest of the world, and in many respects inferior in 
 natural qualities ? Certainly not, except some very 
 special advantages be granted by tlie Go. erhment in 
 favour of the immigrant. Indeed, considering the great 
 disadvantages which settlers must labour under in tl'c 
 colony of British Columbia, it would surely be sound 
 economy to let them have the lands free for at least the 
 first ten years, and then to permit them to purchase their 
 allotments by annual instahiients of not more than a sliil- 
 ling per acre, wlien tlie produce of the soil would render 
 
 
i':v 1 
 
 OPINION OF THE GRAND JURY. 
 
 67 
 
 'Si >^ 
 
 the ditibursement easy and all but iinfelt. It is iinqiies- 
 tiuuably bigldy impolitic to beggar immigrants at the 
 start, by insisting upon full payment on entering into 
 possession. 
 
 There are some persons who do not go quite so far 
 in their ideas on the Land question. For instance, the 
 members of the Grand Jury of the colony, who are men 
 of considerable intelligence, discussed at considerable 
 length the condition of the colony and the withholding 
 of lands from settlement. In course of their deliberations 
 it was stated that two hundred British subjects had 
 been driven away within a few weeks by the delay about 
 the land, and that those remaining were expending their 
 money while waiting for a decision. The Grand Jury 
 unanimously expressed their unqualified disapproval of 
 laud being sold by auction, as that course enabled tlie 
 speculator to purchase to the detriment of the settler, 
 wlio, in nine cases out of ten, could only obtain lands 
 by purchasing from the speculator at a price much en- 
 hanced, and which in many cases would entirely exhaust 
 the poor man's little capital. They recommended that 
 any person who might wish to settle down in any part 
 of the colony should have the privilege to do so to the 
 extent of IGO acres, following out the Canadian sys- 
 tem as regards surveys; and that such allotments of 
 land sliould be sold to them at not more than five 
 shillings per acre; and that the squatter be requii'ed to 
 lay out from 40/. to 50Z. in improvements before receiv- 
 ing Ills title to the land. There is, of course, an insinua- 
 tion against the Hudson's Bay C*: nipany. ' Meantime 
 the II. B. Company continue to have the land jealously 
 r;aarded frcn- «cttlement, having a farm at Langley, and 
 every month they can delay settlement is so much gain 
 to them.' I do not think that this impeachment of the 
 
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68 
 
 IIKJIUXERATIVE FIELD TO THE CAPITALIST. 
 
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 1.1^. <, 
 
 Company is at all fair ; because they are simply a 
 Company of traders, and cannot possibly as such have 
 anything to do with the disposition of tlie public lands. 
 Probably what led to the remark •was the alliance of 
 Governor Douglns Avitli that body; and, doubtless from 
 the same cause, the Attorney-General was induced to 
 say, during a debate on an address of His Excellency's 
 in the House of Assembly vt Victoria, that 'tlie country 
 had been sadly retarded by the Hudson's Bny Com- 
 pany.' Whilst I, li(3wever, differ from my learned friend 
 in this opinion, certain it is that, from wliatever cause, 
 there exists verj'' great distress in British Columbia. 
 There one need not advertise for men to fill situations, 
 for there are scores of them standing by, gaping for 
 dead men's shoes, or envying the occupations of the 
 living, and offering to supply their places if they but get 
 their empty stomachs filled. Almost every description of 
 trade and business is already overdone because of the 
 want of men with money to give employment. The 
 few get rich, the many get poorer, and all are indeed 
 dependent, even for their existing position, upon such 
 contingent circ ^ -stances and precarious conditions, 
 that a grave thou^m osses the mind that the country 
 has reached its zenith. 
 
 To men of capital British Columbia presents a remu- 
 nerative field. In the purcliase of gold, in mining 
 operations, and in lending money on mortgages, a 
 prudent man may secure a handsome return for the 
 use of his capital ; also in lumbering, which promises 
 to add largely to the prosperity of the colony. The 
 soil of the territory grows as fine timber as there is in 
 the world. Tlie greatest drawback attendant upon this 
 often very lucrative business is the all but impossibility 
 of transporting supplies for man and beast; and like all 
 
 ill 
 
CO.MBINATIOX OF LABOUR. 
 
 69 
 
 
 iply a 
 L liave 
 lands, 
 lice of 
 s from 
 cecl to 
 lency's 
 oiintry 
 ■ Coin- 
 l friend 
 ' cause, 
 iumbia. 
 lations, 
 ing for 
 of the 
 but get 
 -)tion of 
 of the 
 The 
 indeed 
 n such 
 ditions, 
 ouutry 
 
 rcmu- 
 Imining 
 
 fges, 
 
 a 
 
 or the 
 
 omises 
 
 The 
 
 is in 
 
 n tliis 
 
 ibihty 
 
 ike all 
 
 other brandies of industry capital is necessary to its 
 being worked with success. For hundreds of years to 
 come, lumbering will be one of the chief occupations 
 of this colony; and it is to be hoped that agriculture 
 will go hand in hand with it, even althougli tlie soil is 
 not what could be desired. Many years must pass, 
 liowever, ere the resources of British Columbia can be 
 developed, and very great energy on the part of the 
 settlers will be necessary; and energy, correctly under- 
 stood, is actively proportioned to the end. Xapoleon 
 would often, wiien on a campaign, remain for days witli- 
 out shifting his clothes, — now galloping from point to 
 point — now dictating despatches — now studying maps. 
 But his periods of repose, when the crisis was over, 
 were generally as protracted as his exertions had been. 
 He has been known to sleep for eighteen hours on a 
 stretch. Truly Xapoleon with his gigantic industry, 
 alternating Avitli such a})parent idleness, is a striking 
 example of energy. Eeal energy, therefore, is per- 
 seveiing, steady, disciplined; and to call occasional 
 periods of application energy would be a sad mis- 
 nomer. All may rest assured that energy is the straight 
 road to fortune. 
 
 It may be remarked that the few in this colony must, 
 in order to flourish, abandon theirpettyjealousies, enlarge 
 their views, and cooperate with the Hudson's Bay Com- 
 pany, and "with each other like men and brethren, or they 
 will sooner or later be sold up by the sherrfr. It shoidd 
 never be forgotten that combination of labour is an 
 element of great moment in seeming im])ortant ends. 
 Man, unaided by his fellow-men, is a helpless ])eing. 
 All the marvels of past times have been produced by 
 human agency. Tlie temples, pyramids, and catacombs, 
 railroads, telegraphs, mines, and manufactures, and all 
 
70 
 
 THE CRAFTY BLOODTHIRSTY IXDIAN. 
 
 u 
 
 the wonders of the present, have a common origin in 
 association of numbers for a common purpose. Com- 
 bination is Hke the philosoplier's sto/ie, it turns all to 
 gold; like the lever or the screw, it adds to man's 
 power many himdredfold. Let intending emigrants 
 bear this in mind, and never dream of going to any 
 heavily-timbered country except in small bands of ten 
 or twenty men. For what avail would be the labours 
 of one man in clearing the forest, where it often takes 
 twenty able men to remove one tree or stump? — None 
 whatever. The only way, therefore, to get on is to 
 exchange labour. You work with me one week, and I 
 work with you the next, and so we shall both profit 
 by the combination of labour. 
 
 The emigrant should also keep in mind that going 
 to British Columbia is a very different matter from 
 going to Canada or Australia, both of them settled 
 coimtries, in which the natives have long since ceased 
 to be formidable. In British Columbia the new arrival 
 is waited for by the crafty bloodthirsty and implacable 
 savage, who never throws away a chance, never exposes 
 himself to the weapon of an enemy, nor misses an 
 opportunity of slaughter and revenge. Nothing can 
 be expected but a war of extermination sooner or later, 
 in which it is to be feared that the cunning, the ferocity, 
 and the local knowledge of the Indian may prove an 
 over-match for the superior knowledge of the white 
 men, who number so few. Surely, then, it is anything 
 but agreeable or safe to be alone in the wild forest. 
 
 The future of the colony, so far as the British Parlia- 
 ment is concerned, can hardly be speculated on. The 
 amount of knowledge possessed by the members of the 
 House is very meagre, the interest felt by tj e English 
 public small, and the question itself is too remote both 
 
EXTRACT FROM THE LONDON TIMES. 
 
 71 
 
 in time and place. As the London Times very truly 
 expresses itself in one of its able unambiguous leaders 
 of July 22, 1858 :_ 
 
 To interest the general public there are no victories, no 
 campaigns, no fall of dynasties, no ancient civilisation and 
 literature, no shaking of the pagoda-tree. Wild men and 
 wilder nature are the materials with which the Company 
 works, and tb r treatment, notwithstanding the romantic 
 charn^ with which Mr. Gladstone's teeming imagination has 
 sought to invest it, is essentially business-like, matter-of-fact, 
 and prosaic. There is no room for a Cortez or a Pizarro in 
 the cold and melancholy North. The heroes of these rugged 
 scenes are the hardy and thrifty peasaiitS of Aberdeenshire, 
 to whom, with the practical good sense which has throughout 
 distinguished their proceedings, the Company have intrusted 
 the management of their undertaking. 
 
 The greater part of the territory of the Hudson's Bay 
 Company, as described by disinterested witnesses before the 
 Select Committee of the PEouse of Commons, is of the most 
 unpromising description. It consists of primitive rock, 
 alternating with deep swamps encased in it, which, as the 
 rock is too hard to decompose, seem condemned to lerj.^^tual 
 sterility. The limestone, which is in general an inUiv^i^Jon of 
 f(irtility, is in the territory of the Hudson's Bay Company so 
 strongly impregnated with magnesia as to be rather a cause 
 of barrenness. Immense tracts are denuded of soil alto- 
 gether, and the floods to which the coimtry is subject leave 
 little fertilising matter behind them. The trees are described 
 as small in girth and not lofty in growth, and are so capri- 
 ciously distributed that many of the most fertile spots are 
 without fuel, which is supplied by the miserable expediertt 
 of burning the dung of buffnloes. The climate in the most 
 favourable part is alxjut as severe as the coldest regions of 
 Lower Canada, and becomes insupportably inclement as we 
 advance towards the North. The country is, in fact, an 
 American Siberia — more severe in climate, and almost as 
 inaccessible in position. It is, we think, no ordinary triumph 
 
 ' R>v 
 
 W' 
 
 
iiilfc:, 
 
 72 
 
 EXTRACT PROM THE LONDON TIMES. 
 
 of skill and industry that, while the Crown lands of England 
 are rather a burden than a benefit to the nation, a private 
 company should have been able to bring something like 
 order and regulation into this howling wilderness, to live on 
 terms of peace and amity with the Indian tribes that inhabit 
 it, to prevent them from destroying or even making war on 
 each other, to employ them in the peaceful pursuit of the 
 chase, and to derive from sources so unpromising a revenue 
 of at least 50,000^. a year. If we are to judge from past 
 experience, Parliaments and Secretaries of State may long 
 exercise their ingenuity over these territories before they can 
 point to a result equally satisfactory. 
 
73 
 
 ^land 
 ■ivate 
 
 like 
 s^e on 
 habit 
 ar on 
 f the 
 renue 
 I past 
 
 long 
 y can 
 
 CHAPTEPt IV. 
 
 The Gold Mines — Great Excitement — The Henction — Gold fine — 
 Extent of the Auriferous Country — Experience of California — Statis- 
 tics of the Produce of the Columbian and Californian Mines and of the 
 Mining Population — Season for Mining on the Eraser — Culmination 
 of the Eraser River Excitement — Conduct of the Government — Gold 
 usually found in the Mountain-Streams and Rivers — The Califoniian 
 Mines — Value of Mining Claims — To get Money the Aim of all — 
 Shrieks of Mui'der at Night — The Passes infested with Indians — 
 Black Sand found at the Eraser — The Miner's Grave — Instances of 
 the Extravagance of Miners — Strange eventful History of a Cat — 
 How Mining Speculations are done — The precious Metal ' doctored ' — 
 Swindling of the Broker: how done — Accounts from the Quesuell 
 River — Silver Ore in British Columbia — The Silver Mines of Mexico 
 — Harsh Treatment of the Miners — Table of Distances to the Stations 
 on the Routes to the Mines by Eraser River — Condition of Trails and 
 Cost of improving them — The Masqueraded Friend — Route via Co- 
 lumbia River and the Dallas — Table of Distances — Cariboo the new 
 Eldorado — Extracts from the Times and the Daily Telegraph. 
 
 The great clamour which every discovery of gold 
 creates might lead to the impression that such findings 
 were altogether of modern date, and confined exclu- 
 sively to certain special sections of the world ; nc^t 
 spread over every quarter of the globe, and older 
 than civilisation itself. Sacred history, however, makes 
 early mention of gold and silver. Thus the river of 
 Pison is described as 'encompassing the whole land of 
 Havilah, where there is gold, and the gold of the land 
 is good.' The poem of Job, probably the most ancient 
 of the sacred writings, says: 'Surely there is a vein for 
 the silver, and a place for the gold wliere they fine it ; ' 
 and again, ' the earth has dust of gold.' 
 
 
 •'.' :\ 
 
 
 •,.1. : ij 
 
 .• Si' 
 
 
 ^v*: 
 
 .-- !,!J 
 
■■I'li 
 
 74 
 
 GREAT EXCITEMENT. 
 
 Of the method of refining gold and silver employed 
 by the ancients but meagre slvetclies remain ; tlie pro- 
 bability is that it was usually done by fire, with the aid 
 of lead. It is possible that the Egyptians were more 
 skillful, for on the linen swathings of a mummy, re- 
 cently unrolled, the name was found written in indelible 
 ink, which, on analysis, was ascertained to contain 
 silver, as does the marking ink of the present day. The 
 natural inference is that the use of nitric acid was not 
 unknown to that ancient and extraordinary people. If 
 this supposition is correct, one step more, and that a not 
 very improbable one, — namely, the employment oiaqna 
 regia, would enable them to dissolve gold ; and this 
 would be the only menstruum required for the solution 
 of the golden calf destroyed by Moses. The operation 
 of lead in reducing gold and silver is similar to that of 
 mercury, — namely, an ainalgamative one. 
 
 As early as June 1850, Governor Douglas reported 
 to the Secretary of State the discovery of gold in British 
 Columbia. The disclosure, however, attracted but very 
 little attention until the latter end of 1857, when the 
 reports of the Indians finding large quantities of gold 
 had reached the United States. 
 
 The announcement was received, however, with com- 
 parative disbelief until June 1858, when the reported 
 wealth of the Fraser Eiver mines produced an excite- 
 ment which resulted in an unparalleled exodus. The 
 fever all over the State of California was intense, 
 and few if any escaped its contagion. Multitudes pressed 
 on to the new Eldorado by steamers, sailing vessels, 
 barks, brigs, and s(;hooners, until upwards of 40,000 
 souls had landed on Vancouver's Island. The poor, the 
 rich, the old, the J^oung, and even the decrepid, had 
 gone — merchants, doctors, lawyers, loafers, all had 
 
It" 
 
 THE REACTION. 
 
 73 
 
 gone — brethren of tlie creeds of Calvin, Luther, and 
 Penn, tlie admirers of Voltaire, and the fellow-thinkers 
 of Tom Paine, had gone also to add their quota to the 
 motley crowd. The price of revolvers and bowie 
 knives advanced; and everything indicated that the 
 State of California would lose nearly all her male popu- 
 lation. Business men of all classes abandoned their 
 occn])ations. Many went without money, many with ; 
 some to invest in real estate, others to swindle ; many 
 to gamble ; some out of curiosity, some to steal, and 
 many to die. In this imuarkable tln-ong were blended 
 all ranks, all professions, and all pjirties. An eager 
 strife of tongues prevailed in this second Babel ; and 
 even the voice of women rose loud and incessant above 
 the general throng. People of all nations went, and 
 many borrowed sums at ruinous interest, advanced on 
 g(X)ds and property which soon passed away into the 
 ruthless hands of the usurer. The fever did not last 
 long. The rivers had risen by the melting snows. The 
 mines, or rather the bars, could not be worked, and 
 many pei'ished of starvation. Appalling, indeed, are 
 the accounts still related of the fatigues and miseries 
 endured by the weary wayworn adventurers, and of 
 those who have ceased to live, through sheer miseiy 
 and fatigue. 
 
 As might be presumed a reaction took place, and 
 many returned to California, disheartened and discour- 
 aged, whilst others pressed forward to the auriferous 
 deposit. Of those who ascended the Fraser all had 
 worked hard, but their toils had been accompanied with 
 varied success and corresponding dissatisfaction ; large 
 quantities of the glittering metal had been procured, 
 though some, v.ith all their exertion, were almost as 
 destitute of it as when they started. Not a few 
 
 'x^X- 
 
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 '■'"■'0 
 
 M.*-- V-t;! 
 
 
70 
 
 GOLD-DIGGING. 
 
 I 
 
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 ''±M. 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 w 
 
 i|ll^ 
 
 accomplished tlioir object, whilst a coiisidenible niinil)er 
 could scarcely be said to have bettered their condition. 
 Tlie failures formed by no means the exception, as evi- 
 denred by the wretched ap[)earance of tlie returning 
 multitudes; antl these were neither the idle iHjr the in- 
 competent: they were of those wlu) were willing lo work, 
 and who possessed the physical capabilities. Gold-dig- 
 ging is quite a lottery. Two parties of men may work 
 with equal energy within a few yards of each other, and 
 go through all tlie hardships and i)rivations to be en- 
 countered ; the one party may get twenty or thirty 
 ounces a day, whilst the other may not find a speck. 
 Every disappointment is not to be attributed to the 
 absence of gold, nor can they expect much sympathy 
 wlio get the backache at the first sight of a pick (uid 
 shovel ; for, although there are but few large nuggets 
 found, the diggings are nevertheless productive, and 
 many experienced hands hr.ve made their 'piles.' The 
 gold is in most cases very fme, so nmch so that it can 
 onlj^ be gathered by the use of quicksilver to anuilgam- 
 ate it. This is, however, no serious drawback, as 
 California produces sufficient for the cousumption of all 
 the mines in the world ; and abundance will doubtless 
 yet be found in British Columbia. Almost all who re- 
 turn from the mines bring more or less gold, and there 
 is no question of the existence of this metal in consider- 
 able quantities. There is, how^ever, no positive infor- 
 mation as to the extent of the auriferous country, and 
 this omission is a blot upon the management of the 
 colony. The first step should have been to solve this 
 problem. It is to be hoped that the discoveries of the 
 precious metal may increase to such a degree as to give 
 a greater impetus to the growth of our power on the 
 western side of the continent than it has yet done ; and 
 
ive 
 llie 
 lid 
 
 REQUISITKS TO SUCCESSFUL MINLVO. 
 
 77 
 
 recent accounts miv very oncoiiniging. Would that tlio 
 arrrirultural j)i*ospccts of tlic colony could bo dwelt u[)oii 
 more hopefully, as mines, liowever rich, whether of ^old 
 or silver, can never keep a country from ruin if the toil of 
 the husbandman be unrewarded. Immigration to the 
 mines has for the present almost ceased. From one 
 extreme the ])eoi)le have run into the other. Probably 
 the mining })eo[)le think that there is a sullicient num- 
 ber now on the river to woi'k all the claims that Avill 
 pay. Indeed, many express their disbelief in the ex- 
 istence of gold in large paying quantities on the Fraser. 
 If, however, these diggings have not turned out so rich 
 as Avas expected, there may nevertheless be found hill 
 diL'^inijs far away at the foot of the great chain of 
 mountains, surpassing in richness anything that has yet 
 been worked. This would only be in accordance with 
 the expei'ience of California, and with the reasonable 
 presumption that gold found in the beds of rivers has 
 ])ecii Avashed from dciposits at their sources. There is, 
 therefore, but little doubt that a larger field will yet 
 be opened to the enterprise of the gold seekers. 
 
 To mine successfully, however, requires capital and 
 machinery, Avith combination of ellbrt and associa- 
 tion. Gold-digging is, moreover, a precarious pursuit ; 
 the uncertain distribution of the mineral is a stranijfe 
 anomaly. It is in too many instances like seeking 
 treasure-trove in a dust-hole ; there .is nothing to indi- 
 cate Avhere to Avork or Avhen to desist. I knew an 
 adventurer avIio, being seized Avith the auromania, 
 visited the golden shrine on the banks of the Fraser, 
 and dug for six Aveeks Avithout finding a speck of the 
 ' shining mischief,' and after spending his all in ' grub,' 
 yielded in despair, stidly disheartened and penniless. 
 A fcAv hours thereafter a stranger tried tlic luckless 
 
 
 
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 STATISTICS OF PRODUCE. 
 
 hole, and, having continued the excavation for a couple 
 of days, was rewarded with 90/. wortli of gold. It is 
 such isolated cases of success that keeps up the feverish 
 excitement attendant on the digger's life ; but fortune 
 does not always reveal nuggets to her votaries. Gold- 
 hunting is quite a lottery, except when conducted 
 under the operation of capitalists, and companies asso- 
 ciated for the sake of the command of the requisite 
 funds. Three-fourths of the gold produced from the 
 Californian and AustraUan diggings result from judi- 
 cious expenditure of large capital, and employment of 
 the necessary r.iachinery for crushing the quartz, sepa- 
 rating the Oi-^,, and extx'acting tlie metal. There is no 
 doubt as to the great extent of auriferous country in 
 this dependency, and its minerals must for long, if not 
 for ever, constitute its principal source of wealth ; but, 
 as the Yankee remarked, ' though there is plenty of 
 gold, it takes a tarnation quantity of silver to get it.' 
 
 The following statistics of the produce of the mines 
 in British Columbia may be interesting : — 
 
 Produce of gold in 1858 . . .^2,120,000 
 „ „ 1859 . . . 1,375,000 
 
 „ „ 18G0 . . . 950,000 
 
 (There are no authentic returns for 1861). 
 
 It should be mentioned that the foregoing statement 
 has been made up from actual returns made by Wells, 
 Fargo, and Co., Freeman and Co., Ballow and Co., 
 Macdonald and Co., local Bankers and Express Com- 
 panies, and from the best information that could be 
 gained fi'om miners and others. 
 
 SHIPMENTS OF CALIFORNIAN GOLD 
 
 1851 . 
 
 . $ 34,492,000 
 
 1856 . 
 
 . $ 50,697,434 
 
 1852 . 
 
 . 45,779,000 
 
 1857 . 
 
 . 47,215,39b 
 
 1853 . 
 
 . 54,935,000 
 
 1858 . 
 
 . 46,503,632 
 
 1854 . 
 
 . 50,973,968 
 
 1859 . 
 
 . 45,989,890 
 
 1855 . 
 
 . 45,182,631 
 
 
 
 t^' 
 
STATISTICS OF PRODUCE. 
 
 70 
 
 The yield of the Californian mines is now about 
 ^50,000,000 annually — upwards of 10,000,000/. It 
 is therefore a manifest exaggeration to say that the British 
 Columbian mines produce as much as those of California ; 
 and if we look to Australia we find that the two colonies 
 of New South Wales and Victoria exported, between 
 May 1851 and June 1861, 25,081,468 ounces of gold, 
 the value being 96,399,844/. 
 
 An aggregate produce of 600,000/. is stated by the 
 Surveyor-General of Vancouver's Island, from the au- 
 tlientic data before him, to be a moderate estimate for 
 the two years 1858, 1859, thus averaging not less than 
 300,000/. for each of the first two years, and these 
 returns have been obtained under a combination of 
 unfavourable circumstances. The mining labourers were 
 not only fewer, less skilled, and more unsettled tlian 
 those in California and Australia, but had greater diffi- 
 culties and obstacles to contend against in reaching 
 the locaUties of the river beds and banks where they 
 worked, and these for much of the time were rendered 
 inaccessible to the miner's operations by the flooded 
 state of the waters. Almost all the gold, too, for these 
 earlier periods, was taken from bars usually under 
 water ; and all probably without exception was but the 
 deposit washed down by the various streams and tor- 
 rents from the matrices of the gold in the rocks above, 
 and left partly in the sand-bars, and partly in the alluvial 
 soil of the neiglibouring banks. Indeed it has been but 
 recently that even the banks within moderate distances 
 of the streams have been resorted to ; but the results 
 of diggings and washings in them, and the ' blue lead,' 
 and other auriferous indications which have been found, 
 show not only absolutely the abundance of the pre- 
 cious metal, permeating these secondary localities, but 
 
 
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 FALLING OFF IN THE POPULATION. 
 
 inferentially the incalculable wealth of ore which must 
 be imbedded in the rocky sources above. 
 
 The mining population in British Columbia may be 
 estimated as follows : — 
 
 White Population in 1858 
 
 . 17,000 
 
 1859 . 
 
 . 8,000 
 
 1860 . 
 
 . 7,000 
 
 1861 . 
 
 . 5,000 
 
 Of these about a sixth are British subjects, either 
 from the mother country or the provinces. 
 
 The great falling off in the population of the colony 
 must be attributed chiefly to miners having been com- 
 pelled to leave the country on account of the high 
 prices of provisions in the auriferous regions, arising 
 from the cost of transport and the difficulty of access 
 to the mines through the impassable state of the 
 trails during the snows of winter. There has been 
 a considerable arrival of Chinese ; but the winter 
 season, which is so different from their wonted climate, 
 has driven them nearly all away. Besides, there are 
 accounts from these British possessions of numbers of 
 these poor creatures having been driven away by the 
 Indians. This is rather gloomy news, as the attack on 
 the Chinese may soon be followed by an onset upon 
 the whites, which would be the destruction of the 
 entire colony, the products of the mines being as yet 
 almost its only support. It is to be hoped that Governor 
 Douglas will not sympathise too much with these 
 savage tribes, but that he will make them smell powder 
 and ball, instead of perpetuating the old system of 
 doling out blankets to them as a bribe to keep the 
 peace, a method which has invariably proved to be 
 but only a stronger inducement to do wrong. 
 
 It is now settled that the fit season for mining on 
 
■>r 
 
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 K-'' 1 
 
 SEASON FOR MINING ON THE FRASER. 
 
 81 
 
 high 
 
 lig on 
 
 the Fraser is not the summer, when the melting snows 
 maintain the waters at their greatest height. Tlie 
 richest bars are inundated up to tlie middle of Sep- 
 tember, when they can be worked for the five or six 
 succeeding months, except when the severity of winter 
 hinders operations. It is impossible to give even an 
 average of the quantities of gold obtained by each 
 man, as some make as much as 20/. per day for 
 several days running, whilst others obtain absolutely 
 nothing. 'I could, without any sacrifice of truth,' 
 says a gentleman, writing upon the subject, ' produce 
 instances of several persons who realised, during a 
 mining season, some 400/. or 500/. each ; but unless I 
 also recorded many a sad instance of failure, of con- 
 stitutions ruined, and disappointed expectation, the 
 induction would be useless, a wrong impression con- 
 veyed, and the exceedingly precarious nature of mining 
 as an avocation lost sight of, ending with the disap- 
 pointment of the inexperienced and sanguine. An 
 intending emigrant should dismiss from his mind any 
 instances of extraordinary successes he may have heard 
 of. Suppose he has become accidentally acquainted 
 with an authenticated case of a man making five or 
 ten times more than the average in a season, such an 
 instance only argues five or ten to one against his (the 
 intending emigrant) realising anything.' 
 
 The surface diggings in 1800 do not seem to have 
 been so productive as in 1858 and 1859, m the follow- 
 ing statement by Mr. O'Eeilly, Acting Gold Commis- 
 sioner at Fort Hope, will show ; but this does not 
 shake my belief in the existence of extensive placer 
 diggings, founded as it is on the geological character of 
 the country. 
 
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 82 CULMINATION OP THE PRASER RIVER EXCITEMENT. 
 
 AVERAGE NUMBER OP MINERS EMPLOYED ON THE SEVERAL 
 BARS IN THE PORT HOPE DISTRICT, VIZ. PROM VICTORIA 
 TO HUDSON BAR. 
 
 Names of Bars 
 
 Average No. of 
 Miners cmpluycd 
 
 Average per diem earningi 
 of each man. 
 
 Victoria . 
 Puget Sound 
 French 
 Trafalgar . 
 IVIaria Villo 
 Union 
 Cornish . 
 Prospect . 
 Blue Nose 
 Hudson . 
 
 
 
 
 40 
 
 50 
 
 15 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 20 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 30 
 
 3 to 5 dollars 
 
 3 6 „ 
 10 K „ 
 
 5 < „ 
 
 4 „ 
 
 4 5 „ 
 3 4 „ 
 
 i " 
 
 8 10 ;; 
 
 Total 
 
 203 
 
 
 
 
 •£ 
 
 s. d. 
 
 Flour . . 
 
 . per lb 
 
 .0 
 
 10 
 
 Bacon . . . 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 Lard . . 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 Sugar . . 
 
 
 
 
 1 8 
 
 Tea . . 
 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 Coffee . . . 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 PRICE OP PROVISIONS AT ROCK CREEK, JANUARY 1861. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 Beans . . . per lb. 1 3 
 Rice ... „ 018 
 Candles (scarce) „ 6 
 Dried apples . „ 18 
 Molasses . per gallon 10 
 
 In July 1858 the Fraser Eiver gold excitement sud- 
 denly culminated, and as rapidly declined. The reaction 
 was to be expected ; and, true enough, plenty of adverse 
 stories had been circulated to the effect that all the Eraser 
 Eiver business was a humbug ; but I have too much 
 belief in the existence of the glittering ore to listen to 
 such accounts, and although the gold region in Wash- 
 ington territory rivals in richness any that has been 
 explored in British Columbia, yet there is no cause to 
 

 .861. 
 
 s. d. 
 
 1 3 
 
 1 8 
 
 6 
 
 1 8 
 
 
 
 HARD LABOURING MAN ONLY SUCCESSFUL. 
 
 83 
 
 fea^ , as there the extent is very limited, so far as yet 
 known. There have been scores of the weak-hearted 
 and irresohite who denied that there was anything 
 worth seeking on the banks of the Fraser, and many 
 of these croaking discontents have left the country in 
 great disgust ; but such is the case in every colony 
 even where there is not a tithe of the difficulties which 
 are to be encountered in British Columbia. It may be 
 proper, however, to remark that none except the hard 
 labouring man can succeed at these mines ; that for 
 the office clerk, or gentleman without capital, to go 
 thitlier, would be certain ruin and disappointment ; 
 besides, the paying mines are pretty generally taken 
 up and owned by men who would not be easily induced 
 to sell out. Persons should receive with caution a 
 great deal of what is reported about the shining mis- 
 chief, as many exaggerated stories are propagated by 
 speculators for the purpose of inducing the unwary to 
 go thither to be fleeced. 
 
 The accounts which are being received from the 
 diggings at Cariboo, Fort Alexander, and Quesnell's 
 Eiver, confirm the position I have ever maintained, 
 that there is no material difference between the charac- 
 ter of the gold deposits on the Lower and Mddle 
 Eraser and that of the placeres in the northern section 
 of British Columbia. This being established, it is 
 clear that, from the want of facilities for transporta- 
 tion, the former locaUties offer a better opportunity for 
 profitable working than the latter. As the editor of 
 the Victoria Gazette says — 
 
 The concentration of the mining population on diggings 
 adjacent to main points of supply will not only have the 
 effect of inducing discovery and developement of the deposits 
 in that vicinity, but may accomplish the marvel of inducing 
 
 G 2 
 
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84 
 
 EXTRACT FROM VICTORIA GAZETTE. 
 
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 the Government to unclortake the construction of a road 
 which shall intersect the principal localities now beinj^ 
 worked. While the authorities neglected making roads 
 through the most thickly-populated district of the colony, 
 subordinate officials have not hesitated to include in their 
 reports the most exaggerated accounts of the results of indi- 
 vidual mining in remote localities. These statements have 
 not even been qualified by remarks on the exceptional cha- 
 racter of such accounts (admitting the facts to be stated 
 correctly), and we cannot recall to mind an instance where 
 any discouraging statements have formed a portion of any of 
 the official reports that have found their way into print. In 
 fact, the same short-sighted policy pursued in many localities 
 of California, seems to have prevailed among our officials — 
 to give publicity only to instances of fortunate mining, and 
 indirectly produce the impression that such cases were the 
 rule and not the exception. The rush to the Canoe Country 
 last spring might have been much modified had Government 
 officials taken pains to ascertain and publish the ivltole truth 
 in regard to those diggings ; while that to Alexander might 
 have been either prevented or postponed to a proper season 
 by adopting such a policy. The result of the contrary 
 system, aggravated by illiberal mining regulations, has been 
 to increase the total of disappointed miners, and to drive 
 large numbers of them from the country, while those who 
 remain announce their intention of departing as soon as they 
 can earn money enough to carry them away. 
 
 Discouraging as is the present aspect of affairs in British 
 Columbia, it is better to admit the condition than to attempt 
 to ignore its existence. That such a season as the present 
 should be the one chosen for the formation and promulgation 
 of a general and detailed system of mining regulations, would 
 be amusing were it not a melancholy instance of official 
 blindness and procrastination. There is not a clause in the 
 new plan which might not have been put in operation a year 
 ago; not one among the partial reforms instituted that would 
 not have been infinitely more beneficial then than now. In 
 fact, the two periods of past and future may be thus described : 
 
 
GOLD FOUND IN MOUNTAIN-STREiVMS AND RIVKRS. 85 
 
 Heretofore we have had in British Cohimbia a mining popu- 
 lation without a mining system ; hereafter we shall have an 
 elaborate system without a population. 
 
 The experience of the last few months confirms me 
 in the opinion that the characteristic feature of British 
 Columbia is its richness in gold. In several instances 
 it has been found that spots which luid been tried 
 and abandoned as unproductive have proved, upon 
 more close search, to be richly remunerative. One 
 thing is certain, — that if the average gain offered 
 by the diggings is not sufficient to induce a man to 
 give them a trial, he is foolish to be lured l)y the few 
 instances of extraordinary success, as the mines in 
 British Columbia have not hitherto justified the proba- 
 bility of persons stumbhng upon such a splendid mass 
 of solid gold as the one found in Australia, weighing 
 28 lbs. 4 oz., and purchased by the Executive for 
 1,650^. for presentation to Her Majesty ; nor of meethig 
 with such a treasure as the nugget found at Ballarat in 
 June 1858, which weighed originally 2,166 oz., and when 
 melted yielded 2,019J oz. pure gold, worth 8,376/. 
 106'. lOd., and only 146J oz. quartz, earthy matter, &c. 
 
 In British Columbia gold is usually foimd m moun- 
 tain-streams and rivers, and more abimdantly towards 
 their sources. This is not, however, the case in Austra- 
 lia, where hundreds have traced a river upwards to its 
 head in expectation of finding a large supply of gold, 
 but have been disappointed. In many instances in 
 that golden country, the sand at a distance from the 
 source is richer than the sand which is nearer, thus 
 proving that the shining metal has not, at least in these 
 instances, been carried down from the moinitains. If 
 these examples have been cited to warn persons from 
 placing too much faith in the mountain origin of gold, 
 
 
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 86 
 
 THE CALIFORNIAN MINES. 
 
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 still experience leads to the inevitable inference that 
 vast wealth is concealed in the bowels of the rocky 
 mountains of British Columbia. On the Fraser the 
 river claims arc esteemed the most valuable, because 
 the miner looks to tlie holes and crevices in the rock 
 bed of the stream for the chief reward of his labour, 
 and to work diy diggings successfully is very expensive 
 and requires much toil. Indeed, none but capitahsts 
 can venture to work them upon an extensive scale. To 
 give an idea of the labour and cost of some operations, 
 it may be mentioned that in the southern mines of 
 Calilbrnia tunnels five feet by six feet are driven up- 
 wards of a mile in length. In these two men only can 
 work at a time, and the current rate of pay is from 
 IGs. to 2O5. a day, and several of these tunnels have 
 taken from four to five years to complete. Moreover, 
 it not unfrequently happens that after all this labour 
 and expense not a cent's worth of gold is obtained. 
 However, when successful, the stuff is wheeled off on a 
 wagon tramway to a convenient spot, where the ' dirt ' 
 is washed in long boxes, some a thousand feet in length, 
 and as much as a hundred tons are put in at a time. 
 A box of this size requires thirty inches of water to wash, 
 or rather to sluice, the dirt ; and in some cases it has to 
 be conveyed in wooden aqueducts upwards of sixty 
 miles at an enormous outlay. The charge for a thii'ty- 
 incli volume of water is 2Qs. for every ten hours. Of 
 course in these subterranean works blasting is resorted 
 to, which often proves fatal to the inexperienced work- 
 man. One claim, extending to some forty feet of gravel, 
 is washed by two streams playing upon it with a pres- 
 sure of sixty feet. The owners use 120 inches of water 
 at a cost of 6/. per day, and the labour of six men, and 
 realise a daily average of 50/. This claim was opened 
 
 

 ravel, 
 pres- 
 ^vater 
 and 
 )ened 
 
 MlSAl'I .ICATION OF MONEY. 
 
 87 
 
 at an outlay of 1,000/., wliich was chiefly expended in 
 running a tunnel some 400 feet through soUd rock. In 
 tliis tunnel aic placed sluices and rillles for saving the 
 gold. At night the lower end of the tunnel is closed, 
 and the upper part watched, to prevent thieves from 
 robbing the sluices. The owners believed that they 
 had earth sufTicient to keep them at work for at least 
 three years, and that it would pay them equally well 
 throughout. This claim is worked on the plan of hun- 
 dreds which pay so well in California. 
 
 It is painful to think that the colony has suffered 
 very great injury through the supineness of certain 
 officials. Nothing was done until very recently, and 
 even then but little to promote the developement of 
 the gold diggings. The same short-sighted policy pur- 
 sued in the Lands and Works Department seems to 
 have prevailed in that quarter also, and the result has 
 been to drive large numbers of miners from the coun- 
 try. Had roads, or even tolerable trails, been con- 
 structed, different indeed would be the aspect of affairs 
 at the present moment. The money which should 
 have been employed on such works of utility was wasted 
 in forming expensive fancy walks through picturesque 
 ravines about the then uninliabited city of New West- 
 minster, in beautifying a costly camp, and in other 
 useless follies. No reasonable excuse can be advanced 
 for not having long since developed the mineral re- 
 sources of the country, by the construction of roads, 
 trails, and other channels of mtercommunication. The 
 means of internal access are at the present moment 
 miserably defective, unsurveyed, and but partially ex- 
 plored. A few miles of road are now, when it is all 
 but too late, in course of construction at a most reckless 
 expenditure. The Government experienced some 
 
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 ■ '-■ ;■ ■■•:* 
 . '■-*•■ '--^ 
 
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 88 
 
 TO GET MONEY THE AIM OF ALL. 
 
 ['\m'^ 
 
 
 omhnri'assniciit from tlio want of funds at the outset, 
 but it is equally true that tlie moneys they had were 
 lavishly wasted. Let us hope for better conduct in the 
 future, and let bygones be bygones. Few of the dis- 
 contented miners who luive returned from the Fraser 
 River mines deny that there is gold. Its existence is 
 uncontested ; but then, in many instances, more money 
 and labour are exi)ended to get at it than it is worth, 
 because of the want of means of communication with 
 the diggings. 
 
 Money — to get money — is the aim of all, the chief 
 end of business. Money! with what an air of scorn 
 the word is often used. The ' accursed thirst for gold ' 
 is the standard subject of classical and philosophical 
 anathema. Yet with what encliantment the little word 
 falls on the ear ! We are told that ' the love of money 
 is the root of all evil ; ' they might rather have said the 
 ivant of it. What is money ? Money is bread, cloth- 
 ing, shelter, education, and refinement, and without at 
 least a share of these evil is inevitable. The gold-seekers 
 at the mines are generally persons whom the world 
 has used but rouglily, and as soon as they have accu- 
 mulated enough to supply the bare necessaries of hfe, 
 they take to the more agreeable pursuits of the hus- 
 bandman. This proves that it is not so much the love 
 of gold tliat induced them to leave their homes, as the 
 laudable desire of realising sufficient to enable them to 
 embark in some other kind of employment. Dreadful 
 indeed, at times, are the fixtigues and privations of the 
 journey, and not less frightful is their condition after 
 arriving at these regions. 
 
 As may be supposed, the state of society is low in 
 the extreme, and life and property are far from secure. 
 Night and day bands of murderous-looking ruffians 
 
 M Jij 
 
SlIUIEKS OF MURDER AT NllillT. 
 
 80 
 
 jirowl about and commit the most atrocious robberies. 
 Indeed no accounts of tlie discomfort and crimes en- 
 countered at tlie gold-fields, however exaggerated, can 
 come near the reality. No man tliinks of moving from 
 his tent, by night or by day, without every barrel of 
 his revolver charged and ready for use. At the British 
 Columbian mines, as at all others, the miner dare not 
 lie down at night without his deadly weai)on at his 
 side, and a companion on the watch to guard him from 
 murder and robbery. Thus they work, and watch, 
 and sleep, and live, in constant dread of death. Some 
 have attached to their treasury box dogs of the fiercest 
 kind, to whom human blood is more than palatable. 
 At the darkest hour of night the agonising shriek and 
 the mufiled cry is heard of some poor wretch who is 
 gagged or miu'dered. But you dare not interfere un- 
 less you desire to be yourself shot and to have your 
 tent sacked. Even in the bi'oad light of day, from 
 liiding-places in the clefts of the rocks, from the eternal 
 snows of the Eocky Mountains, with no witness but the 
 all-seeing eye of God, have ascended many a cry from 
 hps which never opened more. At Black Rock Bar, 
 on Eock Creek, on Jidy 10 last, two men, respec- 
 tively named Frank Porter and David Barr, had a dis- 
 pute about a mining claim, when Porter shot Barr 
 through the heart. Barr died instantly, and the 
 murderer has not yet been arrested. This is, however, 
 but one instance out of a hundred. All the passes to 
 these regions have become extremely dangerous, being 
 infested by Indians who plunder wayfarers with perfect 
 impunity. Arrest is impossible, and the Government is 
 unwilling to proceed with the strong hand, fearing that 
 the first blow would be followed by an expensive and 
 bloody Indian war. Their policy is, however, unsound. 
 
 rv;; 
 
 
 
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 ■ ■ %] 
 
 
90 
 
 EXTRACT FROM MACLEOD'S WORK. 
 
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 III' ^ 
 
 \': I 
 
 At the mines the waste of life is extreme. The 
 greater number die prematurely through overtaxing 
 their physical powers, and those who survive, although 
 they may be rich in money, are generally bankrupt in 
 health and happiness. 
 
 Few at the present day require to be told that the 
 degree of comfort in the world does not depend on the 
 quantity of gold in circulation. Quadruple the present 
 supply, and the price of every article will be quadrupled. 
 Things will find their level ; and if a day's labour in 
 British Columbia will produce ten ounces of gold, ten 
 ounces of gold will be given for a day's work. As the 
 labour necessary to produce an article invariably deter- 
 mines its value, it is perfectly immaterial whether the 
 Eocky Mountains are composed of gold or granite. 
 Make the shining mischief as common as sand, and it 
 will bring the price of sand, and no more. Li short, 
 where gold is abundant everything rises in cost, and 
 it is only when put rapidly into circulation that such 
 metals augment national opulence. In section 124 of 
 Macleod's work it is stated that — 
 
 From the extravagant and mistaken ideas that prevailed as 
 to gold and silver money being wealth, there are few nations 
 which have not inflicted upon themselves incalculable mischief 
 by their commercial policy. When the Spaniards discovered 
 and conquered the gold-producing districts of Ameiica, they 
 thought that nothing but gold and silver was wealth. Dazzled 
 vnth. the brilHant prospect of becoming wealthy without 
 labour, they imagined that the whole of their well-being 
 consisted in amassing enormous heaps of gold and silver, 
 Avholly mistaking the means for the end, and not discovering 
 tliat the precious metals were only precious so long as they 
 were used for setting human industry in motion, while they 
 encouraged the tilling of the land, the mother of increase, or 
 
 'U. 
 
'M'J'M 
 
 BLACK SAND FOUND AT THE FRASEU. 
 
 91 
 
 the building of ships to promote the intercourse of nations, 
 or plying the loom to produce clothing for mankind. 
 
 It is truly wonderful how constant is the feverish 
 pursuit after money. For gold men sacrifice comfort, 
 health, character, and life itself — even gratitude and 
 affection. And why all this ? simply because men 
 form a false estimate of existence. The man who makes 
 himself a slave to gold is a miserable wretch indeed, 
 winning for his prize the ' Dead Sea apple ' — golden 
 without, but ashes within. A man may be very ricli 
 and yet be very worthless ; he may sport a dashing 
 equipage in Hyde Park, lounge at tlie opera, live in 
 Park Lane, and create a sensation in the mercantile 
 world, yet be very selfish ; lavish to himself, miserly 
 to his fellows. No heart may ever beat more quickly 
 at his name, no eye ever look up to bless him. Better 
 for such a man he had never been born. Better, far 
 better, that he had lain at the rich man's door than sat 
 a rich man at the rich man's table. And yet how many, 
 like the miners of British Columbia, wear out their lives 
 and stain their souls in pursuit of wealth, and, as they 
 think, its unfailing concomitant happiness, finding when 
 it is too late that all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 
 
 The Eraser Eiver appears to abound in black sand ; 
 and although this has not yet been found to possess 
 the rich properties of the Australian sand, it neverthe- 
 less may some day prove of considerable value. The 
 sand discovered in Australia was found, on being ana- 
 lysed, to be worth 1,600/. a ton. There is no doubt, 
 however, but that this sand must have been largely im- 
 pregnated with gold, only observable after analysis ; but 
 tliere is also a peculiar description of black sand found 
 almost always associated with tlie gold, which is 
 
 'ill*' 
 
 I:- 
 
 I- 
 
 '''''f 
 
 H 
 
 
 ■ k s% 
 
 m 
 
 
0-2 
 
 MINERS SUBJECT TO NUMBERLESS MALADIES. 
 
 r 
 
 sufficiently valuable in itself to pay the mine)' well. On the 
 Ovens diggings in Australia large quantities of this sand 
 were obtained, but it was thought valueless, and heed- 
 lessly thrown away. After a few years, however, it 
 occurred in such large quantities, and caused so much 
 difficulty in separating the gold, that general attention 
 was drawn to it, when it ultimately proved to be a de- 
 scription of tin ore of considerable value. As much as 
 50/. a ton was offered for it on the diggings, and it in 
 time created a flourishing business. The price which 
 this sand fetched in England averaged from 150/. to 
 200/. a ton. A great deal of money was also made by 
 the English purchaser, through the application of a 
 process by which the gold still remaining in the black 
 sand, despite the exertions of the Australian miner, 
 was thoroughly extracted. 
 
 The gold-seeker is, alas! subject to numberless 
 maladies. Many a poor miner dies of consumption, 
 contracted through incessant toil and exposure in 
 the mines. For months does he painfully, but un- 
 complainingly hnger, working at intervals until his 
 suffering becomes too great, and he sinks into the grave. 
 Most begin in the full flush of youthful health and 
 hope. Few harbour a thought that their home is to be 
 there, or that they will even make a lengthened stay in 
 the mines ; none, perhaps, that they will there find a 
 final resting-place. Yet in the quiet little spot on the 
 hill, where no sound of hammer or pick is heard 
 through the long day, gradually and surely the weary 
 wanderers from many lands are gathered, their struggle 
 with the world and fortune terminated for ever, their 
 hard luck, their rich strikes, the pulsations of hope, or 
 the gloom of despair, which each in turn animated their 
 souls, alike forgotten. Year follows year at the golden 
 
THE MINER'S GRAVE. 
 
 93 
 
 shrine in as rapid march as at the old fire-side ; and 
 the youthful forms of some years ago are now 
 approaching the shady slope of life's two-sided hill. 
 One by one they pass away, leaving us to saddening 
 memories of the past. Ah ! there lies many a moral 
 hero, who bravely strove against the tide of adversity 
 and the sting of penury, till overborne at last he sank 
 in the desert. 
 
 No priest stood by to soothe the hour of death ; 
 No wailing sire received his fleeting breath ; 
 Above his grave waves no memorial yew. 
 Nor parting friends there wept a long adieu ! 
 
 The miner exists, but does not live. He roves list- 
 lessly from object to object, and from place to place. 
 He feels singularly desolate when he sees only strangers 
 and hears only strange voices. Oh, how vain, how 
 fleeting, how uncertain are all those gaudy bubbles 
 after which we pant and toil in this world of fair delu- 
 sion ! Many a disappointed miner runs to waste and 
 self-neglect ; fancying himself lonely and abandoned, his 
 heart, devoid of hope, falls to ruin like some deserted 
 mansion. He loses firmness, and cannot withstand the 
 bitter blasts of adversity. His eyes grow dim, his 
 checks grow pale, and he dies like a dog, not even so 
 much cared for. Mining is notoriously a demorahsing 
 employment, and much less certain and profitable to 
 the community at large than agriculture. The maxim 
 of the miner is, ' Eat, drink, and be merry, for to-mor- 
 row we die.' His day's earnings are spent as soon as 
 got, and his recklessness is as great as his gathering. 
 As instances of the many folhes committed by these 
 men it may be mentioned, that jne man went to Wells, 
 Fargo, and Co., exchanged gold dust for a ten-pound 
 
 
 m 
 
 ■^#*|' 
 
 ;' .•■'-1:'.:W|'> 
 
 ■'I'll' 
 
 ' •., 1-' i> ■■■ 
 
 ..,■■ ■;':-j^.'.« •■ 
 'l:«' •;■;■'* 
 
 
i)4 
 
 STRANGE EVENTFUL HISTOEY OF A CAT. 
 
 
 \W 
 
 \\\U 
 
 M . 
 
 IS 
 
 I ]}" . ' 
 
 .'.,* 
 
 r;.^ 
 
 Bank of England note, returned to his companions at 
 the tavern, placed the note in a shce of cold pork, and 
 ate it up as a sandwich ; another lit his pipe with a 
 five-pound note ; whilst a third swallowed one as a pill. 
 Similar extravagances are common, and induce the 
 spectator to fancy that there is no place like the gold 
 mines. It ought not to be forgotten, however, that in 
 these regions our friends are our rivals, and our neigh- 
 bours our competitors. ' Everyone for himself, and the 
 
 d 1 for us all,' is the miner's motto. 
 
 As might be expected, practical jokes are not un- 
 common. There has got abroad a strange eventful 
 history of a cat, which is credited by many knowing 
 ones from the mines. A few months ago a miner killed a 
 catamount. After taking off his hide neatly for pre- 
 servation, he gave the carcass to some Chinamen, telling 
 them it was a buck rabbit. They in turn sold it to an 
 Itahan butcher, giving the same gentle pedigree to his 
 catship. The butcher had some favourite customers, 
 American miners, to whom he kindly consented to sell 
 it on the occasion of a grand dinner-party which they 
 intended to give their friends, and which, of course, a 
 rabbit weighing thirteen pounds would render doubly 
 grand. They bought it at a good round price, and on 
 the day of the repast it was eaten to the bone, with 
 many a comphment to the quality of the flesh, and 
 flattering tribute to the universal rabbit family. After 
 a few days the miner who was at the bottom of the 
 joke divulged the cheat, and ' let the cat out of the 
 bag.' Thereupon the dinner-party waxed as savage as 
 a garden full of cats, and one of them went to the un- 
 fortunate butcher, who was totally ignorant of what he 
 had done, and told him if he did not remit an amount 
 of 15/. the dinner men would prosecute him for selling 
 

 now MINING SPECULATIONS ARE DONE. 
 
 90 
 
 unlawful *ganie.' As may be imagined, the butcher 
 was perfectly astonished, and let the dinner man dictate 
 his own terms ; and so the cat cost the butcher 15/. 
 
 It may be interesting to instance how mining specu- 
 lations are managed. A short time since a British 
 Columbian, who was much straitened for means, met a 
 friend, to whom he complained of the hard times, and 
 his own want of funds. He displayed a share in a cer- 
 tain obscure gold mine on the Fraser as his only pro- 
 perty, and this he considered as about worthless. His 
 friend, who was equally ignorant of the value of the 
 share, said, at a venture — ' I'll give you my watch and 
 chain for a half inticrest in it.' 'Very well,' repHed the 
 other ; ' I am perfectly willing.' ' However,' adds the 
 Columbian, ' as I don't wish to let my friends know 
 that I have parted with my watch, you must allow me 
 to retain the chain, to which I will attach my keys in- 
 stead of the " ticker," and so deceive them.' ' All 
 right, my good fellow ; ' and the exchange was made 
 to their mutual satisfaction. *Now,' said the friend, 
 ' say nothing about this transaction, but make me out a 
 conveyance of the half interest, and make the considera- 
 tion six hundred dollars.' This was done, and the 
 friend went his way rejoicing. A day or two after 
 this he met an acquaintance, and the subject of the 
 mines was broached. In the course of the conversation 
 the holder of the share, whom we will call Mr. A, 
 
 alluded to his thirty feet in the claim. Mr. B 
 
 knowing him to be a shrewd fellow, and not hkely 
 to have such an interest unless it was worth some- 
 thing, asked him what he would take for a half 
 interest. 'Oh, I don't wish to sell,' replied A. 'I 
 bought it for six hundred dollars, and intend to see the 
 end of it, for better or for worse.' The two then 
 
 
 
 • >'. 
 
 
 ■^MA 
 
 ^\ 
 
 ,'.*'■•»' ■'I 
 
 ■ , ' AIK-'. ,1 
 
 
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 jj^^y^'-' 
 
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 »'* ' 
 
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96 
 
 IMPROVEMENT OF QUARTZ MILLS. 
 
 P! 
 
 continued the conversation, until B remarked — * I'll tell 
 you what I'll do ; I'll give you half of a town lot for 
 half your interest in the claim.' ' Very well,' replied 
 A ; ' It 's a bargain ; ' and the papers were immediately 
 made out. Thus A got half a town lot, worth nearly 
 500/., for half of a claim for which he gave what cost 
 him less than 20/. In this way three parties were 
 pleased with each other and themselves, and all have 
 sanguine expectations of their golden claims on the 
 Eraser Eiver. 
 
 There is as yet no quartz-crushing machinery in the 
 mining regions of British Columbia, although many 
 companies are in other countries engaged in this mode of 
 obtaining gold, silver, and copper, and the best kind of 
 mill for crushing the quartz, has long been an object of 
 serious consideration. Many miners think the old 
 stampers, combined with the large rollers of the Chilian 
 mill, the best quartz machinery ever tried. Still there 
 are opinions opposed to this, and the improvement of 
 quartz mills has called forth an immense amount of 
 novel invention, and yet dissatisfaction still prevails re- 
 garding them. The London Engineer says that the 
 best machinery now known in England is that in which 
 conical rollers are in contact with the balls, communi- 
 cating to the latter a rotatory motion on a vertical axis, 
 in addition to their horizontal motion. The quartz ore 
 is reduced to an impalpable powder in this mill ; then 
 it is carried through twelve amalgamators, each of 
 which is furnished with two revolving screws. The 
 ore, in its passage from the quartz-crusher to its exit 
 from the last amalgamator, traverses in an hour a dis- 
 tance of eleven miles, within the compass of an amal- 
 gamating house only thirty feet in length. It is stated 
 that the increased yield of precious metal by the 
 
THE PRECIOUS METAL ' DOCTORED.' 
 
 07 
 
 working of this machinery amounts to two hundred and 
 fifty per cent. 
 
 Tlie important results from the crushing of quartz 
 may be gathered from the fact tliat in May, 1860, 
 at the Austrahan quartz-reefs, ten tons taken from 
 near Eushworth, in the Goulburn district, produced a 
 cake of amalgamated gold, weighing 644 oz., 2 dwt., or 
 close upon 64| oz. to the ton. Some reefs near Morse's 
 Creek, in the Ovens district, have also yielded largely. 
 From 39 tons no fewer than 1,738 oz. 11 dwt. were 
 obtained, on an average of 44 oz. 11 dwt. to the ton. 
 
 The deep leads of Ballarat have often been referred to 
 by Australian writers for their extraordinary richness, 
 and in one of the late papers from there, some par- 
 ticulars of the yields from a few of the claims are given. 
 Thus, on the Inkerman Lead one company has obtained 
 from as much of the gutter as they have already worked 
 120,000/., or 240/. per foot ; another, on the same lead, 
 26,000/.,or 130/.perfoot; another, 36,000/., or 120/. per 
 foot ; another 28,000/., or 93/. per foot ; and another, 
 8,000/., or 58/. per foot. From three claims on the 
 Golden-point Lead, the returns are, from the first, 
 18,505/., or 37/. per foot ; from the second, 36,000/., 
 or 45/. per foot ; and from the third, 15,000/., or 300/. 
 per foot. None of these claims are worked out, and the 
 returns appear large ; but it must be remembered that 
 the gold is found at a great depth, and that thousands 
 of pounds are frequently expended before the gutter is 
 reached. Many of the shafts have been sunk to a depth 
 of 500 feet, and some even more. 
 
 There is a great deal of the precious metal ' Doctored ' 
 before it is brought to the gold broker ; but then these 
 brokers are often greater rogues than the vendors, as 
 will be immediately shown. The miner mixes base 
 
 H 
 
 'I 
 
 ■■'«r 
 
 'M'M 
 
 
 :m^ 
 
 '•'.• ■" ■^. ,"54 
 
 '■.''*%■:/■ 
 ■ '■.■*/:«, 
 
 
 
jIll' !! 
 
 B tti||#^1: 
 
 08 
 
 SWINDLING OF THE BROKER. 
 
 metal with his gold dust, and this practice is carried on 
 to a considerable extent. Gold dust has been offered 
 to, and taken by, packers and traders at 3/. per ounce, 
 which upon examination was found not to be worth 
 more tlian 21. 8s. The Chinese are blamed for this 
 ' Doctoring,' but unprincipled white men may be equally 
 culpable ; and it is to be hoped that the guilty parties 
 may be detected and punished according to their deserts. 
 Whilst, however, we blame the miner, we must not 
 forget the broker, who swindles the digger to a large 
 amount. A digger goes into the office of a broker, where 
 he is requested to turn out his nuggets and dust upon 
 a large sheet of paper, which has been carefully punc- 
 tured so as to allow the finer particles of the dust to fall 
 through upon a second sheet immediately under the 
 first one ; then our honest broker begins to shake and 
 shuffle about the gHttering metal, with the view, as he 
 tells his verdant victim, of preparing the mass for 
 the next skillful trick of the ' magnet,' with which he 
 rouses and tosses again and again the nuggets and dust ; 
 then, having puffed and blown enough, he, in his 
 own simple offhanded manner, empties the lot into a 
 scale, and counts in the most scientific and rapid man- 
 ner. 'Eight and six is ten, ten and two is eleven, 
 eleven and seven is thirteen ; thirteen ounces, two-penny 
 weights and a quarter, at 21. 17s. 6d. an ounce, is 
 29/. 10s. and 6c?. ; there's the coin, sir.' Now all this 
 shaking and rousing is to make the gold dust pass 
 through the top sheet, and when he shifts the sheets 
 and the punctures are no longer over each other, the 
 green and victimized miner may look and examine them 
 without suspicion. Others, again, resort to the old trick 
 of a beam unequally divided, so that it takes half-an- 
 ounce to turn the scale, and the only way to be even with 
 
 ii 
 
ACCOUNTS PROM BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
 
 99 
 
 f-an- 
 dth 
 
 these fellows, is to reverse the process, transposing the 
 gold and weights, and placing them in the contrary scale. 
 This has been oftener than once done, to the great dis- 
 comfort of the ' over-knowing ' broker. 
 
 In the mineral districts of British Columbia, there is 
 no indication of permanent settlement, as in California. 
 This may possibly be owing to difference of cHmate. 
 In California they have each from an acre to a dozen 
 acres cultivated, whilst the surrounding hill-lands fur- 
 nish firewood and grazing for sheep, cows, and horses. 
 Eugged as these little homes appear at first sight, they 
 are rapidly assuming, under the steady strokes of labour, 
 a neat inviting aspect, and in many instances exhibit all 
 the comfortable phases of permanent homes. There 
 the miner raises all the necessaries, and, indeed, many 
 of the luxuries of life ; and in some instances he has a 
 surplus for the market. These plots of cultivated land 
 form a source of independence to their possessors, but 
 then, the climate and soil are such as the Fraser Kiver 
 miner altogether lacks. 
 
 Late accounts from Alexandria and the Quesnell 
 Eiver in British Columbia are not of so encouraging a 
 nature as heretofore. Miners agree that there is plenty 
 of gold on this river, but with the high price of provi- 
 sions, from the want of proper means of communication, 
 it is out of the question even to ' prospect ' for claims. 
 
 List of prices at Alexandria : 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 Flour . 
 
 . per lb. 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 Lard . . per lb. 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 H 
 
 Beans 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 Candles . „ 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 Bacon 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 Soap . . „ 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 Sugar 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 li 
 
 Salt . . „ 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 liice 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 Pepper ground „ 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 Tea 
 
 
 
 
 G 
 
 
 
 Yeast powder per tin 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 Coffee . 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 li 
 
 Butter . . per lb. 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 4r •»■'(.•<?, 
 
 H 2 
 

 > 
 
 
 1 
 
 \i 
 
 
 t"'r''i 
 
 100 
 
 TIIK FRASER RIVER MINES. 
 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 Rope 
 
 per lb. 
 
 3 
 
 H 
 
 Canvas trousers each 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Tobacco . 
 
 . » 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 Kentucky tweed do. „ 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 Potatoes . 
 
 . „ 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Corduroy (common) „ 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 Steol shovels 
 
 . each 1 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 Boots per pair 1/. 12s. to 2 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 Picks 
 
 . ,, 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 Shoes (common) pair . 
 
 14 
 
 
 
 Sluice forks 
 
 • „ 1 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 Drilling . per yard 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 Axes (Collins 
 
 ). » 1 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 Duck . „ 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 Nails 
 
 per lb. 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 Oregon blankets pair 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 Quicksilver 
 
 . „ 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 No syrup or dried apples 
 
 in 1 
 
 :he 
 
 Overshirts 
 
 . each 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 market. 
 
 
 
 Undershirts 
 
 • » 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 A considerable number of miners and mules, were, 
 however, arriving fi-om Oregon. Some prejudiced per- 
 sons, regard the Fraser Eiver mines as altogether 
 worked out ; but, although aware that they do not as 
 yet come nearly up to the richness of those of Cali- 
 fornia, I feel certain, from personal observation, as 
 well as from the reports of several assayers on whose 
 skill and integrity I am willing to rely, that they are 
 valuable, and may ultimately excell them. Tunneling 
 and shafting are not much resorted to, the results being 
 too small to warrant the expense. There are, moreover, 
 no facilities for smelting and amalgamating; but silver 
 ore, with the usual accompanying base metal generally 
 existing in those regions, which yields 40^., or perhaps 
 even 50/. to the ton, could be worked to great profit, 
 provided the ore is abundant and easily obtainable. 
 
 Dr. Forbes, of Her Majesty's ship Topaze, states in 
 one of his able reports, that on Harrison Lake and 
 Eiver, he found many fragments of silver and copper 
 ore. A specimen of the former gave a return of 50/. 
 worth of silver to the ton, whilst the copper ore con- 
 tains a large proportion of that metal. Specimens of 
 silver ore have also been found at Union Bar, near Fort 
 Hope, supposed to yield about 20/. to the ton. How- 
 
 1 ; 
 
 k MA 
 
THE 81LVKR MINES OF MEXICO. 
 
 101 
 
 \. 
 
 ever, tlieso silver mines can only be worked advan- 
 tageously by companies jjossessing considerable capital. 
 
 Silver mines in Mexico and elsewhere, which have 
 proved most profitable to the shareholders, are by no 
 means always those having the richest ores, but such as 
 afibrd the greatest abundance of that which our Washoe 
 friends would regard as quite poor. In Mexico, silver 
 mines are profitably worked which do not yield more 
 than 10/. or 12/. to the ton. Of course work will never 
 be done so cheaply as in Mexico, but no doubt facilities 
 will be increased by the introduction of machinery for 
 crushing and amalgamating, which is the process ap- 
 plicable to the poorer ores, whilst smelting is suited for 
 such as are rich. I have seen a silver mine in Mexico 
 which is said to have paid the owners 5,000,000/., a 
 very handsome return. 
 
 Many persons suppose that to work silver is the same 
 thing as mining for copper or gold, which is a great 
 mistake. As a general rule, the art of copper mining 
 consists in taking out the mineral which may be in 
 sight, and abandoning the mine as soon as the lode 
 gives out, as it cannot bear the great cost of working 
 deep, in expectation of getting richer ore. Besides, 
 copper usually does not improve at great depth. In 
 Chili it improves from the surface to about 400 feet ; 
 and from this downwards it becomes gradually poorer. 
 It is probably the same in other countries. Near the 
 surface, copper is generally found as carbonates, ata- 
 canit, iron containing copper, silicates of copper, and 
 at a certain depth these different classes change into 
 sulphurets of copper, containing from 40 to 80 per 
 cent, of metal, with the occasional occurrence of pure 
 copper. Sometimes iron pyrites contain 8 per cent, of 
 copper at a little depth. The lode, deeper down, 
 
 ii ^' 
 
 .!■♦ 
 
 ■■-,•■/:-.. s!- 
 
 
 I ■ ■ ■■- ■ "y.'^i/ 
 
p. 
 
 102 
 
 HARDSHIPS OF TUB MINER. 
 
 Il 
 
 
 1 
 
 ♦ r 
 
 t 
 
 It. 
 
 boconu's more constant in richness, though now and 
 then brisaks and ])oor .s[)ots occur. I have picked up 
 sevei'al pieces of uhnost pure copper wliilst traversing 
 the Kocky and Cascade ranges. Now silver mining is 
 diflerent. You liave to go to a great deptli in some 
 places, througli a formation of considerable thickness, 
 in which tliere does not exist a particle of silver ore. 
 Moreover, the silver fonnation is not everywhere the 
 same. Your next neighbours may have silver from 
 the surface, and you on the same lode may go lower 
 than 700 feet before getting any. However, it varies 
 so very much that no fixed standard can be given. Let 
 us hope that recent discoveries in British Columbia 
 may induce energetic persons to prosecute the search, 
 and that mines may yet be -worked in these regions 
 ■which may rival tiiose of Mexico or Chili. 
 
 Moreover, interesting discoveries have been made 
 in Austraha, of the existence of native diamonds 
 amongst the black sand which abounds in the Ovens 
 district diggings, and it is not surely unreasonable to 
 expect that precious stones will be found in the auri- 
 ferous regions of British Columbia, when they are 
 carefully looked for. 
 
 The sun does not always shine upon the miner. He 
 has, as already stated, many real difficulties and hard- 
 ships. Many are racked with anxiety and prostrated 
 in the most hojoeless destitution, all from the want of 
 roads into the interior of the countiy, by which they 
 might get food to relieve their craving stomachs. The 
 miner finds, indeed, that ' Jordan is a hard road to 
 travel.' Not one has failed to light on gold, of which 
 there is abundance, but they have been debarred from 
 full success by the absolute impossibility of providing 
 themselves with supplies in a country almost wholly 
 
 
 m 
 
lYom 
 
 Lling 
 
 oily 
 
 HARSH TREATMENT OF THE M1NER.S. 
 
 103 
 
 improvidcd with fiu'ilities for the transmission of pro- 
 visions. In conscHjueiuM?, their numbers arc rapidly 
 diminisliing. The exodus has Ix^en general for many 
 months, every steamer bringing d(»wn scores of men to 
 Victoria, who leave for Bun Fmncisco by the earliest 
 opportunities. Miners state that although there are 
 some veiy successful, the greater number make little 
 more than procures pork and beans, so exorbitant is 
 the price of provisions in those auriferous regions. 
 In 1858 multitudes were conveyed thither, upwards of 
 40,000 souls, but there was not left, in March last, 
 according to the best authority, Mr. Ballew, tlie gold- 
 express man, more than ' 3,000 white men and 2,000 
 Ciiinamen ; ' and it is known that many have left since, 
 although the Chinese have increased. 
 
 It would be wrong to pass over in silence the unac- 
 countably harsh treatment to which the miners were 
 subjected during the early history of the Fraser River 
 diggings. Of course, as too often the case, the Home 
 Government got the blame ; but it was pretty gene- 
 rally known that private instructions had been sent to 
 Governor Douglas, cautioning him to exercise the 
 utmost discretion with regard to all restrictive measures 
 which might be adopted, and urging a liberal policy. 
 Ilis Excellency carried out these instructions by order- 
 ing that no miner be allowed up the River without a 
 permit ; that nobody be allowed to trade up the river 
 without a permit ; and that no permits be granted for 
 that purpose ! No person could cut down a tree, or 
 pick up floating wood on the beach or river, to cook 
 his little mess of flour, without a permit, or paying for 
 it. Ten per cent, was charged for every cord of wood 
 cut and sold by the woodsman. No tent or shelter of 
 any kmd was permitted to be put up until seven dollars 
 
 • li', 
 
 '■1 I 
 
 
 f •"CI 
 
 ■1- ,1 
 
 
 
 m 
 
 It: 
 
 ■:^' 
 
 '■" 'A 
 
 . ■:v^ 
 
 ■vfl 
 
 
 
 
 
 ''M 
 
 
 
 
 ' -•>''! 
 
 ffi 
 
 lii' 
 
 *k-- - 
 
 ■> ■ V ■ 
 
 
 
 r,' 
 
 ■,■.•-';■■, H 
 
 
 1 
 
 B: 
 
 
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 ' 
 
 
 
 
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 104 
 
 PROSPECTS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
 
 
 IP : 
 
 
 1 
 
 t , - 
 
 r 
 
 li| 
 
 
 ■■♦ 
 
 and a half had first been paid for the privilege ! and a 
 host of other unparalleled restrictions, such as no craft 
 or canoe to be allowed to enter the Fraser Kiver with- 
 out obtaining a permit; and, on such permit being 
 granted, a ' sufferance ' charge was exacted of twelve 
 dollars for vessels, and six dollars for boats and canoes. 
 Surely there should have been free trade in so young 
 a colony, now that it is the growing disposition of 
 nations to promote it. It is doubtless the plain duty of 
 every one, and it is the office of enhghtened humanity 
 to cut up eveiy such system of restriction, root and 
 branch, to open every port to every trader and to 
 every production. Freedom of the seas, freedom of 
 navigable rivers, freedom of harbours, an intercourse of 
 nations free as the winds of heaven, should be the policy. 
 The growing freedom of trade in England, and indeed 
 all over the world, is an illustrious exposition of the ten- 
 dency of our age to universality. The management 
 of British Columbia has been so defective that I have 
 often thought it a great pity that the whole territory 
 ■was not under the management of the Canadian govern- 
 ment, who have given such ample proof of their ability 
 to handle uncivihsed men. "Were it so, the construc- 
 tion of roads would not now be a matter of the future, 
 nor would so many be leaving the colony dissatisfied. 
 Would that w^e could say, ' The ships that come to 
 Ophir ' for gold, as of yore, should go thither for corn 
 and wine ! Many and repeated remonstrances have 
 been made, yet British Columbia is allowed to languish, 
 and ere long, if the present course be persevered in, 
 she will ^ave sunk into her former insignilicance. The 
 fact cannot be concealed that the colony has been, in 
 its early stage of existence, blighted by the most pal- 
 pable mismanagement, and its pro'='pects so damaged 
 
\ I 
 
 PRASER RIVER ROUTE. 
 
 105 
 
 that it will take years to restore confidence and induce 
 
 immigration. 
 
 TABLE OP DISTANCE — PRASER RIVER ROUTE. 
 
 From 
 
 Month of 
 
 Fraser Uiver 
 
 To 
 
 Miles 
 
 tf 
 
 New Westminster .... 
 
 15 
 
 )} 
 
 Fort Langley, now called Derby . 
 Junction of Harrison River, called 
 
 28 
 
 
 Carnarvon 
 
 03 
 
 }f 
 
 Fort Hope 
 
 Yale 
 
 88 
 100 
 
 n 
 
 Lytton, junction of the Thompson 
 River with the Fraser 
 
 150 
 
 
 Fort Thompson, on River Thompson . 
 Fort Berens, on Fraser River 
 
 240 
 
 188 
 
 ft 
 
 Fort Alexander 
 
 315 
 
 }} 
 
 Fort George 
 
 420 
 
 Proceeding up the Harrison Eiver, from where 
 it joins the Fraser, 63 miles from the mouth of the 
 Fraser, for a distance of 8 miles, the Harrison Lake is 
 reached, which is 37 miles long, and at the farther 
 end of which is Fort Douglas. Thus Douglas is 
 108 miles from the mouth of the Fraser. Continuing 
 onwards for 28 miles, we come to the south end of 
 Tenass Lake, in Indian meaning small lake, which is 4 
 miles in length. Then following the course of the 
 Tenass Eiver for a mile we come to Lake Lillooat, and 
 about 14 miles up this lake, on the north side is Pem- 
 berton Station, a place little worthy of notice. Continu- 
 ing in a north-westerly direction for 7 miles we come 
 to the Anderson Eiver, on which, 18 miles up its course, 
 is located Anderson Station. The whole distance, there- 
 fore, to this station, from the mouth of the Fraser is 
 179 miles. From Anderson's station to Fort Berens is 
 33 miles, of which 28 miles is lak^ and 5 land travel. 
 
 
 ■■■/■An 
 
 1?' 
 
106 HARRISON RIVER ROUTE. 
 
 TABLE OP DISTANCE — HARRISON RIVER ROUTE. 
 
 From 
 
 Mouth of 
 
 Fraser lllvcr 
 
 To 
 
 Miles 
 
 » 
 
 Fort Douglas 
 
 Anderson Station ..... 
 Fort Berens, on Fraser River 
 
 107 
 179 
 212 
 
 M 
 
 The Harrison route is thus 24 miles longer than the 
 Fraser Eiver route. Fort George is the last post of the 
 Hudson's Bay Company on the Fraser, and is situated 
 210 miles from its source in the Ricky Mountains. The 
 entire length of the Fraser Eiver, therefore, is 630 miles, 
 and with some of its windings not taken into the com- 
 putation, say 700 miles, and not 1,000, as stated by the 
 correspondent of the Times and others. We may add, 
 that Fort Simpson is distant by sea from the mouth of 
 the Fraser 520 miles, and Fort Conolly, a station of 
 the Company's, is 230 miles north-east from Fort 
 Simpson, on Lake Conolly, which communicates with 
 the Simpson Eiver by a small stream. 
 
 Without entering upon tedious particulars, it may be 
 stated that after passing Forts Hope and Douglas, the 
 trails are extremely rugged, and in many places ascend 
 steep mountains and hills by a series of zigzag paths, 
 frequently traversing water and' swamps, and making 
 travelling most difficult for man and beast. In many 
 cases these trails are most dangerous, being cut out of 
 ledges of rock, and running along stony mountains at 
 considerable elevations. Moreover, from the middle of 
 October to the middle of June, they are not to be 
 depended upon for transport, owing to the deep fall of 
 snow. 
 
 Altogether it may very safely be said that the entire 
 
I I 
 
 CONDITION OF TRAILS. 
 
 107 
 
 country, from the mouth of the Fraser to the most 
 remote diggings, is so densely wooded, mountainous, 
 and impassable, so to speak, for man and mule, that 
 large sums must be expended before it can be opened 
 up, such sums as the continued prosperity of the mines 
 would alone justify. As an instance of the costly nature 
 of the work, 14,000/. were expended last year upon 
 improving the old trail, known as the Harrison Lillooat 
 road, on which, it is stated, upwards of the same amount 
 had been expended two years ago ; and judging from 
 the report of Lieutenant Palmer, R.E., much money must 
 yet be laid out upon it, to render it properly available. 
 Among the unshaven dirty-looking men at work, I 
 have now and then discovered some friend, who could 
 scarcely be recognised in his rough and tattered attire, 
 consisting generally of a red or blue woollen shirt, hang- 
 ing loose outside the pantaloons through which the 
 already tawny skin was visible in many a place, with a 
 leathern belt round his waist, a huge 'wide-awake' 
 hat, and knee-deep boots of the coarsest materials, all 
 of one mud-like colour. One friend was so effectually 
 metamorphosed, that he was not known for several 
 minutes after we had spoken together. Soon, however, 
 had the disguise lost all its concealing influence, when 
 the tender string of sensibility had been touched by 
 recollections of other days ; the unnerring symbol of 
 true friendsiii^ stood in bold relief upon his emaciated 
 pallid cheek, until it gradually sank into the dust which 
 veiled his noble features. Ah ! what delight more holy 
 than to share our sympathies and our bread with one 
 whom misfortune has left lonely and neglected. If 
 friendship be sweet in the sunshine of life, surely 'tis 
 doubly sweet in the shade. I bade him hope, — for hope 
 is better than despair. He did hope, and hope has not 
 
 . V-"* 
 
 t^Jki. 
 
 
 \¥;'^i 
 
 V' 
 
 :.>■ -i. 
 
 

 108 
 
 COLUMBIA RIVER ROUTE. 
 
 deceived liim ; for he is now again in the full sunshine 
 of prosperity, remembering his own pains and miseries 
 only as incentives to reheve the wretchedness of 
 others. 
 
 
 ■' 
 
 
 
 ROUTE VIA COLUMBIA RIVER AND THE DALLES. 
 
 Starting from the Dalles on the Columbia Eiver, a 
 city in tlie United States territory, to wliich there is 
 every facility for steam navigation from the Pacific 
 Ocean, and, proceeding in a north-easterly direction, 
 we follow a trail which crosses Yackama Valley until 
 the Columbia Eiver is struck at a distance of 125 
 miles. Crossing the river, and still keeping the same 
 direction for 110 miles, Fort Okanagan is reached on 
 the Columbia Eiver. Taking a direct northerly course 
 from Fort Okanagan for sixty miles, we arrive at the 
 junction of the Similk-a-meen Eiver at the Lakes of 
 Forks, and continuing our northerly course for seven 
 miles, the boundary line of 49° of latitude is arrived 
 at, which separates the British possessions from the 
 United States. From the 49° parallel the trail ascends 
 the Similk-a-meen for ninety miles, almost parallel with 
 the stream. Quitting the Similk-a-meen, and pursuing 
 a northerly direction for fifty miles, we come to Nicho- 
 las Lake, a sheet of water seventeen miles in length by 
 about two and a half in breadth, and continuing the 
 northerly course for other twenty-eight miles. Fort 
 Camloops, or Thompson Fort, already mentioned in 
 Fraser Eiver route, is reached. Then, taking a west- 
 erly course from Fort Thompson, along the Shushwap 
 Lake and Buonaparte Eiver, passing by Lake Pavilion, 
 we come to Pavilion Station on Fraser Eiver, which is 
 about twenty miles by trail to the north of Fort Berens, 
 

 THE DALLES — TABLE OF DISTANCES. 
 
 109 
 
 also on tlie Fmser River, as stated in both Fraser Eiver 
 and Harrison lliver routes. 
 
 '•. 
 
 TABLE OF DISTANCE — ROUTE VIA COLUMBIA RIVER AND 
 
 THE DALLES. 
 
 From 
 the Dalles 
 
 To 
 
 Miles. 
 
 
 Junction of trail with Columbia River 
 Fort Okanagan on Columbia Kiver 
 Junction of Similk-a-meen lliver 
 Junction with Boundary Line 
 Nicholas Lake .... 
 Fort Camloops, or Thompson 
 Pavilion Station .... 
 Fort Berens 
 
 
 125 
 235 
 
 295 
 302 
 442 
 
 487 
 505 
 
 585 
 
 There are not many obstacles throughout this route, 
 except in the winter season, when it is impassable. 
 Like all other routes, however, it is very rugged, and 
 there is a scarcity of pasture except in the Similk-a- 
 meen Valley, where the pasture is good and well suited 
 for hardy oxen and horses. There is some inconve- 
 nience also experienced during the freshets in summer ; 
 but by ascending a few hills, and travelling over some 
 stony places, the trail may be followed without inter- 
 ruption. This route lies to the east of the Cascade 
 range, where the Indians are much indisposed towards 
 the whites, probably from the harsh and cruel treat- 
 ment they have been used to receive at the hands of 
 the white men who live in Washington Territory. 
 Moreover, there is a steady feud between the Indians 
 of the upper and lower country, which is kept ahve by 
 cruel murders amongst themselves, and treacherous 
 assassinations of any wandering whites who may cross 
 their path. In summer the heat is considerable at the 
 
 ;!■'.';; 
 
 ^ mf^-^. 
 
 iii^ 
 
 •r' t' ■>'•, 
 
 ■1' 
 
 ?-'■■ , .■' '"'i 
 
 VTl", 
 
 
i ■; 
 
 .* *. 
 
 no 
 
 CARIBOO, THE NEW ELDORADO. 
 
 northern end of this route, and in winter the thermo- 
 meter indicates 20° of cold below zero of Fahren- 
 heit. 
 
 As I write, tidings reach our shores of the surpassing 
 richness of the New Eldorado in British Columbia, 
 Cariboo ; and the correspondent of the Times gives an 
 account of one season's mining in that region. It is 
 gratifying to find the opinion recorded in the beginning 
 of this chapter, before the very favourable news had 
 reached us, confirmed to the letter. 
 ' The account referred to appears in a condensed form 
 in a leader in the Times of February 7, and is as 
 follows : — 
 
 The auriferous properties of this region were not recognised 
 till late in 1860, and the months over which this account 
 ranges are th'^se between May and September in 1861, 
 inclusive. Ground was first broken in Antler Creek, and we 
 are told that there some of the new hands * took out gold to 
 the value of ,^200 a-day each, while new claims were daily 
 opened with a like prospect of success.' A later passage in 
 the same letter contains a succinct explanation of the mode 
 of working these * claims.' * A mining claim is a (parallel- 
 ogram) piece of ground 1 00 feet wide, running from bank to 
 bank of a creek. The depth is indefinite, varying, of course, 
 with the width of the creek. Each miner is entitled to one 
 of these " claims," and there may be several miners associated 
 together to work a "claim." In case of such an association 
 amounting to five miners, the "company" would be entitled to 
 500 feet of ground in width, and running from bank to bank. 
 At first many miners " took up " claims in simulated names, 
 and thus caused a monopoly — an evil which was remedied 
 by the Government Gold Commissioner when he visited the 
 covmtry in the summer.' The amounts realized by indivi- 
 duals within this limited area are marvellous, especially ^lit n 
 we take into account the rudeness of the means adopted for 
 separating the gold from the auriferous gravel or mud in 
 
lied 
 the 
 ivi- 
 
 for 
 in 
 
 MINING PRODUCE OP CARIBOO. 
 
 Ill 
 
 wliich it is imbedded. We select at random a few instances 
 of good luck. In the month of May, * a Mr. Smith earned 
 three and a-half lbs. (worth 1851. 6s.) in one day.' This 
 seems to have been with a * rocker,' which is admitted to be 
 a clumsy instrument for extracting gold. As the men con- 
 structed ' flumes,' the average results were much higher than 
 before, varying from 100/. to 500/. a-day for a company of 
 from three to six men, though the success of the fortunate 
 Mr. Smith waa not often surpassed even in the autumn, 
 when still richer veins had been struck. In June we hear of 
 * one rocker washing out 500 ounces of a forenoon, and three 
 men washing out 1 00 ounces from a flume in a week.' In 
 July, ' thirty-one ounces were cleaned out in one day in a 
 hole only two feet under the surface.' * Some claims began 
 to pay as high as ,^1,000 a-day.' Facts of this kind recur 
 again and again. ^1,700 worth was *dug out of two crevices 
 in the rock less than three feet under the surface,' and ,^900 
 worth was obtained ' in one panfuU of dirt.' There was no 
 falling-off in the produce during August and September : 
 indeed, some of the most enviable strokes of luck were made 
 in the latter month. The returns from Williams's Creek 
 are quoted as the largest of all. There * three claim-owners 
 earned ;^60,000 ; nine earned ,^90,000; four, ^48,000 ; four 
 more, ,^24,000 ; three, ,^15,000 ; and four men in one day's 
 work took out 251b. weight, valued at ^^5,000.' 
 
 The peculiarity of the soil which yields these golden 
 harvests appears to be the small amount of preparation 
 which it requires. The surface is sometimes gravel, some- 
 times alternate layers of blue clay, earth, and gravel ; but in 
 every case the metal seems to lie near the surface, and to be 
 found in solid masses. * The gold was all coarse gold, gran- 
 ulated gravelly stuff, mixed with pellets and pebbles of pure 
 metal of considerable size.' Its average value was found to be 
 somewhat over $11^ per ounce, but the highest quality, from 
 Davis's Creek, proved to be worth very nearly ;^19 per ounce. 
 Very little skill is required in collecting it, and * men who had 
 never mined before — tradesmen, mechanics, and labourers, 
 new to the work — did just as well as the old practised miner.' 
 
 i'- 
 
 
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 r: ,:, 
 
 
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 4 
 
 •'■' ;>•' . 
 
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 ■1 ,■ \, ■■ 
 
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♦ ', .. 
 
 119 
 
 HIGH PRICES AT CARIBOO. 
 
 For this reason unskilled labour commanded a price hardly 
 credible in this country, 2l. a-day being quoted as nothing 
 uncommon, and more than 60^. having been offered for one 
 month's labour. After this, we can well understand that 
 ' claims ' producing no more than 41. a-day were * passed over 
 with contempt.' Two things, however, must be borne in 
 mind by those who may be tempted by these reports to try 
 their fortune at Cariboo. The one is, that the * efflorescence ' 
 of the surface is fast being exhausted, and that, although 
 equally solid treasures are believed to lie beneath, it is not 
 to be expected that they can be reached and converted into 
 money by equally expeditious processes. The other is, that the 
 price of necessaries almost keeps pace with the miner's gains. 
 Eight shillings for a meal, two shillings a pound for beef, 
 the same sum for a glass of liquor, and so forth, would soon 
 reduce the most exorbitant daily earnings to a very modest 
 figure. 
 
 The following is extracted from the Times of 
 February 6, 1862, from the letter of the correspondent 
 of that journal, who resides in Vancouver's Island : — 
 
 December 4. 
 
 I have to day procured a return of th-. assays of Cariboo 
 gold, made throughout the season by Messrs. Marchand and 
 Co., assayers in Victoria, which gives the highest and the 
 lowest quality and the average of the dust they have assayed. 
 The highest, which was from Davis's Creek, is 918 fine, value 
 per ounce ^18 97c. 64. The lowest, which came from 
 Williams's Creek, is 810 fine, value per ounce ,^16 74c. 42. 
 Average of all Cariboo dust, 854 fine, value per ounce $1 7 
 65c. 37. 
 
 I could quote instances in which larger suras than I have 
 stated have been earned, and in which a fortune was extracted 
 in a few weeks by the labour of half a dozen men — that is, 
 a competency to each of them — from a very few feet square 
 of ground ; but it is idle further to multiply cases. I have 
 stated sufficient facts to justify the conclusions that Cariboo 
 
 ••I 
 
 r t^M 
 
 '■! ^ 
 
'^alue 
 rom 
 42. 
 
 tboo 
 
 THE TIMES CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 113 
 
 is unrivalled for the wealth it produces to individual labour, 
 in a short period ; in the large proportion of men who have 
 been successful — that is to say, those who in one short 
 season have made fortunes, those who have made consider- 
 able amounts, and those who have earned high wages; 
 and, finally, for the universal satisfaction of the miners with 
 their past earnings, and their confidence in the future. 
 
 It is impossible to give a return of the * yield ' of gold 
 produced by British Columbia in the aggregate, with certainty. 
 I shall merely attempt an approximation of the gross yield 
 from the best data within my reach. 
 
 It is generally conceded that, including Chinese, there were 
 5,000 men engaged in gold-digging this year. The various 
 Government returns of Customs' duties, and of interior tolls 
 on roads, charged on the passage of merchandise, collected, 
 justify this assumption, while the miners' licenses issued tend 
 to corroborate it. The mining population in the Cariboo 
 country, including within this division the Forks of Quesnell 
 River (fifty miles below) is put down on general testimony 
 (of miners, travellers, other residents, and Government 
 returns) at 1,500 men. To work out the earnings of this 
 aggregate of 5,000 miners, I adopt a statement of names and 
 amounts, made up from miners' information, of seventy-nine 
 men who together took out in Cariboo ^^926,680. The 
 general opinion of the miners is, that (in addition to the 
 ' lucky ones ' who made * big strikes,' and which I limit to 
 the above number of seventy-nine) every man who had a 
 claim or a share in a claim made from ^^ 1,000 to ,^2,000. Of 
 these there were at the least 400, and taking their earnings 
 at a medium or average between the two sums mentioned — 
 say at ^1,500 to each — they would produce ;^600,000. 
 There remain 1,021 men to be accounted for. Putting their 
 earnings at $7 a-day ea'^h, which is the lowest rate of wages 
 paid for hired labour in the Cariboo Mines, and assigning only 
 107 working days as the period of their mining operations 
 during the season, to make allowance for its shortness by 
 reason of the distance from the different points of departure 
 and of bad weather, they would have taken out ,^764,729. 
 
 I 
 
 
 ■■■■•.< '' 
 
 . .I'.: '-J .'In 
 
 'jV.', -■•',»■ 
 
 ■'''>■ -^^i' 
 ^ •■ >'.V, 
 
 ■..^^ 
 
 ■ M 
 
 ■'4 
 
 ■ M 
 
114 
 
 THE TIMES CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 These several sums added would make the yield of Cariboo and 
 Quesnell ^2,291,409 to 1,500 men for the season, by far the 
 greater portion, or nearly all, in fact, being from Cariboo ; 
 although the north fork of Quesnell is also very productive 
 and 80 rich as to induce its being worked by fluming this 
 winter by about 100 miners, who have remained for the 
 purpose. 
 
 The remaining 3,500 of the mining population who worked 
 on Thompson's River, the Fraser, from Fort George down- 
 wards; Bridge River, Similk-a-meen, and Okanagan (very 
 few). Rock Creek, and all other localities throughout the 
 country, I shall divide into two classes; the first to consist of 
 1,500, who made ,^10 a-day for — say 180 days (Sundays 
 thrown off), and which would give ^^2,700,000 for their joint 
 earnings. The second and last class of 2,000 men, who were 
 not so lucky, I shall assume to have made only $5 each i. day 
 for the same period, and which would give ,^1,800,000 as 
 the fruit of their united labour. 
 
 The three last categories, which number 4,521 men, include 
 the many miners who in Cariboo were making ,$20 to )^50 
 a-day each, as well as those who, in various other localities, 
 were making from ,$15 to ^100 a-day occasionally, so I think 
 my estimate, although not accurate, is reasonable and 
 moderate. The Government people think I have rather 
 imder-stated the earnings of the miners in these three classes 
 of 4,521 men. And the Governor himself, who takes an 
 absorbing interest in the affairs of this portion of the Govern- 
 ment, and to whose ready courtesy I am indebted for some 
 of the information given in this letter, as well as for much 
 formerly communicated in my correspondence, thinks my 
 estimate is a very safe one. 
 
 But I must finish this long letter with a recapitulation, for 
 I dread the inroads I have made upon your space : — 
 
 79 miners took out an aggregate of . . 1^926,680 
 400 ditto, claim-owners, took out . . . 600,000 
 
 1,021 ditto, at $7 a-day, in 107 days . . 764,729 
 
 Total yield (nearly all) from Cariboo $2,291,409 
 
 f 
 
BISHOP HILL AND THE INDIAN. 
 
 119 
 
 1,500 miners who worked in 
 other places for 180 
 days, at ,^10 per diem 
 
 2,000 ditto, at ;?5 ... 
 
 ^2,700,000 
 1,800,000 
 
 4,500,000 
 
 5,000 miners. 
 
 Gross yield fur 1861 i?6,79 1,409 
 
 This does not include the native Indians, as I have no 
 moans of estimating their earnings. They are ])eginning to 
 * dig,' in imitation of the white men, in some parts, and will 
 eventually increase the yield of gold, us the desire for 
 wealth grows upon them. As a proof of their aptitude and 
 success in this, to them, new field of lahour, I may mention 
 that the liishop of Colimi})ia found a gang of thcMii ' washing' 
 on liridge River last summer, and that he had the day's 
 earnings of one Indian weighed when he ceased his labours, 
 and found it to contain one ounce of gold. His Lordship 
 purchased it of him and paid him $16 50c. the current issue, 
 and carried it away as a souvenir. 
 
 
 
 It is not surprising that good Bishop Hill carried 
 away the Indian's gold as a remembrance, or memo- 
 rial, as it is well Icnown that Indians never turn sys- 
 tematic gold-diggers — that they greatly prefer hunting 
 and fishing, which are not only more gdnful, but more 
 congenial to their habits and tastes. Indeed, the 
 northern Indian cares not for gold ; his notions of 
 wealth consist more in possessing a red blanket, a lump 
 of vermilion or a coloured bead. 
 
 As there exists considerable misconception in the 
 pubhc mind as to the result of mining operations in 
 British Columbia, from the above statement in the 
 Times of February 6, and as the account has misled 
 not individuals only, but even public companies, perhaps 
 it would be well to scrutinise the imposing array of 
 
 I 2 
 
 ■ Vi' 
 
 
116 
 
 CURRENT PRICES AT THE MIXES. 
 
 
 mx 
 
 lij^urt's a little for the benefit of those who at the ' first 
 blusli ' have been thrown into so feverish an excite- 
 ment. 
 
 In accepting the figures as a result it never occurred 
 to our good Englisli people that miners nmst eat and 
 drink to live ; tliat tliey require * tin pans,' ' picks and 
 shovels,' t^'c, and that the ' cost of production ' ouglit to 
 be deducted to arrive at the correct quantity of gold 
 which finds its way to the miners' bankers. 
 
 The same authority (vide Times, February 5) fur- 
 nishes also the ' prices current ' of the actual necessaries 
 at the mines, which arc so higli that a faithful balance 
 of ' profit and loss account ' shows a positive loss 
 instead of gain. 
 
 Current prices at the mines (Times, February 5) : — 
 
 Provisions were relatively high in price. Flour was at 
 38c. (Is. 7d.) per lb. ; bacon, 75c. ; beans, 40c. ; tea, $1 50c.; 
 sugar and coffee, 75c. per lb. Single meals at the restaurant's, 
 consisting of beans and bacon and a cup of bad coffee, cost 
 two dollars (8s. 4d.). A correspondent of one of the news- 
 papers in Victoria, writing from Cariboo at this time, quotes 
 the price of what, in the grandiose style of these parts, he 
 calls * miners' luxuries,' as follows: — A tin pan (worth 3d.) 
 sold for 8 dollars {II. 12s. 9d.); picks and shovels, 6 dollars 
 each ; ditto, with handles, i. e., shovels, 7 dollars 50c. each 
 (1^. 4s. 6d. and ll. 10s. 6d.). Washing was charged for at 
 6 dollars a dozen pieces (1/. 4s. 6d.). The latter is the only 
 item of * luxury ' I see in the ' Price Current,' and I cannot 
 believe that the laundryman was much patronised. It was 
 added that 'business of every description was lively.' At 
 such prices a man would need to earn his 51. to 20^. a-day to 
 enable him to keep ' business lively.' 
 
 Now let us pry a little into these figures, and reduce 
 them into a tabular form. The average of bl. to 20/. is 
 12/. \0s. :— 
 
 
 if ■> 
 
iAUiLACIOUS VIEW OF TUB TIMES. 
 
 117 
 
 79 miners at 12/. lOs. a-day, for 107 days . i?.j2«,31<> 
 
 400 „ „ „ . 2,675,000 
 
 1,021 „ „ „ . 6,827,9.35 
 
 Total cost to keop * business lively ' 
 
 at Caril)*)o .... |f 10,03 1,245 
 
 ' : ■ A^ 
 ' if. 'A -I 
 
 1,500 minors at 12/. 10s. a-day for 
 
 1 HO days . . . ,(J16,875,000 
 
 2,000 miners at 12/. lOs. a-day for 
 
 180 days . . . 22,500,000 
 
 5,000 miners. Gross cost to keep ' busi- 
 ness lively ' for 1861 
 5,000 miners — gross yield for 1861 
 
 39,375,000 
 
 49,406,245 
 6,791,409 
 
 Loss in keeping 'business lively' for 1861 ,^'42,614,836 
 
 ,« ' 
 
 From these figures, calculated at five dollars to the 
 pound sterling, fractions being omitted, it is as clear as 
 noonday that if it costs the miner 12/. lO*. per diem 
 to live at the gold-fields, the 5000 miners could not 
 have 'banked' the ^6,791,409 for 1861, until they 
 had first actually extracted, or acquired, an aggregate 
 value of ^56,197,654 of gold. 
 
 I must not be understood to insinuate that the cor- 
 respondent of the Times had the least desire to throw 
 dust in the eyes of the public, and make it appear 
 that the ^6,791,409 was really the miners' 'profit' 
 over and above the cost of living ; what I mean to say 
 is, that a great many persons took a fallacious view of 
 the ' grand total.' 
 
 Suppose that the cost of living at the Cariboo dig- 
 gings was but 30^. a day, and the working days 143 
 in the year; why, 5,000 miners would eat up ,^5,362,500 
 
 
J ', 
 
 118 
 
 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH ACCOUNT. 
 
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 worth in that time, and for nearly all the remaining 
 222 days of the year they would have to look, I pre- 
 sume, to Heaven, for manna ! 
 
 Why does the ' correspondent ' in question put the 
 maximum working days in British Columbia at 180? 
 Simply, I presume, because of the length and severity 
 of the winter season. So much for the ' Itahan 
 climate ! ' 
 
 Just fancy a tin pan, worth 3c?., selUng for 11. 12s. dd. 
 Truly, it is the trader who makes the fortune, and not 
 the wretched miner ! 
 
 Extract from The Daily Telegraph, April 9, 1862, 
 from a Canadian correspondent : — 
 
 Pending the expected influx of immigrants, it is curious 
 to record that at present there is a great exodus of emigrants 
 from Canada. A more powerful attraction than she can 
 boast is luring away from her cities, towns, and villages 
 numbers of all classes, who are desirous of * making haste to 
 be rich.' In one of the stories of the * Arabian Nights ' we 
 read of a huge magnetic mountain, which, by its potent 
 action, extracted the nails of all vessels that came within the 
 sphere of its attraction. Slowly but steadily, in the same 
 manner, the magnetic influence of the gold of the west is 
 drawing away, one by one, the inhabitants of our provinces ; 
 but, let us hope, not to their ruin or injury. A party of 
 eleven, including two M.D.'s, left this town yeterday enroute 
 for British Columbia, via the Isthmus of Panama : and the 
 daily papers contain frequent accounts of different parties 
 who are setting out for the diggings. 
 
 For the * yellow fever ' which is thus raging, the Times 
 Cariboo correspondent is mainly accountable. His account 
 is the fullest which Canadians have yet received, and his 
 statistics are supposed to be reliable. His narrative must, I 
 think, be swallowed cu7n grano salis. For instance, he 
 writes : * As to security of life, I consider it just as safe here 
 
ANOTHER VIEW OF THE QUESTION. 
 
 119 
 
 as in England. As to the mining prospects, they are as clear 
 as the sun at noon. Every able man who chooses to work 
 ^vdll make money.' Now, with due deference to this writer, 
 if all that he says in this passage is true, it will flatly contra- 
 dict all antecedent mining experiences. 
 
 Grold-digging is essentially a debasing pursuit when carried 
 on as it is at Fraser's Kiver, by vast gangs of most reckless 
 ruffians. Dr. Hill, the Bishop of Columbia, in an interesting 
 letter written to Miss Burdett Coutts, says : * The miners are 
 of all nations, Grerraans, Americans, French, Italians, Swedes, 
 Norwegians, Chinese, as well as English — the latter are the 
 fewest of all. There is an utter absence of religion, and the 
 most awful vice and profanity.' Nevertheless, it is among 
 these vicious men, of many different nationalities, be it ob- 
 served, and in a place where Englishmen are the * fewest of all,' 
 that the Times correspondent would have us believe that 
 
 * life is as secure as in England.' Common sense is shocked 
 by the reckless assertion. The correspondent, moreover, has 
 not been to Cariboo, so that his minute information is at best 
 but second-hand. He even contradicts his own statements ; 
 at one time dilating on the extreme security of life, and at 
 another telling us of a party of miners who came from Cariboo 
 to spend the winter in Victoria, but who, hearing that their 
 
 * claims ' had been * jumped ' in their absence, set off armed 
 with revolvers to drive off the intruders. 
 
 There seems no reason to believe that the miners in British 
 Columbia will differ materially from the gold-diggers of Cali- 
 fornia or Australia. We all know what a city San Francisco 
 became from 1850 to 1855. It is described as having been a city 
 rife with murders ; mad with gaming, drink, and riot ; a city 
 wherein no honest woman was to be seen, and which appalled 
 even the most reckless of the dishonest ; a city wherein the 
 family tie was unknown, and where the wildest dreams of 
 unconventional bachelorhood found more than realisation ; 
 a city teeming with all the vagabonds and ruffians of Europe, 
 all the rowdies and loafers of America — given up as a prey 
 to every evil passion of mankind, and where lawlessness and 
 crime held equal sway. Such was San Francisco in the first 
 
 
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 DECEPTIVE AVOCATION OF GOLD DIGGING. 
 
 days of the gold fever ; such was Melbourne, according to 
 most credible testimony ; and such also will be some parts 
 of British Columbia, unless ample means be taken to prevent 
 such an undesirable consummation. In California and Mel- 
 bourne no man's life was safe, and every man had to defend 
 his earnings with his life. Revolvers, bowie knives, and cut- 
 lasses were, we are assured, as necessary parts of his equip- 
 ment as shoes and shirts, and murders were as common as 
 the police charge of * drunk and disorderly.' 
 
 The same scum of humanit}'^ is now seething and ferment- 
 ing on the banks of the Fraser River ; the same riff-raff, tag- 
 rag, and bobtail of society are now digging at Cariboo ; and 
 as we are not aware that human nature has of late years 
 changed for the better, let us hear no more from the Times 
 correspondent that life is as secure at the diggings as it is in 
 England. Should his other assertion that * every man who 
 chooses to work at Cariboo will make money ' prove true, it 
 will also contradict previous mining experience. The gold- 
 fields of Australia have never been excelled. Out of an area 
 of twenty-four feet square, gold to the amount of 55,200^. 
 was taken; an amount hitherto unequalled in the annals of 
 gold-digging, and which will probably never be paralleled. 
 Nevertheless, are not the cases of disappointment, utter fai- 
 lure, and ruin, experienced by miners, almost numberless ? 
 The ill-luck which has frequently attended some men will as- 
 suredly attend others ; and many of those who are now hurry- 
 ing to Cariboo, excited almost to frenzy by the glowing words 
 of the Times correspondent, will live to curse the day when 
 they acted on his advice, and abandoned their more legitimate 
 vocations for the delusive pursuit of digging for gold. It has 
 been calculated — so far as calculation can be applied to such 
 a case — that the steady average earnings of the great majority 
 of miners constitute but a very poor return for the sacrifices 
 incurred in the deceptive avocation, and are much below 
 what they might be obtaining as mechanics, labourers, store- 
 keepers, or in numberless other callings. But, after all, 
 there are the fjveat prizes in the lottery, which Tom, Dick, or 
 Harry may happen to gain ; and, while this is the case, the 
 
AN HONEST miner's' STATEMENT. 
 
 121 
 
 the 
 
 temptation to incur all hazards for the sake of the glittering 
 chance will always be too strong for poor human nature to 
 resist. 
 
 *An Honest Miner' writes as follows to the Montreal 
 Witness : * In April 1858, the Fraser River excitement began 
 to rage, and during that year California was delirious. The 
 mania unhinged the whole state of society, and Bellingham 
 Bay and Fraser River were known as Bedlam Bay and 
 Crazy River. Great sacrifices were made — rich claims in 
 old diggings, for instance, were sold for a song — and thou- 
 sands returned, before the next winter, beggared, because too 
 many, perhaps 30,000, went ; but, such were the rumours, 
 that one and all believed we should actually wade in gold.' 
 Such is the testimony of * An Honest Miner.' 
 
 When 30,000 half-wild Californians were thus scattered 
 broadcast over the British possessions, it is not surprising 
 that considerable commotion ensued. These * rough and 
 tumble ' rascals had not come for nothing, and their notions 
 of meum and tuum were not very exactly defined. A Mr. 
 Nugent was accordingly appointed a commissioner, on the 
 part of the United States, to settle the various difficulties 
 which had arisen between the miners and Governor Douglass. 
 On his arrival in Victoria, he found multitudes of disen- 
 chanted diggers in a itate of actual starvation, and sent many 
 of them back to California at the public expense. This drama 
 will again be repeated, if needy adventurers from all coun- 
 tries rush headlong to Cariboo ; with the difference, perhaps, 
 that many will never again see home. 
 
 The story of Pike's Peak is much the same. In 1859, 
 one hundred thousand people (according to the New York 
 Tribune) started on a gold hunt, for Pike's Peak, not one- 
 third of whom ever got within sight of the Rocky Mountains, 
 while not half the residue ever stuck pick or spade therein. 
 Those who did reach the supposed Eldorado speedily found 
 that gold was not to be had for the asking — that the veins 
 and gulches already discovered were all taken up ; that they 
 must either buy a claim at a round price, and pay part cash 
 down for it, or must go * prospecting ' and digging through 
 
 
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 122 
 
 BECENT ACCOUNTS FROM COLUMBIA. 
 
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 wild and rugged mountains, faring coarsely, working like 
 overtasked slaves, and sleeping on pine boughs under the 
 open sky, through cold and often stormy nights. Grold -dig- 
 ging, writes a man who is well acquainted with his subject, 
 implies a total abnegation of everything in the shape of com- 
 fort — a disregard of all the ordinary forms and usages 
 of civilised life, the possession of a constitution which can 
 withstand all vicissitudes of weather, of a temperament which 
 can submit with patience to the alternate torments of heat, 
 insects, dust, rain, cold, and out-door exposure — adopting, 
 like Mark Tapley, the philosophy of being 'jolly' under all 
 such untoward circumstances — and a capacity for the endur- 
 ance of no small amount of bodily fatigue and muscular 
 exertion. In short, the gold-digger must be prepared to 
 suffer every conceivable hardship. 
 
 If a few thousands of those who are now dreaming of for- 
 tunes could only be persuaded of the truth of these assertions, 
 there would not be, * I guess,' such a stampede for the dig- 
 gings. Under any circumstances, it is better to try to 
 moderate the enthusiasm of adventurers, than to inflame by 
 wild fables their already heated imaginations. 
 
 Whilst recent accounts from the Columbian Mines are 
 thus encouraging, emigrants should bear in mind that 
 surface-digging may soon become exhausted. Hill's 
 bar, and many of the other surface-diggings, which 
 were very productive a short time since, are now worked 
 out. Indeed the exhaustibihty of surface-gold has 
 been placed beyond doubt in all gold-producing coun- 
 tries. In California, for instance, the surface yield at 
 the mines is less by nearly 2,000,000/., than it was in 
 1853 ; and it is by the use of machinery for crushing 
 the quartz and extracting the metal, that California con- 
 tinues to produce such large quantities of gold, about 
 10,000,000/. per annum. It is therefore to be hoped 
 that we may, ere long, hear of quartz-crushing companies 
 
 M f 
 
MISERIES OP ENGLISH GOLD-IIUNTERS. 
 
 123 
 
 and quartz mills being established in British Columbia, 
 because not until then will the colony become a gold- 
 producing country of any consequence. Doubtless, for 
 the moment, the surface-gold is the inducement to the 
 labourer to go thither, as capital is not needed for that 
 Idnd of work, whilst it is indispensable in working quartz. 
 The existence of surface-gold, moreover, presents a very 
 favourable opportunity for colonising, to some extent at 
 least, even that wild country, and the opportunity 
 should not be lost. Free grants of land should be ex- 
 tended to the miner at once, as some encouragement to 
 his remaining. An inducement of the kind is abso- 
 lutely necessary, for miners seldom take to farming, 
 even in more open and inviting regions ; because their 
 tastes are commonly speculative, prodigal, and nomadic. 
 There is unfortunately no farming population in the 
 colony, and I very much doubt whether there ever ^vill 
 be unless Hberal attractions are held out. The gold- 
 fields may be ever so productive ; but gold alone will 
 never cause a population to take root in the country. 
 
 I shall end this chapter, by remarking that gold- 
 digging demands much arduous and protracted labour, 
 and that blood is no match for bone. Often, indeed, 
 has my heart throbbed with deep emotion, as I listened 
 to the many tales of woe, and witnessed the penury, 
 distress, and wretchedness of many a noble-hearted 
 Enghshman, who had given up a respectable position 
 in the mother country for golden prospects in British 
 Columbia, which never could be realised, unless nature 
 there were altogether changed. I have beheld not a 
 few brave and gallant men, who have gone forth to the 
 East to encounter the enemy, who had nobly fought on 
 the heights and slopes of Inkerman, compelled to barter, 
 day after day, their trappings, aye, their very swords, 
 
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 1-24 
 
 DISTRESS IN BKITISH COLUMBIA. 
 
 hallowed by glorious achievements, for a crust of bread. 
 Certain it is, as I have already observed, that there 
 exists great distress in British Columbia, and that there 
 are scores upon scores of men standing by gaping for 
 dead men's shoes. This is the truth, and let the truth 
 go forth. We hear much of the successful diggers, who 
 have returned with golden spoils, but nothing of the 
 many unlucky ones who have ceased to hve, through 
 sheer misery, fatigue, and want ; who have died like 
 dogs, but not so much cared for. 
 
 iM^^ ' 
 
125 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Tlie Human Species — Aborigines of British North America — Pro- 
 minent Features in the Life and Character of the Indians — Slaves 
 hon'ibly Abused — The ' Medicine Man ' and the Dead — Mode of 
 Scalping — Young Indians more savage than the Old — Horrible 
 Modes of Torture — Barbarous Conduct of an old Squaw — Shocking 
 Cruelties to an Old Man and Instance of Cannibalism — Horrible 
 Massacre of Emigrants — Cruel Custom of getting rid of the Aged — 
 The Native Beauty — The Indian Villages or Wigwams — The Con- 
 juror seeks the Lost Spirit — Pantomimic Entertainments of the 
 Indians — The Burlesque of a Clergyman — A Bear ia. the Wigwam 
 — The Blanket Feast — The Indians must disappear before the March 
 of Civilization — Mr. Roebuck on the Aboriginal Races — The Bishop 
 of Columbia too sanguine — Pfere Cheraus the Priest — The good 
 Fathers Enthusiasm — Bishop Hill and the young Savages — Instance 
 of Indian Revenge — Touching Instance of Parental Affection — The 
 Chief's Grave — The Wild Rose. 
 
 The earth was made for man, hence he is found in 
 every country and in every cHme vmder the sun. He 
 is the only animal by nature naked, and the only one 
 that can clothe itself, and derive nourishment from 
 every kind of food. 
 
 The human species is divided into five varieties, or 
 races, differing from each other in personal appearance : 
 
 1st. The White race ; 
 
 2nd. The Yellow race ; 
 
 3rd. The Black race ; 
 
 4th. The Brown race ; 
 
 5th. The Eed race, or American, — 
 including the Indians of the western continent, except 
 the Esquimaux in the extreme north, who belong to the 
 Mongolian family. 
 
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 126 
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AMERICA. 
 
 
 Pricliard, an excellent autliority on the natural his- 
 tory of man, states that tlie aborigines of America are 
 generally considered a section of the human family very 
 distinct from all others, and that there is reason to be- 
 lieve that they must have subsisted as a separate branch 
 from the earliest periods. Hence we cannot expect to 
 discover proofs of their descent from any particular 
 tribe or nation in the old continent. The commence- 
 ment of their existence as a distinct and insulated race 
 must probably be dated as far back as the time when 
 the human family was separated into nations, and each 
 received its primitive language and individuality. 
 Europeans who have travelled in America at an early 
 period have been very strongly impressed by the uni- 
 form aspect of the native tribes. Don Antonio Ulloa 
 has said that 'a person who has seen an Indian of what- 
 ever region may say that he has seen them all.' 
 
 As British Columbia is bounded on the east by the 
 Eocky Mountains, it may be well to begin by describ- 
 ing those Indian tribes which are found to exist to the 
 westward of this chain. 
 
 The most northern tribe in this inland country are 
 the TakalK or Carrier Indians, a branch of the Atha- 
 pascas, who are conterminous with the Esquimaux. This 
 Takalli tribe occupy the greater portion of British 
 Columbia. They are divided into eleven minor tribes, 
 whose names are as follow : — 
 
 Tlie Tantin 
 The Chiltokin 
 The Naskotin 
 The Thetliotin 
 The Tsatsuotin 
 
 The Ntshaautin 
 The Natilantin 
 The Nikozliantin 
 The Tatshiantin 
 The Babine 
 
 The Nulaautin 
 The number of Indians in these clans or tribes varies 
 
 ■Ki? " 
 
SAVAGE TRIBES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
 
 127 
 
 the 
 
 •les 
 
 from fifty to three huiidred and fifty ; and they all 
 speak the Athapascan language with a few dialectical 
 changes. They differ from the more southern tribes 
 in appearance, their features are more prominent and 
 coarser, and they are taller and better built. Like all 
 the savages in the territory of British Columbia, they 
 are not only most filthy in their habits, but are ex- 
 tremely debauched and sensual, syphilitic complaints of 
 the very worst kind being prevalent amongst them. 
 They feed chiefly on salmon, and the flesh of bears and 
 other wild animals. Indeed some of them burrow in 
 the earth and live like badgers or ground-hogs. They 
 are, moreover, very superstitious, and great believers in 
 the magical powers of their medicine-men or con- 
 jurors, of whom more particular mention will be made 
 hereafter. 
 
 To the southward of the Takalli are the Atnahs, who 
 live in the region on the Fraser and Thompson Eivers, 
 about 52° 30' north latitude, southward along the Fraser 
 towards the Straits of Fuca. 
 
 To the southward of the Atnahs is the tribe known as 
 the Flat-heads, who occupy the country on the Colum- 
 bia about Fort Colville, between the Cascade and Eocky 
 Mountains. They number from 4,000 to 5,000, and 
 are in many respects superior to either the Takalli or 
 the Atnahs. 
 
 Having mentioned the chief tribes in the interior, I 
 shall now advert to those of the sea-coast, from the 
 country of the Esquimaux southwards. The Tun Ghaase, 
 says Dr. Scouler, are the most northern tribe known to 
 the English fur-traders ; they are few in number, 
 inhabit the south-east corner of Prince of Wales's 
 archipelago, and are brave and expert hunters. Ac- 
 cording to Dr. Tolmie, of the Hudson's Bay Company, 
 
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 128 
 
 INGENUITY OP THE IIAIDAII INDIANS. 
 
 their language is nearly tlie same as tliat spoken at 
 Sitka. Dr. Scoiiler says that all the tribes in the Eus- 
 sian territory belong to one family, and that their lan- 
 guage appears to be similar to that of the natives of 
 Queen Charlotte's Island. 
 
 The people of the northern family, the Haidah or 
 natives of Queen Charlotte's Island, as distinguished 
 from the southern, are considered, according to Prichard, 
 by far the best looking, most intelligent, and energetic 
 race on the north-western coast of America, and, as Dr. 
 Scouler observes, contrast favourably in every respect 
 with the southern tribes. They are stronger and taller, 
 their limbs are better formed, and their carriage is much 
 better. We have seen some whose natural complexion 
 is as white as that of the people of Southern Europe. 
 They are a very warlike people, strong and dangerous 
 to be interfered with. The women invariably wear, as 
 an ornament, a piece of wood, of about half an inch 
 long, fixed in the lower lip by means of an incision 
 made parallel to its length. They do not flatten the 
 head of the infant, as their more southern neighbours 
 do. The Indians of this island are remarkable for their 
 ingenuity and mechanical dexterity. They construct 
 vases, drinking-cups, and tobacco pipes, from a soft 
 argillaceous stone, which they carve in a most elaborate 
 and beautiful manner, representing fish, wild animals, 
 and human beings. 
 
 The name Haidah seems to extend to various tribes, 
 the Massetts, the Skittegas, and Cumshawas. Accord- 
 ing to Dr. Scouler, the Haidahs have become poor since 
 the sea-otter has been all but destroyed. They fabricate 
 most of the curiosities met with on the coast, but their 
 staple article is the potato, which they sell in consider- 
 able quantities to the mainland tribes. In the autumn 
 
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I'RACTICE OF FLATTENING THE HEAD. 
 
 12U 
 
 lals, 
 
 tlicTC is quite a competition among them who shall cany 
 early potatoes to the mainland, and the potato-lair 
 seldom ends without more or less fighting. It may 
 witli truth be said of them that they are a most 
 treacherous race, and always ready for mischief. 
 
 The numerous tribes who inhabit the islands and 
 coast, from Queen Charlotte's Island to about G()° north 
 latitude, evidently belong to one family. Tliey strongly 
 resemble each other in physical features and intellec- 
 tual character ; and, moreover, the numerical terms 
 and the names of familiar objects are usually the same 
 amongst them all. Indeed, the language of the south- 
 ern branch, hving on the Columbia in the United 
 States territory, appears to be radically the same as 
 that of the northern family. 
 
 Tlie tribes who occupy Vancouver's Island are called 
 Nootka-Columbians, and under this designation are 
 comprehended those inhabiting the adjacent coast of 
 the mainland, as far as the Columbia Eiver, and 
 perhaps farther. The Nootka-Columbians are more 
 muscular, though smaller in stature, than the northern 
 tribes, and their complexion has more of a copper 
 colour. They are, besides, stouter or fatter, and their 
 cheek-bones are fully as prominent, if not more so. 
 They are decidedly more lazy and filthy than the 
 Haidah tribes, and the legs of the women are very 
 badly formed, being crooked and of almost uniform 
 thickness from the ankle to the knee. This is espe- 
 cially the case with the slaves. The practice of flatten- 
 ing the head is universal, and indeed prevails along the 
 north-west coast from Salmon Eiver, in latitude 53° 30' 
 north, to Umpqua Eiver in 46° south. 
 
 The manner in which the head is compressed is very 
 simple. When the child is born it is placed in a 
 
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130 
 
 AFFINITY OF THE INDIAN TRIBES. 
 
 trouj^Mi, scooped out of a log of timber, wliicli is Hat 
 jit tlic bottcjiu mid raised at where the nape of the neck 
 of the child rests ; a Hat stone is then placed on the 
 forehead of the occupant, and is kept in its place by 
 means of twisted bjirk or other fastenings, until the 
 ciiild is able to walk, and in this cradle the mother 
 carries her oflspring on her back wherever she goes. 
 It may be mentioned, however, that the chiefs and free 
 men are alone allowed the distinction of thus disligur- 
 ing and torturing their children. 
 
 The Nootka-Columbian group incUuh'S a greater 
 number of tribes than the northern or Haidah family. 
 A-Ccording to Prichard, the most northern of the Noot- 
 ka-Columbians are the Ilaseltzuk and the Billechoola. 
 The Billechoola inhabit the mainland, through which 
 Mackenzie first reached the Pacific ; the Haseltzuk, to 
 the northward, inhabit both the mainland and the 
 northern entrance of Vancouver's Island. Thcv are 
 branches of one race. 
 
 The island of Vancouver is inhabited by this race, 
 as proved by a comparison of vocabularies. 
 
 This tribe reaches up the river into the interior of the 
 mainland opposite Quadra. Another branch of the same 
 stock spreads along the Gulf of Georgia and to the south- 
 ward of the Columbia Eiver. The principal tribes are the 
 Kawitchen, to the north of Fraser River, the Noosdalum 
 of Hood's Canal, the Squallyamish of Paget's Sound, the 
 Cheenooks at the mouth of Columbia Eiver, and the families 
 of the Cathloscons towards the lower falls of the Columbia. 
 All these tribes, in language, are plainly connect d with 
 the Nootkans and Haseltzuk. 
 
 For fuller particulars respecting these tribes and 
 their languages, no better works can be consulted than 
 
SAVAGE CUAllACTEll OF TllJi l.XDIAN. 
 
 IJl 
 
 
 and 
 than 
 
 IViclmrd's Physical Histoiy of Mankind, and Latham 
 on The Varieties of Man. Indeed, these subjects are 
 in themselves sufficiently wide and interesting to form 
 a volume, but can here be only touclied upon. 
 
 The wild man of British Columbia is as savage as 
 the scenes which surround him, and in harmony witli 
 tlie freaks of nature. The trunk or back of a tree 
 forms his floating castle or canoe ; strings of shells 
 and teeth of wild animals his ornaments, liis record 
 and his coin. The desert fern and forest leaves furnish 
 his couch ; bulrushes, lichens and moss his protection 
 against the blasts of winter ; his morals are the prompt- 
 ings of untutored instinct ; and he disputes with 
 whining wolves and slothful bears the lordship of the 
 soil. 
 
 The North- American Indians are indeed no ordinary 
 race of savages ; they exhibit almost all the traits of 
 the worst form of barbarism. They yield unquestion- 
 ing obedience only to the despotic sway of the chief. 
 They are passionately fond of war, yet are more given 
 to stratagem than to fair fighting, and in this they have 
 tridy arrived at great proficiency. Murder is no crime 
 among these ferocious beings, who stab, shoot, scalp, 
 and eat their enemies, with the voracity of their com- 
 panion wolves. A recent Victoria paper states that 
 more butcheries had taken place between the Haidah 
 and Stickeen tribes of the northern Indians. Two of 
 the Stickecns, while on the road which leads from 
 Victoria to Esquimault with their women, about six 
 o'clock in the evening, were shot down by the Haidahs, 
 who fired upon them from the surrounding bush. One 
 of the victims died instantly, the other was expected 
 to recover, though very seriously wounded. It is 
 stated that the horrid deed was perpetrated in the 
 
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 132 
 
 DISAPPEARANCE BEFORE THE WHITE MAN. 
 
 presence of a number of white people who were pass- 
 ing along the road at the time. This paper says : 
 ' If these dreadful butcheries cannot be stayed, let the 
 savages at least be removed from the vicinity of our 
 town, in order that our people may not be shocked by 
 their daily occurrence.' They are revengeful, deceit- 
 ful, and unrestrained hars ; and, to crown all, g(it rid 
 of the sick and the aged by burning them alive. They 
 are by no means stupid, but as inquisitive and obser- 
 vant as they are heartless. Their dress is scanty, being 
 only a stripe of deer or bear skin round their loins ; 
 and in many districts even this small tribute to modesty 
 is dispensed with. They paint their bodies hideously 
 in every pigment they can get their hands on, the 
 colour of blood being their favourite ; and when deeply 
 stained with vermilion, it is dangerous to approach 
 them, this being a sign that war rages amongr,t them. 
 Strange to say, although sunk in the lowest depths of 
 moral degradation, they have never fallen physically 
 to the level of other stunted and brutalised races. 
 
 There is in the fate of these unfortunate beings 
 much to awaken our sympathy. What can be more 
 melancholy than their history? By a law of their 
 nature they seem destined to extermination. They 
 fade away at the approach of the white man, and 
 mournfully pass by us to retin-n no more. We hear 
 the rustling of their footsteps, like that of the withered 
 leaves of autumn, and they are gone for ever. In a 
 few years the smoke will cease to rise from their wig- 
 wams, and the ashes wiU be cold on their native 
 hearths. Poor human beings ! if they have the vices 
 of savage life, they have the virtues also. If their 
 revenge and insatiable thirst for blood is terrible, their 
 fidehty to their kinsmen is unconquerable also. Their 
 
C.'.l i 
 
 THE FLORIDA INDIANS. 
 
 188 
 
 love, like their hate, goes with them to the grave. 
 They may turn to take a last look upon the tombs of 
 their fathers, as they depart ; but they will shed no 
 tears, they will heave no groans, for there is in their 
 hearts that which stifles such indications of emotion. 
 It is savage courage absorbed in despair. The lovely 
 valley in which warriors stand forth in their triumphant 
 glory, in which the young and sprightly hsten with 
 throbbing hearts to the chants of other days, in whicli 
 the mothers fondly play with their tender offspring, 
 will soon know them no more. He will recede before 
 the white man as his fathers have done, and at last 
 yield to the inevitable law which decrees that the 
 inferior races shall vanish from the face of the earth, 
 and that the truculent unimprovable savage shall give 
 place to families capable of higher developement. The 
 Indians of Florida were men of a different class, and 
 deserving of a better fate. There were few who did 
 not sympathise with them when they were driven 
 from their native land, and few who, even at this dis- 
 tance of time, can read without emotion the following 
 noble speech dehvered on their behalf by Mr. Hopkin- 
 son, in the American senate : — 
 
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 I may say, however, that I presume the origin of this war 
 is the same with all our Indian wars. It lies deep, beyond 
 the power of eradication, in the mighty wrongs we have 
 heaped upon the miserable nations of these lands. I cannot 
 refuse them my heartfelt sympathy — reflect upon what they 
 were, and look upon them as they are : great nations dwindled 
 down into wandering tribes, and powerful kings degraded to 
 beggarly chiefs. Once the sole possessors of unmeasurable 
 wilds, it could not have entered into their imagination that 
 there was a force on earth to disturb their possession and 
 overthrow their power. It entered not into their imagination 
 
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 134 
 
 MR. IIOPKINSON S SPEECH. 
 
 that from beyond that great water, which to them was an 
 impassable limit, would come a race of beings to despoil 
 them of their inheritance, and sweep them from the earth. 
 Three hundred years have rolled into the bosom of eternity 
 since the white man put his foot on these silent shores, and 
 every day and hour and every moment has been marked with 
 some act of cruelty and oppression. Imposing on the cre- 
 dulity and ignorance of the aborigines, and overawing their 
 fears by the use of instruments of death or inconceivable 
 terror, the strangers gradually established themselves, in- 
 creasing the work of destruction with the increase of their 
 strength. The tide of civilisation (for so we call it), fed 
 from the inexhaustible sources in Europe, as well by its own 
 means of augmentation, swells rapidly, and presses on the 
 savage. He retreats from forest to forest, from mountain to 
 mountain, hoping at every remove he has left enough for his 
 invaders, and may enjoy in peace his new abode ; but in vain 
 — it is only in the grave, the last retreat of man, that he will 
 find repose. He recedes before the swelling waters ; the cry 
 of his complaint becomes more distant and feeble, and soon 
 will be heard no more. I hear, sir, of beneficent plans for 
 civilising the Indians, and securing their possessions to them. 
 The great men who make these efforts will have the appro- 
 bation of God and their own conscience ; but this will be all 
 their success. I consider the fate of the Indian as inevitably 
 fixed. He must perish ; the decree of extermination has long 
 since gone forth, and the execution of it is in rapid progress. 
 Avarice, sir, has counted their acres and their power ; force 
 and avarice and power march on together to their destruction. 
 You talk of the scalping-knife ; what is it to the liquid poison 
 you pour down the throats of these wretched beings ? You 
 declaim against the murderous tomahawk; what is it in 
 comparison with your arms, your discipline, your numbers ? 
 The contest is vain ; and equally vain are the efforts of a 
 handful of benevolent men against a combination of force 
 stimulated by avarice and the temptations of wealth. When, 
 in the documents on your table, I see, in the triumphal march 
 of General Jackson, he meets, from time to time (the only 
 
ong 
 
 nly 
 
 STOICISM OP THE INDIANS. 
 
 135 
 
 enemy he saw), groups of old men, and women, and children 
 gathering on the edge of a morass, their villages destroyed, 
 tlieir corn and provisions carried off, houseless in the depth 
 of winter, looking for death alternately to famine and the 
 sword, my heart sickens at a sceue so charged with wretched- 
 ness. To rouse us from a sympathy so deep, so irresistible, 
 we are told of the scalping-knife and the tomahawk, of our 
 slaughtered women and children. We speak of these things 
 as if women and children were unknown to the Indians, as if 
 they had no such being among them, no such near and dear 
 relation, as if they belong only to us. It is not so ; the poor 
 Indian mother, crouching in her miserable wigwam, or resting 
 under the broad canopy of heaven, presses her naked infant 
 to her bosom with as true and fond emotion as the fairest in 
 our land, and her heart is torn with as keen anguish if it 
 perish in her sight. 
 
 It may not be uninteresting to note a few more of 
 tl: most prominent features in the life and character 
 f ' V North American Indian. Generally it maybe 
 saxvi that the different tribes entertain a bitter hatred 
 to each other, evinced by the frequent feuds -which 
 arise amongst them, and which often end in bloodshed 
 and death. The Indian is particularly fond of tobacco 
 and ardent spirits — ' fire water,' as he terms it — and 
 it is needless to describe the evil effect which intoxi- 
 cating liquors produce upon him. Those who live in 
 the interior, and who exist principally upon fish, do 
 not acquire the active habits proper to the hunting 
 tribes to the east of the Eocky Mountains, but are 
 extremely lazy, and consequently have to endure great 
 privations, and, as a natural concomitant, they are base 
 and depraved in character. Sentenced to death, they 
 scorn to fly from their sentence, even when escape is 
 quite within their power. It is common for a friend 
 to propose to suffer for his friend, a parent for a child, 
 
 ■ if' 'A : ! 
 ■ ^,■■••V^^liV■^■•4| 
 
 .1 * ■ ■ ' >,t ••if si 
 
 
 
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 i'i^^"-*^Si 
 
136 
 
 INDIAN IDEAS OF A SUPREME BEING. 
 
 
 or a child for a parent. To fly like a woman, like her 
 to weep and groan, are expressions of contempt which 
 they apply to their enemies with ineffable scorn. Con- 
 tempt of pain and death is deemed a desirable trait 
 only in the males ; the females are as timid as the 
 children of civilisation, and meet their torture in pa- 
 roxysms of terror, shrinking and self-abandoned. There 
 are still, unhappily, some instances of cannibalism 
 amongst them, but such are of rare occurrence. They 
 have some idea of a Supreme Being, but they have 
 endowed Him with imperfect attributes, and therefore 
 do not worship Him. They, however, fancy Him good- 
 looking, and always naked, well painted, having pieces 
 of fur round each leg and arm, and dog-skin round his 
 shoulders. Indeed, no rehgious rite exists amongst 
 them ; and although missionaries of various denomi- 
 nations have exerted themselves for whole years 
 together, it is with but Uttle effect. Polygamy, stealing, 
 lying, and gambling prevail to an alarming extent ; they 
 are, moreover, prone to sensuality, and chastity among 
 the women is unknown. They possess, however, some 
 redeeming qualities ; they appear extremely fond of 
 each other, and the parents seem devotedly attached to 
 their children. It is wonderful that the gentler feel- 
 ings should at all exist where the war-dance is still in 
 vogue, with all the dismal accompaniments of killing, 
 scalping, roasting and torturing. Nevertheless, inte- 
 resting and tender scenes occur amongst them. At 
 certain hours in a fine summer day, women may be 
 seen sitting by the skull of a child, husband, or brother, 
 pouring forth the anguish of their souls, talking to it 
 in the most endearing tones, and seemingly getting an 
 answer in return. Ofttimes most mournful melody 
 swells from the distance at the dead hour of night, the 
 
 w \ 
 
SLAVES HORRIBLY ABUSED. 
 
 187 
 
 img, 
 
 to it 
 
 an 
 
 ody 
 
 the 
 
 spontaneous tributes of unlettered affection to soothe the 
 spirit of tlie departed. They suffer much from small- 
 pox, whisky, scalping-knives and rifles. They live 
 chiefly upon salmon, deer, bears, dogs, and such ani- 
 mals, and prefer their meat putrid. This may in some 
 measure account for the abominable eflHuvium which 
 their bodies exhale. In negotiating marriages, the 
 squaws propose to the men ; and young girls are often 
 contracted for, and the price paid down, years in ad- 
 vance of the marriageable age. They are purchased 
 for sums varying from 100 to 200 dollars, being from 
 20/. to 40/. Enghsh currency. They rove about con- 
 tinually, and their great aim is to become Tyhee, or 
 chief ; which with them means acquiring as much pro- 
 perty as they can, either in slaves, blankets, horses, or 
 guns, and then idling away their time. 
 
 These wretched slaves are horribly abused. They are 
 made to do all the filthy work under the torture of the 
 lash, which their fellow-savage lays on most unmerci- 
 fully. Should such enormities be perpetrated, or their 
 continuance be allowed, in a British Colony ? Surely 
 slavery is a curse so intolerable and degrading that 
 it ought not to be suffered to exist, even for a single 
 hour. 
 
 A short time ago a man from Port Townsend, whilst 
 visiting Victoria, discovered a young Indian girl of a 
 tribe in Washington Territory, Avho had been stolen 
 some time before, and held as a slave by the Songish 
 Indians of Vancouver's Island, and conveyed her back 
 to her relatives in a boat. Her parents and friends 
 were so rejoiced at her return that they gave a great 
 feast and a dance. In a few days afterwards, however, 
 one of the Songish Indians arrived from Victoiia at 
 Port Townsend, with a letter from one Mr. Philip M. 
 
 V ■,.S^i'.i>'''>';| 
 
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 ■ ■''?■ 
 
 138 
 
 ESCAPE OP AN INDIAN GIRL. 
 
 Nincl, a gentleman in Government employment, to Mr. 
 Swan, Justice of the Peace, which stated that he (Mr. 
 Nind) was directed by His Excellency Governor Douglas 
 to state that the bearer of the note was a native of 
 Vancouver's Island, and that he was in search of a wife 
 or daughter who had either fled or had been forcibly 
 abducted, and recommended the case to the authorities 
 of Washington Territory. Justice Swan, after some 
 enquiry, arrived at the true facts of the case, and wrote 
 in reply that as the girl claimed had been held as a slave, 
 and as there was ' no law between the United States 
 and Great Britain relative to the rendition of fugitive 
 slaves,' he had no jurisdiction in the case, and would 
 not give up the girl. How fortunate for this poor young 
 creature that Governor Douglas's statement, sent through 
 one of his clerks, had no weight with Mr. Swan ; 3r at 
 least that Mr. Swan took the trouble to make himself 
 acquainted with the true state of the case. The poor 
 fugitive is now freed from the persecution of her inhu- 
 man owner, and rests securely from her miseries in the 
 home of her childhood ; while the Indian who has lost 
 his drudge must content himself with simply thanking 
 Governor Douglas for having done all he could to secure 
 a lost slave. 
 
 Upon the matter of slavery the Bishop of Columbia 
 writes : — 
 
 / 
 
 :ln 
 
 a- 
 
 r 
 
 hi;, r 
 
 ■■I 
 
 
 The tribes have much decreased since 1846. More than 
 half of the Songish are gone ; their destruction is occasioned 
 principally by drink and dissolute habits. Those nearest the 
 whites are worst. Slavery has increased. Female slaves 
 are in demand. Distant tribes make war upon each other, 
 and bring their female slaves to the market. You will hardly 
 credit it, but it is strictly true, vjomen are 'purchased as 
 slaves to let tliem out for immoral purposes. A female 
 
THE MEDICINE-MAN AND THE DEAD. 
 
 180 
 
 slave has been known recently to be purchased for 200 
 dollars (40^.). The Indians buy their wives, but slaves are 
 more costly. Upon a woman recently killed in a brawl were 
 found 300 dollars (60^.), the wages of iniquity. 
 
 Doubtless these Indian slaves will one da "^ rise and 
 avengo themselves by massacre and pillage for the 
 atrocious cruelties inflicted upon them, and there will 
 be no cause to wonder at it. As all the world knows, 
 slavery is a crying sin in South America, where the 
 white man so surely degrades his humanity by depriving 
 his fellow-creature of that liberty which God has freely 
 accorded to all. Destruction now, however, menaces 
 it on every side. What stronger condemnation of the 
 impious system could possibly have been urged, than 
 the alarm expressed in Mr. Buchanan's message to the 
 American Congress, on December 4, 1860 ! The whole 
 system of slavery is stigmatised with universal repro- 
 bation, and we most cordially wish success to any course 
 which may be adopted for its extirpation. 
 
 It is folly to treat with the North American Indians 
 in a formal manner, as they know nothing of legal terras, 
 and the lives and property of the people are at the dis- 
 posal of the chiefs. If they agree to take a stated sum 
 for their property, it is to them a trade, and if it is ter- 
 minated by giving the agreed equivalent, there is no 
 trouble with them. They seldom bury the dead, but 
 either burn the bodies or place them in wooden boxes, 
 ornamented and raised above the ground just beyond the 
 reach of wolves and dogs, and there they are left to 
 moulder and decay. 
 
 When a corpse is buried, however, the doctor or 
 'medicine-man,' with many gesticulations and contor- 
 tions, pretends to receive in his closed hands the spirit 
 of the departed, which he imparts to some animal or 
 
 
 
 
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 ' ' '■';:v-^.: , 
 
 '^■'m-: 
 
 ■^'^■n 
 
 
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 Uf: f 
 
 
 140 
 
 MODE OF SCALPING. 
 
 to some other Indian, by blowing upon the object ; and, 
 if an Indian, he takes the rank of the deceased, and also 
 his name in addition to his own. We need hardly say 
 that the wily impostor invariably understands to whom 
 the succession is properly due. 
 
 When a body is burned, the widow of the deceased, 
 if he has left one, is placed upon the pile with the 
 corpse, and almost scorched to death ; and should she 
 attempt to run away she is pushed back into the flame 
 by the relatives of her husband, and not until her body 
 becomes one mass of blisters is she permitted to remove 
 from the burning pile. After the body has been con- 
 sumed she collects the ashes and places them in a small 
 basket, which she never fails to carry about with her. 
 At the same time she becomes for three years the slave 
 or drudge of the relatives of her late husband, who 
 treat her in the most cruel manner, and with every 
 indignity. After the three years have expired, she is 
 summoned to a great feast made by all the kindred, and 
 is then set free and permitted to marry again. 
 
 They are cunning and adroit thieves, and ever on the 
 watch to steal the property of the white man, and to 
 Idll and scalp him, which they do with a long iron or 
 steel knife stolen from the whites, or got in barter for 
 peltries. In scalping their victims, they make a circu- 
 lar cut from the forehead round the head close above 
 the ears ; then taking hold of the skin with their teeth, 
 they deprive the skull of its integuments almost instan- 
 taneously. The scalps are carefully preserved as trophies 
 to show the number of their victims, and when dried 
 they are painted with different symbols, to designate 
 the sex and age of the victim, and also the manner and 
 circumstance of the murder. 
 
 Many a poor wandering adventurer in British Colum- 
 
Ilum- 
 
 WOMEN THE LABOURERS. 
 
 141 
 
 bia has fallen a prey to these fiendish Indians. I liave 
 been shown as many as thirty scalps in one wigwam ; 
 some with long hair, others with short, — some black, 
 some fair, and some alas ! grey. How were these tra- 
 vellers killed ? Was it by the quick probe of the 
 bowie knife, or by some horrible and lingering death ? 
 
 The condition of the Indian is the most deplorable 
 that can be imagined ; many of them are puny and 
 stunted ; they are rapidly decreasing in numbers, and 
 must soon disappear altogether. They exhibit the 
 lowest phase of humanity; their children go naked 
 and wallow about in the mire like little brutes. They 
 pay but little attention to agriculture, the cultivated 
 ground of each family consisting of only a few detached 
 patches in which potatoes are grown. It may there- 
 fore be said that they live on nature's wild productions, 
 such as roots and wild fruits, or by hunting and fishing. 
 Some tribes are ignorant of the use of fire, and eat their 
 food in a raw state. The operation of turning up the 
 soil is performed by the women, with rude implements 
 of wood and stone ; labour being universally regarded 
 by the men as an undignified occupation. In their 
 diversions, however, such as dancing, gaming, and 
 hunting, the males make the most vigorous exertions ; 
 but when not thus engaged, or occupied in war, they 
 sleep or lounge away their time like the most torpid of 
 animals. 
 
 Captain Blakiston, E.A., remarks of the Indians 
 who live in thickly wooded districts, and on the 
 prairies: — 
 
 During the summer they move about by means of canoes, 
 usually a few families together, living on the fat of the land, 
 namely, waterfowl, fish, berries, &c., while fur taken at this 
 season being of little value they live rather a lazy life. 
 
 
 
 '^m 
 
 
 V ^41 
 
 
..•:J 
 
 B 
 
 \ r ■'>■^^■■ 
 
 u. 
 
 mi 
 
 142 
 
 CAPTAIN BLAKISTON'S ACCOUNT. 
 
 Before the end of the autumn they find their way to their 
 separate trading posts, and then take a number of supplies 
 required for the coming winter *in debt,' the amount of 
 which depends on the trader's opinions as to their hunting 
 powers. With this they make off to the region of their 
 intended winter hunting grounds, sometimes prosecuting a 
 fishery before the setting in of winter. During the winter 
 they form their tents in a more permanent manner, in order 
 to resist the cold, and do not often shift their camps, from 
 whence they trap, hunt, and gradually accumulate fur. Some 
 keep a fishery going the whole time for their subsistence, but 
 occasionally, on the failure of this and the scarcity of game, 
 they are reduced to great straits for existence; cannibalism is, 
 however, rarely heard of. 
 
 Some of the men may visit the fort during the winter for 
 the purpose of obtaining a few additional supplies. When 
 the rivers open in the spring they depend largely on water- 
 fowl for their support, and make their way to the forts, 
 where, if they have been successful in hunting during the 
 winter, they pay off their debts, and procure ammunition 
 aid other requisites with the balance of their furs. It is 
 customary also in the country around Lake Winnipeg and the 
 Sashatchewan to give each Indian a present of rum on his 
 paying off his debt, and moreover (although I believe it is 
 against the regulations of the Hudson's Bay Company) to sell 
 him more liquor if he wishes it for his extra furs. I must 
 say, however, that the gentlemen of the fur trade are in 
 many cases driven to this practice by the competition kept 
 up in some parts of the country by petty traders. 
 
 The life of a Prairie Indian is of a more free and inde- 
 pendent nature. During the summer he roams about the 
 plains following the buffalo, and living on them, and in 
 the winter, camped usually in the shelter of woods, he still 
 lives on buffalo, of which he often catches numbers at a 
 time by means of the * pound.' These Indians, although 
 inhabiting the comparatively small portion of prairie country, 
 outnumber all the other Indians scattered over the interior 
 east of the Kocky Mountains. They live usually in large 
 
THE PRAIKIE INDIANS. 
 
 143 
 
 bauds, seldom less than forty tents, 120 fightiuijf men, or 400 
 souls together. They exist entirely by the buffalo, the skins 
 of which are dressed for shoes and other clothing, and also 
 for their tents. They seldom eat anything but buffalo beef, 
 and accumulate the dried meat and grease of the animal, as 
 well as the skins, for trade. They own numbers of ponies 
 and dogs. When short of ammunition, tobacco, knives, or 
 other necessaries, they visit one of the trading forts, which, 
 on account of the numbers of Indians who come in to trade 
 at the same time, are surrounded by high stockades for 
 defence in case of disturbance. Spirituous liquors are traded 
 ad libitum, and the scenes of drunkenness and riot witnessed 
 on the arrival of a band of prairie Indians are almost beyond 
 description, suffice it in this place to say that the amount of 
 well-watered rum which is given in exchange is of but slight 
 value when compared with the provisions, skins, and horses 
 obtained from the Indians. So well is the knack of dealing 
 with Indians known by those engaged in the trade, that it is 
 rare to hear of any serious disturbance. Guns, blankets, 
 cloth, tobacco, ammunition, knives, &c., are obtained by 
 these Indians at the forts ; but they are not nearly so much 
 dependent on the whites as the wood Indians before 
 described. 
 
 As already stated, they are almost constantly engaged 
 in war, which rouses them from their morbid drowsi- 
 ness, flatters their pride, and above all, adds the sweets 
 of revenge to the glory of exertion. It is commonly 
 annomiced by actual hostilities, and without any warn- 
 ing; by plundering, burning, and butchering their 
 enemies, without distinction of age or sex. Their at- 
 tacks are made with the most profound secrecy, great 
 sagacity, and often with fearful results. The shrill and 
 intense scream, called the war-whoop, which they utter 
 as they rush furiously on the assailed, makes the stoutest 
 heart to quail. Their weapons are the tomahawk, guns, 
 pistols, and bows and arrows headed with iron, flint, or 
 
 ^1 
 
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 sot 
 
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 144 
 
 RKSPnCT FOR TOKENS OF TRUCE. 
 
 other liard stones, in tlie ii.so of wliicli they are exceed- 
 ingly dextrous. 
 
 When contending tribes desire peace they send an 
 embassy, usually consisting of* several persons, -wlio 
 bear to the enemy a pipe made of wood or of stone, 
 adorned with paint and white corals, answering to our 
 flags of truce ; and so great is the respect with which it 
 is treated, that an insult offered to the bearer is expiated 
 by death. Thus, then, the barbarous tribes of British 
 Noith America respect what the treacherous Chinese 
 trample under foot, coupled with the grossest insidts, 
 cruelties, and humiliations. Will the people of England 
 be satisfied with Lord Elgin's conduct in not revenging 
 the atrocities and barbarities perpetrated against our 
 countrymen, at Pekin, contrary to the laws of war and 
 the protection of a flag of truce ? When the Emperor of 
 Delhi and his sons were discovered to be the accom- 
 plices of such miscreants as San-ko-lin-sin, no mercy 
 was sliown them because of their imperial rank. The 
 princes were shot like common malefactors, and the 
 descendant of the Great Mogul tried at the bar like a 
 common miu'derer. We ask, why has Lord Elgin meted 
 out a different lueasure to the Imperial Mantchoo 
 caitiff in Pekin? Money is no recompense for cold- 
 blooded murder : there should be blood for blood. It 
 should be mentioned that the smoking of the pipe by 
 the chiefs of the contending Indian tribes is the 
 solemnization of a treaty of peace. 
 
 They wear necklaces of shells and beads, earrings of 
 the same material, and also bracelets, where no brass, 
 tin, or shining metal can be had. Many of them adorn 
 their ankles in like manner. Carved and polished bones 
 and the teeth of wild animals are also used for the 
 adornment of their copper-coloured bodies. Their hair 
 
 , 'i 
 
 
 •:tii! 
 

 CUIELTIES rilACTlSKD IIY TEIK INDIANS. 
 
 145 
 
 the 
 lie a 
 leted 
 clioo 
 cold- 
 It 
 
 by 
 
 the 
 
 is bliU'k, wliicli is common to all tlie natives of North 
 America; yet a few Imve hacn seen with hght yellow 
 or fhixen-coloured hair. It is cut in various fii ^ions, 
 according to tlie fancy of tlie several tribes; but by far 
 the greater number leave it in the long lank ilow of 
 Nature. They usually pluck out their beards ; when 
 tliis is not the case, however, they have a very manly 
 appearance, although perhaps wild and fierce. The de- 
 coration of their bodies is one of the principal objects 
 of their vanity, and vermilion forms a material article 
 of their toilets. A few tribes, again, have hair of a dark 
 brown colour, in which case their eyes are grey, with a 
 tinge of red, and their organs of sense very acute ; the 
 l)revailing colour of the eye, however, is black. Indeed 
 all the Indian tribes arc celebrated for keenness of sight, 
 liearing, and smelling. Their sense of smelling is 
 astonishingly exquisite, and they never fail to discover 
 the denizens of the forest, even when at a distance from 
 them of several thousands of yards. Vulture-like, they 
 will smell carrion three or four miles off. 
 
 Savage as the old Indians are, the young ones, both 
 male and female, are more to be dreaded by the cap- 
 tive than those of maturer years, for they have no 
 restraints upon their savage propensities, and they 
 indeed often vie with each other in inventing excru- 
 ciating modes of torture. In winter they are at times so 
 ill off for food that they will eat that which a pig would 
 hardly touch, and I have seen a woman and child who 
 had died of actual hunger. Their commonest food, 
 besides fish and wild animals, consists of ground-nuts, 
 nuts, and acorns, lily roots, and many other roots and 
 weeds. Their modes of torture are many and horrible. 
 They often scourge men and women to death, and burn 
 others alive in slow-piled fires so as to prolong their 
 
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 ■'■:'^' 
 
 
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 146 
 
 INHUMANITY OF MIRAMON. 
 
 I,- 
 
 
 
 M-' 
 
 
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 .I, 
 'j 
 
 -.•'.1 
 -'! 
 
 agony. I have seen four Indian fiends seize a wretched 
 captive, each taking hold of a hmb, swinging him up 
 and down on the ground with full force until they had 
 mangled his body and killed him. Their only paral- 
 lel is to be found in Mexico, in the inhuman abomina- 
 tions of that atrocious, cold-blooded villain, Miramon 
 — a wretch who, iimong other horrible enormities, 
 ordered five hundred lashes to be laid on the bare back 
 of a man simply for entreating peace for his country, 
 and who exclaimed, as the victim was reported dying 
 after three hundred and fifty had been administered, 
 ' Let the remainder, then, be given on his dead body.' 
 Tlie same infuriated monster commanded tliree hundred 
 lashes to be given to a pregnant woman, who, horrible 
 to relate, gave birth to a child whilst under the stripes, 
 and died on the spot. Sucli heart-sickening inhumanity 
 is only equalled amongst the barbarous northern 
 Indians and the Chinese brutes. 
 
 I have heard of an old squaw who constantlj'' endea- 
 voured to outdo all others in cruelty to captives. 
 Whenever she came into a wigwam, where any poor 
 naked starved captives were sitting near the fire, she 
 would stealthily take up hot brands and throw them 
 over their uncovered bodies ; if they were weak or 
 young, she would seize them by the leg and drag them 
 through the fire. 
 
 One poor old man who had fallen into the hands of 
 these ruthless barbarians had a burden of sticks placed 
 upon his back, and, although feeble and weak, was 
 compelled to carry his load several mUes into the 
 swampy forest, where they stripped him naked and 
 bound him to a tree. These fiends amused them- 
 selves by plucking tlie white hairs from his head, by 
 beating him with wands, and by otlier cruelties, until 
 
[is of 
 
 accd 
 
 was 
 
 the 
 
 and 
 
 ■lem- 
 
 5 by 
 
 intil 
 
 MASSACRE OP EMIGRANTS. 
 
 147 
 
 finally they scalped and roasted him alive, making there- 
 after a hearty meal upon the smoking human flesh ! 
 
 In the Times of January 12, 1861, are the follow- 
 ing harrowing details of a massacre of emigrants by 
 Indians, communicated from Fort Walla Walla, Wash- 
 ington Territory : — 
 
 The command of Captain Dent, United States Army, has 
 just reached tins point from the scene of the late Indian 
 massacre near Fort Boise, bringing witli him twelve men, 
 women, and children, who have been rescued from this 
 massacre, which has been one of the saddest that have ever 
 occurred on the emigrant route. These wretched creatures 
 were found almost naked, and eating the dead bodies of 
 those who had been massacred, and in one case eating the 
 liead of a man that had been buried for ten days. The party 
 numbered forty-four souls, out of which twenty-nine were 
 massacred and fifteen saved. They had moved from Wis- 
 Cdusin up to Fort Hull, where they received an escort of 
 dragoons, who guarded them to near Salmon Falls, on Snake 
 Iviver, when the dragoons turning back, they were left alone 
 for 300 miles, when they expected to reach Walla WaMa. 
 Near Fort Boise they were attacked by from 150 to 200 
 Snake Indians. They fought for two days, when, finding 
 their men falling, they abandoned everything and fled for 
 their lives. The next day they saw by the smoke that their 
 train had been destroyed. They moved on for several miles 
 on foot, the mothers, many of them, carrying their infanta at 
 their breasts, until they came to a small creek lined with 
 berries, where they had remained five weeks, until the troops 
 found them. Two men had made their escape and gave the 
 information, upon which Colonel Wright ordered out troops to 
 their relief. The troops moved rapidly, and when they came 
 up with the emigrants it is said that the heart of every 
 soldier was moved at the saddest spectacle that humanity 
 ever witnessed. The poor people, men, women, and children, 
 bowed themselves on the sand desert where they were found, 
 and offered up a solemn and fervent prayer to God at their 
 
 L -2 
 
 ■.■■v\t^.l 
 
 
 wV 
 
 ■■V.i 
 
 :i 
 
 >H 
 
148 
 
 INSECURITY OF THE COLONISTS. 
 
 d' :^'j ■; 
 
 
 Li, '-f^ 
 
 most miraculous escape, and with one feeling the soldiers 
 swore vengeance against the savages who had reduced this 
 band of emigrants to this condition. But the most horrible 
 sight was yet to be witnessed. They were without food 
 or clothing, and had made shelters for themselves out of 
 willows and grass, and the infants that had been left after 
 their mothers had been massacred were eaten most raven- 
 ously, and one lady ate two of her own children that had 
 died of starvation, and afterwards dug up her own husband, 
 and the troops found his head roasting upon the fire when 
 they reached them. They said it was not until starvation 
 drove them to it that they could allow themselves to be 
 thus reduced to live upon human flesh, and that, too, in a 
 I)utrid state. The women had been ravished by the hellish 
 savages, and their naked dead bodies bore all the marks 
 of horrible brutality. When will our Government take 
 some action to guard and protect our emigrant roads to 
 the Pacific coast ? This last a(5t calls for vengeance loud and 
 deep. 
 
 This is at least some proof to the British Columbia 
 overland transit company that the route which they ad- 
 vertise is fraught with danger to unprotected emigrants. 
 
 The melancholy fate of Mr. Price, who was barba- 
 rously murdered in his own hut at Cayoosh in February 
 1861, is another of the many instances of the blood- 
 thirstiness of these Indian tribes. 
 
 These are only a few instances out of thousands of 
 equal if not greater cruelty, and from these the deplor- 
 able situation of the defenceless inhabitants may well 
 be conceived. Such outrages and murders wiU con- 
 tinue to horrify the public wdiikt those who rule the 
 colony suffer them to be perpetrated with impunity, 
 either through erroneous or pusillanimous notions. It 
 is a dark blot upon the Government of the colony that 
 such scenes should be permitted to go on unchecked, 
 and that but one or two murderers out of scores should 
 
 fi! 1 
 

 SUPERSTITIONS OP THE NATIVES. 
 
 S of 
 olor- 
 well 
 con- 
 
 the 
 
 iiity, 
 
 It 
 
 that 
 
 ied, 
 Duld 
 
 149 
 
 Imve as yet suffered the extreme penalty of the law. 
 A stop should be put to the indiscriminate sale of fire- 
 arms and powder to the Indians. There is not a colony 
 under the British Crown but has suffered more or less 
 from Indian treachery. Howevei* c micable and friendly 
 the relations between the natives and the whites, a 
 time always comes when these relations are suddenly 
 and violently broken, and that time has very rarely 
 found the whites prepared. 
 
 The Indians relate many tales about evil spirits, which 
 would lead to the opinion that the devil sometimes in- 
 vades the inner recesses of those unhappy wretches ; at 
 least their fables are quite as rational as the ghost 
 stories of the white race. I have seen them fidl 
 upon their knees — throw themselves down upon the 
 ground, and roll about, uttering the most frantic yells, 
 upon their seeing an eagle hover over their wigwam. 
 I have also seen an old Indian look pensively at the 
 track of some wild animal and return hastily to liis 
 cabin, where he would remain for the day and night, 
 even were all the world offered to him to pursue liis 
 journey. It is with them a bad omen for a dog to 
 howl at midnight, or for a bird to enter the wigwam, 
 except by the door. 
 
 Altogether they are a very superstitious race, and, 
 being entirely ignorant of the causes of natural pheno- 
 mena, are terrified by every unusual occurrence. Though, 
 doubtless, the mountain and the vale acquire pecuhar 
 charms when their deep caverns and gloomy recesses 
 are peopled with imaginary beings, they wear amulets 
 of bone and bears' claws, in the beUef that such things 
 not only keep away evil spirits, but also preserve them 
 from the ferocious attacks of their most deadly enemy 
 — the grizzly bear. 
 
 
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 'Ml 
 
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 150 
 
 BISAIDVANTAGES OF OLD AGE. 
 
 They have little form or ceremony among them in 
 matrimony, but do like the Israelites of old ; the man 
 goes in unto the woman, and she becomes his wife. 
 The age of puberty is about thirteen for the women 
 and seventeen for the men. They do not live long, 
 fifty years being the common span amongst them, 
 except in very rare instances. A grey-haired man is 
 seldom seen, because of the custom prevalent among 
 them, in obedience to which the relatives, sons and 
 daughters, get rid of the old man when he becomes too 
 feeble to support himself. At this stage he is usually 
 strangled with a halter made of twisted bark, or sud- 
 denly dispatched by a blow from a tomahawk. Besides 
 this cruel custom of getting rid of men who are deemed 
 an incumbrance, they have a habit of extinguishing life 
 in the womb, by taking up a woman by the middle, 
 with her hands downwards, and jolting her round till 
 one would think her bowels would shake out of her. 
 From this and other causes premature birth is frequent. 
 
 Although there are some handsome women to be 
 met with amongst the northern Indians of America, 
 there are none comparable to our tropical belles. In 
 the native beauty of Panama, the grace which pervades 
 the whole figure is wonderfully brought out. There 
 the female form is full of ease, delicacy, and beauty. 
 The day was sultry as I turned into one of those snug 
 retreats, scarcely visible tlu-ough the luxuriant verdure, 
 so frequent in the isthmus, to get a mouthful of cold 
 water. The heads of the family had doubtless gone to 
 the trackless woods to gather the wild fruits so pleas- 
 ing to the eye and so grateful to the taste, for no one 
 was visible but a young Indian maiden, who, fawn-like, 
 startled at my approach, and would have fled into the 
 tliicket had I not made signs of peace and friendship. 
 
 ii: 
 
 Uu. 
 
 ii'Sill 
 
lip. 
 
 FLMALE BEAUTY IN THE TROriCS. 
 
 151 
 
 Eaising my hands in the form of a cup, the woodland 
 beauty was instantly reassured, and led the way to a 
 shady grotto where a crystal mountain spring flowed 
 gently from the rifted rock, whilst I followed in speech- 
 less admiration of the vision of loveliness which floated 
 onward in such bashful coyness. This charming nymph 
 was attired in a loose covering of the purest white, down 
 which her plenteous black hair himg to an almost incre- 
 dible length. Her complexion was soft tinted olive, so 
 delicate that the slightest emotion gave a crimson hue 
 to her soft and simple cheeks. Her forehead was ex- 
 quisitely chiselled, and her features Grecian in their 
 contour; but how shall I describe those glorious 
 dreamy eyes, or those long, drooping lashes, whicli 
 ever and anon came softly down, like silken curtains ! 
 Could an artist place on canvas the picture there pre- 
 sented, the shady dell, the tropical fruits and flowers, 
 the limpid spring and mossy rocks, the emerald skies and 
 purple mountain peaks, that sweet sad face and faultless 
 form, he might lay doAvn his pencil and live upon his 
 fame for ever. As she stepped on the slippery rock, 
 with a quaintly fashioned gourd, to dip up the clear 
 water, there was disclosed a foot whose polished out- 
 lines had never been warped by the rough shoe of 
 civilisation, and which her native innocence had never 
 been taught to hide. She was indeed exquisitely beau- 
 tiful, and recalled the Hues of a great poet : — 
 
 Art thou a thing of mortal birth, 
 "Whose happy home is on the earth ? 
 Or art thou what thy form Avould seem, 
 The paantom of a fairy dream ? 
 
 But I must leave these sunny lands and their plea- 
 sant memories, and return to the snows and storms of 
 Britisli Columbia. 
 
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 152 
 
 INDIAN VILLAGES. 
 
 
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 The Indian villages are generally planted upon some 
 natural slope, on the banks of rivers, or in sheltered 
 nooks on the sea-coast, with a precipitous bank in front 
 at the water's edge, so as to afford protection from an 
 attacking tribe. These aboriginal wigwams are oblong 
 in shape, varying from 100 feet to 300 feet in length, 
 and from 50 to 100 feet in breadth. The material 
 used is thick plank boarding and heavy logs, which they 
 manufacture from the abundant supply of timber by 
 which they are surrounded. The roof is not much 
 pitched, and being made of the same rough material, 
 affords in rainy weather a shower bath to the inmates. 
 The means of ingress and egress is by the apertures in 
 the palisades, usually extending from the bottom to the 
 top of the building. One wigwam generally contains 
 twenty or thirty families, the space being partitioned 
 off into several compartments. The chief's being at the 
 upper end, in a more finished division of the building ; 
 his nearest relatives in the next division immediately 
 adjoining, and his more distant relatives farther and 
 farther away according to their rank or kinsmanship. 
 Eound the fire, which is piled up in the centre of the 
 compartment, men, women, and children sit, generally as 
 naked as they were born, and not uncommonly covered 
 with a moving mass of vermin of every description. 
 They sleep under a su]:)-roofing or canopy, in which 
 are layers of matting for beds ; and in the cold winter 
 season they roll themselves up in blankets procured 
 from the Hudson's Bay Company in exchange for furs, 
 or in skins of the wild animals of the forest. The ex- 
 terior of an Indian village presents a most filthy aspect, 
 more so indeed than most pig hovels. Piles of putrid 
 fish, fish-bones, cockle and oyster shells, old mats and 
 rags, together with filth of every description, the accu- 
 
 iiili: 
 
 MM 
 
A NIGHT IN A NATIVE WIGWAM. 
 
 163 
 
 mulation of centuries, is seen in the rear and front of 
 every village. When not engaged in fishing or trap- 
 ping, they pass most of their time in a torpid state, 
 lounginj^ beside their fires, or lying down amidst a 
 crowd of snappish cowardly curs, whose appearance 
 indicates starvation and disease. Often in the finest 
 weather these slothful fellows keep entirely within the 
 wooden covering, and the only people to be seen out- 
 side are a few women washing themselves in the stream, 
 or making mats and baskets. Sometimes an old savage 
 may be discovered repairing his canoe or stripping some 
 tree of its bark, whilst others may be found rattling 
 their little sticks on the gambling sward. A stranger's 
 approach to the wigwam will bring the whole crew out 
 to see him, curs included. They first creep out of 
 their 'bunks,' then wrap their blankets or fur skins 
 round them, and sit doubled up, hke so many crouched 
 frogs, with their chins resting on their knees, gaping as 
 if he were the first ' Kmg George ' or EngUsh Tyhee 
 they had ever seen. I have often been so fatigued by 
 night-fall, whilst exploring the wilds of British Columbia, 
 that I was glad to take up my quarters in these dismal 
 places, in preference to becoming food for the prowhng 
 wolves and other beasts of prey. On one occasion, 
 those demons decided on murdering two of us ; so much 
 we understood of their language. Of course that night 
 we could not sleep, but sat up, displaying our revolvers, 
 and showing as bold a face as possible, and adding 
 constant supplies of fuel to the fire to enable us to see 
 the movements of our very hospitable and faithful 
 friends ! 
 
 Their smaller wigwams, or huts, are formed of bark, 
 which they cut into pieces of seven or ten feet in length ; 
 and when fresh, stones are laid on them to prevent their 
 
 *'■■{' 
 
 
 
 
154 
 
 DOMESTIC CUSTOMS OF THE ABORIGINES. 
 
 f 1- 
 
 :!'f 
 
 warping in drying. The frames of these liiits are made 
 of stakes driven into the ground, strengthened by cross 
 sticks, and then covered with the bark fastened with 
 twisted twigs. The roof is covered in the same manner, 
 an opening being left to let out the smoke, and the 
 doors are made of large pieces of bark, held against the 
 stakes by props on the outside, which is a sign, however, 
 that no person is within. The light is admitted by the 
 small opening or doorway. The fire stands in the cen- 
 tre of the hut, and around it are stumps of trees and 
 large stones for seats, which serve also for tables. The 
 fur-skin covering used for clothing by day, is also the 
 covering at night to a layer of deer or bear-skin, (^r a 
 mat made of rushes. The whole family live and sleep 
 in this one apartment, and it not unfrequently happens 
 that two or three families are domesticated togetlier 
 under the same roof, without partition of any kind 
 separating them. 
 
 These people believe that animals have souls, and 
 even that inorganic substances, such as trees, drinking- 
 cups, kettles, &c., have in them a similar essence. They 
 also beheve that the spirits of good men spend their 
 time in another world in feasting, singing, and dancing ; 
 and that the spirits of bad men are always in pain a'^d 
 misery, haunted by the phantoms of the persons they 
 have injured. They do not, of course, apply this to their 
 treatment or conduct towards the white man, whom 
 they at all times look upon as their worst enemy. They 
 believe in apparitions, and entertain the notion that 
 the ghosts of the departed will frequently revisit the 
 abodes of their friends, in order to invite them to the 
 good world, and to forewarn them of their approaching 
 death. They also regard the spirit of man as distinct 
 from the living principle, and hold that it may be sepa- 
 
INDIAN rAXTOMIMIC ENTERTAIXIilRNTS. 
 
 169 
 
 rated for a short period from the body without causing 
 death, or without the individual being conscious of the 
 loss. However, to prevent fiital consequences, it is 
 necessary that the lost spirit should be found and restored 
 as quickly as possible. Here, then, the 'medicine- 
 man' agam comes forth to practise his delusions on 
 the superstitious and believing tribes. He pretends 
 to learn in a dream the name of the person who has 
 lost his spirit, and hastens to inform the unhappy indi- 
 vidual, who instantly employs him to recover the wan- 
 dering soul. The conjuror, therefore, without any loss 
 of time, accompanied by a number of other Indians, 
 visits every wigwam in the place, when the night is 
 passed in singing, dancing, and other exhilarating en- 
 tertainments. At the dawn of day they enter a luit 
 wliich is formed so as to exclude the light, when 
 a little hole is made on the top through which tlie cn- 
 (^hantcr passes in the lost spirit, in the sliape of a tooth 
 of some wild animal, or some such substance. A fire is 
 then lighted, and the inmates of the lodge are made to 
 Ivneel down in solemn form before the revered conjuror, 
 wlio, with many contortions and invocations, places the 
 tooth or bony substance on the owner's head, and con- 
 tinues these mummeries until the spirit resumes its 
 proper place ; after which there is a feast, the conjuror 
 taking care to get the scraps as a perquisite. 
 
 As in England, the Indians have their pantomimic 
 entertainments associated with their festive seasons ; but 
 the gesture of the copper- coloured pantomimists is mucli 
 more natural than Avhat may be seen at Christmas, either 
 in Drury Lane or Covent Garden. With us the ' clown,' 
 wliose exuberant fun induces such hearty laughter, is no 
 other than the poor melanclioly-looking man we see 
 walking sadly along the Strand in company witli a sliort, 
 
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 150 
 
 THE BURLESQUE OP A CLERGYMAN, 
 
 slim personage, inwliom miglit be recognised the harle- 
 quin ; whilst, with them, the performers are Nature's men, 
 who live without care, and free as the denizens of the 
 forest which they so faithfully portray. With us, it 
 certainly would not increase one's relish of the perfor- 
 mance to draw aside the veil and disclose the mysteries 
 of the mezzanine-floor; whilst with them to do so would 
 only excite to greater mirth, gladness, and unsophis- 
 ticated frivolity. 
 
 Being considered as a Ilyass-Tyhee, or ' great chief,' 
 I had the honour of numerous invitations to their 
 grotesque performances. These commence by some 
 athletic fellow springing into the centre of the group 
 and throwing himself into all sorts of contortions, such 
 as it would puzzle a ballet-dancer to imitate. Upon 
 his retiring to his place, he is succeeded by another, 
 and this by a third ; and so on for about ten or fifteen 
 minutes, when they are all ready for business. As it 
 would fiU a volume to describe a tithe of their theatrical 
 amusements, a description of one or two must suffice. 
 Chief ' Freesy ' of the Songish tribe, who lives in the 
 Indian reserve at Victoria, V. I., and is considered an 
 important personage, together with his tribe, will form 
 the subject of my observations. First, then, ' The Bur- 
 lesque of a Clergyman.' The actor in this scene 
 presented himself in a priestly garb, consisting of a coat 
 of bear-skins hanging down to his ankles, a beaver-skin 
 cap on his head, and a pair of deer-skin gaiters on his 
 lanky Umbs ; a large pasteboard nose protruding from 
 a face painted half black and half vermihon, with 
 extensive bands made from an old newspaper. As he 
 came forward to the centre of the ring formed by the 
 other Indians and visitors, he sang in a low monotonous 
 tone, which increased as he approached. Once within 
 
AS PEKFORMED UY A ^•AT1VE ACTOR. 
 
 w 
 
 the ring, all commenced yelling and shouting and beat- 
 ing time with short pieces of dry wood. Tlie audience 
 ibi-med, hideed, a strange motley group. One fellow 
 would boast a discarded military coat, anotlier a cap, a 
 tliird a pair of trowsers ; but most of them wore only 
 their native costume, a girdle of skins, whilst not a few 
 were in a state of nudity. Many of the women were 
 also but scantily covered, with brass rings on their 
 fingers, arms, and ankles. As the ' Vicar of Wakefiekl' 
 sounded his rattle every one danced with all his might, 
 Avliilst both biped and quadruped joined in one discor- 
 dant yell, which must be lieard to be appreciated. 
 Tliis noisy scene over, the dignitary of the episcopal 
 bench proceeds to amuse the gaping swarm around him 
 in a most wonderfidly comical manner. As may be sup- 
 posed, his appearance and gestures were so uiJike all 
 that was human, that when he came near, I coidd not 
 help shrinking back with horror, as if an old grizzly 
 bear had been about to fondle me in his brawny paws. 
 The reader need scarcely be told that the personage 
 thus so irreverently ridiculed was no less a personage 
 than the Lord Bishop of Columbia, who, however, does 
 not assume so outrageous a costume, nor indulge in any 
 vesture which is not in strict keeping with his sacred 
 office. Indeed, I may go further, and say that it W(3uld 
 be well if the Bishop of Eochester, and some others, 
 were to follow the example of the worthy Bishop of 
 Columbia in regard to dress, whether in private or 
 public. 
 
 The second scene was composed of a number of ad- 
 ventures with wild animals. A large log fire was made 
 in the centre of the wigwam, around which sat the 
 Indians as if in the bush. Presently there creeps from 
 under a huge pile of brush, heaped up for the occasion 
 
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 158 TRAOIC IlKSULTS OF NATIVE PERFOUMANCES. 
 
 ill tlic most rcmuto corner of the rustic dwelling', an 
 Indian disguised in a buar-skin, with head and claws 
 complete. This siii)p()Hed animal moves slowly forward, 
 enticiidhy the savoury smell of tlie roastin"^ venison, 
 imtil within range of the Indian hunter, who in the 
 meantime steals round a log and quietly lies still for a 
 few moments, looking out for a shot, then levelling liis 
 gun takes sure aim at his victim, who is carried in gi'eat 
 triumph to the assembled crowd. So well was the 
 savage animal persoiulied that one had difficulty in be- 
 lieving that the whole scene was unreal. It is hardly 
 worth while to recount the death of each individual 
 animal ; suffice it to say that the whole entertainment 
 wa^" of a character to histruct the young juid inexpe- 
 rienced Indian how to succeed in the forest. Tliey 
 have at times tragical performances, which are of a 
 most disgusting and bK)ody character, and which often 
 prove fiital. This brings to my recollection a melan- 
 choly instance of the danger of such amusements, and 
 as a warning to those who may have a liking for them 
 I shall relate an event which occurred recently ii; 
 America. A young mechanic, who had just purchased 
 a dirk, while jesting with a companion, playfully struck 
 his own breast with the knife, crying, ' Lay on, Mac> 
 duff!' His friend told him he had stabbed himself. 
 He re[)lied that he had not ; but upon looking at his 
 breast, and perceiving the blood, he exclaimed, ' Good 
 Lord ! ' and ftdhng backwards in the doorway, died 
 almost immediately. It is supposed that when he struck 
 himself with the dagger, he intended to do so with the 
 handle, as he had often done before, repeating dramatic 
 quotations, and * suiting the action to the word.' 
 
 The Indians have an annual ii;atherin2f called the 
 ' Blanket Feast,' wliicli takes place usually in the month 
 
 
 ;i?!' 
 
THE 'BLAXKKT I'KAST.' 
 
 120 
 
 t 
 
 •i . • '.I 
 
 (»r October, at tlie residence of some iiifluential cluel', 
 tiiul the proceed! nils very imicli resemble in cluuju'ter 
 the mountebank doings at an English country liiu". A 
 stage is erected, tmd decorated in numerous insttuices 
 with as many as two thousand blankets of various 
 colours ; and speeclies arc made by the chiefs of the 
 (lillerent tribes, whicli are received with hearty grunts 
 of approval. Tliey reconunend their listeners to prose- 
 cute the chase with greater vigoiu", pointing significantly 
 to the piles of coloured blankets on the i)latfoi'ni which 
 were obtained in exchange for furs and peltries. After 
 the orations are over they begin to distribute the 
 blankets to the multitude, which frequently numbers 
 from fifteen hundred to two thousand persons, who 
 si-ramble for them and cut them to pieces, carrying 
 home a strip of each, to be retained in the family as a 
 memento of the celebrated occasion. Some of the 
 blaidcets are given whole to their old enemies, as tokens 
 of peace and friendship. The manner of distributing 
 and cutting up the blankets is somewhat peculiar. The 
 Indians stand in front of the stage with long pointed 
 poles, upon whicli the blankets are thrown by one of 
 the chiefs, who also gives the word to dislodge them ; 
 when the grand scramble commences, the men cutting 
 them to pieces with their long knives, and each hasten- 
 ing to lay the grasped strip at the feet of his klootch- 
 inan or sweetheart, who rewards him with an approving 
 smile if his advaiK^es be agreeable, but repels him with 
 a cold scowl if disliked. 
 
 These feasts last for three or four days, and there is 
 always plenty to eat and drink ; the viands being col- 
 lected by general contribution on the old Scotch ' penny 
 Avedding ' system, or after the fashion of the modern 
 picnic. These gatherings of the Indian tribes always 
 
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 IGO GRADUAL EXTINCTION OF THE ABOllIGINAL RACE. 
 
 end in numerous matrimonial alliances, but not unfre- 
 quently in brawls of the worst kind, especially wlieii 
 tlie excessive use of ardent spirits rouses tlieir savage 
 nature. 
 
 Tliey and their amusements, however, will soon 
 become things of the past. The white man and the 
 savage can never live together, their habits and natures 
 being in direct opposition. No system of reform nor 
 of religion will ever avail anything, and the Bishop of 
 Columbia is, I fear, much too sanguine as to the good 
 to be effected by the introduction of more clergy 
 amongst them. Similar opinions were expressed on the 
 evening of March 13 last, in the House of Commons, 
 by Mr. Eoebuck, when speaking of the Aborigines 
 of New Zealand : — 
 
 \ I 
 
 Mr. Roebuck said he recollected, several years ago, when 
 the question of the Aborigines was under discussion, that ho 
 startled the House and the Priipe Minister of the day (Sir 
 Iv. Peel, who, it was said, had the faculty of assimihiting 
 other men's ideas) by saying that experience had shown that 
 w^herever the white man had put down his foot by the side 
 of tiie brown man, the brown man disappeared. They might 
 pat off the moment, but the time would come when the 
 brown man woidd be extinguished, and the sooner that 
 consummation took place the better. All they did by their 
 I)retended humanity was to extend the time in which he 
 lingered in his misery. We began our colonies always by aii 
 injustice. What right had we to be in New Zealand ? We 
 put our foot there, we took the land from the natives, and 
 then with a sort of sanctimonious hypocrisy we turned round 
 and said, ' We know that we do you an injury, but w^e will 
 do you the least possible injury.' But there were certain 
 persons, missionaries and others, who said, 'We will preach 
 the gospel to those people; we will make them Christians; 
 we will do all except do them justice. If we went away and 
 
ARRIVAL OF THE BISHOP OF COLUMBIA. 
 
 161 
 
 allowed them to govern themselves and inhabit their own 
 country without interfering with them, we should do them 
 justice, but that we do not intend to do.' They might 
 depend upon it, their mode of life, their habits, their 
 thoughts, their European civilisation were destruction to the 
 brown man. They were signing his death warrant when 
 they put their foot upon the shore of New Zealand, and 
 therefore they could not pretend to save him from the 
 inevitable destruction which was coming upon him. And 
 now came the right hon. gentleman and said, ' Oh, withdraw 
 your troops ; it is a great expense.' Why, that expense was 
 the very result of their mock humanity, their hypocrisy. 
 Let the colonists be left to themselves, let them not be 
 troubled with our ideas of justice, and they would settle the 
 matter very quickly. For, what would they do ? They 
 would take possession openly and avowedly of the whole 
 colony, and would say to the Aborigines, * You must get 
 away, and, if not, we will punish you.' But, instead of 
 leaving the colonist? alone, they were attempting to set up a 
 separate system of government from that of the colony; 
 but then it had turned out a failure ; it could not continue, 
 and now they were about doing what twenty years ago he 
 advised them to do. Let there be no pretence, no hypocrisy. 
 They were going to create a new country, a new people, to 
 plant European civilisation in the Southern hemisphere. J3y 
 so doing they would utterly destroy the aboriginal population. 
 The people of England would find that the plainest policy 
 was the best. They began with an injustice — they nnist 
 take the consequence of their evil deed, the evil deed of 
 going to New Zealand at all, which v/as to destroy the abori- 
 gii'dl race. His words would be called 'horrible,' 'cruel.' 
 Cruel they might be, but they were the residt of the policy 
 of this country. They had planted England in New Zealand ; 
 the Englishman would destroy the ]Muovi, and the sooner the 
 Maori was destroyed the better. 
 
 ^he Biphon arrived at Vancouver's Island on January 
 6, 1860, and on the 17tli of the same month he went, 
 
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 162 
 
 IMPEDIMENTS TO MISSIONARY ENTERPRISE. 
 
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 »[ 
 
 accompanied by the local magir?trate and a clergyman, 
 to an Indian reserve, when he got introduced to ' Chief 
 Freesy,' a cnnning vagabond, who had committed more 
 than one murder in the short period of a few months. 
 However, he and his little son Peter seem to have 
 mjuiaged so well that they left a favourable impression 
 upon the unsuspecting mind of the worthy Lord Bishop, 
 whom I had the pleasure of meeting at the Indian re- 
 serve on the day in question. It is well known that the 
 Eev. Mr. Cridge has laboured zealously amongst these 
 Indians for years, without even the shadow of a hope 
 of success. The Eev. W. Clark and family also failed, 
 and have left the country; and another highly esteemed 
 clergyman has likewise left. Now it does seem ratlier 
 marvellous that even so great an apostle as the good 
 Bisliop of Columbia should, in a few days after his 
 arrival in the colony, produce the following effect, as 
 stated in tlie ' Occasional Paper on the Columbian 
 Mission ' of June 18G0 : — 
 
 We sang heartily, and the little voices mingled with our 
 own ; and when we finished, we found a remarkable impres- 
 sion to be produced. All iveve reverently hushed in a fixed 
 and thouf/htfid man "->'.. They were evidently touched in 
 their little spirits, anu '"ue broke the silence till one of 
 
 us did so. 
 
 Upon reflection, and a longer experience of the deep- 
 rooted subtleness of the Indian, two or three ideas like 
 the following may hereafter cross the mind of tlie 
 Bishop. Is it not likely that these little sinners mingled 
 their voices from the natural tendency to imitate all 
 humming sounds ? that their little spirits had been 
 touched through fear of so unusual a visitor, and that 
 from the same cause they had not broken silence ? 
 
 I have been acquainted with Indian reserves and 
 
FATHERS CHEROUX AND LAMFRETT. 
 
 163 
 
 •. ■■;■*>. 
 
 \'i .'? 
 
 fl.A . 
 
 • -Jt;^. 
 
 Indian nature long enough to convince me that such 
 in all probability lay at the root of what impressed the 
 worthy bishop so hopefully. Let us, however, recog- 
 nise the beauty and power of true enthusiasm, and, 
 whatever we may do to enhghten ourselves and others, 
 guard against checking or chilling a single earnest as- 
 piration in favour of these poor barbarians. 
 
 Pere Cheroux, one of the priests who have been 
 wasting years in Vancouver's Island, in the endeavour 
 to introduce the truths of the Christian religion among 
 these aborigines, is said to have exclaimed, ' He who 
 would sow the seeds of instruction in the heart of 
 these savages has selected a soil truly sterile.' Colonel 
 Colquhoun Grant, in his exceedingly graphic and truth- 
 ful description of Vancouver's Island, communicated to 
 the Eoyal Geographical Society, furnislies us with a 
 description of Pere Lamfrett's labours towards this 
 end : — 
 
 At first he was all enthusiasm. ' Plus que je vols ces 
 sauvages, plus je les aime,' he said. The savages were amused 
 with the illustrations of the Holy Writ, and were somewhat 
 pleased with the sacred songs he taught them. Some of the 
 Isomass women learned, without much difficulty, to chant 
 portions of the service of the CathoHc Church; and he 
 instituted among them the ceremonies of baptism and of 
 marriage, without at all, however, making them comprehend 
 the true nature of these institutions. When they found that 
 there was nothing to be made by their attention to his 
 harangues, their attendance gradually flagged; and when 
 the fishing season came, all his converts, male and female, 
 evaporated, and preferred the pursuit of salmon to that of 
 religion. On their return they were more obdurate than 
 ever ; the charm of novelty had disappeared. Disgusted, he 
 declared they were spoiled by their intercourse with the 
 white man. 
 
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 164 
 
 INSTABILITY OP NATIVE CONVERSION. 
 
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 About this time the Cowitchins of Vancouver sent him an 
 invitation to their palisades, and provided him with an escort 
 of twenty canoes. This tribe had the reputation of being 
 brave, and uncontaminated by the visits of the whites. The 
 good father's enthusiasm rose again. He met with a brilliant 
 success among his new friends; in two days he baptised 
 upwards of two thousand of them, and on the third he married 
 seven hundred more. Keligion having progressed so marvel- 
 lously, he was beginning to think of introducing the fine arts, 
 when, unfortunately, his supplies of blankets and fish-hooks 
 fell short, upon which his disciples expressed themselves thus: 
 * Haelo iketu, haelo tilekum,' the translation of which is, *No 
 goods, no men.' The fishing season occurring about this time, 
 his congregation was reduced to a few old women ; and when 
 they came back, finding no fresh fish-hooks had been sent to 
 him, they despatched an envoy to the Hudson's Bay Company, 
 to inform them that unless the padre were removed they 
 would be obliged to kill him. 
 
 The Bishop of Columbia has also begun to try what 
 good sweet things will do to entice the children in 
 Vancouver's Island, and it is to be hoped with better 
 success ; although it is certainly to be feared that when 
 the molasses is stopped the gathering together of the 
 children will stop too. The Bishop writes : — 
 
 I gathered together the children of the Songish tribe, 
 who live in a village close by. A treat of rice, molasses, 
 and buns was the attraction. There were twenty-nine, 
 sixteen girls, thirteen boys. They were like little gipsies, 
 with their sparkling black eyes, long black hair, and very 
 dirty skins ; their dress, a tattered garment and a piece of 
 blankeiL. 
 
 The first thing I did was to take down all their names — 
 hard work, as the pronunciation is extremely difficult. 
 
 The following are some of the names : — 
 
 GIRLS. BOYS. 
 
 Kalatch-tenah. Ickcloose. 
 
 e 
 
-..it- 
 
 A JUVENILE GATHERING. 
 
 105 
 
 
 tribe, 
 
 asses, 
 
 nine, 
 
 fipsies, 
 
 very 
 
 ece of 
 
 I 
 
 GIRLS. 
 
 How-was. 
 
 Kah-kelah. 
 
 Salak-tenah. 
 
 Tese-otya. 
 
 Yia-kotya. 
 
 B0Y8. 
 
 Tchall. 
 
 Soveya. 
 
 Nink-h. 
 
 Ttchayel. 
 
 Sepoc. 
 
 Jasseyo. 
 
 Some had evidently European names — Susu, Cecil, Peter 
 Freesy. 
 
 TK.i operation was evidently pleasing to them. Some 
 were very bright and superior ; and, on the whole, they were 
 a good-tempered set. Their manners were quite as good as 
 ordinary children, and the old ones reproved the younger 
 when making a noise. 
 
 We had only a dozen bowls. Those who had to wait showed 
 no impatience, but meekly bided their turn. Spoons were 
 held beautifully, there was no haste or scrambling, and they 
 assisted each other. 
 
 The elder girls were modest and shy. The ages were from 
 twelve to six. 
 
 The little ones were very shy, and occasimally looked as 
 if they would have run away to some hole had there beeii 
 means of escape. 
 
 The Eight Ecverend the Lord Bishop of Columbia 
 has got seven clergymen and three ladies connected 
 witli, and oflicially engaged in, the Columbian Mission. 
 This vifficient staff is a very satisfactoiy beginning, and 
 may be considered, together with the clergymen of 
 other denommations, as quite equal to the present re- 
 quirements of these colonies, and for years to come, 
 unless there is a large accession to the population. 
 
 A very interesting paper from Mr. Gammage, a 
 missionary at Douglas, the chief station up the river 
 in the interior of British Columbia, gives a good idea 
 of the variety of races inhabiting those regions. 
 
 ,■ f 
 
 ■ M 
 
 .4 
 

 166 
 
 VARIETY OP RACES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
 
 '■• >: > ■' 
 
 Coloured men 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 Mexicans and Spaniards 
 
 
 
 29 
 
 Chinese .... 
 
 
 
 37 
 
 French and Italians 
 
 
 
 IG 
 
 Central Eiu'ope . 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 Northern .... 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 Citizens of the United States 
 
 
 
 . 73 
 
 British subjects . 
 
 
 
 . 35 
 
 
 
 206 
 
 
 
 saa 
 
 The proportion of the sexes is : — 
 
 Males 
 
 204 
 
 
 Females . 
 
 2 
 
 206 
 
 Consisting of: — Adults 
 Child 
 
 . 205 
 
 206 
 
 ,1^' 
 
 ■IM; 
 
 
 It is clear that if any impression is ever to be made 
 on these savages, it can only be done by following 
 them to their native wilds, by living with them the life 
 of barbarians, and feeding on the flesh of wild animals, 
 grubs, roots, and grasses, Uke themselves; but it is 
 hardly to be expected that clergymen who have luxu- 
 riated for so long a time in England possess sufficient 
 apostolic zeal and self-denial to lead such an unenviable 
 Ufe. 
 
 The Bishop received a most cordial welcome upon 
 his arrival in these territories, such as must have glad- 
 dened his soul, and the address presented to him at 
 New Westminster, the capital of the colony, was signed 
 by upwards of 200 people. It is perhaps to be regret- 
 ted that the Bishop is not a married man, as were he 
 so his mfluence in society would be very much greater 
 
CLEEGYMEN SHOULD NOT TRACTISE CELIBACY. 1G7 
 
 ignecl 
 
 re lie 
 eater 
 
 tlian it is. An unmarried clergyman is not the indivi- 
 dual likely to inspire confidence, to become a fixmily 
 counsellor, or to obtain from the world, ever rigorous 
 in itL judgements, undoubted credit for a life of tranqidl, 
 decorous, and irreproachable purity. He must either 
 be a saint or a pharisee ; his recreations cannot be those 
 of other men ; he is compelled to assume fatherly man- 
 ners, to be a sort of precocious patriarch ; and, unless 
 married, he must be, to all intents and purposes, the 
 most homeless, austere, and melancholy being alive. 
 Moreover, no one 'looks up to' the clergj^man until 
 he is married. Objections to unmarried clergymen 
 prevail largely, and not unreasonably. Indeed, 'he 
 bachelor clergyman cannot be properly regai'ded as a 
 spiritual pastor and confidant of anxious fathers and 
 mothers, in the proper sense of the word. 
 
 It may here be remarked that, if the Columbia Mis- 
 sion is to be kept up, the money must be sent from 
 England, as the inhabitants of the colony are much too 
 poor to sustain it. Although the magnificent gift of 
 25,000/. by that most estimable Christian lady, Miss 
 Burdett Coutts, is a fit foundation, nevertheless more 
 money is urgently reqidred. 
 
 Of the many instances on record of Indian revenge, 
 I am tempted to cite one from the interesting little 
 work of Mr. Kohl : — 
 
 A poor woman lived a miserable life with her children and 
 her sickly husband. Her only hope was in her eldest son, a 
 lad who had already begun to go hiuiting for his mother and 
 relatives, and was becoming the head of the family and 
 bread-gainer. Hence it was a crushing blow to these poor 
 people when this hopeful youth was attacked on a distant 
 hunting expedition by treacherous Sioux, murdered, and 
 scalped. The whole family fell into a state of melancholy, 
 and blackened their faces; they were utterly helpless, but, 
 
 
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 168 
 
 A NATIVE HEROINE. 
 
 before all, thirsted for revenge. The poor sickly father sang, 
 the life-long day, mourning songs for his murdered son, and 
 complained of his o^vn impotent condition, which prevented 
 him from going on the war-trail, and taking vengeance on 
 the enemies of his tribe and family. He was nearly alone in 
 the world, and had but a few relations who would take 
 compassion on him. There was nought in his house but 
 mourning, grief, and a vain cry for vengeance. At length 
 the grown-up daughter, a girl of seventeen, began to beat 
 the war-drum, mutter wild songs, and question destiny, or, 
 as they term it, * dream.' She had a dream, in which it was 
 revealed to her that the only method by which to obtain con- 
 solation and cheerfulness — that is, revenge — for her family, 
 was by sacrificing }:er own lover. This beloved of her heart 
 was a youth of the Sioux tribe, whose acquaintance she liad 
 formed in h!q)pler and more peaceful times, and whom she 
 loved fervently, in spite of the blood-feud between the two 
 tribes. They had often met in secret, and were enabled to 
 do so with ease as their villages lay on the frontier of the 
 two hunting-grounds. He belonged to the band which had 
 murdered her brother, and as the revengeful girl did not 
 know how to get hold of any other warrior, she determined 
 to act in obedience to her dream, and choose her beloved as 
 the victim. These Indians regard their enemies as respon- 
 sible en masse for the excesses committed, and their revenge 
 is hence satiated when it falls on one of the relatives of the 
 culprit. The girl marched across mountain and forest to 
 the neighbouring territory of the Sioux. In the night she 
 made her way into the encampment, and crept up noiselessly 
 and unnoticed to her lover's lodge. She gave him a love- 
 signal, whispered to him through the cracks of the airy 
 branch hut, and invited him to come out. The young man, 
 filled with longing, went into the forest with the maiden of 
 his heart to spend an hour in converse sweet. While in her 
 embraces, she was suddenly converted into the angel of death ; 
 she thrust a knife through his heart, scalped him, and hurried 
 home, where she was regarded as the benefactress of her 
 family and a great heroine. 
 
REVENGE AS rR\CTISED BY THE INDIANS. 
 
 IGO 
 
 ^y, or, 
 
 love- 
 airy 
 I man, 
 len of 
 her 
 [eath ; 
 irried 
 her 
 
 The Indians hate and kill the whites because the 
 whites kill them. They invariably take life for hfe. 
 If the deed has been committed by an Indian of one 
 tribe, the relations of the deceased will kill a member 
 of that tribe ; if by a white man, they will take the life 
 of the first white man they meet, utterly regardless as to 
 whether he knew anything of the murder or not. This 
 custom makes one feel rather uncomfortable in going 
 through the thickets. An instance occurred a few weeks 
 ago wliich, whilst it bears out what we just stated, goes to 
 show that there is at least in some cases excuse foi" the 
 Indian. A fdlow rode into a native camp, and, witli- 
 out the slightest provocation, deliberately shot a peace- 
 able and venerable chief. This brutal act naturally 
 exasperated liis tribe, and they resolved to avenge his 
 death. The following morning a white man was pass- 
 ing by, when the Indians in turn shot him dead. Again, 
 a small family of Haidali Indians located themselves 
 close to Victoria, in Vancouver's Island, last summer, 
 when some skulking rascals belonging to the Songish 
 tribe crossed the bay in a canoe, and inserting the 
 muzzle of a gun through a crevice in the side of one 
 of the lodges, blew out the brains of one of the 
 Indians, and quickly regaining their boat, recrossed 
 without injury. In a week afterwards the Haidahs 
 .satisfied their revenge by shooting one of the Songisli 
 tribe, who probably had nothing whatever to do with 
 tlie foul and cowardly murder. Scores of cases might 
 be cited which fell under my own notice, but one 
 other instance will suffice. A canoe filled with Simp- 
 sean Indians landed at a spot called Dungeness, to 
 visit some of their friends. There had been some 
 Northern Indians over from Victoria a few days before, 
 MJK) had destroyed the graves of the Dungeness Indians, 
 
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 170 
 
 AN INTERESTING EPISODE. 
 
 and these latter, feeling exasperated, fell upon tlic 
 Simpseans, and shot two of their number on the spot. 
 This created a great excitement among the Simpseans, 
 who crossed the straits and killed two of the Elat- 
 hea Js. 
 
 A touching instance of parental aiTcction may here be 
 noted. At Victoria, an old Indian and his wife were seen 
 bitterly weeping in front of the prison. When asked the 
 cause of their distress, they answered that they were cry- 
 ing for their son, who was sick in prison, his ailing being 
 spitting of blood. When told that they might see him in 
 the court house, they instantly arose and availed them- 
 selves of the privilege. The scene was very affecting. 
 The weather-beaten and worn-out old warrior bent over 
 his guilty and unfortunate boy, his breast heaving with 
 grief, and streams of tears rolling down his furrowed 
 cheeks. This sight of parental suffering quickly reached 
 the boy's heart. He hid his face, and poured out a 
 flood of tears. Several persons in the court expressed 
 their sympathy both in looks and words, but others, 
 with shame be it told, disgraced themselves by un- 
 seemly laughter. The boy was sentenced to twenty 
 days' hard labour. In the afternoon of the same day, 
 the old man, his wife, and a middle-aged Indian stood 
 before the magistrate's house. The father's plea was : 
 ' Our hearts are filled with trouble for our son. We 
 cannot cease to weep continually. We cannot sleep, 
 our son is spitting blood. He will die in prison ; he 
 cannot work.' Tlie old man then petitioned, pointing 
 to his equally anxious friend : ' Let this man take the 
 place of our boy in prison ; he is strong ; he can work ; 
 our son will die.' The proposed substitute then en- 
 treated that he might suffer instead of the boy ; assert- 
 ing his own wilUngness and power to work, and the 
 boy's inability to do so. It need hardly be said that 
 
THE LONELY ORAVE OP THE LNDIAN CHIEF. 
 
 171 
 
 the worthy nicagistrate cominiitecl tlic sentence to a few 
 (lays' confinement without hard labour. 
 
 Whilst wandering in thoughtful mood along tlie base 
 of the Cascade Mountains on a quiet Sunday, as the 
 hues of morning displayed themselves above the eastern 
 horizon, I spied a piece of board protruding from the 
 earth, and, upon examination, discovered that at some 
 remote period eitlier a human body or valuable pro- 
 perty had been there interred, for evidences of careful 
 inhumation were apparent. Accordingly an excavation 
 was commenced, but had not proceeded far when the 
 mortal remains of a son of Adam were disclosed, whose 
 fur-skin cloak and moccasins gave convincing proof 
 that their dead proprietor was of the aboriginal race of 
 the country. We heaped up the turf once more upon 
 his bosom. He was a chief, and doubtless in his time 
 was famous in the council and in the field. Some friend 
 attended his funeral, and placed the perishable monu- 
 ment at the head of the departed leader ; but the winds 
 of Heaven alone sing his requiem. 
 
 As we passed onward we espied a solitary wild rose 
 blooming in all its beauty — sweet emblem of youth! 
 This lone little flower excited in us emotions of sadness 
 and tenderness, by recalling many grateful associations 
 connected witli home, friends, and civilised life, all of 
 which we had left behind, for a weary journey through 
 a desolate land. Music, sweet music, could not have 
 addi-essed a language to the heart more thrilling, or 
 have touched the sensibihties so keenly as did this 
 modest and lonely flower. Yet a little, and the envious 
 frost will blight the desert rose and mingle it with the 
 meanest blossom in common dust ! The grass withers, 
 the lonely flower fades, the morning dew abideth not, 
 and the grateful evening cloud passetli away — all 
 seems but the glory of a passing hour. 
 
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 172 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Natural History of British Columbia — Absence of Animal Life — 
 Tetrao Obacurm — Tetrao Richardsoni — Species of Crane — Land 
 Animals — Amphibious Animals — Large-horned Owl — "White- 
 headed Eagle — Magpie — * Bird of Liberty ' — Gold-winged Wood- 
 pecker — Condor — Black Eagle of Pallas — Musk-rat — ' Half-breed ' 
 Trappera ir ore Treacherous than the Aboingines — Curiosity in Natural 
 History - - Squirrel, when Cooked, a delicious Morsel — Variety of 
 Fish — The Salmon excellent Eating — P-f ?fitory Advantages of 
 British Columbia very Great — Immense Immigration of Salmon — 
 Salmon a Race of Suicides — The Hudson's Bay Company and Fish- 
 ciu-ing — Reptiles and Insects. 
 
 To the student of Natural History, British Columbia 
 affords but a poor field. In every part of that vast 
 territory away from the sea shore, the absence of animal 
 life is strikingly apparent. One may travel for days 
 and not see a hving thing ; and the voice of the sing- 
 ing bird is unheard in the land. There the lively carol 
 of the lark, the mellow note of the speckled-breasted 
 thrush, and the grateful melody of the nightingale never 
 break the pervading silence. There that mysterious 
 bird, the cuckoo, 'thrice welcome darling of the spring,' 
 and the lone wood-dove's plaintive calls are unknown ; 
 there is not a single note to bring to memory the sweet 
 moments of youth, when we rambled as free as the 
 feathered songsters. Whilst such gladdening sounds 
 are wanting in these chilly regions, the lover of nature 
 may nevertheless find some pleasure for the eye and the 
 heart, and much to make sohtude less lonely, in the 
 picturesque scenery of the country. 
 
 
■■■♦I 
 
 NATURAL HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
 
 173 
 
 Of birds, there is the Tetrao Obscunis, which is rather 
 larger than the Scottish grouse, but not so grpieful to 
 the palate; indeed, its flesh is rather insipid. His throat 
 is so shaped that he inflates it to a large size, and utters 
 a very peculiar cry, which resembles that of an owl, and 
 is heard for three or four miles. He is generally found 
 perched on one of the lofty trees of the country, and 
 in uttering this mournful cry not unfrequently sounds 
 his death-knell ; as the sound is heard at a great dis- 
 tance, and guides the creeping savage to the unsuspect- 
 ing victim. He also makes a sort of bumping sound 
 with his wings, which can be heard nearly a mile off". 
 The strokes of this drumming are at first slow, and re- 
 peated every few minutes, but gradually increase in 
 rapidity until the sound is heard as of distant thunder 
 rumbhng through the clouds. He drums the most 
 after dawn, and in the evening before nightfall. The 
 sound is very deceptive, appearing to be much nearer 
 than it really is, and the fowler cocks his gun, thinking 
 himself within range : but he is deceived, and it is not 
 until he has slowly and stealthily advanced many hun- 
 dreds of yards further that he gets a fair shot at him. 
 By imitating the sound in the spring season, the sports- 
 man may shoot many a fine cock which flies towards 
 him, thinking it proceeds from another of the species 
 that invades his range. At other seasons of the year 
 they are difficult to find, and one may travel the forest 
 for hours without being able to bag a single bird. They 
 usually keep together in coveys until the pairing season, 
 just like grouse in Scotland. A full pack consists of 
 twelve or fourteen, and it is not uncommon for two 
 packs, or coveys, to associate together. Sometimes the 
 whole covey may be shot, without any one of them 
 taking wing. The account given of the pairing of 
 
 
 
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 174 
 
 THE TETILVO OBSCURUS. 
 
 these birds by Dr. Mitchell, of New York, is worth 
 extracting. 
 
 ' The season for pairing,' says the Doctor, * is in March, 
 and the breeding time is continued through April and May. 
 Then the male grouse distinguishes himself by a peculiar 
 sound. When he utters it, the parts about the throat are 
 sensibly inflated and swelled. It may be heard on a still 
 morning for three or four miles ; some say they have per- 
 ceived it as far as five or six. This noise is a sort of ventri- 
 loquism. It does not strike the ear of a by-stander with 
 much force; but impresses him with the idea, though 
 produced a few rods from him, of a voice a mile or two 
 distant. This note is highly characteristic. Though very 
 peculiar, it is termed tooting, from its resemblance to the 
 blowing of a conch or horn, from a remote quarter.' 
 
 * During the period of mating,' he continues, * and while 
 the females are occupied in incubation, the males have a 
 practice of assembling, principally by themselves. To some 
 select and central spot, where there is little underwood, they 
 repair from the adjoining district. From the exercises per- 
 formed there, this is called a " scratching-place." The time 
 of meeting is the break of day. As soon as the light appears, 
 the company assembles from every side, sometimes to the num- 
 ber of forty or fifty. When the dawn is past, the ceremony 
 begins by a low tooting from one of the cocks. This is 
 answered by another. They then come forth, one by one, from 
 the bushes, and strut about with all the pride and osten- 
 tation they can display. Their necks are incurvated; the 
 feathers on them are erected into a sort of ruflf; the 
 plumes of their tails are expanded like fans; they strut 
 about in a style resembling, as nearly as small may be 
 illustrated by great, the pomp of the turkey-cock. They 
 seem to vie with each other in stateliness; and as they 
 pass each other, frequently cast looks of insult and utter 
 notes of defiance. These are the signals for battles. They 
 engage with wonderful spirit and fierceness. During these 
 contests, they leap a foot or two from the ground, and 
 
 ) ■• 
 
A. 
 
 THE TETRAO RICIIARDSONI. 
 
 175 
 
 
 utter a cackling, screaming, and discordant cry. They have 
 been found in these places of resort even earlier than the 
 appearance of light in the east. This fact has led to the 
 belief that a part of them assemble overnight. The rest 
 join them in the morning. This leads to the further belief 
 that they roost on the ground ; and the opinion is confirmed 
 by the discovery of little rings of dung, apparently deposited 
 by a flock which had passed the night together. After the 
 appearance of the sun, they disperse. 
 
 * These places of exhibition have been often discovered by 
 the hunters ; and a fatal discovery it has been for the poor 
 grouse. Their destroyers construct for themselves lurking- 
 holes, made of pine-branches, called hough-houses^ within a 
 few yards of the parade. Hither they repair with their 
 fowling-pieces in the latter part of the night, and wait the 
 appearance of the birds. Watching the moment when two 
 are proudly eyeing each other or engaged in battle, or when 
 a greater number can be seen in a range, they pour on them 
 a destructive charge of shot. This annoyance has been given 
 in so many places, and to such an extent, that the grouse, 
 after having been repeatedly disturbed, are afraid to assemble. 
 On approaching the spot to which their instinct prompts them, 
 they perch on the neighbouring trees, instead of alighting at 
 the scratching-place ; and it remains to be observed how far 
 the restless and tormenting spirit of the marksmen may alter 
 the native habits of the grouse, and oblige them to betake 
 themselves to new ways of life.' 
 
 One other species of the grouse and the drum par- 
 tridge complete the varieties of feathered game. This 
 other is the Tetrao Richardsoni, which, together with 
 the partridge, frequents the low and most sheltered 
 grounds, while the Tetrao Obscurus haunts the highest, 
 Hke the ptarmigan of Scotland, which live in the snow 
 as long as they can. 
 
 There are a few blue jays, a species of lark, and a 
 small dusky ground bird, besides chattering magpies, 
 
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 176 BIRDS AND ANIMALS INDIGENOUS TO THE COUNTRY. 
 
 and two or three different kinds of birds of very pretty- 
 plumage, such as the Mexican woodpecker, somewliat 
 resembhng the bullfinch. There are varieties of the 
 eagle, falcon, and other ravenous birds. The wander- 
 ing native or stranger may occasionally pick up a soli- 
 tary snipe ; they are, however, migratory, and extremely 
 rare. At stated seasons the surface of the dark moun- 
 tain pool, sleeping in silence and obscurity, is aUve 
 with water-fowl. Some of the solitaiy marshes are 
 frequented by a large species of crane which makes 
 excellent soup ; but so shy are they, and difficult to 
 bag, that Dr. Lyall, the Government Botanist, and 
 myself, have stalked them, in the most improved man- 
 ner, for hours without success. 
 
 These remarks only apply to the interior ; the coast 
 abounds with aquatic birds in great variety, such as 
 geese, ducks, swans, gulls, peHcans, and numerous 
 others. It may be mentioned that the birds in the 
 northerly region have not such gorgeous plumage as 
 those in the more southerly parts. 
 
 Amongst the land animals the principal kinds met 
 with are the bear, black, brown, white, and grizzly ; 
 the panther, lynx, raccoon, wild-cat, wolf, badger, 
 ermine, and marten ; the fox, blue, silver, red, white, 
 and black ; bison, deer, red and moose ; also beaver, 
 otter, and other amphibious animals. The prin- 
 cipal amphibious animals are the seal and the walrus ; 
 the walrus is a ferocious creature, often eighteen feet 
 long, with tusks three feet in length. There are, be- 
 sides, other inferior animals, such as skunks, mice, 
 squirrels, and a singular kind of bush-tailed rat, all of 
 which will ere long be added to the National Collection 
 through the untiring energy and zealous efforts of 
 my friend, of world-wide reputation, Mr. Loard, the 
 
•■■'%.« 
 
 ^m^ 
 
 THE LARGE-IIORNED OWL. 
 
 177 
 
 Government Naturalist. Therefore, I shall only notice 
 s[)ecially one or two, the habits of which are remark- 
 able. 
 
 First, then, the large-horned owl, which may be met 
 with in any part of British Colmnbia, in the mountain, 
 in the valley, and in the vicinity of rivers and lakes ; 
 indeed, all chmates and localities are alike to it. At 
 times it glides silently near the earth with mcompar- 
 able velocity, and falls, as if shot dead, on its prey 
 beneath. At other times it alights on a dead stump, 
 shaking and adjusting its feathers, and utters a horrid 
 shriek, which the woods echo most dismally. The 
 traveller often turns off his track fancying, from the 
 gurgling noise it makes after uttering these unearthly 
 shrieks, that some wretched man was quitting the 
 world with stifled groans. After the breeding season 
 this owl lives a solitary Hfe, and a single one of them 
 appropriates to itself the range of miles. When 
 wounded, he contends with its assailant in a revengeful 
 spirit, protruding its talons, snapping its bill, and ex- 
 panding and turning its great goggle eyes. I have 
 seen, m the lofty mountains of British Columbia, a 
 large species measuring twenty-six inches long, with 
 broad horns fully three inches long, formed of fourteen 
 feathers. At nightfall its cries may be heard in every 
 direction, and on the approach of rain they continue 
 throughout the day ; but they are especially frequent at 
 night, and so dismal, that as you slumber beneath some 
 huge forest tree, you are impressed with the myste- 
 rious fear which ever accompanies soUtude and dark- 
 ness. It is easily decoyed by an imitation of its cry, 
 and consequently often falls a victim to its pursuers. 
 When chased, its actions are extremely grotesque and 
 entertaining, and it never retreats far unless lired at. 
 
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178 
 
 THE LARGE-HORNED OWL. 
 
 
 
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 It builds its nest on the branch of some tall tree in 
 dark recesses along sluggish streams and swamps. The 
 lone steersman in the descending boat observes this 
 nocturnal hunter, gUding on extended pinions across 
 the river, sailing over one hill and then another, or 
 suddenly sweeping downwards, and again rising in the 
 air like a moving shadow, now distinctly seen, and 
 again minghng with the sombre shades of the surround- 
 ing forest, fading into obscurity. 'T is when animated 
 nature seems sunk in repose that this Nimrod of the 
 feathered tribe of the woods may be seen sailing to 
 advantage. 
 
 Charles Mason says — 
 
 Owls of this variety pair early in February, when the 
 wooing and the nuptials are indicated by exceedingly gro- 
 tesque manifestations of ceremonies and rejoicings. The 
 nest, which is very bulky, is usually fixed on a large 
 horizontal branch, not far from the trunk of the tree, or 
 where two limbs branch ofif, but sometimes is made in a 
 hollow tree, or in the fissure of a rock. It is composed 
 externally of crooked sticks, and is lined mth moss, coarse 
 grass, and some feathers, the whole measuring nearly three 
 feet in diameter. The eggs are from three to six, almost 
 globular, and of a dull white. The male assists in sitting. 
 But one brood is reared in a season. The young remain in 
 the nest until fully fledged, and afterwards follow the parents 
 for a considerable time, uttering a mournful sound in suppli- 
 cation for food, by which they are often detected by the 
 hunter. They acquire full plumage the first spring. 
 
 The large-homed owl, after the breeding season, lives a 
 solitary life, and a single one of them appropriates to himself 
 the range of a neighbourhood or farm, and the havoc it 
 commits is very great. 
 
 Now for a word or two about the white-headed 
 eagle, which may at all times be seen on the lowlands 
 
THE WIIITE-IIEADED EAGLE. 
 
 179 
 
 of the sea-shore, and the borders of livers. From its 
 greatest elevation it often perceives very minute objects 
 upon the ground, and darts upon them with a loud 
 rustling noise, not unhke that occasioned by a violent 
 gust of wind among the forest trees, and a rapidity 
 which almost mocks the sight. It is perfectly panic- 
 stricken when surprised by man, and, like many other 
 birds, is difficult of approach with a gun, as if aware of 
 the power of the weapon and of its own danger. It 
 defends itself after the manner of other hawks, by dex- 
 terously throwing itself backward, striking with its 
 talons, and keeping its beak open. Its eyes are then 
 remarkably protruded, flashing very fire, and its head 
 is turned with the quickness of lightning from side to 
 side to watch the stratagems of its enemy. It proba- 
 bly lives to a great age — how long has not been 
 ascertained. It forms its nest on some tall tree, desti- 
 tute of branches, to a considerable height, and uses 
 slender sticks from two to four feet long, pieces of 
 turf, rank weeds, moss, and other rubbish in its con- 
 struction. I have seen one of their domiciles near the 
 Skagit river, which measured six feet in length and 
 eventually the same in depth, some ^ -^'ng added to it 
 every year it is occupied. These remarkable birds do 
 not like to change their places of abode, but keep to 
 the same nest season after season. The one I have men- 
 tioned was built on a stately pine, which rose as free 
 from branches as a cocoa-nut tree, until, like it, it be- 
 came bushy at the top. The whole had a singular and 
 picturesque effect, as the old eagles hovered and curved 
 in the air, closely watching my actions. As I retreated 
 a short distance from the noble stem which supported 
 the sylvan home of these princes of fishing-birds, the 
 forest echoed with their screams of exultation, whilst 
 
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 180 
 
 THE WIIITE-IIEADED EA(JLE. 
 
 tlicy porlormed tlic most elegant aerial evolutions I 
 ever beheld. Mr. Mason, the eminent American orni- 
 thologist, states that the first plumage of the young is 
 of a greyish colour, mixed with brown of different 
 de[)ths of tint, but that they never leave the nest till 
 fully Hedged. The attachment of the parents to them 
 while they need protection is very great ; but when 
 they are able to take wing and provide for themselves, 
 if they do not fly off the old ones beat them away. 
 They return, however, to roost or to sleep near the 
 nest for several weeks. They pair the following winter, 
 and breed the ensuing spring ; but the mates arc not 
 always of equal age, a male at least five years old 
 having been found paired with a female in her first 
 year. They do not attain their full beauty of plumage 
 until three or four years from the nest ; and the white- 
 ness of the head, in some instances, has been observed 
 to be wanting until the fifth or sixth spring. Their 
 local attachments are so strong that they seldom spend 
 a night away from the vicinity of the nest they first 
 established. A hissing snore, which may be heard a 
 hundred yards ofT, accompanies their sleep, and yet the 
 crushing of a twig excites their vigilance. Their eggs 
 are large and of a dirty yellowish white ; measure 
 about three inches and a quarter in length, two and a 
 quarter in diameter, and upwards of seven in circum- 
 ference ; and weigh more than four ounces apothecaries' 
 weight. Some of them are not unfrequently of a very 
 pale bluish white. 
 
 There is a great discrepancy in the accounts given 
 by naturalists of the haunts of the magpie, that truly 
 common bird. It dwells in the fur country of the north 
 in winter as well as in summer, and is indeed a resident 
 of all parts of British Columbia. Its range is general 
 
THE MAOPIK. 
 
 181 
 
 given 
 truly 
 north 
 ident 
 3neral 
 
 throvgliout Europe. It suflers mucli from want of 
 food m liigli nortliurn latitudes, but not from cold. The 
 raven is often its companion, and they greedily devour 
 whatever food they can obtain. It is prompt to apprise 
 its companions of the approach of danger, whicli it does 
 by a chatter, familiar to most people, indiaiting its own 
 fear. Some are found in this dependency twenty-two 
 inches in length, with beautiful variegated plumage. 
 Tlierc are naturalists who deny that it is a bird of the 
 wilderness, but I would differ from them, and rather 
 agree with those who consider that it is. Their nests 
 here perfectly resemble those in England. 
 
 Goldsmith, who is rather copious in his history of 
 this bird, gives it credit for great intelligence in the selec- 
 tion of a site for its nest. ' The nest,' he says, 'is usually 
 placed conspicuous enough, either in the middle of some 
 hawthorn bush, or on the top of some high tree. The 
 place, however, is always found difficult of access, for 
 tlie tree pitched upon usually grows in some thick 
 hedgerow, fenced by brambles at the root ; or some- 
 times one of the higher branches is fixed upon for the 
 purpose.* 
 
 The descriptions of the construction of the magpie's 
 nest are so extraordinary that it is all but impossible 
 to form a correct idea of it. However, almost every 
 schoolboy knows that it is commonly composed of haw- 
 thorn branches with the thorns sticking outward, well 
 united together, and fortifying the exterior ; while within 
 it is lined with fibrous roots, moss, grass, and hair, 
 and plastered all around with mud and clay, much like 
 that of the swallow. The dome of this remarkable 
 edifice is rarely a shelter from rain, but it forms a good 
 defence against the attack of enemies. 
 
 As ornithology, however, comes directly within 
 
 
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 182 
 
 *TI1E BIRD OP LIBERTY.' 
 
 Mr. Loard's department in connection with the North 
 American Boundary Connnission, and as he will doubtless 
 soo.ier or later give the public the benefit of the very 
 valuable and interesting results of his indefatigable 
 exertions and research, I shall restrict my remarks to one 
 or two more of the feathered tribe. 
 
 First, then, for *The bird of liberty,' which is unhappily, 
 at the present moment, a mock emblem. This noble bird 
 is often met with in the wilds of British Columbia, and in 
 no other country have I seen finer specimens. Two of 
 these magnificent creatures were on exliibition at Vic- 
 toria a short time ago by an American fisherman ; and 
 I can never forget with what delight I surveyed these 
 prisoners as they looked upon the inquisitive bystander 
 with undaunted eye. They were indisputably the 
 noblest of the genus ever captured. High on a rugged 
 and almost inaccessible clifT overhanging the ocean had 
 the old eagles built their nest, apparently far removed 
 from the profaning approach of man. But pelf seems 
 to have got the better of patriotism, and the poor 
 eaglets, torn from the parent eyrie, were borne to the 
 unromantic streets of Victoria, to be sold for the paltry 
 sum of five shillings I The twain sat with sullen and 
 disdainful aspect, as if contemning the curious crowd 
 which gathered around. From them could be gathered 
 nought but fierce glances of defiance, and vicious pecks 
 when the caressing hand approached them too nearly. 
 An enthusiastic son of the mountains, who evidently had 
 a fond affection for these birds, doubtless from a preva- 
 lent superstition connected with them, tabled down two 
 dollars and got possession of the noble pair, — but to 
 let them fly ! The poet might tell them, as they sailed 
 away — 
 
 
THE GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER. 
 
 IM 
 
 A free wild spirit to your kind in given, 
 
 Fierce wanderers of the blue celeMtiiil dome ! 
 
 Soar, then, to yonder blue expanding lieaven 
 And bathe your plumage in the Bunbeam'a home. 
 
 I should liavc been sorry to see these birds ijjfiK^bly 
 tamed and skurreying about some back -yard. It was 
 well to set them free to battle for their prey in the 
 stormy clouds and among their native crags. 
 
 Before closing my observations on the winged ani- 
 mals, I cannot help noticing that curious, yet bejiutiful, 
 little bird, the golden-winged woodpecker. Often in 
 the solitary forest have I listened with delight to its 
 jovial, and not unmusical, laugh. These little creatures 
 are ever animated and happy, and they are the least 
 destructive of the feathered tribe; and were they 
 more destructive, I have often thought that tlie world 
 would be incomplete without even these tiny birds. 
 They have all doubtless their allotted work in the 
 general economy of nature, and the special utility of the 
 smaller birds to the farmer and horticulturist has been 
 proved beyond dispute. As soon as mated, each pair 
 immediately proceeds to dig a hole in the trunk of a 
 tree, and fasliion a place for themselves and their young. 
 The excavation is first horizontal, and tljcn vertical for 
 about seven or eight inches. They lay six eggs, and 
 two broods are produced in one season. Eaccoons and 
 snakes, their most dangerous enemies, suck their eggs 
 and often eat up the young. This pretty little bird is 
 easily tamed, finding amusement in everything;; and the 
 mocking-bird alone exceeds this woodpecke]' in gaiety 
 and frolic. They rattle their bills against the tops of 
 the dead branches with evident delight, and may be 
 distinctly heard a quarter of a mUe off. It is truly 
 wonderful that so small a bird can make so great a 
 noise. Woodpeckers, without exception, are a race of 
 
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 184 
 
 THE GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER. 
 
 carpenters endowed by their great Creator with organs 
 for chiselling out holes for nesting. Biifibn considers 
 their labours a slavish misery ; but this authority for- 
 gets that to bore into trees is the height of their happi- 
 ness. 
 
 ' Animals,' saya Buflfon, * constantly engaged in the pursuit 
 of prey, urged by want and restrained by apprehensions of 
 danger, depend for subsistence on the vigour of their own 
 exertions; and having scarcely time to satisfy their immediate 
 desires, they can have no leisure to cherish the benevolent 
 affections. Such is the solitary condition of all the carni- 
 vorous birds, except a few cowardly tribes, which prowl on 
 putrid carrion, and rather combine like robbers than unite as 
 friends. 
 
 * But of all the birds which earn their subsistence by spoil, 
 none leads a life so laborious and so painful as the woodpecker. 
 Nature has condemned it to incessant toil and slavery; while 
 others freely employ their courage or address, and either 
 shoot on rapid wing or lurk in close ambush, the woodpecker 
 is constrained to drag out an insipid existence in boring 
 the bark and hard fibres of trees to extract its humble prey. 
 Necessity never suffers any intermission of its labours — 
 never grants an interval of sound repose : often during the 
 night it sleeps in the same painful posture as in the fatigues 
 of the day. It never shares the cheerful sports of the other 
 inhabitants of the air — it joins not their vocal concerts; and 
 its wild and saddening tones, while they disturb the silence 
 of the forest, express constraint and effort. Its movements 
 are quick; its gestures full of inquietude; its loo!:8 coarse 
 and vulgar ; it shuns all society, even that of its own kind. 
 
 * Such is the narrow and gross instinct suited to a mean 
 and a gloomy life. The organs with which the woodpecker 
 is furnished correspond to its destination : four thick nervous 
 toes, two turned forwards and two backwards, the one resem- 
 bling a spur being longest and stoutest, all of them armed witli 
 thick hooked nails, connected to a very short and extremely 
 muscular foot, enable the bird to cling firmly, and to creep in 
 
eep in 
 
 THE CONDOR. 
 
 194 
 
 all directions on the trunks of trees. Its bill is edged, straight, 
 wedge-shaped, square at the base, channelled longwise, flat, 
 and cut vertical at its tip, like a chisel; this is the instrument 
 with which it pierces the bark, and bores into the wood, to 
 extract the insects or their eggs. The substance of the bill 
 is hard and solid, and rises out of the cranium, which is very 
 thick. Powerful muscles act upon its short neck, and direct 
 its incessant blows, which sometimes penetrate even to the 
 pith of the wood : it darts its long tongue, which is tapered 
 and rounded like an earth worm, and tipt with c; hard bony 
 point like a needle. Its tail consists of ten stiff quills, bent 
 inwards, truncated at the ends, beset with hard bristles; and 
 this often serves it as a rest while employed in a constrained 
 and often inverted posture. It breeds in the cavities which 
 it has in part formed itself. The progeny issue from the 
 heart of the tree, and, though furnished with wings, they 
 are almost confined to the verge of its circumference, and 
 condemned to tread the dull round of life.' 
 
 I have, indeed, most pleasant recollections of this 
 charming little bird, and fancy I still hear the merry 
 somid — Jlicker, flicker, Jlicker, which, in these remote 
 and wild regions announces its return to its solitary 
 home in the more balmy months of April and May. 
 
 There is still another bird whose habits are certainly 
 very different from those of the harmless little feathered 
 animal just referred to — the condor. That voracious 
 creature has not, however, the honoiu* of ranking among 
 the noble eagle family, being from his habits nothing 
 but a vulture. 
 
 Although this immense bird is so common in the 
 pacific countries, it is not a little singular that few if 
 any museums have made the acquisition of properly 
 prepared specimens of the male and female, with the 
 rare and beautiful egg of the bird. It has been stated 
 that there is only one set of the bird, male, female, young. 
 
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186 
 
 THE BLACK EAGLE OP PALLAS. 
 
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 and egg, properly prepared in the world, which is in 
 the possession of an English gentleman, who procured 
 them from America at great expense. The eggs alone 
 are worth from 15/. to 30/. in England. The condor 
 may be often seen soaring in the vicinity of San Fran- 
 cisco, and it is sometimes found to weigh over thirty 
 pounds, and to measure sixteen feet stretch of wings. 
 
 The black eagle of Pallas, which inhabits the ocean 
 shores and chfTs of British Columbia, Vancouver's 
 Island, and Eussian America, is also an extremely rare 
 bird, and valuable to the naturahst. The plumage is 
 jet black, and the wings in some instances measures 
 thirty feet from tip to tip. There exist only one or 
 two specimens of this bird in the world, and these are 
 in the Imperial Museum of St. Petersburg. The bird 
 is found in Kamschatka, and I believe that a set of 
 male, female, young, and egg, carefuUy and properly 
 prepared, would bring upwards of 200/. in Eng- 
 land. As they are abundant about Sitka, the north- 
 west part of the North American continent, I may 
 probably some of these days procure a specimen 
 from my trading friends who go thither to barter, 
 and purchase furs and feathers. It is a very wild crea- 
 ture, however, and very difficult to kill, except when 
 gorged with food. Moreover, it has the sense of smell 
 so acute, and the organ of hearing so perfect, that it 
 will snuff the air miles off and detect the approach of 
 man. It is altogether one of the most vigilant and 
 watchful birds known. 
 
 The land animals have been already enumerated ; and 
 although it would be very pleasant to describe both 
 themselves and their habits, yet, as every library 
 contains more or less upon such subjects, I shall only 
 advert to two, — namely, the musk rat, and that 
 
THE MUSK RAT. 
 
 187 
 
 funny grotesque little creature the squirrel, which 
 has so often amused me whilst sitting by my camp-fire 
 in these wild forests, and of which I have the most 
 pleasing recollection. 
 
 The musk rat abounds in British Columbia, and it is 
 strictly aquatic, its stout tail, and its muscular hind- 
 legs provided with broad feet and toes, furnishing effi- 
 cient means of locomotion in the water, while its thick 
 downy fur protects it from the wet. It seeks its food 
 in the water, and cannot indeed exist away from it. It 
 moves mostly by night, although often seen abroad by 
 day. They construct houses in the water with much 
 architectural skill ; in marshes or ponds, or along slug- 
 gish streams, they form large piles of sticks, leaves, 
 rushes, and various aquatic plants, the whole well 
 stuck together with mud. They also burrow in the 
 bank of the stream, and there take refuge when driven 
 from their houses by the severity of winter. These bur- 
 rows, like the houses, invariably have the entrance under 
 water. The males at times have fierce battles, and 
 trappers state that the tail is occasionally mutilated, or 
 cut entirely off in these combats. Musk rats' skins have 
 been a considerable item in the commerce of these ter- 
 ritories ; but changes in the fashions of late years have 
 caused the trapping of them in a measure to cease. The 
 trappers and the Indians esteem the tail when roasted a 
 great delicacy. 
 
 These trappers are in many cases * half breeds,' and 
 are if anything more deceitful and treacherous than the 
 aborigines. No reliance can be placed on their word 
 or promises, and if they manifest kindness it is for the 
 sake of more successfully accomplishing their selfish 
 and wicked purposes. They are, indeed, black at heart, 
 and should be shunned as the most deadly poison. They 
 
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188 
 
 THE SQUIRREL. 
 
 
 
 Ir'-r 
 
 m, ; 
 
 altogether lack integrity of character, and are a most 
 infamous despicable set. Sucli are the animals produced 
 between the white man and black woman. 
 
 The following extract from the Victoria Gazette 
 refers to a kind of rat which would appear to be new 
 to natural history : — 
 
 A most extraordinary specimen of the Mus decumanus 
 (rat) family was observed at Craig Flower, last Wednesday, 
 about 3.35 p. m. ; so large and so odd a looking creature of 
 its kind had never before been seen on the island. Three or 
 four gentlemen who saw the animal took notes of its appear- 
 ance, and have kindly sent us the following information : — 
 * Roughly speaking, it measures about thirty-six inches from 
 the end of its nose to the tip of its tail; its body is of an 
 indescribable colour, but its whiskers are long and tawny, 
 and it perhaps more resembles the Arvicola amphibius 
 (water rat) than any other member of the Mus family. It 
 appeared frightened and undecided, more particularly in the 
 presence of Messrs. Skinner and Cooper ; but when the former 
 of these gentlemen made an effort to secure the vermin, it 
 suddenly made a rush at each, and eventually escaped 
 between them.' As it is generally believed that this species 
 of rat has not yet been classified, it has been suggested to 
 call it Mua mona (manx rat), in honour of a well-known 
 member of the medical profession, who was present at the 
 time, and is supposed to be a native of the Isle of Man, and 
 who has lately made * ratting ' his particular study. 
 
 The squirrel, whose home is in the trees, and who 
 lives on fruits and buds, never descends to the ground 
 except in search of food, and, this obtained, he returns 
 to his airy dwelling-place. In summer he builds him a 
 nest of leaves in a hole in some tree, away from the at- 
 tacks of enemies, and there the young are reared. This 
 little animal possesses a muscular but light and graceful 
 
 i 
 
GREAT VARIETY AND ABUNDANCE OF FISH. 
 
 189 
 
 tbrm, and climbs trees and leaps from branch to branch 
 with wonderful ease. They are readily domesticated, 
 making pleasing and intelligent pets. In confinement 
 they exhibit their usual activity; and indeed, if not 
 permitted exercise, they soon pine and die. A foolish 
 prejudice prevents many persons from eating them; but 
 I can testify by experience that a young squirrel pro- 
 perly cooked is a delicious morsel, and the old fellows 
 are far, very far, from unpalatable. There are millions 
 of them in the forests both of England and Scotland, 
 and there is no good reason why they should not form 
 an addition to our food. The skins of the North 
 American species are of little or no value in commerce, 
 their fur being httle esteemed and seldom used ; and we 
 may remark that the common notion that squirrels in 
 crossing water 'feny themselves over on bits of bark, 
 using their tails for sails,' is entirely fabulous. 
 
 Whilst it would be tedious to undertake an elaborate 
 or scientific description of the several species of fish 
 caught upon the coast of British Columbia and Van- 
 couver's Island, it may be proper to state that in these 
 regions we possess an extraordinary variety and in great 
 abundance. Sturgeon of an enormous size are caught 
 with the net, whilst salmon also are taken with the net 
 and the spear. The halhbut, cod, bass, mackerel, perch, 
 flounder, skate, sole, carp, herring, and eels, in short, 
 fish of almost all kinds, abound in incredible numbers ; 
 as do also crabs, oysters, clams, mussels, cockles, and 
 other descriptions of shellfish. 
 
 The salmon is really delicious, rich and well-flavoured, 
 equal to any we get in England, whilst beautiful spotted 
 trout of several varieties and of excellent quality are 
 plentiful in every brook and stream in the country, 
 but they are shy of bait. 
 
 
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190 
 
 GREAT PISCATORY ADVANTAGES. 
 
 r ».. 
 
 
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 Will it be credited that up to the present moment 
 no organised attempt has been made to prosecute the 
 fisheries of British Columbia further than for the 
 immediate supply of the local market with the iresh 
 article, except by the Hudson's Bay Company. It can 
 scarcely be doubted, however, but several branches of 
 the business might be prosecuted with very great 
 advantage now and at once. 
 
 Sardines also abound, and they are fully equal in 
 flavour and size to those imported in the well-known 
 tins. The pursuit of these specimens of the finny tribe 
 would also prove very lucrative. Truly the piscatory 
 advantages of British Columbia are very great, and 
 must one day command serious attention. 
 
 In July of each year the salmon immigrate to these 
 regions in immense shoals, on their way to the rivers 
 and streams of the country, which they ascend to their 
 most remote tributaries ; and so numerous are they that 
 I have frequently caught them by hand, or flung them 
 out upon the bank of the stream with a walking-stick. 
 There are four varieties of the salmon which arrive in 
 a definite rotation, but are not of the same quality, 
 either for eating or salting. One kind, however, known 
 as the ' hump-backed ' salmon, is really curious. It is 
 an ugly specimen of the finny tribes, and its flesh is 
 scarcely fit to eat, being soft and flabby. A most 
 interesting and truthful account of the salmon which 
 come to spawn in these regions appeared in an Ameri- 
 can newspaper some time ago. 
 
 Of course the object of the salmon in visiting the 
 streams which traverse the wilds of British Columbia 
 is the same as in this country, namely to spawn ; and 
 the instinctive desire of these * hump-backed ' fish to 
 reach the upper waters is so strong that nothing can 
 
THE SALMON. 
 
 191 
 
 stop them. Onward they speed. The impetuous 
 current is breasted, rapids are passed, cascades leaped. 
 Onward, onward. The shallow waters are reached, 
 but still they press forward, wriggling through mean- 
 dering streams, too scant for swimming. Onward, 
 onward, ever onward ; while myriads are left upon the 
 strand, and die still struggling onwards. The fish are, 
 upon entering the mouth of a river, in tolerably good 
 order, but, after traveUing up stream a few hundred 
 miles, they become poor — poor indeed — and much in- 
 jured. The skin, broken and abraded, loses its bright- 
 ness, often becomes a deep pink, and robbed of its 
 silvery scales ; the head disfigured from blows and falls 
 upon the rocks; the fins torn and divided, in their 
 efforts to force through spots too shallow; the eyes, 
 once so bright, are now sunken and lustreless. None 
 of these poor salmon ever descend the river again, but, 
 having performed their natural duty, perish by instinc- 
 tive suicide, striving onwards after they know not what. 
 The young orphan fiy descend to the deep blue sea 
 in the following spring, and, it is supposed, do not 
 return for four years, but where they spend their time 
 is unknown. However, in due course they follow the 
 track of their forefathers, searching after they know 
 not what, and meeting with a hke fate. Thus we see 
 that Nature perpetuates and makes use of a race of 
 suicides. But Nature does nothing in vain. Were it 
 not for this migration, British Columbia would have 
 been uninhabited ; because these fish form almost the 
 Indians only food during the long dreary whiter season. 
 Thousands upon thousands are caught at the proper 
 time, and dried and stored away for future use. Salt 
 is not used in this process. These salmon are much 
 more abundant in some years than in others ; indeed, 
 
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 192 
 
 SCARCITY OP REPTILES AND INSECTS. 
 
 it is said that every fourth year is a year of plenty, and 
 the supply grows less annually until the fourth arrives 
 again. It hardly needs to be mentioned that in years 
 of scarcity the aborigines suffer great distress and pri- 
 vations ; indeed, many die of absolute starvation. 
 
 It is really remarkable how little attention is paid by 
 the colonist to the curing of fish, when it is known that 
 the Hudson's Bay Company salts annually about two 
 thousand barrels of salmon, and finds a ready market 
 for the produce at the Sandwich Islands and other 
 places. Of late, however, that branch of business has 
 not been so prosperous, as the fit^h appear to be less 
 abundant, at least they are not caught in such large 
 quantities as formerly. However, this salmonian im- 
 migration will, with the other fish which these waters 
 have in so great plenty, together with furs and feathers, 
 be a source of very considerable wealth and prosperity. 
 To conduct operations profitably and properly requires 
 a good deal of capital; but with this almost universal 
 necessary there is there a fair chance of success. It 
 should, perhaps, be remarked that the most valuable 
 salmon are taken from the middle of April to the end 
 of July; that from June to August milHons of these 
 fish, weighing about 8 lbs., ascend the rivers ; and that 
 then comes the large white salmon. 
 
 Of reptiles and insects there are but few, except 
 mosquitoes, which, as already stated, are intolerably 
 numerous and virulent. There are a few harmless 
 snakes and a few lizards ; but, owing to the coldness 
 and wetness of the cUmate, animals and reptiles of a 
 hurtful and poisonous kind do not exist, as they do in 
 warmer regions. 
 
198 
 
 '''."*.i 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 British Columbia presents but a poor Flora — The Lover of Nature over 
 finds Enjoyment — Varieties of Lupines — Indigenous Grasses — The 
 Boundary Commission — The sporting Pleasures of Britit*h (]!olumbia 
 all a Myth — Disappointment of the Officers of the lloyal Engineers 
 and Royal Marines — In Sleep we picture desperate and bloody 
 Fights — Pleasant Dreams — Danger of having the Indian to guide 
 one through the Thicket — Boar-flesh, and Panther in the Market 
 — Barbarous Mode of killing Deer by the Indian — The pretty little 
 Fawn — Great Ferocity of the Grizzly — Terrible Fight between a 
 Man and a Bear — A Miner pressed to Death by a Grizzly — The 
 dead Man's Grave — Famishing "Wolves rifle the Tomb of its eacred 
 Trust. 
 
 British Columbia presents but a poor flora. Indeed 
 the student of nature cannot hope to find many varieties 
 in a country in which he early reaches the limit of 
 vegetation and the line of eternal snow. The gorgeous 
 flowers which give so great a charm to the open 
 prairie, which difiuse a blaze of beauty through the 
 plains, and shed such grace and fragrance on every 
 side; the humble beauties smiling in the shade and 
 fiUing the woodlands of more temperate climes with 
 lovehness, are wanting there. There, the vine never 
 spreads its refreshing green nor hangs its purple tapes- 
 try ; nor is the willow seen to weep in lonely sadness. 
 Within these hmits are never seen the lilies of the 
 waters expanding their briUiant chalices in the native 
 luxuriance of tropical climes, and diffusing their sweet 
 odour around, midst the pattering drops of dripping foun- 
 tains, or floating on the still surface of crystal lakes. If, 
 however, flowers of the field are few, there is, in the 
 
 
 
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 194 
 
 THE LOVEU OF NATUllE 
 
 animal and mineral kingdoms, even in the icy regions, 
 much to disclose the unambiguous footsteps of Ilim 
 whose tlirone is on the rolling worlds. When we reflect 
 tliat it is tlie same God who gives lustre to the insect's 
 wing, and pencils the meanest blade, wo ought never to 
 look indiflerently on the lowest of his works. There is, 
 moreover, a lesson in each flower ; it leads us to con- 
 template the frailty of man, who, blooming in the 
 morning of his day, passes away at eve into new un- 
 travelled worlds. Truly all seems to be but tlie glory 
 of a passing moment. 
 
 How true that, to the lover of nature, her works are 
 an unfailing source of enjoyment I Wlien he wanders 
 abroad he is sure to find loveliness for tlie eye, and plea ■ 
 sure for the heart. As he rambles over the peaceful 
 vale when the earth is clothed with verdure and beauty, 
 and the bright effidgent sim shining in the blue vault of 
 heaven, he feels a glow of delight thrill through his whole 
 soul, as he roams o'er wilds and solitary heaths, or 
 revels amid waving crops of golden grain ; as he gazes 
 on woodland scenery, flamed with a rising or setting 
 sun ; as he beholds the hoary fen, and dark mountain 
 pool sleeping in silence with its heath-clad margin, its 
 white grass, hchens, and water-lilies, its leaping trout, 
 its wild ducks, widgeons, swans, and stately herons, its 
 huge stones and scattered rocks, the contribution of 
 ages ; as he rambles by the gushing brook, the rocky 
 glen, the clinging ivy, the overhanging foliage, tlie 
 yellow broom and fern ; as he sees the stag bound over 
 the lone glade, the eagle hover aloft, and the strong- 
 winged falcon still in view ; as he listens to the hollow 
 whistling of the winds, the plaint of rills, the murmur 
 of the waterfall, the rustling of leaves, the flapping of 
 the wild duck as she dives in the tarn ; as he hearkens 
 
EVEU FINDS ENJOYMENT. 
 
 195 
 
 to the fierce cry of ravenous birds, tlie croak of toads 
 and otlier reptiles, and the roar of ocean in the in- 
 finite heavings of its blue limitless waves ; as he hears 
 the wailing owlet ply her sad song, and the cormorant 
 utter her unearthly screams ; as he sees sweet Venus, 
 fairest lamp of night, resume her throne, and each glit- 
 tering orb glide tranquilly through the ethereal sky, mir- 
 rored in the clear water; verily, solitude ceases to be 
 lonely, and in everything does he find the heaven-born de- 
 light which refreshens, purifies, and elevates the mind. 
 
 The love of nature, in her splendid garniture, is witli 
 all an instinct. It is born in us, and we transmit it to 
 our remotest descendants ; and the more our intellectual 
 powers are developed, the warmer becomes the feeHng 
 with which we regard her ever-varying forms ; the 
 higher our civilisation advances, the loftier our appre- 
 ciation of the endless beauties scattered around us. 
 Arboriculture, farming, and gardening have been hand- 
 maidens of civilisation in every age and country. Noah 
 made a garden and planted a vineyard. Homer tells 
 us about the garden of Alcinous, a little paradise con- 
 taining fruit trees, the apple, the fig, the pear, the olive, 
 the pomegranate, and the vine. Solomon had magni- 
 ficent gardens, which contained trees of frankincense 
 and spices, and in which flourished the great cedar of 
 Lebanon and the hyssop of the wall. The hanging 
 gardens of Babylon were reckoned amongst the won- 
 ders of the ancient world ; and the Greeks and Romans 
 understood well the art of forcing flowers. In all 
 countries and amongst all races it was the same, and 
 tells of the yearning of the heart for some pure fellow- 
 ship with unsophisticated nature. 
 
 In forcing a path through the forests of British 
 Columbia, several varieties of campanula and lupine 
 
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196 
 
 LUPINES — INDIGEXOUS GRASSES. 
 
 
 
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 M, 
 
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 may be seen, as also two or three kinds of small shrubs 
 bearing dark blue and light red berries, which are 
 sweet and wholesome ; indeed I have relished them 
 much, and found them exceedingly grateful to the taste. 
 They are much sought after by the natives, where 
 farinaceous food is so scarce. The strawberry, the 
 gooseberry, the raspberry, the crab-apple, and the 
 cherry are met with on the more sheltered slopes ; and, 
 although the blossoms stay but for a short time, their 
 gaiety and blushes certainly charm the eye while they 
 last. The wild rose, too, opens her bosom for a moment 
 in the blaze of day, but soon faints from cold, and hangs 
 her drooping head. The potato, of which there are 
 some six or seven varieties, is universally cultivated by 
 the red man. A small esculent root, about the size of 
 an onion, is also found in abundance. It is called the 
 camass, and forms the chief native dehcacy of the 
 savage inhabitants, who store them for winter food, as 
 they do the potatoes. There is also a finiit called the 
 Oregon grape, which grows on a low prickly bush, so 
 sour, however, as to be uneatable. The indigenous 
 grasses are very similar to those of the northern part 
 of Washington Territory, but somewhat coarser and 
 less nutritious. There are the swamp grass of different 
 kinds, nettles, and wild clover, and the wild timothy 
 and bunch grasses, which, although of coarse quality, 
 might, if abundant, offer inducements to settlers to raise 
 stock. In winter the cattle have to be fed, as they can- 
 not pick anything during that season. Indeed even 
 throughout the summer we had to pack barley to feed 
 our mules along the 49th parallel, there being scarcely 
 a blade of grass to feed them, which added enormously 
 to the expenses of the Boundary Commission. Whilst 
 alluding to this expedition I should be doing great 
 
 m 
 
tl\e 
 
 SrOBTlNO IN COLUMBIA A MYTH. 
 
 107 
 
 iiijustk-t' to my fecluigs were I to pass over unacknow- 
 ledged the iiiuny and great kindnesses which I experi- 
 enced at tlie haiidn )f Captain Ilaig and his brother 
 olficen dui'ing iiw entir»' period of my professional 
 cngagemint with them. 
 
 The long hsi of furs and feathers which form so prrv 
 minent a feature in the commerce of British Columbia, 
 would naturally lead one to ftincy that the resources of 
 sporting and hunting were without hmit, and that these 
 sports formed the chief recreation of the country ; in 
 short, that the lover of the chase would find every 
 description of animal and bird in such profusion as to 
 satiate his keenest desires, and that sportsmen would be 
 powerfully attracted in consequence to the colony, as 
 the one paramount to all others for these diversions. 
 It is not so, however; at least to the newly-arrived 
 Englishman. None but the experienced native trapper 
 and hunter can be successful. He, with gun and rifle 
 and deer-skin pouch, sallies forth into the forest to 
 penetrate the wildest and most forlorn wastes, where 
 Uttle is heard save the howling, whining, and yelping 
 of starved wolves, and other fierce beasts of prey. The 
 steeled Indian alone can survive the painful, protracted 
 hardships which must be endured on these peregrina- 
 tions. He can devour the flesh of the filthiest of ani- 
 mals, together with beaten grass and wild unpalatable 
 herbs. Yet, alas ! in many places a thin and poor soil 
 gives but little sustenance to a light herbage, where 
 even the flinty copper-coloured Indian yields to the 
 cravings of hunger, and dies the inglorious death of the 
 furred denizen of the woody tract. In the interior of 
 the country, elk, deer, and bears of all kinds abound ; 
 with wolves, foxes, beaver, otter, marten, and lynx, and 
 also grouse, gcesc, duck, and snipe. These, however, 
 
 
 
 
 
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 198 
 
 DISAPPOINTMENTS OF BRITISH OFFICERS. 
 
 are found only at a distance from the haunts of man, 
 and in places where it would be extremely danger(jus 
 for a white being to travel. 
 
 The bush has been beat up and traversed by me for 
 days, both in the vicinity of Victoria and New West- 
 minster, but never by any chance have I had the good 
 luck to fall upon game or animal of any kind ; and not 
 until I had penetrated to the Cascade mountain range 
 did I cast my eye for the first time on a grizzly in his 
 native wildness. Most of the military and naval offi- 
 cers on duty in the colony have perambulated these 
 wilds for days together without seeing a skin or feather. 
 They are universally acknowledged to be crack sports- 
 men ; indeed, I happen to know that several of them 
 are first-rate shots ; and yet I have seen them return 
 to camp and ship again and again, chagrined and dis- 
 appointed, breathing bitter imprecations against the 
 whole country, loudly declaring that they never saw a 
 tract less fruitful in sport, and that they might as well 
 have left their guns and rifles at home. 
 
 The haunts of game are only fully known to the 
 aboriginal Indian trapper. But let the stranger be 
 warned against hiring those savages to guide him in 
 search of his favourite pastime, as there are many in- 
 stances of their having piloted the unsuspecting sports- 
 man for a short distance and then left him wandering 
 away in the bush, until wearied and starved he lies 
 down to die, and be ruthlessly scalped by the first black 
 fiend who tracks him to his last resting-place. 
 
 Few love more than I do to contemplate nature ; to 
 wander by the banks of gentle translucent streams in 
 lone glens, and to hnger in sequestered spots over the 
 hallowed ashes of the dead who slumber in verdure, 
 beauty, and solitude ; to tread the ruined homes of 
 

 [re; to 
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 rer the 
 irdure, 
 ines of 
 
 PLEASANT DREAMS. 
 
 199 
 
 departed patriarchs ; to wander abroad in the solemn 
 stillness of the heath-clad desert famed in song and 
 story, sung and told by those now passed away ; but 
 I do not love to roam over a wild and desolate land 
 inhabited by tribes of savage men who delight in blood- 
 shed, violence, and death. 
 
 In these deserts the freedom of the savage and the 
 pleasurable enjoyments common in more favoured 
 colonies are not conjoined. Even in your bed at night 
 dreams of desperate and bloody native fights disturb 
 your slumbers ; instead of peaceful visions of enchant- 
 ing prairies, studded with roses and fragrant thickets, 
 and all the wild charms vrhich form an Indian 
 paradise. Pleasing and delicious, indeed, is it, at the 
 dead hour of night, in your quiet slumbers under 
 the branches of some forest tree, to conjure up beau- 
 tiful swelling hills and wooded slopes, with antelope 
 and elk bounding across the plain to shelter in 
 groves filled with the sweet melody of the feathered 
 songster, and the gurghng music of the rushing brook. 
 Wliat British Columbian would not revel himself 
 in such a dream, however transitory, in so sterile a 
 land ? 
 
 Truly the sporting pleasures of British Columbia 
 are not reahty. To those who desire water from the 
 glaciers, who love boundless sombre forests and eternal 
 snow, who feel charmed by broad and wild wastes with 
 but solitary patches of cleared land like an oasis in the 
 wilderness ; who prefer naked savages, armed robbers, 
 and bush-rangers, to civilised man; who choose a 
 miserable scrubby soil, rather than lovely verdure, 
 charming lakes, and scenes which fill the soul with an 
 admiration wl;ach renders it scarcely possible to con- 
 ceive that nature and not art had perfected the land- 
 
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 200 BUFFALOES UNKNOWN IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
 
 scape ; to such persons British Columbia may afford 
 pleasure, but I envy not their taste. 
 
 Although the white man rarely finds a fur or feather, 
 the Indian hunter and trapper *is more successful. 
 Whether game is in season or out of season, venison is 
 to be found in the market. Bear meat, too, is sold at 
 the same stands where you obtain venison, and some- 
 times there may be noticed the carcass of a grim look- 
 ing panther near the more agreeable food. Grouse 
 may be had at any time, as well as ducks and other 
 birds. 
 
 It is matter of regret that the buffalo is unknown in 
 British Columbia, though so numerous to the east 
 of the Eocky Mountains. Captain Blakiston informs 
 us that, since 1842, when the Hudson's Bay Company 
 first began to trade in robes to any great extent, there 
 have been no less than 145,000 buffaloes annually 
 killed in British territory ; while on the great prairies 
 on the American side, where the trade has been carried 
 on to a far greater extent, the amount annually slaugh- 
 tered at the early part of the period mentioned was 
 upwards of 1,000,000. In 1855, on the British side 
 alone, there were 20,000 robes and skins received at 
 York Factory on Hudson's Bay, which, making every 
 allowance, would give about 230,000 destroyed during 
 the previous year. This, in a civihsed country, would 
 have served to sustain a population of a quarter of a 
 million, allowing 2 lbs. per head per diem, while, pro- 
 bably, 30,000 only benefited by this slaughter. 
 
 The Indian has a very cruel way of capturing and 
 killing deer in the winter season. The snow Hes deep, 
 and is often crusted over, so as to bear the weight of a 
 man, while the long slender limbs of the deer go right 
 through, when they sink beyond the hope of extrication. 
 
slaugh- 
 
 every 
 
 THE PRETTY LITTLE FAWN. 
 
 901 
 
 III this helpless condition, the terrified creatures are 
 overtaken, their brains beaten out with a cudgel, and 
 the choice parts only cut away and taken to market. 
 The unmitigated barbarity of these merciless savages is 
 seen more clearly demonstrated in spring, when starva- 
 tion has left the deer a miserable skeleton, in which 
 state he is of no earthly value, yet the ruthless butchery 
 continues, thus clearly showing how pleasant a recrea- 
 tion bloodshed is to those fiendish hunters. This de- 
 structive conduct has caused the creature to disappear 
 from the woods with wonderful rapidity. They have 
 already become so rare as to form household pets. I 
 saw a very pretty little fawn which had been brought 
 from the woods and was nursed by a lady in New West- 
 minster, the amiable and excellent wife of the chief 
 magistrate of that place. It became apparently as tame 
 as possible, and was indeed a graceful little creature, 
 always gentle and playful, and a favourite with every 
 body ; yet its little heart beat for the freedom of the 
 forest, and it pined away and died, with many a regret 
 from its fair possessor, and not a few tears. 
 
 I shall now pass from the lamb to the wolf, and 
 relate one or two instances of the ferocity of the grizzly, 
 who is truly a dreadful enemy, as the following descrip- 
 tion of a combat which took place between himself and 
 a hunter will show. 
 
 Three men were out hunting, and unexpectedly 
 roused a grizzly. The bear charged upon the party. 
 Two of the men were large and powerful. Instead of 
 using their guns, however, on the enemy, they sought 
 safety in flight. Their companion, though a small man, 
 stood his ground ; and, as the bear advanced, he fired 
 at him, wounding him just enougli to add tenfold to his 
 ferocity. The snow being deep, the man was soon 
 
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 202 
 
 TERRIBLE FIGHT WITH A BEAR. 
 
 buried in it, with the monster, furious and open- 
 mouthed, above liim. With great presence of mind 
 he thrust his left hand into the animal's mout^: and 
 grasped his tongue, holding it with the determination of 
 despair, while he unsheatlied his knife with his riglit. 
 In making a stab at the bear the point of the weapon 
 struck the animal's paw, broke off, and in consequence 
 became useless. The tusks of the infuriated monster 
 had by this time met through the poor man's left arm, 
 which fell helplessly from the brute's jaws all mangled 
 and bleeding. He then thought that his only hope lay 
 in counterfeiting death, which he did, and fortunately 
 succeeded in inducing the bear to believe tliat he had 
 won the victory. After licking the blood from off his 
 victim, the grizzly moved away some distance, and was 
 attacked by a dog belonging to the party ; but paying 
 no attention to his canine enemy, he again approached 
 the man, who still lay motionless in counterfeited death, 
 and having licked his face, slowly retired. The two 
 men who had run away, having viewed the whole fight 
 from a safe distance, now, when the danger was past, 
 came up to their half-dead companion, whom they found 
 severely injured in many parts of his body, and with a 
 part of his scalp torn away. They carried him to a hut 
 at a distance, where, by careful attendance, he in a few 
 weeks had all but entirely recovered from the horrible 
 wounds he had received. A strong party armed to the 
 teeth went early next morning in search of the grizzly, 
 which, being easily tracked by the spots of blood on 
 the snow, was soon discovered and completely riddled 
 with bullets. 
 
 Shortly before I left the territory, another encounter 
 occurred between a miner and a bear, upon which he 
 came suddenly in a small canon. He had dismounted 
 
 r ^! 
 
A MINER PRESSED TO DEATH. 
 
 203 
 
 from his mule, his only chance of escape being to 
 climb a tree, which he lost no time in doing. How- 
 ever, the grizzly soon followed him and seized him by 
 tlie leg. With the desperate strength only known in 
 danger, the miner had grasped a limb of the tree, and 
 held on with one hand whilst he fired at the bear with 
 the other. This caused the animal to let go the man's 
 leg, but not to give up the pursuit. Having paused 
 for a few moments to examine how matters stood, it 
 made another effort, and seized the rifle, dashing it 
 with violence to the ground. The miner kicked the 
 bear in the snout with his uninjured leg so violently 
 that she fell, turning a complete summersault. Feel- 
 ing somewhat disgusted with the state of affairs, she 
 gave vent to her fury on the man's hat, which lay at 
 the foot of the tree, tore it to shreds, and then coolly 
 retired. But alas ! only to return when she could make 
 more sure of her victim. The miner descended, 
 thinking all danger over, when up came the bear be- 
 hind him, and, seizing him round the middle, pressed 
 him to death. This sorrowful scene was witnessed only 
 by an unarmed pioneer, who unfortunately was so panic- 
 stricken that he did not venture in aid of the poor miner. 
 The day following, this homeless and friendless man 
 was committed to the earth in a spot selected for its 
 quiet beauty and the security from desecration which 
 it promised. Thus departed the stranger miner, who 
 had come to these lands so recently, in the fullness of 
 hope and joy. The scene was beautiful and solenm, 
 the sky without a cloud, and the breeze, as it rustled 
 among the leaves, brought refreshment to both soul 
 and body. I gazed upon the blue canopy, calm as the 
 unruffled ocean, beyond whose waveless azure lay the 
 beautiful fields of heaven, whither tlie immortal spirit 
 
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204 
 
 THE TOMB RIFLED BY WOLVES. 
 
 of the poor miner had gone to wander in eternal hap- 
 piness. But the sad narrative ends not here. A troop 
 of famishing wolves, in their midnight wanderings, dis- 
 covered the newly-turned sod, and, like hyenas of the 
 desert, rifled the tomb of its sacred trust, leaving the 
 dead man's bones, stripped of the flesh, as a token of 
 their voracity. 
 
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 PI! 
 
 
 CHAPTEE Vin. 
 
 Proclamation relative to Crown Lauds — Remarks on the Measure — 
 Information for Military and Naval Officers proposing to settle in 
 certain Colonies — Homestead Law of America — Inducing Immi- 
 gration by false Representations most censurable — The Territory 
 should have been left in the Hands of the Hudson's Bay Company — 
 Extract from the Times — The civil Creditor and the Soldier — 
 Shameful Treatment of the Military — The Canadian People — Is the 
 Pacific Railroad destined to traverse British Columbia P — British 
 Columbia Overland Transit Company — Red River Settlements — The 
 San Juan Difficulty — How is British Columbia governed ? — A resi- 
 dent Governor and a Legislature wanted — Attempt to silence the 
 Press, the People subscribe 800/. on tho Spot — Gagging of the 
 Government Auctioneer. 
 
 PEOCLAMATION. 
 
 By His Excellency James Douglas, Companion of the 
 Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Governor and 
 Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty's Colony of 
 British Columbia and its dependencies, Vice- Admiral 
 of the same, &c. &c. 
 
 Whereas, by virtue of an act of Parliament made and 
 passed in the 21st and 22nd years of the Keign of Her Most 
 Gracious Majesty the Queen, and by a Commission under the 
 Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and 
 Ireland, in conformity therewith, I, JAMES DOUGLAS, 
 Governor of the Colony of British Columbia, have been 
 authorised by Proclamation issued under the Public Seal of 
 the said Colony, to make laws, institutions, and ordinances 
 for the peace, order, and good government of the same. 
 
 Whereas, it is expedient, pending the operation of the 
 survey of Agricultural lands in British Columbia, to provide 
 
 IV-- 
 
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 'iOG 
 
 PROCLAMATION RELATIVE TO CUOWN LAXDS. 
 
 means whereby unsurveyed agricultural lands may be lawfully 
 acquired by pre-emption in British Columbia by British sub- 
 jects, and in certain cases to provide for the sale of unsurveyed 
 agricultural land in British Columbia by private contract. 
 
 Now therefore, I, James Douglas, Grovernor of British 
 Columbia, by virtue of the authority aforesaid, do proclaim, 
 order, and enact : 
 
 1. That from and after the date hereof, British subjects, 
 and aliens who shall take the oath of allegiance to Her 
 Majesty and her successors, may acquire unoccupied, and 
 unreserved, and unsurveyed Crown land in British Columbia 
 (not being the site of an existent or proposed town, or auri- 
 ferous land available for mining purposes, for an Indian 
 Reserve or settlement), in fee simple, under the following 
 conditions: 
 
 2. The person desiring to acquire any particular plot of 
 land of the character aforesaid, shall enter into possession 
 thereof and record his claim, to any quantity not exceeding 
 160 acres thereof, with the magistrate residing nearest thereto, 
 paying to the said magistrate the sum of eight shillings for 
 recording such claim. Such piece of land shall be of a rec- 
 tangular form, and the shortest side of the rectangle shall be 
 at least two-thirds of the ^ :)ngest side. The claimant shall 
 give the best possible description thereof to the magistrate 
 with whom his claim is recorded, together with a rough plan 
 thereof, and identify the plot in question by placing at the 
 corners of the land four posts, and by stating in his description 
 any other landmarks on the said 160 acres, which he may 
 consider of a noticeable character. 
 
 3. Whenever the Government survey shall extend to the land 
 claimed, the claimant who has recorded his claim as aforesaid, 
 or his heirs, or in case of the grant of certificate of improve- 
 ment hereinafter mentioned, the assigns of such claimant shall, 
 if he or they shall have been in continuous occupation of the 
 same land from the date of the record aforesaid, be entitled 
 to purchase the land so pre-empted at such rate as may 
 for the time being be fixed by the Government of British 
 Columbia, not exceeding the sum of ten shillings per acre. 
 
PROCLAMATION RELATIVE TO CROWN LANDS. 
 
 207 
 
 4. No interest in any plot of land acquired as aforesaid 
 shall, before payment of the purchase money, he capable of 
 passing to a purchfuser, unless the vendor shall have obtained 
 a certificate from the nearest magistrate that he has made 
 permanent improvements on the said plot to the value of 
 ten shillings per acre. 
 
 5. Upon payment of the purchase money, a conveyance of 
 the land purchased shall be executed in tavour of the pur- 
 chaser, reserving the precious minerals, with a right to enter 
 and work the same, in favour of the Crown, its assigns and 
 licensees. 
 
 6. Priority of title shall be obtained by the person first 
 in occupation, who shall first record his claim in manner 
 aforesaid. 
 
 7. Any person authorised to acquire land under the provi- 
 sions of this Proclamation may purchase, in addition to the 
 land pre-empted in manner aforesaid, any number of acres 
 not otherwise appropriated, at such rate as may be fixed by 
 the Government, at the time when such land shall come to 
 be surveyed, not to exceed ten shillings per acre ; five 
 shillings to be paid down, and the residue at the time of 
 survey. 
 
 8. In the event of the Crown, its assigns, or licensees 
 availing itself or themselves of the reservation mentioned 
 in clause 5, a reasonable compensation for the waste and 
 damage done shall be paid by the person entering and 
 working to the person whose land shall be wasted or 
 damaged as aforesaid, and in case of dispute, the same 
 shall be settled by a jury of six men to be summoned by 
 the nearest Magistrate. 
 
 9. WTienever any person shall permanently cease to occupy 
 land pre-empted as aforesaid, the Magistrate resident nearest 
 to the land in question may, in a summary way, on being 
 satisfied of such permanent cessation, cancel the claim of 
 the person so permanently ceasing to occupy the same, and 
 record the claim thereto of any other person satisfying the 
 requisitions aforesaid. 
 
 10. The decision of the Magistrate may be appealed by 
 
 
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 208 
 
 PKOCLAMATION RELATIVE TO CROWN LANDS. 
 
 either party to the decision of the Judge of the Supreme 
 Court of Civil Justice of British Columbia. 
 
 11. Any person desirous of appealing in manner aforesaid 
 may be required, before such appeal be heard, to find such 
 security as may be hereafter pointed out by the rules or 
 orders hereinafter directed to be published. 
 
 12. The procedure before the Magistrate and Judge 
 respectively shall be according to such rules and orders as 
 shall be published by such Judge with the approbation of 
 the Governor for the time of British Columbia. 
 
 13. Wlienever a person in occupation at the time of record 
 aforesaid shall have recorded as aforesaid, and he, his heirs, 
 or assigns shall have continued in permanent occupation of 
 land pre-empted, or of land purchased as aforesaid, he or 
 they may, tave as hereinafter mentioned, bring ejectment or 
 trespass against any intruder upon the lantj so pre-empted or 
 purchased, to the same extent as if he or they were seized of 
 the legal estate in possession in the land so pre-empted or 
 purchased. 
 
 14. Nothing herein contained shall be construed as giving 
 a right to any claimant to exclude free miners from searching 
 for any of the precious minerals, or working the same, upon 
 the conditions aforesaid. 
 
 15. The Government shall, notwithstanding any claim, 
 record, or conveyance aforesaid, be entitled to enter and take 
 such portion of the land pre-empted or purchased as may be 
 required for roads or other public purposes. 
 
 16. Water privileges, and the right of carrying water for 
 mining purposes, may, notwithstanding any claim recorded, 
 purchase, or conveyance aforesaid, be claimed and taken upon, 
 under, or over the said land so pre-empted or purchased as 
 aforesaid by free miners requiring the same, and obtaining a 
 grant or license from the Gold Commissioner, and paying a 
 compensation for waste or damage to the person whose land 
 may be wasted or damaged by such water privilege or car- 
 riage of water, to be ascertained in case of dispute in manner 
 aforesaid. 
 
 17. In case any dispute shall arise between persons with 
 
REMAIIKS ON THE MF.A aTIK. 
 
 209 
 
 regard to any land so acquired as aforesaul, any oim' of 1.^. 
 parties in difference may (before ejectment or action » .i 
 trespass brought) refer the question in difference to 1rt»«i 
 nearest Magistrate, who is hereby authorised to proceed in a 
 summary way to restore the possession of any land in dispute 
 to the person whom he may deem entitled to the same, and 
 to abate all intrusions and award and levy such costs and 
 damages as he may think fit. 
 
 Issued under the Public Seal of the said 
 Colony, at Victoria, Vancouver Island, 
 this fourth day of January, a.d. one 
 thousand eight hundred and sixty, and 
 in the twenty-third year of Her Majesty's 
 Reign, by me 
 
 JAMES DOUGLAS. 
 By Command of His Excellency, 
 William A. (r. Youxa, 
 
 Acting Colonial Secretary. 
 
 GOD SAVE THE QUEEN. 
 
 When the hundreds who have in vain sought to 
 acquire lands and make themselves homes in this 
 colony, notwithstanding its disadvantages, but who 
 have long since left never to return, are considered, the 
 present measure does indeed seem to partake of the 
 appearance of ' shutting the stable-door after the horse 
 has gone.' 
 
 The gravest objection to it is that, whilst purporting 
 to foster the settlement and improvement of the country, 
 it directly encourages speculators to buy up large tracts 
 of the best lands, to the exclusion of men who would 
 be of real value to the country, and whose labour would 
 soon turn into the Colonial Treasury many times the 
 price paid in the first instance by tlie speculator. A 
 certain amount of occupancy and improvement of the 
 
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 210 
 
 REMARKS ON THE MEASURE. 
 
 land is also required ; and that of itself is price enough. 
 At all events, it is difficult to understand why the real 
 settler, from whom such improvements are exacted, 
 should pay them in addition to the money price per 
 acre, which is the only consideration demanded of the 
 speculator, who may obtain possession of thousands of 
 acres, and allow them to remain for years unproduc- 
 tive. 
 
 If the object of this measure be indeed to encourage 
 the settlement and improvement of the colony, the 
 price of land should be at once reduced to one dollar 
 per acre. It is an unreasonable tax on the loyalty of 
 a British subject, who desires to retain his allegiance, 
 and to live under British laws, that he should have to 
 pay for land of inferior quality, and not aflbrding 
 greater advantages of market, a higher price than is 
 demanded in the neighbouring United States territories. 
 If the price of land is ever to be placed at a dollar per 
 acre, it should be in this proclamation ; for the pioneers 
 of a new country should have at least equal advan- 
 tages in this respect with those arriving years after- 
 wards. Make the price of land 20.^?. per acre to specu- 
 lators, if speculators must be allowed at all ; but give it 
 away, even, to the actual settler on, and improver of, 
 the soil ; and the labour and the capital he bestows on it 
 win soon repay, in an increased revenue, many times 
 the 20s. per acre. 
 
 It requires but little discernment to perceive that 
 this document is entirely an emanation of the legal 
 mind. Nothing in the proclamation reminds us that 
 a Colonel of Eoyal Engineers has been sent out as 
 Commissioner of Lands and Works, to organise and 
 direct a land system in British Columbia. He is not 
 referred to, nor is there any allusion to the existence 
 
 
 tr'f 
 
legal 
 
 REMARKS ON TUB MKASURli. 
 
 211 
 
 of a land-ofTice in the colony. If not tliereforc to be 
 credite'i with the merit of tlie proclamation, he is evi- 
 dently iimoceut of its faults, wliich must be so espe- 
 cially apparent to one having his experience in survey- 
 ing and allotting wild lands. 
 
 For the carrying out of the measure, the nearest 
 magistrate is endowed with almost arbitiary powers, and 
 constituted surveyoi, lawyer, judge, and jury: right of 
 fmal appeal to the Chief Justice being reserved. I 
 imagine it wUl puzzle the most astute magistrate to 
 define arbitrarily what constitutes ' permanent inipiove- 
 ment.' I very much doubt, too, if the Ss. fees for 
 record will recompense him for the many visits he must 
 make to the various claims before he can conscien- 
 tiously certify as to the value of KK per acre having 
 been expended on said claims, and there is no provi- 
 sion for his being otherwise paid for sucii services. 
 
 In the first section it is left undefined whether the 
 oath of allegiance must be taken by an alien before 
 entering upon possession of a tract of land under this 
 proclamation, or before obtaining title ; neither is there 
 any means pointed out by which settlers may ascertain, 
 before making record, what lands are reserved, and 
 which are proposed, town sites. 
 
 The second section sows the seeds of a plentiful crop 
 of litigation as to boundaries. Suppose a person 
 records his claim to 160 acres, and stakes it out as 
 required ; other claimants record claims to the adjoin- 
 ing tracts, but on survey it is found that the first 
 claimant only staked out say 140 acres ; can his lines 
 be extended to the detriment of his neighbours, so as 
 to include the 160 acres claimed ? Cases of this kind 
 will frequently occur, and do not seem to have been 
 provided for. 
 
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212 
 
 REMARKS ON THE MEASURE. 
 
 
 
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 Again, the pieces of land are to be rectangular in 
 shape, without any particular mode of staking them off 
 being insisted upon ; consequently, they will run from 
 every point of the compass, rendering it impossible 
 hereafter, except by cutting up the allotments into 
 numerous sections, to make a satisfactory division of 
 the land. Why not have stipulated that the person 
 taking the benefit of Section 2 in the Proclamation, 
 should either look to the sun at noon, or to the polar 
 star at night, and di-aw the boundary lines of his allot- 
 ment north and south, and then at right angles from 
 these lines east and west. Such an arrangement 
 could be easily carried out, without the aid of engi- 
 neer, surveyor, or magistrate, by any one having an 
 eye in his head. Or, as pocket-compasses cost but a 
 few shillings, and are to be found in every town and 
 village, why not use them ? Such instruments approach 
 near enough to accuracy for laying off small sections 
 of land in any rough country, although they ought 
 never to be depended upon in the execution of exten- 
 sive surveys. It is therefore with regret that I observe 
 that Colonel Moody, E.E., Chief Commissioner of Lands 
 and Works in British Columbia, has adopted a system 
 in which the ' solar compass,' an American invention, 
 supersedes the theodolite for the surveying of Crown 
 lands in that colony; a system which is unknown to 
 himself practically, and to the Eoyal Engineers under 
 his command, and is admitted by those who practise it 
 to be a mere approximation to accuracy. It may be un- 
 necessary to remark that the ' solar compass ' can never 
 equal the theodoHte ; and that where it is used, the 
 testing of surveys executed by civihaus becomes not 
 only difficult to the Eoyal Engineers, but actually 
 renders a fresh survey necessary. Suffice it to say that 
 
ought 
 
 REMARKS ON THE MEASURE. 
 
 218 
 
 any other instrument than the theodolite necessitates 
 incessant alterations and corrections, to say nothing of 
 the amount of Htigation laid up in store by persisting 
 in a method necessarily entaihng an incorrect division 
 of property, upon which there is no check during the 
 progress of the survey, and for which there is no 
 remedy afterwards. 
 
 In regard to Section 6, the person first in occupa- 
 tion of a tract of land may not be tlie first to record 
 the claim to said tract ; a person who has commenced 
 occupation subsequently may first record. Which has 
 the right to claim ? 
 
 Section 7 is ambiguously worded, but certainly gives 
 a most objectionable opening for speculation. Any 
 number of acres, and without limit as to shape, 
 although the recorded claim must be very properly 
 rectangular, may be purchased in addition to the land 
 pre-empted. It would seem, then, that lands can only 
 be purchased under this section by those having re- 
 corded and occupied pre-emption claims of prescribed 
 form, which they may make the nuclei of large irre- 
 gularly shaped tracts. 
 
 Section 9 may be evaded by the provisions of Section 
 4. For having expended on the land the required 
 amount, the claimant would certainly take means to 
 obtain a certificate to that effect, so as to convey his 
 right in case he chose to discontinue occupation. It 
 seems unreasonable also to require such unlimited con- 
 tinued occupation, where the government survey may 
 be so long delayed. Imperative reasons may compel a 
 claimant to leave his claim, after having improved and 
 occupied it for years. On this head, too, there seems 
 no provision for the case of a person who, having re- 
 corded a claim, and improved it to the extent of say 
 
 
 
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 214 
 
 REMARKS ON THE MEASURE. 
 
 
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 7.9. per acre, dies without heirs present to complete his 
 occupation and improvement. Who is to have the 
 benefit of his outky ? 
 
 The 15th section provides that the Government shall 
 enter and take such portion of pre-emption claim as 
 as required for pubHc purposes, but is silent as to com- 
 pensation. Surely the claimant should be paid an 
 assessed amount for damages, severance, &c., as in other 
 cases provided in Section 8. 
 
 Altogether, if I did not know to the contrary, I might 
 imagine from the details of this measure, so wanting 
 are they in practical facility, that the intention was 
 rather to hedge round the privilege of settling on un- 
 surveyed lands, so as to render it valuless and inopera- 
 tive ; to act in fact as if jealous of the settler getting 
 possession of 160 acres of land on too easy terms; 
 rather than to encourage, by every possible reasonable 
 means, tliat cultivation and improvement of the soil of 
 British Columbia, which alone will give it intrinsic 
 value ;• to invite population, and endeavour to retain 
 labour and capital employed in that kind of digging, 
 which, whilst extracting gold from the soil in the shape 
 of wheat, barley, potatoes, &c., renders it richer year 
 by year, and constitutes the real permanent wealth of 
 every country. 
 
 I learn, however, that the strong pressure from 
 without has lately compelled the local government of 
 British Columbia to reduce the upset price of country 
 land from 10s. to 45. 2c?. per acre. This change has 
 been so recently made that but little can as yet be said 
 of its practical effects, though doubtless it will give an 
 impulse to the settlement of the country. But the 
 change is now too late, the people have left the 
 colony ! 
 
 I '! 
 
INFORMATION FOR MILITARY AND NAVAL OFFICERS. 215 
 
 Information for Military and Naval Officers proposing 
 to settle in certain colonies. 
 
 1. Privileges in the acquisition of lands are at present 
 allowed to military and naval officers in the colonies of New 
 South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, some 
 of the provinces of New Zealand, Ceylon, the Cape of Good 
 Hope, Natal, and British Columbia. 
 
 In all the above-mentioned colonies, except Ceylon, the 
 control of the waste lands of the Crown has been transferred 
 to the local legislatures. Her Majesty's Grovernment cannot 
 therefore guarantee the continuance of the following regula- 
 tions, as they will be liable to be altered or discontinued by 
 the local legislatures. 
 
 2. In the above-named colonies land is disposed of by sale 
 only ; but officers purchasing land are allowed a remission of 
 the purchase-money, according to the under-mentioned 
 scale : — 
 
 £ 
 
 Field officers of 25 years' service and upwards, in the whole GOO 
 
 Field officers of 20 years' service and upwards, in the whole 500 
 
 Field officers of 15 or less years' service, in the whole . . 400 
 
 Captains of 20 years' service and upwards, in the whole . 400 
 
 Captains of 15 years' service or less, in the whole . . 300 
 
 SubaP iiTis of 20 years' service and upwards, in the whole . 300 
 
 Subalterns of 7 years' sei-vice and upwards, in the whole . 200 
 
 Subalterns, under 7 years' standing, are not entitled to any 
 remission in the purchase of land. 
 
 Regimental staff officers, and medical officers of the army 
 and navy, are allowed the benefit of this rule : but military 
 chaplains, commissariat officers, and officers of any of the 
 civil departments of the army ; pursers, chaplains, midship- 
 men, warrant officers of every description, and officers of any 
 of the civil departments of the navy are not allowed any pri- 
 vileges in respect of land. Although members of these classes 
 may have been admitted formerly, and under different cir- 
 cumstances, they are now excluded. Mates in the royal 
 navy rank with ensigns in the army, and mates of three 
 years' standing with lieutenants in the army, and are entitled 
 
 
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 216 PROPOSING TO SETTLE IN CERTAIN COLONIES. 
 
 respectively to corresponding privileges in the acquisition of 
 lands. 
 
 3. In order to take advantage of this privilege, officers of 
 the army and navy on full or half pay should provide them- 
 selves with a certificate from the office of the General Com- 
 manding-in-Chief, or of the Lords Commissioners of the 
 Admiralty, showing that their settlement in a British colony 
 has been sanctioned, and stating their rank and length of 
 service. No document from the office of the Secretary of 
 State is necessary. 
 
 4. This certificate will not on any account be issued more 
 than once to the same officer, or to any officer on half pay 
 Avho shall for two years immediately preceding the date of 
 this notice have resided in the colony in which he seeks to 
 make it available. 
 
 5. Gentlemen who have ceased to belong to Her Majesty's 
 service will not be allowed advantages in the acquisition of 
 land. This rule, however, is not to affect officers who, having 
 obtained permission to settle in a British colony, have quitted 
 the service for the purpose of doing so. But in such cases it 
 will be necessary that their certificate of service and permis- 
 sion should bear the date of their retirement from the service, 
 and that, within one year from that date, but not otherwise, 
 it should be presented to the Governor of the above-named 
 colonies, which will be a sufficient warrant for allowing the 
 bearer the advantages to which his rank and length of service 
 may entitle him according to the above scale. 
 
 6. The object of the regulations being to encourage the 
 permanent settlement in the above-named colonies of military 
 and naval officers, and it being necessary to prevent those 
 who have no intention of settling there from taking advantage 
 of the privilege, officers will not, for the space of two years 
 from the making out of their certificates, receive a Crown 
 grant for any land purchased by such certificates, but will, 
 in the meantime, receive a ' location ticket.' At the expira- 
 tion of two years, the officer, on showing to the satisfaction 
 of the Governor that he is bona fide a resident settler in the 
 colony, and has so resided continuously since receiving his 
 
 7>< 
 
HOMESTEAD LAW OF AMERICA. 
 
 217 
 
 * location ticket,' will be entitled to a Crown grant in exchange 
 for it. If, however, application should not be made for the 
 exchange of the * location ticket ' within twelve months from 
 the expiration of the two years for which it is granted, it will 
 be considered to have lapsed, and the land will be open to 
 sale or grant. In case of the officer's dying while holding a 
 ' location ticket,' the land to which it refers will be transferred 
 to his legal representative. 
 
 In case of such death occurring before the * location ticket' 
 is obtained, the Grovernor of the colony is authorised to make 
 the certificate available in favour of the child, or other neai'est 
 representative of the deceased officer, as he may find advis- 
 able. 
 
 A measure of vast practical importance to the people 
 lately passed the United States Senate, which goes to 
 show the improving condition of the American com- 
 munity. The bill provides that any head of a family 
 may enter upon possession of one hundred and sixty 
 acres, or less, of any unoccupied pubhc land, according 
 to the United States legal subdivisions, upon making 
 affidavit before the Eegistrar that the same is for his or 
 her exclusive use. After the lapse of five years the 
 final certificate or patent is to be issued, on the pay- 
 ment of twenty cents, one shilUng English, and on the 
 production of two affidavits by credible witnesses that 
 the land has been appropriated and used during the five 
 years in accordance with the original oath, and that a 
 house has been erected thereon. The homestead is 
 exempted from executions for debt until the issue 
 of the patent ; and should the land be abandoned for 
 more than six months at a time, the abandonment will 
 act as a forfeiture. Foreign-born residents who have 
 declared their intention to become citizens are entitled 
 to all the privileges granted by the bill. Existing pre- 
 emptions and reserved lands are exempted, and the 
 
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 918 
 
 HOMESTEAD LAW OF AMERICA. 
 
 president is directed to order all surveyed lands into the 
 market at the expiration of two years from the passing 
 of the homestead law. Such a law would operate bene- 
 ficially in British Columbia. It would offer great in- 
 ducements for the settlement and cultivation of the 
 unoccupied lands, and thus give an impetus to the general 
 languor which prevails in the colony. 
 
 The Home Government is not supposed to know the 
 wants of its colonies except they are made known by 
 its representative, and it is very much to be regretted 
 that His Excellency should have broken faith with 
 the people in a matter of vital importance to their 
 prosperity. On July 2, 1859, all the most substantial 
 men in Vancouver's Island met at Victoria to petition 
 for a change in the land system. The following is a 
 copy of the petition. 
 
 To His Excellency y the Governor y and the Honorable the 
 Council of Vancouver'' 8 Island : — 
 
 Your petitioners, the undersigned actual residents of this 
 colony, and deeply interested in its prosperity, having viewed 
 with alarm the departure of many of Her Majesty's loyal 
 subjects and others from this colony to the neighbouring 
 republic ; and having learned that their departure has been 
 induced by the difficulty of obtaining agricultural lands at 
 once, on application, and by not being obtainable on such 
 terms as would afford equal encouragement to actual settlers 
 in this colony as are oflfered in the neighbouring republic ; 
 and believing that we shall lose many more of Her Majesty's 
 loyal subjects and others whom it is desirable to retain, as 
 well as induce those who are now on the way here or desirous 
 of coming to turn their attention to countries where greater 
 encouragement is offered to agriculturalists; and persuaded 
 that except the land system of the colony is materially 
 modified, the prosperity and settlement of the country will 
 be seriously retarded ; and believing that the encouragement 
 
 ::#■■; 
 
HOMESTEAD LAW OP AMERICA. 
 
 '210 
 
 of agriculture is the surest way to secure the enduring pros- 
 perity of the country, and that a liberal land system is best 
 calculated to rapidly populate the colony ; and holding that 
 the public lands are the patrimony of the people, vested in 
 the Crown for their benefit ; and presuming that your Excel- 
 lency and the Honorable Council have at heart the well- 
 being and prosperity of the country, and are desirous of 
 introducing those changes which you may deem necessary to 
 secure so desirable a result ; — 
 
 Therefore, your petitioners would respectfully submit to 
 your Excellency and the Honorable Council that they 
 humbly pray that the Crown lands of this colony may be 
 opened at once to actual settlers ; that a preference may be 
 given to them in the choice of the public lands, surveyed or 
 unsurveyed, over capitalists ; that they may be secured in a 
 pre-emptive right ; that the highest price of land to actual 
 settlers may not exceed ,^1 25c. per acre, or such price as 
 will barely cover the expenses of survey ; and that five years 
 may be allowed for its payment ; all of which is most respect- 
 fully submitted, hoping that it may please your Excellency 
 and the Honorable Council to take this humble petition 
 into your favourable consideration : and your petitioners, as 
 in duty bound, will ever pray. 
 
 VicxoEiA, Jttli/ 2, 1859. 
 
 
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 Well, what is the charge, or rather, what has been 
 the result which has gone the round of this temperate 
 and wise petition which His Excellency faithfully 
 promised to forward to England without a moment's 
 delay, together with the usual remarks and recommen- 
 dation from himself? And, first of all, How has 
 Governor Douglas fulfilled his promise ? Let the local 
 print answer: — 
 
 By not sending the important document for months after 
 its receipt, and then without remark or recommendation, 
 knowing full well that the petition would be returned to him 
 
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220 
 
 HOMESTEAD LAW OF AMERICA. 
 
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 for the necessary notes, and that, moreover, five or six months 
 would thus be gained by him, and lost to the colony ; which 
 turned out to be the case. Such misconduct and dereliction 
 of duty has not been forgotten bj' the people ; but has been 
 added to the other many unaccountable actions of His Excel- 
 lency, who seems bent upon perpetuating the present detri- 
 mental land system, by not urging upon the Home Govern- 
 ment the necessity of a change. 
 
 Mcojor Foster remarked, in the House of Assembly, 
 at Victoria, on the occasion of his bringing forward a 
 motion for the reduction of the price of land : ' The 
 Land system has driven, and is driving, away hundreds 
 of persons who came to the colony to make it their 
 home. Englishmen and Canadians have gone to 
 Washington Territory to seek homes where they can 
 procure land so much cheaper. We want population ; 
 but the existing land system is rapidly depopulating the 
 country, and excludes the hard-working men from it.' 
 Such are the sentiments which might be expected to fall 
 from so practical and so excellent a legislator. But 
 what follows? the son-in-law of Governor Douglas, who 
 is the Speaker of the House, steps forward and says, 
 amid a perfect hurricane of groans and hisses: 'I think 
 the motion is inopportune and unnecessary. I do not 
 think it will do any good,' &c. 
 
 It must not be understood, however, that the only 
 evil of which the colony has to complain lies in the 
 land department, or that if reform there be conceded 
 agitation will cease. On the contrary, change is re- 
 quired in every department of the Government; and it 
 is to be hoped that the land reform meeting is but the 
 commencement of a series which will include every 
 question of public interest. Prompt concession may 
 abate the warmth of pubUc indignation at the failure of 
 
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 1, who 
 
 says, 
 
 think 
 
 lo not 
 
 BRITISH COLUMBIA GREATLY OVERRATED. 
 
 2-21 
 
 the administration to discharge its duty, but it will not 
 extinguish it. The history of nations, and the experi- 
 ence of ages, dictate a liberal encouragement of the art 
 of agriculture, as tlie only sure guarantee of the endur- 
 ing prosperity and wealth of a country. Tliere is a 
 prevailing impression, however, that this pursuit is all 
 drudgery and toil, and altogether wanting in stimulus 
 for intellectual improvement. No impression could be 
 more erroneous. The occupation of the husbandman 
 is ever favourable to the pursuit of knowledge, to intel- 
 lectual health, activity, and vigour of mind. And the 
 farmer is, moreover, free from the tormenting anxiety 
 of the merchant and trader, which but too often sends 
 them to an early grave. No man is too highly educated 
 to become a cultivator, for intelligent labour is always 
 the most successful labour. The man who forsakes the 
 plough for the quill makes a sad mistake, for by that 
 step he passes from independence to vassalage. He 
 barters a natural for an artifical calling. The ac- 
 countant's clerk may have the most exterior poHsh, but 
 the ploughboy, under his rough outside, possesses the 
 truer stamina. 
 
 It is due to the people at home who may have 
 intentions of going to British Columbia, to state 
 that the capabiUties of the colony are greatly over- 
 rated. Letters are pubHshed from time to time 
 bearing enthusiastic testimony to its great superiority 
 to England in climate and soil. Of the truth of 
 such assertions the reader of the previous chapters 
 is already able to judge, and need only now be ad- 
 vised once for all to ' leave well alone.' If the world 
 prospers with you even to moderate independence, if 
 care is not tearing your very soul out, unless to Natal, 
 Queensland, or New Zealand, never think of emigrating. 
 
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 222 
 
 INDUCING IMMIGRATION BY FALSE 
 
 If, on the other hand, you are the squaHd labourer, the 
 pale artisan, the starved clerk nailed to the desk of the 
 dingy office from year's end to year's end, the poor 
 wretch who by pausing in his work loses a meal, or the 
 peasant drudge who must toil on till he closes a prema- 
 ture old age ill the workhouse; then you are decidedly 
 a subject for emigration. Lastly, if you are the Irish 
 cateran in a mud hovel, without even bad potatoes 
 enough for a meal a day, dying of starvation in the 
 midst of the food you have helped to raise, hesitate not 
 a moment, but be off to Australia, Natal, or the Canadas. 
 
 It should be mentioned that clearing land is very 
 laborious in British Columbia, and the extremes of heat 
 and cold, to which indeed North America is everywhere 
 subject, place the new settler in great danger of con- 
 tracting disease. Until he has become accustomed to 
 the mode of labouring practised in that country he makes 
 a very indifferent woodsman ; as the felling of trees is an 
 art which is not readily learned. Indeed, emigrants 
 from Britain should never take uncleared land under 
 any circumstances, if they can help it. Four or five 
 acres of cleared land, or pasture land, are worth to the 
 new settler at least fifty acres of the wooded land, if 
 not more. As the first essential to the pioneer is a place 
 of shelter, it may be as well to explain how such ac- 
 commodation is constructed. A log-house consists of 
 rough logs piled one above another, dove-tailed at the 
 corners, and the intervals filled up with clay or moss. 
 A block-house is formed of square logs classed, and a 
 frame-house of sawn boards nailed on a frame, lathed 
 inside, with pitched roof, covered with shingles instead 
 of slates. 
 
 In allusion to the many exaggerated accounts whicli 
 have appeared in print relative to British Columbia, it 
 
% 
 
 REPRESENTATIONS MOST CENSURABLE. 
 
 2-23 
 
 irer, the 
 
 i of the 
 
 le poor 
 
 i, or the 
 
 prema- 
 
 jcidedly 
 
 le Irisli 
 
 potatoes 
 
 in the 
 
 bate not 
 
 !anadas. 
 
 is very 
 
 of heat 
 
 ywhere 
 
 of con- 
 
 med to 
 
 G makes 
 
 ics is an 
 
 ligrants 
 
 under 
 
 or five 
 
 to the 
 
 and, if 
 
 a place 
 
 ch ac- 
 
 sists of 
 
 at the 
 
 moss. 
 
 and a 
 
 athed 
 
 nstead 
 
 whicli 
 bia, it 
 
 may be remarked that there is scarcely any conduct so 
 deserving of censure as that of inducing immigration 
 to an unproductive sterile country by false representa- 
 tion. It is truly a very heartless thing to filch from the 
 poor working man his hard earnings in so contemptible 
 a way, by luring him to a foreign shore with promises 
 of peace and plenty, and then leaving him a wretched 
 outcast and a beggar. People should 'look before they 
 leap.' Tlie unproductive qualities of British Columbia, 
 agriculturally, are entirely beyond doubt ; and he who 
 goes thither to pursue this art, will return, if he ever 
 should return, a disappointed and ruined man. To this 
 I testify as a ftxct, and no conscientious person can 
 be found to gainsay it. There is no necessity for the 
 poor working man to go to British Columbia, with 
 Canada and other colonies open to him. Indeed, the 
 great proximity of Canada to Europe and the easier 
 internal communication with ports of shipment are 
 items of inducement. The more ample supply of lands, 
 too, and the superior state of society, in Canada are 
 considerations which by a British emigrant ought not 
 to be overlooked. Passage money has become very 
 moderate, only 8/., and previous emigration has made 
 everything easy for the reception and settlement of new- 
 comers; moreover, everybody knows that colonies, as 
 they people up, invariably offer new inducements to 
 colonists. 
 
 British Columbia teems with natural disadvantages 
 to the honest and industrious man who goes thither 
 in the hope of furnishing himself, through industry, with 
 the necessaries of life. There the future is indeed 
 doubtful and dark, and immigrants will assuredly find 
 themselves, even after many years, far from enjoying 
 the luxury and independence, the increasing provision 
 
 
 ''♦■; III 
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 '■/m-'\ 
 
 
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 IP 
 
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 \'4 
 
 224 BRITISH COLUMBIA — HUDSON S BAY COMPANY. 
 
 for declining years and growing families, which the 
 other more favoured dependencies of the British Crown 
 afford. British Columbia is essentially a land of disap- 
 pointment for labour, whether skilled or unskilled ; for 
 bread, even to the industrious ; for him who desires to 
 acquire an honourable position among mankind, with a 
 share of the blessings and privileges which belong to a 
 free and intelligent p(;ople ; truly there it is impossible 
 to command success, and pity it is so. The territory 
 of British Columbia ought never to have been taken 
 out of the hands of the Hudson's Bay Company, with 
 the exception of the colony of Vancouver's Island, 
 which is greatly more desirable for settlement, and 
 which possesses many superior advantages. 
 
 The following extract is from one of those prudent 
 and far-seeing articles which so prominently stamp the 
 London Times, and was written as far back as July 
 26,1858: — 
 
 It has hitherto been the boast of the Hudson's Bay Com- 
 pany that, in exchange for the monopoly of the fur trade, 
 England has at least been kept free from the shame and loss 
 of those sanguinary wars with the Indian tribes which, from 
 Florida to Oregon, have so long desolated tlie frontier of the 
 United States. But the matter has already passed out of 
 the control of the Company, and the stat( of things which 
 we owe to their moderation exists, we fear, no lonsrer. 
 
 We have said that we are not satisfied that under such 
 circumstances it was necessary to found a colony at all. The 
 country was wild and uninhabited, and, though nominally 
 under the sovereignty of the British Crown, was really aban- 
 doned to the savages from whom the fat rors of the Hudson's 
 Bay Company purchased their furs, and over whose habits 
 and manners they exercised a slight, bui so far as it extended, 
 a salutary influence. Considering the remoteness of the 
 situation, the extreme difiiculty of access, the almost total 
 
*r 
 
 CLAIMS OF TIIL: MILITAFIV. 
 
 S25 
 
 impossibility of udtMjuately dischurj^iiij,' the duties of j^ovt-ni- 
 inent under circuniHtunces so untoward and amid elements ho 
 turbulent, it mijiflit have been perhaps better to allow this 
 remote and insulated rej^ion to remain untouched a little 
 longer, until society had asuumed a shape which admitted of 
 somethinn; like a possibility of regular government. Wo 
 cannot efficiently control the Indian tribes, nor exercise any 
 ade<]uate authority over the disorderly horde that is invading 
 them. Might it not luive been better to defer the formal 
 assumption of that authority till we felt we were in a condition 
 to exercise it with effect ? These (juestions, however, are 
 merely speculative now. Government and Parliament have 
 made their election, and it only remains to execute with 
 prudence and vigour the plan which wo have deliberately 
 adopted. We have placed this country, which seems destined 
 to be the seat of war before it has become the settled habi- 
 tation of civilised man, under the direct sovereignty of the 
 Crown, and the honour of the Crown and the Empire is now 
 pledged to preserve in this savage wilderness the same peace 
 and order as prevail in every other part of Her Majesty's 
 dominions. At whatever cost this must be done, and tho 
 cost, we fear, will be heavy indeed. It will not be enough 
 to send a ship of war to the mouth of Eraser's River, and to 
 erect a Custom-house there to levy taxes in the Queen's 
 name. We must by some means or other establish some 
 authority on the goldfields themselves, which, though it will 
 come too late, in all probability, to prevent mischief, may, at 
 any rate, serve to check its recurrence. We can only hope 
 that the responsibility we have undertaken, magnanimously 
 if not wisely, will be surrounded by fewer difficulties than we 
 at present anticipate. 
 
 There ai'e but few persons who \Yill place the claims 
 of civil creditors upon the same footing with those of 
 the military. Indeed most people will admit that the 
 claims of the officer and the soldier are of a liigher 
 order, and should be alone weighed by the stern rules 
 and maxims of justice. For these brave men of hard- 
 
 * 4 I 
 
 
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 5': hi* 
 
 
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 mi''}:''.' 
 
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 lillii 
 
 226 
 
 ALLOWANCES TO SAPPERS AND MINERS. 
 
 ships and privations, who nobly avenge the wrongs of 
 their countrymen, who lay bare their bosoms to the 
 pointed sword for the glorious cause of liberty, for the 
 illustrious and honourable achievements of righteous 
 warfare, who are at once the safeguard and the glory 
 of their country, there is for them in every realm a 
 special promise, precise and definite, as to pay. 
 
 The following table exhibits the arrangements con- 
 cluded by the Home Government with the Sappers and 
 Miners selected to proceed to British Columbia. More- 
 over, to each man were allotted thirty acres of land in 
 the colony, in addition to the amount of pension to 
 which he would be entitled provided he served faith- 
 fully for a period of six years. 
 
 Officers. 
 
 Regimental Pay 
 per Annum. 
 
 Colonial 
 Allowance. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1 Chief Commissioner of Lands 
 and Works, Colonel Moody, 
 RE 
 
 1 Captain 
 
 1 2nd Captain .... 
 
 1 3rd 2nd Captain 
 
 2 Subalterns (each) . 
 
 £ 
 
 330 
 202 
 202 
 202 
 125 
 
 £ 
 1,200 
 350 
 350 
 350 
 250 
 
 £ 
 1,530 
 552 
 552 
 552 
 375 
 
 NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND SaPPERS. 
 
 
 Regimental Pay 
 
 Working Pay 
 
 
 
 per Diem. 
 
 per Diem. 
 
 
 1 Colour Sergeant and Act- 
 
 8. d. 
 
 8, 8. 
 
 8. d. 8. d. 
 
 ing Sergeant-Major . 
 
 3 lOJ 
 
 3 to 5 
 
 6 10ito8 10^ 
 
 1 Sergeant and Actmg Quar- 
 
 
 
 
 termaster Sergeant . 
 7 Sergeants (each) 
 
 3 4.^ 
 
 3 to 5 
 
 6 ^toS 4i 
 
 2 lOA 
 
 3 to 5 
 
 5 10| to 7 10| 
 
 8 1st Corporals . 
 
 2 2; 
 
 lto4 
 
 3 2^ to 6 2^ 
 
 S 2nd Corporals . 
 
 1 10; 
 
 lto4 
 
 2l0jto5 10J 
 
 2 Buglers \ 
 123 Sappers J * 
 
 1 2J 
 
 lto4 
 
 2 2ito5 2^ 
 
 I.. 
 
 Iliisp 
 
 M: 
 
Ifc:? 
 
 [•otal. 
 
 8. 
 
 d. 
 
 to 8 
 
 m 
 
 to 8 
 
 U 
 
 to 7 
 
 m 
 
 to 6 
 
 2S 
 
 to 5 lOi 
 
 to 5 
 
 n 
 
 TREATMENT OF THE ROYAL MARINES. 
 
 227 
 
 These are liberal terms, with the exception of the 
 quantity of land, which amounts to absolutely nothing, 
 and are not by any means too much, considering that 
 none but the most robust and skillful men were allowed 
 to volunteer for the service, and as the work they are 
 called upon to perform is not only attended with liard- 
 ship, but requires a considerable amount of skill. So 
 far, then, the Eoyal Engineers had made a fair agree- 
 ment ; but will it be credited that neither officers nor 
 men had received a shilling of pay for months, whilst 
 large sums were squandered daily in the erection of 
 useless, unnecessary buildings, fancy walks, &c. So 
 driven to desperation were some of the men by the 
 treatment they received that they deserted the service, 
 and more than one of them may be met with in the 
 city of San Francisco, prosecuting their trades and 
 handicrafts. 
 
 Her Majesty's Eoyal Marines freely volunteered from 
 China to do duty in British Columbia, at the stipulated 
 rate of four shillings per diem pay, with promise of 
 certain advantages at the end of a few years' service. 
 Hard indeed have they worked for months, from 
 an early hoiu' in tlie morning until late in the evening, 
 with axe, [)ick, spade, and shovel. How have they 
 been treated by Governor Douglas, notwithstanding his 
 bland oration, so full of compliment and promise, on the 
 occasion of his first visit to the camping groimd ? Why, 
 most shamefully. His excellency forgot his promises, 
 and repudiated their rights. His unfair conduct urged 
 many to desperation, and some to desertion. He com- 
 pelled good and loyal men, if not to open mutiny, at 
 least to openly demand an amount of money, contrary 
 to military etiquette. Never was official incapacity in 
 a more imenviable predicament ; and never was a 
 
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 228 
 
 DISCONTENT PREVAIUNG IN THE COLONY. 
 
 general outburst so near without explosion, not of 
 course by the officers, but by the men. The cash was 
 ultimately paid ; but His Excellency's credit has been 
 irrecoverably ruined. No apology can be offered, as 
 there was at that very time thousands of pounds weekly 
 paid away. For between paying nothing and only 
 paying part of what is due when the whole is due, the 
 only difference is that the injury is less ; the violation 
 of justice and conscience are the same. The Governor 
 was surely bound to pay these men, by every principle 
 of pohcy, of good faith, and of integrity. When claims 
 are just, they ought to be allowed ; but what will the 
 people of England think when they are told that, when 
 a few hundred feet of common timber were asked for 
 to build a cooking place for the men and a mess shanty 
 for the officers, the small request had been refused, and 
 both officers and men compelled to live throughout the 
 long inclement winter under single light canvas. I 
 have often ate, sat, and drunk at the most hospitable 
 mess of the detachment, and thus had the best oppor- 
 tunities of seeing and hearing what was going on. 
 
 If there is one argument stronger than another in 
 favour of the statement that British Columbia is not 
 prosperous, it is in the general discontent and pecuniary 
 difficulty which pervade all classes of the community ; 
 the depreciation in the value of real estate, and the 
 want of augmentation in the permanent population of 
 the colony, coupled with the very scanty amount of 
 money expended. Many persons have sold their lots 
 for less than half what they paid for them, and the 
 local journal states that the Government auctioneer 
 has sold lots, even in Victoria, at the low figure of 7/. 
 each. True, these were not situated in the very focus 
 of business ; nevertheless they were in the same spot 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 > "Lfi' 
 
 :H'i 
 

 TRANSFER OF THE GOVERNMENT ADVISABLE. 
 
 229 
 
 where they were purchased two or three years ago for 
 30/. It is truly pitiable to notice the dependence and 
 unhappy condition of the colony, and it is a remarkable 
 fact that money is so scarce that 5 per cent, per month 
 is readily paid for discount accommodation amply 
 secured, and that even the Government of British 
 Columbia offers 10 per cent, on its loans. Several 
 gentlemen who arrived in the course of the past year, 
 but who have since left, unhesitatingly assert that they 
 were never more disappointed in a country, and that it 
 was far, very far, inferior to the Cape, Natal, Australia, 
 or New Zealand. 
 
 Time, which works wonders, may induce some de- 
 gree of harmony and contentment amongst the people. 
 God grant that it may! Let emigrants in the mean- 
 time take heed, and not be led away by those who draw 
 so largely upon their imaginations, and who set forth 
 fabricated statements which have no earthly foundation. 
 Mark them well ; they are hke the fox that lost his 
 tail. Go thither to-morrow, and you will find that the 
 tendency of everything is to render the lands more 
 valueless and inoperative. 
 
 The best thing the Home Go\ernment can now do 
 with British Columbia is to hand the whole territory 
 over, either to the Canadian Government or back to the 
 Hudson's Bay Company. 
 
 If the former, there are doubtless many obstacles in 
 the way, a few of which are touched upon in the * Edin- 
 burgh Eeview ' for January 1859 : — 
 
 Shall we, then, transfer the government of the regions 
 contained in the Hudson's Bay Company's Charter, or at 
 least of so much of them as can ever be needed for agricul- 
 tural settlement, immediately to Canada ? Before we make 
 up our minds to this step, we have to satisfy ourselves of 
 
 1 
 
 '^^ mm 
 
 
 ;k 
 
 t'Hi 
 
 U 
 
 
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 I 
 
230 
 
 ENERGY OP THE CAXADIANS AS COLONISTS. 
 
 
 
 
 iii 
 
 these three things : First, that Canada is able to govern these 
 territories ; secondly, that she is willing to do so ; and, thirdly, 
 that she will be able to govern them better than the Hudson's 
 15ay Company has done. As regards the first question, we 
 have the authority of Mr. Draper for saying that Canada is 
 not at present able to undertake the duty. A large portion 
 of her territory is still unsettled, and it is natural that her 
 attention should be turned to the colonisation of the basin of 
 the Ottawa and its tributaries, and the settlement of the shores 
 of Lake Huron, before she launches into a vast wilderness 
 separated from her most advanced settlement by some fifteen 
 or sixteen hundred miles of impracticabJe desert. The Cana- 
 dian revenue is sorely burdened by debts, and cannot bear 
 the heavy additional charge which will be necessary to bring 
 these remote countries within her reach. Nor have we any 
 reason to suppose that Canada is herself desirous of such an 
 acc|uisition. The Canadian address does indeed speak of the 
 right of Canada to have such land as she may want without 
 paying for it, and of the injury she has sustained through 
 the charter of the Hudson's Bay Company ; but there is not 
 a word that would lead us to suppose that she is ready at her 
 own costs and charges to realise the aspirations of the Royal 
 Speeches, and form a chain of settlements from her boun- 
 daries to meet the eastern border of British Columbia. It 
 would be strange, indeed, if it were otherwise. Whatever 
 England may do, Canada, we suspect, is not prepared to 
 incur large and uncalculated expenses for the purpose of 
 forming a new colony of lands utterly unable to defray the 
 expenses of their own government. 
 
 The Canadians have given ample evidence of their 
 ability to settle up the wildest lands. They have con- 
 quered the wilderness with their axe, and made it 
 fruitful with their spade and plough ; they have set 
 their broad mark over a large extent of continent, and 
 niade themselves a great, wealthy, and powerful people. 
 Moreover they are a most loyal people, who rejoice in 
 
PARTY CONTENTIONS IN CANADA. 
 
 231 
 
 the welfare of England, and are ever ready to defend 
 the honour of their Sovereign, and to sacrifice them- 
 selves for the good of their mother-country. They, 
 with us, hailed the happy accession of Queen Victoria as 
 the harbinger of peace and prosperity, and have indeed 
 at all times openly and warmly exhibited their attach- 
 ment to the throne. 
 
 I am not of those who consider the insulting reception 
 given to the Prince of Wales at Kingston, and the con- 
 duct of certain persons at Toronto, unhappy evidences 
 of the condition of the entire society of Canada; 
 although I think that, whatever causes of party 
 contention may have existed, the obhgations of loyalty 
 and hospitahty dictated that they should have been 
 kept out of sight on that occasion. 
 
 It would be unfair to condemn the whole people of 
 Canada because of the conduct of a faction. Nor should 
 the revelations made before Mr. Hume's parliamentary 
 committee of 1835 be forgotten, when it was proved 
 that a wide-spread conspiracy existed for getting rid of 
 the succession of Queen Victoria, by raising her uncle, 
 the late King of Hanover, to the EngHsh throne. That 
 conspiracy consisted of 175,000 Orangemen in Ireland; 
 145,000 ditto in England and Scotland, with branches 
 in almost every regiment of the army, at home and in 
 the colonies, headed by the Duke of Cumberland as 
 Grand-Master. But Queen Victoria's right to the suc- 
 cession was fully established, and all impediments 
 thereto entirely removed. 
 
 All the late uproar at Kingston and Toronto was 
 simply because the Prince refused to recognise the 
 Orange Society ; a society resting on the simple basis 
 of hostility to popery, and which, whatever may have 
 been its value in Ireland in 1798, has since done very 
 
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 2.'12 
 
 CANADIAN LOYALTY TO THE CROWN. 
 
 little but mischief in the world. The Orangemen are 
 peculiarly sectarian, and His (race the Duke of New- 
 castle, therefore, advised the Prince to the proper course 
 in ignoring such a purely partisan body. Whilst, 
 however, Orangemen are denounced as a class, it would 
 be unwise to forget the very grave circumstances which 
 gave vitality to their organisation in Upper Canada, and 
 that this important dependency is virtually governed 
 by a priest of great ability, shrewdness, and knowledge, 
 who is the Secretary of the Koman-Cathohc Arch- 
 bishop, whom he rules ; and that he also in a great 
 measure controls the Canadian Legislature. Nor is that 
 the worst. 
 
 Nevertheless, it cannot be gainsaid that the people 
 of Canada, as a body, gave most unmistakable evidence 
 of affection for the Queen, by their inthusiastic recep- 
 tion of her son ; and it was also pleasing to note that 
 our American brethren knew how to do honour to the 
 son of the worthiest and most estimable of mothers and 
 Sovereigns. 
 
 Is the Pacific railroad destined to traverse British 
 Columbia ? 
 
 This is a question of colossal importance to that 
 territory, and one which excites much interest in the 
 commercial world. Doubtless the construction of a 
 railroad would be the precursor of great results even in 
 these desolate and barren regions, and it might be an 
 enterprise worthy the greatest energies of British states- 
 men and British capitalists. An iron road from Canada 
 to New Westminster, however desirable, would be very 
 costly, if not altogether impracticable. True, there is 
 no scheme too great for English capital to accomplish, 
 no plan too extensive for the enterprise and marvellous 
 activity of her people ; and, naturally enough, every 
 
men are 
 )f New- 
 r course 
 Whilst, 
 it would 
 ;s which 
 ida, and 
 overned 
 wledge, 
 J Arch- 
 a great 
 ' is that 
 
 people 
 vidence 
 : recep- 
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 r to the 
 ers and 
 
 British 
 
 ,o that 
 
 in the 
 
 a of a 
 
 ven in 
 
 be an 
 
 states- 
 
 anada 
 
 e very 
 
 lere is 
 
 iplish, 
 
 ellous 
 
 every 
 
 RAILWAY COMMUNICATION WITH BRITISH COLUMBIA. 2:»3 
 
 effort would be made to add to the importance of her 
 western colonies: but thinking men will determine how 
 far it would be prudent to subscribe capital on a divi- 
 sion of the ocean trade with the Californian continental 
 route. The great problem has y ^t to be studied, the 
 figures of its cost have yet to be made out, and then a 
 computation of its profitable result ; and, were all found 
 to be satisfactory, there exists withal an apparently 
 insuperable impediment, the winter snows, which last 
 from September to April on the elevated and rugged 
 mountains known as the Cascade and Kocky Mountain 
 ranges. This statement is founded on personal know- 
 ledge, and confirms me in the opinion that the idea of 
 a northern route is totally fallacious. 
 
 Within the last few years several explorations have 
 been made, but with meagre and inadequate results; and 
 it is believed by persons competent to judge, that the 
 beneficial effects, in so wild and unfruitful a country as 
 British Columbia, would not be commensurate with the 
 expense of construction. Unquestionably the territory 
 would be benefited by the proposed line of communi- 
 cation. It would tend to the promotion and extension 
 of the agricultural and commercial interests of the 
 country, and the developement probably of new sources 
 of wealth and prosperity. It would afford the Govern- 
 ment means for the cheap and rapid transportation of 
 the mails in time of peace, and the like facihties for the 
 transportation of troops, munitions, and subsistence in 
 time of war ; all of which would be of national benefit. 
 
 It will scarcely be denied that the partial reconnois- 
 sances and surveys which have been made go to show, 
 if not the impractibility of the project, at least the 
 foolishness of it in a money point of view, and tend to 
 make the sagacious capitalist shy of investment. There is, 
 
 wm 
 
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 ''*'.i.: 
 
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 234 
 
 THE PACIFIC RAILROAD. 
 
 indeed, little room to doubt that the large and flourishing 
 commercial city of San Francisco will be the terminus 
 of the first continental railway on the Pacific side. 
 
 Let us glance for a moment at the condition of the 
 proposed Central route through North America. 
 Probably no single measure of public policy has 
 attracted such general attention in the United States 
 as the construction of a Pacific Eailroad; none certainly 
 ever was more widely popular. The masses of the 
 people are wedded to no particular route, nor to any 
 given plan of construction. On both these points there 
 are marked differences of opinion ; but men of all 
 parties, sections, plans, and theories unite in favour of 
 the road, by whichever route capital shall decide to be 
 the best, on whichever plan will soonest give the 
 country the benefit of its use. This is the popular 
 view of the subject, and if it had been the poUtician's 
 rule of action, the locomotive would to-day be wending 
 its course over the mountains and plains separating the 
 Mississippi from the Sierra Nevada. Political tricksters 
 have too often made it the foot-ball of their caprices, 
 and a means for humbugging the people for their own 
 advancement ; but the people have baflied the deceivers 
 by returning, as President, Abraham Lincoln, who is 
 giving his powerful support to the measure; and the 
 Pacific Railway Bill was made the special order of the 
 day, in the Senate, late in March last. One thing is very 
 certain, that capital always seeks the surest market ; and, 
 if left free to choose the line best suited to its purpose, 
 it will certainly select the Central route, with San 
 Francisco as its terminus. 
 
 The London 'Herald,' some months ago, advocated 
 as an inducement for connecting the Atlantic and 
 Pacific oceans by a line of communication running 
 
 ■;.'i;'. 'i? 
 
'ii '^ 
 
 THE RED RIVER SETTLEMENT. 
 
 235 
 
 jated 
 and 
 
 ming 
 
 through British territory, that it would open up the 
 Bed River settlement and the districts interposed be- 
 tween that settlement and the Rocky Mountains. This 
 journal says in regard to that territory : — 
 
 According to the Report of Mr. Dawson the Red River 
 settlement commences a short distance above Lake Winnipeg, 
 and follows the Red River for about fifty miles. * At Fort 
 Garrey this stream is joined by the Assiniboine, and along 
 the banks of the latter a continuous settlement exists for 
 twenty-five or thirty miles, and from thence there are occa- 
 sional houses to the Grand Portage, which is about seventy- 
 five miles from Fort Garrey. The population at the last 
 census was 7,000.' These, however, are strictly stationary ; 
 but a large number of Indians encamp there during the 
 summer, and many nomadic half-breeds, who follow the 
 chase, regard Red River as their head-quarters. In this 
 district, then, the nucleus of a colony already exists. The 
 soil is a rich alluvial deposit, and though but strips or patches 
 are as yet cultivated, this altogether arises from limited local 
 demand and the impossibility of carrying produce to distant 
 markets. Hay and pasturage for horses and cattle abound, 
 and those animals may be kept in immense numbers. The 
 Red River settlement is not in the condition of British 
 Columbia when first taken in hand by Sir Edward Bulwer. 
 Some churches are already built ; there are several schools 
 and a library. The extensive territory drained by the 
 Saskatchewan and its tributaries is admirably suited for the 
 residence of a large population, the report declaring that 
 'there is not in the universe a finer field for cultivation.' 
 The climate is highly salubrious, and the fertility of the 
 ground unsurpassed. From Lake Winnipeg to the base of 
 the Rocky Mountains the whole country is intersected by 
 navigable lakes and rivers. Iron, coal, and salt are abundant. 
 At Red River the summer temperature is nearly four degrees 
 warmer than at Toronto, and the melon ripens before the end 
 of August, growing with the utmost luxuriance. Such faithful 
 registers of climate are the best exponents of the agricultural 
 
 . ■, 'i ^7 . 
 
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 ■,. .■•t'.'-.o' 'I 
 
 -■'■' -If '•,,/■■ I 
 
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 23ft 
 
 REPORT OP MR. DAWSON. 
 
 capabilities of the country, and ought to prompt our govern- 
 ment vigorously to urge forward its systematic colonisation. 
 The United States, we fear, understand the subject better 
 than ourselves. Their surveys show that the character of 
 their territory west of the Mississippi and south of the great 
 Missouri road, beyond the ninety-eighth degree of longitude, 
 is utterly unfit for settlement. This is shown in a paper 
 drawn up by Professor Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution, 
 and published in the Patent Office Report for 1856, in which 
 he dissipates the dreams of land speculators as to the western 
 part of the North American continent. Mr. Louis Blodget, 
 of Philadelphia, famous for his knowledge as a meteorologist, 
 supports that opinion, and points out the immense resources 
 yet in store for Canada on both branches of the Saskatchewan. 
 There, he tells us, * of the plains and woodland borders the 
 valuable surface measures fully five hundred thousand square 
 miles.' The proved sterility of the Far West beyond the 
 Mississippi has a powerful bearing on the advantages to be 
 derived from the colonisation of Red River and the whole 
 valley of Lake Winnipeg, and the entire region drained by 
 the rivers which flow into that lake. The United States, fond 
 of annexation, would be glad to utilise this neglected region, 
 and, if we are so disgracefully inert as longer to delay the 
 work, it would be better for the interests of civilisation that 
 the country should pass into their hands, however dishonour- 
 able to England. Will the Duke of Newcastle follow up the 
 wise policy of Sir Bulwer Lytton ? 
 
 This Eeport by Mr. Dawson looks very well on paper, 
 and there is no reason to doubt that it is truthfully and 
 faithfully given; but it is sincerely to be hoped that, 
 whatever the Government may do with that territory, 
 they will never think of creating it into a 'new colony;' 
 for surely we have enough colonies already, and of 
 these not a tenth part is settled up. 
 
 The explorations of Captain Palhser and Captain 
 Blakiston, RA., have made it very clear that nature 
 
 i '% i. 
 
 
ENOINEKRINO IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 
 
 •2.)7 
 
 has not placed the riglit passage for the inter-oceanic 
 railway within British territoiy. At all events it would 
 seem ridiculous to expect private companies to under- 
 take the construction of any such road, considering the 
 enormous expenditure requisite to carry it out. 
 
 The Rocky Mountains reach from 15,000 to 1G,000 
 feet high, and are made up of a series of parallel ridges, 
 with intervening valleys, having a general direction 
 NNW. and SSE. ; the extent of cutting and tunnellmg 
 may therefore be imagined. For instance, the Koo- 
 tonay Pass, the most southern pass discovered by 
 Captain Blakiston, R.A., about forty miles north of 
 the international boundary, is at an altitude of 5,9G0 
 feet above the sea level; and according to his plan and 
 section of the ground there is, after entering it, a rise of 
 34 feet to the geograpliical mile, being 1 in 180, for 7^ 
 miles. A cutting of about 3^ miles would lead to a 
 tunnel of nearly 5 miles in length, at a gradient of 1 in 
 130. On emerging into a valley the line would skirt 
 the base of the mountains, and then continuing with a 
 gradient of 40 feet per mile it w^ould reach the rise of 
 a ridge at a height of 5,100 feet above the sea. This, 
 it would appear, would be the culminating point of the 
 line, from which it would have to fall 1,900 feet in a 
 distance of 10 geographical miles, being 190 feet per 
 mile; and then for 5 miles at a gradient of 54 feet per 
 mile. Captain Blakiston remarks : This I propose to 
 accomplish m the following manner : — 
 
 From the culminating point, to pierce the ridge by a tunnel 
 of three geographical miles, and continue the line along the 
 side of the hills to the north of the track until reaching the 
 North Bluff, the whole wath a grade of 190 feet per geogra- 
 phical mile. This portion of the line of ten geographical 
 miles would have to be worked by a wire rope and one or 
 
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238 
 
 REPORT OF CAITAIN BLAKISTON ON THE 
 
 f" 
 
 M 
 
 more stationary engincjs. Regarding the remaining Hve niilen 
 to the west of the North and South ItUiffs, a care*'ul survey 
 is required to determine whether a grade not too steep for 
 locomotives can be made. My measurements, taken with so 
 uncertain an instrument as an aneroid barometer, must not 
 be depended on to a few feet; they give a fall of fifty-four 
 feet per geographical mile, or 1 in 112. 
 
 Captain Blakiston's Eeport, which ap})ears in the 
 * Blue Book ' of 1860, entitled 'Exploration — British 
 North America,' is so very interesting that a few ex- 
 tracts cannot fail of being acceptable to the reader : — 
 
 The Passes of the Rochj Mmnita'Dis. — In anticipation of 
 the establishment of a continuous route through British 
 North America, it is proper here to refer to the passes of the 
 Rocky Mountains north of latitude 49°, or, in other words, 
 in British territory. There are many points at which the 
 chain of these mountains can be traversed ; but omitting for 
 the present that known as * Peel's River Pass ' within the 
 Arctic circle ; that from Eraser's Lake to Pelly Banks, at the 
 head waters of the Yonkon in latitude 62°, as well as one 
 from Dease's House to Stickeen, and others only known to 
 the hardy fur traders of the far north, we come to three, one 
 of which crosses the Findlay branch of Peace River to Babine 
 Rivei', the northern boundary of the province of Columbia ; 
 while the other two, at the very head waters of Peace 
 River, in latitude 55° north, connect with Eraser's River 
 at its most northern bend, one of which was described as 
 long ago as 1793 by that intrepid traveller Sir Alexander 
 Mackenzie. 
 
 Passes to British Columbia. — The connexion with these 
 being, however, by water, and rather far north on the east 
 side, 1 shall pass on to enumerate the known passes more 
 to the southward, and which may be called the Passes to 
 British Columbia. In commencing with the north they stand 
 thus : — 
 
 1. Cow Dung Lake Portage, or 'Leather Pass,' lat. 54° 0' 
 
 
ler : 
 
 0' 
 
 lat. 
 
 53° 
 
 0° 
 
 » 
 
 51° 
 
 45' 
 
 »» 
 
 51" 
 
 25' 
 
 >» 
 
 51° 
 
 10' 
 
 i» 
 
 50° 
 
 40' 
 
 
 49° 
 
 40' 
 
 »» 
 
 49° 
 
 25' 
 
 PASSES OP THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. a:»9 
 
 2. Boat Encampment on original Athabasca 
 
 Portage .... 
 
 3. Howse's Pass .... 
 
 4. Kicking Horse Pass 
 
 5. Vermillion Pass 
 
 6. Kananaski or Emigrant Pass . 
 
 7. Crow Nest Pass 
 
 8. Kootonay Pass 
 
 1. The first of tliese connects the head waters of the 
 Athp.hnsca River with the great fork of the Fraaer, and has 
 never been used except as a 'portage' between these two 
 rivers. 
 
 2. The second is that which until the last few years was 
 used regularly by the Hudson's Ray Company for the con- 
 veyance of a few furs, as well as despatches and servants, 
 from the east side to the Pacific by way of the Columbia 
 River, and from the ' Boat Encampment ' is navigable for 
 small craft ; but this pass, like the first, has not been used in 
 connexion with any land route on the west side. 
 
 3. The third was probably first used by either Thompson or 
 Howse (author of the * Cree Grammar '), who, following up 
 the north branch of the Saskatchewan, crossed the watershed 
 of the mountains to the north fork of the Columbia, and 
 thence to its source, the Columbia Lakes, where striking the 
 Kootonay River, he followed it down to the south of 49° 
 north. 
 
 4. The ' Kicking Horse Pass,' so named by Dr. Hector, 
 crosses the watershed from near the head waters of Bow 
 River to those of the Kootonay, and may be reached by 
 following up either the north or south branches of the Sas- 
 katchewan by land. 
 
 5. While another (see Parliamentary Papers, June 1859), 
 the * Vermillion Pass,' also traversed and laid down by Dr. 
 Hector during the summer of 1858, occurs also on Bow 
 River, so near the last-named one that it is unfortunate that 
 the western edge of the mountains was not reached, as it 
 would then have been proved whether these passes can be 
 
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 240 
 
 PASSES TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
 
 ■!^*- . 
 
 m 
 
 
 of value in connexion with a continuous route across the 
 country. 
 
 6. The next pass which enters the mountains in common 
 with the fifth on Bow Eiver has been named the * Kananaski 
 Pass' (see Parliamentary Papers, June 1859), and was laid 
 down by latitude and longitude observations during the 
 summer of 1858, by Captain Palliser. This also leads to the 
 Kootonay River, passing near the Columbia Lakes. It is 
 generally supposed that this pass was only discovered last 
 year, but a description of it is to be found in ' An Overland 
 Journey round the World,' by Sir Greorge Simpson, who, 
 together with a party of emigrants about fifty in number, 
 under the late Mr. James Sinclair, passed through, but not 
 with carts as has been stated (see Evidence before the Select 
 Committee, Hudson's Bay Question), to the lower part of the 
 Columbia in 1841, besides which it has been used by other 
 travellers. If we are to consider its western extremity to the 
 south of the Columbia Lakee;, it is a long and indirect pass, 
 but as yet it has only been used for following the valley of 
 the Kootonay, and thence into American territory. In the 
 event of the country west of the Columbia Lakes proving 
 suitable to a land road, this as well as the previous three 
 would prove available for crossing from the Saskatchewan 
 north of latitude 51°. 
 
 For one hundred geographical miles of the mountains 
 south of Bow River no pass is at present known to exist until 
 we come to Mocowans or Belly River, a tributary of the South 
 Saskatchewan, on the branches of which four passes enter the 
 mountains, the ' Crow Nest,' the * Kootonay,' the * Boundary,' 
 and the * Flathead.' 
 
 7. Of the first of these we know only that its eastern 
 entrance is on the river of the same name, while it emerges 
 in the vicinity of the * Steeples ' or Mount Deception, while 
 neither of the two last are entirely in British territory, 
 hence the name of ' Boundary Pass ' for that one which 
 has its culminating point nor+^^h of 49°. 
 
 8. The ' Kootonay Pais,' the most southern, and, of those 
 yet known, by far the shortest in the British territory, having 
 
those 
 
 Having 
 
 PASSES TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
 
 241 
 
 been already described in detail, as well as a plan and section 
 having appeared, requires no further notice, but I will here 
 observe that there is one point on which I may have been 
 mistaken, namely, that the river at its western extremity, 
 into which the Wigwam River falls, is perhaps not the main 
 Kootonay Kiver which I fell upon near the 49th parallel, but 
 may be the Stag or Elk River, a branch of it. On reference 
 to my map, however, it will be seen that seven miles of the 
 course of this river is only dotted (signifying that 1 had not 
 actually seen it there), so that the junction of these two rivers 
 may take place in that interval. I have consequently made 
 the alteration in red on the original map, but in dotted lines 
 as uncertain, and I take this opportunity of stating that 
 whatever appears on any map of my own in continued lines 
 is from actual observation^ nothing obtained by report, how- 
 ever reliable, being accepted as certain. If this practice 
 were more generally followed by travellers, the greater part 
 of those mistakes and inconsistencies which cause such 
 trouble to the mapper would be prevented. Whatever course 
 the river above alluded to takes, the extremity of Kootonay 
 Pass remains unchanged, for in proceeding westward out of 
 it the direction would not be along but across the river, on 
 to the Tobacco Plains. 
 
 The passes of which the altitudes are known do not dififer 
 greatly, and I refrain from commenting on their relative 
 merits, because, before any particular one can be selected 
 for the construction of a road, the easiest land route from 
 Hope, at the western bend of Fraser's River, should be 
 ascertained, which, considering the distance, would be no 
 very great undertaking. In conclusion, I would only remark 
 that at -present no pass in British territory is practicable 
 for wheeled cai^'iages. 
 
 Country South of the Saskatcheivan River. — On reference 
 to the maps it will be observed that the late exploring 
 expedition has left a large portion of the country in the 
 neighbourhood of the south branch of the Saskatchewan, and 
 the tract between that river and the international boundary, 
 totally unexplored, but in order to remedy this defect I have 
 
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242 
 
 in-'- ' 
 'if ''"•;{• 
 
 IS THE PACIFIC RAILROAD DESTINED 
 
 t?" 
 
 
 
 collected all the reliable information in my power, and I 
 should here mention that the greater part of this I obtained 
 from Mr. Harriott, a retired chief factor of the Hudson's 
 Bay Company service, now living at Red River Settlement, 
 who has travelled over the greater part of that country as 
 far as the Missouri. 
 
 It appears that the south branch of the Saskatchewan is 
 almost entirely destitute of wood up to the vicinity of the 
 junction of Red Deer and Bow Rivers, the whole country 
 being prairie ; but about seventy miles south of that point 
 there is a range of low wooded hills, having an extension 
 east and west about eighty miles. These hills are usually 
 called the * Cypress Mountain,' from the fact of a species of 
 pine, known by the name of * Cyprus ' to the French half- 
 breeds, growing there in abundance, and appear to be the 
 watershed between the Saskatchewan and Missouri, for there 
 are streams described as running towards both rivers. There, 
 moreover, seems to be a good supply of building timber, 
 which may yet prove of much valne. Being about seventy 
 miles north of the boundary, it is well within British ter- 
 ritory. 
 
 Route through the Interior. — As to a route from Red 
 River Settlement to any of the more southern passes, it 
 would follow the trail now in use to Fort Ellice, thence along 
 the Qu'appelle River and Lakes, striking the south branch 
 near its elbow, and then following the general direction of 
 that river towards the mountains, taking whichever branch 
 led to the selected pass. This would doubtless be entirely a 
 land route, for the Assiniboine being very tortuous, and only 
 fit for canoes, and the Qu'appelle being in places not even 
 navigable for these frail craft, no wat r transport would be 
 available except on tLe Saskatchewan ; and if the country 
 were examined, probably good halting places would be found 
 which would allow of a direct course being made from the 
 * Elbow ' to ' Harriott's Cypress Mountain,' which would 
 materially shorten the distance to the three forks of the 
 Belly River, near the most southern passes. The distance 
 from Red River to the western extremity of one of the 
 
TO TRAVERSE BRITISH COLUMBIA? 
 
 243 
 
 passes would be probably 900 miles by the windings of a 
 trail. 
 
 I have previously mentioned that to the west of the Eocky 
 Mountains no land route to the Pacific in British territory is 
 at present known, but we are aware that from Hope on 
 Eraser's River the coi;T}try has been traversed with pack 
 animals, keeping north of 49° as far east as Fort Shepherd 
 on the north fork of the Columbia, so that there remains 
 from the base of the mountains but 140 miles in a direct line 
 to be crossed in order to establish the fact of a land route 
 from Red River Settlement to the Pacific. This would, 
 however, be after arriving at the mountains unavailable for 
 wheeled carriages. It remains, therefore, to be considered 
 by the proper authorities whether the state of the Atlantic 
 and Pacific provinces demand the opening of a wagon road. 
 
 ' ■■■•'•'*:>, ••' !i 
 ■ -■ ,■ ;■)'■;,-. '.■;•;' • 
 
 
 ''M: 
 
 Captain Palliser states in his Report under date 
 July 8, 1860 (page 22 of Blue Book) : — 
 
 Whilst pointing out the circumstances that seem to favour 
 the possibility of carrpng a road through British territory, 
 from the Saskatchewan to the Pacific, I wish to refrain from 
 expressing any opinion as to the expediency of undertaking 
 at the present time a work which would involve a vast amount 
 of labour and a corresponding heavy expenditure. For how 
 long a time in the year such a road would remain open, is a 
 question as yet unanswered, and which has a most important 
 bearing on the subject. In addition, the difficulty of direct 
 communication between Canada and the Saskatchewan 
 country, as compared with the comparatively easy route 
 through the United States by St. Paul's, renders it very 
 unlikely that the great work of constructing a road across 
 the continent can be solely the result of British enterprise. 
 
 The distances to be traversed by a railroad to the 
 Pacific within the British territories would be about 
 2,300 miles. The distance from Lake Superior to the 
 
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 244 
 
 IS THE PACIFIC RAILROAD DESTINED 
 
 
 
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 Pacific being 1 ,360 geographical miles. Whilst there 
 exist almost insuperable obstacles to the construction of 
 a railroad through these regions, there is nothing to 
 hinder the immediate establishment of telegraphic com- 
 munication. The electrical wire is at present complete 
 from St. John's in Newfoundland and Hahfax in Nova 
 Scotia to the most western settled parts of Canada, and 
 comparatively but little cost would send the flash on to 
 the capital of British Columbia. 
 
 Before entering upon the construction of any railroad 
 it is usual to ascertain its cost, and the amount of busi- 
 ness which the road will perform, in order to judge of 
 its value as for investment ; and should one be formed 
 and afterwards found to be unprofitable, it manifestly 
 argues not only want of judgement in the investors but 
 also incompetence on the part of those entrusted with 
 its construction. Indeed there is nothing either mys- 
 terious or complicated in the forming and working of a 
 railroad, as the laws which govern its operations are 
 similar to those which govern nearly all business tran- 
 sactions. Some are profitable, others unprofitable, as 
 investments. For instance, if a railroad made at a cost 
 of say 14,000/. per mile, yields a net income of four 
 per cent, per annum, it would, if made at 7,000/. per 
 mile yield a net income of eight per cent, per annum. 
 Thus then it is evident that the element of first cost is 
 a very important one. It not unfi-equently occurs, 
 however, that a costly road proves a profitable one ; 
 but then its success is owing to the large and 
 compensating traffic. 
 
 From these facts, then, may be deduced a few 
 general laws which will apply everywhere in deter- 
 mining upon the construction of railroads. 
 
 l"tl 
 
TO TRAVERSE BRITISH COLUMBIA? 
 
 245 
 
 1. Where the cost of a road is excessive and the 
 traffic light, the investment is unprofitable. 
 
 2. Where the cost is great and the traffic large, the 
 investment is a satisfactory one. 
 
 3. Where a road is cheaply constructed, below the 
 average cost, and the traffic light, it will pay good 
 returns. 
 
 4. Where the cost is light, and the traffic very large, 
 it becomes in the highest degree profitable. 
 
 Excessive cost is accounted for in the natural ob- 
 stacles encountered in construction, such as heavy rock 
 cuts, tunnels, expensive bridges, viaducts, deep excava- 
 tions, and embankments, and land damages, or right of 
 way ; and these are causes of expense which cannot be 
 set aside. 
 
 Would not the construction of a railway from Canada 
 to New Westminster be an instance of excessive cost ? 
 Doubtless it would, and a very prominent one, too, 
 considering the mountainous, rocky, and irregular sur- 
 face it would have to traverse. No doubt, however, 
 engineers may be induced to depart from their usual 
 prudent, safe, and economical policy, and present the 
 obstacles and difficulties of construction in as favourable 
 a fight as possible from the desire to promote such a 
 gigantic enterprise, and lean to that view of the case 
 calculated to encourage and stimulate the projectors. 
 However, I am of opinion from aU the information I 
 have been able to acquire that deduction No. 1 is appfi- 
 cable to this case ; and I shall continue of this opinion 
 until the route be surveyed and declared feasible by 
 a Lock, an Errington, a Falshaw, or some such com- 
 petent engineer; for it is utterly absurd to attach any 
 weight to the reports and opinions of unprofessional 
 
 
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246 
 
 COLUMBIA OVERLAND TRANSIT COMPANY. 
 
 
 
 
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 men, who cannot be expected to know anything about 
 such matters. 
 
 A prospectus has just been handed to me, issued by 
 the British Columbia Overland Transit Company. The 
 proposed object of the corporation is to establish a 
 transport system for mails and passengers by carts and 
 relays of horses through the British possessions; a 
 gigantic scheme certainly. 
 
 The following appears in the prospectus : — 
 
 Onwards direct through a lovely prairie country to British 
 Columbia, by the route indicated in the following extract 
 from the Report of Governor Douglas, printed in the Blue 
 Books of 1860, and laid before Parliament: — *From Lytton' 
 — a central point in British Columbia — * a natural road 
 now exists leading to Red River Settlement, by the Contan- 
 nais Pass, through the Rocky Mountains, and from thence, 
 following the Valley of the Saskatchewan, chiefly over a 
 prairie country of great beauty, replete with game. A settler 
 may take his departure with his cattle and stock, and reach 
 British Columbia by that road. This is no theory, the expe- 
 riment having been repeatedly made by parties of Red River 
 people travelling to Colvillef BHtish Columbia, frorti whence 
 there is a good road to Lytton; so much so, indeed that 
 persons assured me that the ivhole distance from Lytton to 
 Red River may be safely travelled with carts.^ 
 
 It is a mistake to sav that Colville is in British 
 Columbia. It is in Washington Territory, part of the 
 United States of America. Moreover, I hardly think 
 that much stress can be laid on what Governor Douglas 
 says from report merely, in the face of Captain Blakis- 
 ton's official statement (vide Blue Book 1860): 'In con- 
 clusion, I will only remark that at present no pass in 
 British territory is practicable for wheeled carriages' 
 This is the opinion I have always heard expressed by 
 persons who were competent to judge; and however 
 
RED RIVEE SETTLEMENTS. 
 
 947 
 
 about 
 
 desirable an inter-oceanic road passing entirely through 
 British territory might be, I think it is all but imprac- 
 ticable, or at least much too costly to justify its con- 
 struction. However, it is wonderfid what capital and 
 energy can accomphsh, and whilst wishing the pro- 
 moters of this great undertaking all success, I would 
 suggest the wisdom of making the route over as httle 
 water as possible; because navigation is not only un- 
 certain during the winter months but impossible. 
 
 The Company announce also that they are to carry 
 on banking business as well. The high rate of interest 
 prevaihng in the colony will certainly enable the cor- 
 poration to invest the money of shareholders very 
 profitably under prudent management. The demand 
 for ready cash is immense, 5 per cent, per month being 
 readily paid for discount accommodation amply secured. 
 Even the Government of British Columbia offers 10 per 
 cent, on its loans, and instances have come under my 
 own notice of 100 per cent, per annum having been 
 paid for cash accommodation. How remarkable are 
 these facts in a gold-producing country I 
 
 The following is a portion of Captain Blakiston's 
 admirable report on the 'Eed Eiver Settlement,' which 
 is situated to the east of British Columbia about 800 
 miles from the Eocky Mountains: — 
 
 ■■-: -''"^A 
 
 
 Origin. — Those interested in the rise and progress of this 
 distant colony have but to peruse a most complete history of 
 it by the late Alexander Ross, entitled * Eed Eiver Settlement.' 
 I shall here simply state that the idea originated with the 
 Earl of Selkirk, who, obtaining a tract of territory from the 
 Hudson's Bay Company in 1811, sent out the original Scotch 
 settlers and entered into treaty with the Indians of Eed 
 River. 
 
 Among the difficulties with which the settlers have to 
 
 \; '.'■■•' 
 
 ■ \ ' ■: ! I I 
 
 xi ■'■ii' 
 
 ■'' * ~ ■' 11 
 
 ■ ■« ; ■»} V' I 
 
 ' ' if 
 
248 
 
 RED RIVER SETTLEMENTS. 
 
 iEfi'^jr',. 
 
 
 : !■' » : 
 
 M,' 
 
 I': 1 
 
 contend, I may mention the visitation of grasshoppers in 
 certain years, inundations caused by the rise of the river, the 
 difficulty of procuring stock and implements, and tlie want 
 of a market. But notwithstanding these and other disad- 
 vantages, including climate, under which the inhabitants 
 have laboured, there at present exists at Red River a thriving 
 British community of whites and half-breeds, numbering 
 about 6,500 souls separated from the most advanced point of 
 civilisation by 400 miles of wilderness. 
 
 Present State. — Red River Settlement is neither a city, 
 town, or even a village, but, as the name indicates, a settle- 
 ment consisting of a straggling chain of small farm establish- 
 ments, extending for a distance of forty miles along the 
 banks, but mostly on the west bank of the Red River of the 
 north, the dwellings being from fifty yards to a mile apart, 
 while at intervals along this line are a few churches and 
 windmills, besides two establishments of the Hudson's Bay 
 Company, built in the form of forts, one at the junction of 
 the Assiniboine with the main river, and the other twenty 
 miles below. On the north bank of the Assiniboine also, 
 which has a general east course, the settlement extends 
 about twenty-five miles up, and about fifty miles further is 
 another small collection of homesteads, usually called *the 
 Portage.' 
 
 Population. — From the latest census (1856) it appears 
 that there were then 1,082 families, of which 816 were na- 
 tives of the country, the remainder belon Ing to the United 
 Kingdom and Canada. The French Canadians and their off- 
 spring, usually called * French half-breeds,' who number 
 about one-half of the whole population, are confined mostly 
 to the Assiniboine and Red River above *the Forks;' the 
 Europeans and their descendants, pure and mixed, being 
 located between the two forts, and a couple of miles below 
 the lower one ; while the so-called Christian Indians, num- 
 bering about 400 or 500 souls, are confined to the lower part 
 of the river, usually designated the * Indian Settlement.' 
 
 Religion and Occupations. — The settlement is divided 
 into parishes, and there are nine churches and seventeen 
 
RliD RIVER SE'lTLEMENTS. 
 
 1249 
 
 schools; the French part of the populutiou being generally 
 Boman Catholics, while the English and Indians are Episco- 
 palians and Presbyterian. Not one-half of the population 
 are farmers, for there are but 400 barns for the 900 houses, 
 accommodating above 1,000 families, the remainder being 
 hunters, who may be said to live entirely on the buifalo and 
 the fur trade. These are, for the most part, French Canadian 
 half-breeds, whose occupations are well exemplified in the 
 small number of farms existing in the parishes which they 
 inhabit, for while the population is equal, here are but 
 ninety barns compared to the 230 in the remaining parishes. 
 
 Land and Production^. — The country is very level, and on 
 the west generally open. There is a considerable amount of 
 swamp, but in the dry parts the soil is well adapted for the growth 
 of cereal and other crops, and naturally supports a rich gTowth 
 of the different grasses. The trees are generally small, but 
 there is fine oak and elm along the borders of the river, and 
 timber suitable for building purposes to the north-east of the 
 settlement. Firewood, of which large quantities are required 
 during the severe and lengthened winter, has now to be 
 'hauled ' a considerable distance, or 'rafted' down the rivers. 
 Good limestone for building exists. Wild land is sold by the 
 Hudson's Bay Company, in lots with from two to four chains' 
 river frontage, at seven shillings and sixpence per acre. 
 
 Govet^ment — There is a Governor of the Settlement, 
 styled * Governor of Assiniboya,' appointed by the Hudson's 
 Bay Company, who is assisted by a council composed of 
 influential inhabitants, holding their commissions also from 
 the Hudson's Bay Company. Quarterly, general, and petty 
 local courts are held, in which trial by jury is recognised. 
 Public works, such as bridges, and what little road manufac- 
 ture is done, are paid out of the revenue arising from ducies 
 levied on certain imports, fines, &c. 
 
 Trade and Occupation of Inhabitants. — There can be 
 said to be no distinct trades practised at Red Kiver, every 
 every man being his own carpenter, smith, mason, &c., and 
 the women taking the clothing department. There are a 
 number of wind flour mills, but all the millers have other 
 
 
 K ' -i'. 
 
—n;!^ 
 
 
 
 ji't ■ " 
 
 if^' 
 
 220 
 
 RBD Biy£R SETTLEMENTS. 
 
 occupations ; but there is one steam mill imported from 
 the United States, which is kept pretty continually in opera- 
 tion, at any rate durinjf winter. 
 
 Whisky is manufactured ; leather is roughly tanned, but, 
 as with the making of beer, simply for home use. Sugar is 
 made from the maple, and salt, as has been before mentioned, 
 is manufactured on Manitoba Lake, but not at present in 
 sufficient (luantity for the supply of the country. The buffalo 
 hunters and voyagers are absent from the settlement most of 
 the summer, and owing to their improvidence, are often re- 
 duced to great straits from the want of provisions during mnter. 
 
 AgHcultwi'e. — Farming cannot be said to be carried on to 
 a great extent, when the whole number of ptock is only, 
 cattle 9,600, sheep 2,200, and pigs 5,000 and the amount of 
 land under cultivation is 8,800 acres. The agricultural 
 implements not constructed at the settlement are mostly 
 obtained from St. Paul on the Mississippi, and a few reaping 
 machines have been already introduced. 
 
 Farming operations comprehend the growth of wheat, 
 barley, oats, Indian corn, and potatoes, the manufacture of 
 cheese and butter, and the keeping of cows, horses, pigs, and 
 sheep, besides gardening operations for the culture of turnips, 
 onions, pease, cabbage, rhubarb, radishes, mangle, carrots, 
 hops, pumpkins, and melons, which all appear to thrive in 
 ordinary seasons. The periodical visits of immense swarms 
 of grasshoppers, who eat down every green thing, is a source 
 of great annoyance to the farmers of Red River, as well as in 
 some parts of the state of Minnesota. 
 
 Growth of Crops. — First, in respect to the growth of wheat, 
 the soil seems particularly well adapted, but owing to the 
 climate it is occasionally caught by the early frosts. Large 
 returns are obtained from new land, sometimes up to forty 
 bushels per acre, and the soil will bear cropping for many 
 years in succession. Barley and oats do well, and are never 
 damaged by the frost; but Indian corn is sometimes destroyed. 
 The green crops flourish ; potatoes, turnips, and onions at- 
 taining very large size. Melons are said to come to maturity 
 in the open air. 
 
 I, 
 
UKD RIVER SEITLEMENTS. 
 
 '251 
 
 Stock FafTninrj. — In regard to stock farming, the greatest 
 drawback is the length of wdnter, owing to which so much 
 hay is required for the subsistence of the animals ; the usual 
 allowance being five loads per ox and ten per horse for the 
 winter months, but the former feeds also on straw. The 
 hay is cut off the swamps, where it is met with of tolerable 
 quality, in great abundance ; but for this as for other farm- 
 ing operations there is always a great scarcity of labourers, 
 on account of the absence of the hunters and voyagers from 
 the settlement during summer, as well as from the natural 
 dislike of the natives to any steady employment. 
 
 Sheep thrive well at Red River, where there are but few 
 wolves, owing to their being a head money. Pigs do re- 
 markably well, and, if turned out where there are oak woods, 
 require no looking after. 
 
 The cattle during summer roam at large at the back of 
 the cultivated land, where they find plenty of excellent pas- 
 turage, but owing to the annoyance caused by the ' bull dogs,' 
 mosquitoes, and other flies, they generally during summer 
 collect in the smoke of smouldering fires which are made for 
 their protection, but in the fall wander oflf and are often not 
 seen for weeks. The cows are milked regularly twice a day. 
 
 It is usual at Red River to keep the cattle housed and fed 
 during winter, but as cattle sometimes on the Saskatchewan 
 remain out all the winter in the same way as horses, I think, 
 in the event of stock farming being carried on to any extent, 
 herds of cattle might be wintered out in sheltered situations, 
 with the assistance of a little hay, which would be cut in the 
 previous summer oflf the swamps in the tract of country where 
 it was proposed to winter the cattle ; and the animals would be 
 kept grazing in other parts until the severe part of the winter ; 
 and whilst speaking of stock farming, my opinion is, that the 
 country to which I am now calling attention is not ill adapted 
 for it, while the natives would be more inclined to take to a 
 pastoral than an agricultural life. As it is at present at Red 
 River, many cattle and horses are lost every winter from the 
 people not laying in a sufficient stock of hay. 
 
 The Hudson's Bay Company now farm to a considerable 
 
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 252 
 
 RED RIVER SETTLEMENTS. 
 
 extent, and since the arrival of a Company of Rifles in 1857, 
 have imported a number of oxen from Minnesota. 
 
 Farming Operations. — The commencement of farming 
 operations depends altogether on the progress of the season, 
 but it is seldom that wheat sowing is commenced before May, 
 and it is usually cut before the end of August. The cutting 
 of hay on public land is not allowed by law to be commenced 
 before July 20, so that everyone may have an equal 
 chance. 
 
 The following extract is from a very excellent 
 article in the Edinburgh * Quarterly Ecview,' of 
 January 1859: — 
 
 Shall we then create another colony, and, starting from the 
 Rocky Mountains on the west, run along the 49th parallel to 
 Lake Superior, and then, on this base, come out of the 
 northern part of the American Continent a state extending 
 five, six, or more degi'ees of latitude to the north ? As far as 
 we can judge of the tendency of affairs this seems to be the 
 proposition which the present head of the Colonial Office is 
 most likely to entertain. It is to this country a question of 
 vast political, and of no small financial importance ; and it is 
 mainly with a view of enabling our readers to apprehend the 
 question in all its bearings, that we have spent so much space 
 in examining the preliminary details. Of the soil and climate 
 of this country we have already given some account. It is a 
 land of lakes, rivers, and morasses, with a large proportion of 
 primitive rock, and although it possesses a great deal of lime- 
 stone, which is an ordinary indication of fertility, the promise 
 is broken by the predominance of magnesia in the composi- 
 tion of the rock. Fuel is very scarce ; coal has not hitherto 
 been found. Where the land is good, as on the lower Sas- 
 katchewan, the Indians are numerous and warlike ; where the 
 land is bad, existence can only be supported by the chase 
 of a few wild animals, and by a nauseous and poisonous 
 lichen, known by the name of Tripe de la Roche. The shores 
 of the Hudson's Bay are intensely cold and miserably barren. 
 
 Ik-- 
 
RED RIVKR SETTLEMKNTS. 
 
 '263 
 
 a!i(l tliough tho climate mitigates its severity towards the 
 west, the winters appear to be colder and the summers shorter 
 than in the corresponding latitudes of Europe. Shall we 
 found a colony in this region ? The founding of a colony 
 depends upon the fiat of the Government. The success of a 
 colony depends upon its capacity to attract private enter- 
 prise. What are the inducements wliich should lead emi- 
 grants to seek their home in such a country as the Hudson's 
 Bay territory ? It is not enough to tell us that corn may be 
 grown and stock may be fed on these lands. It must also 
 be proved that there are no other lands of superior natural 
 advantages open to the choice of the emigrant. How many 
 centuries after the southern parts of Europe had been colo- 
 nised, was the eastern parts of Prussia left barren and desolate, 
 not because it was incapable of cultivation, but because more 
 tempting lands were still vacant ? There is nothing as yet, 
 and will not be for many years, any such complete occupa- 
 tion of the more fertile lands and milder climates of the 
 American Continent, as to drive settlers to the bleak and 
 dreary plains of the icy north. Virginia has to be re-colonised. 
 Pennsylvania and New York have still millions of acres of 
 fertile land ; and, further west, boundless fields of emigration 
 are offered by the States that form the valley of the Missis- 
 sippi and surround the great western lakes. Canada herself 
 has as yet very imperfectly fulfilled her mission, for the valley 
 of the mighty Ottawa, twin-brother of the St. Lawrence, which 
 with its noble tributaries forms a sort of world in itself, is 
 yet little more than a lumber station. In that vast region 
 millions upon millions of emigrants may be absorbed before 
 any one shall be driven for want of land to seek a poorer soil 
 and ruder climate a thousand miles beyond the present limits 
 of even Western civilisation. As far then as mere soil and 
 climate go, we have no reason to suppose that the colony 
 planted on the shores of Lake Winnipeg would prove suffi- 
 ciently attractive to draw settlers within its borders. It may 
 be, however, that there are some especial inducements to 
 overcome these disadvantages ; just as we see in the case of 
 Eraser's River, where the belief in the existence of gold has 
 
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254 
 
 RED RIVER SETTLEMENTS. 
 
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 been sufficient to overcome a repugnance to the floods of 
 summer, the snows of winter, the inaccessible mountains, the 
 dangerous river, and the savage Indians. The only induce- 
 ment the Hudson's Bay territory offers, is the fur trade ; and 
 even could the future colonists possess themselves of the 
 whole of that traffic, it would afford but a meagre support for 
 a very small community of English colonists, and, owing to 
 the necessary destruction of the fur-bearing animals and 
 Indians by free competition, would give that support only for 
 a limited period of time. But the truth is, that it could 
 only be after many years of severe struggle, if at all, that a 
 colony situated on the Red River or Saskatchewan would be 
 able to get any considerable footing in the fur trade, and then 
 it would probably succeed to a wasted and ruined inheritance. 
 On the vast scale of distance on which the operations of the 
 Hudson's Bay Company are carried on, a plan and concert of 
 many years, a regular organisation of posts, and a nice calcu- 
 tion of times and measures, are absolutely necessary, not 
 merely to secure commercial success, but to preserve the lives 
 of the agents of the trade. For instance, there are stations 
 on the Mackenzie River so remote, that the capital employed 
 upon them yields no return for seven years. Where is a new 
 colony to find the capital, the organisation, the intelligence, the 
 local knowledge, by which alone this wonderful triumph over 
 the most dreadful obstacles in nature is achieved ? Suppos- 
 ing these difficulties to be at length overcome ; it is very im- 
 probable the conquest would be worth the labour it had cost. 
 The Hudson's Bay Company, in consequence of the treaty of 
 1 846, were obliged to retire from the banks of the Columbia 
 River, but we never heard that they lef: to their American 
 successors a very large amount of sport in the chase of the 
 fur-bearing animal. We may, therefore, conciade that no 
 colony could maintain itself on the profits of tiie fur trade, 
 and that the notion of getting possession of it would turn out 
 to be a costly delusion. 
 
 The best proof, however, remains, and that is the fact thrJ: 
 colonists do not go to the Red River. There is nothing to 
 prevent them ; the lands are open for sale ; there is hardly 
 
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loods of 
 
 ains, the 
 
 induce- 
 
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 owing to 
 
 lals and 
 
 only for 
 
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 eritance. 
 
 as of the 
 
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 stations 
 
 mployed 
 
 is a new 
 
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 Suppos- 
 
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 RED RIVER SETTLEMENTS. 
 
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 any taxation; English law is administered by an English 
 lawyer, who, before he went to the settlement, had attained 
 the rank of Queen's Counsel in Canada ; life and property 
 are perfectly safe under the care of a detachment of Her 
 IMajesty's troops. The Company may not be zealous colo- 
 nisers, but they do, and can do, nothing to prevent settle- 
 ment, and if there were any adequate motive, we do not 
 doubt but settlement would take place. But there is no such 
 motive. The climate and soil are uninviting, and any pro- 
 duce which might be raised could only be sent to the south 
 to compete, in the overstocked markets of Minnesota, with 
 similar produce raised on the spot. The country can only 
 be reached by large bodies of persons through the United 
 States ; and it would be an unaccountable infatuation if emi- 
 grants should pass through a region where land is fertile and 
 communication is easy, to seek a home in a remote and iso- 
 lated country inferior in every respect to the unoccupied 
 lands which lie on each side of the way to it. The only in- 
 ducemert which Government could hold out to emigrants 
 would be the substitution of the rule of the Crown for the 
 management of the Company ; and, with every respect for 
 the Colonial Office, we must be permitted to doubt wLrther 
 this is a boon which would be very highly appreciated. 
 When we see how Mr. Douglas, a mere fur-trader, has been 
 able, under circumstances most trying and perplexing, with- 
 out mou'^'y, without official staff, without military help, to 
 govern, to reduce to order, to feed, and to conciliate the vast 
 mass of desperate and lawless men whom the recent gold 
 discoveries flung on the shore of Vancouver's Island, we may 
 reasonably question whether the settler would gain much by 
 the displacement of such administrators as the rough service 
 of the Hudson's Bay Company seems to train, in order to 
 make room for that peculiar class of persons who are gene- 
 rally selected to discharge responsible and onerous offices in 
 Crown Colonies. The *':ath is, a colony has already been 
 established at the Red River. It has conspicuously failed 
 tr:,.n defects of climate, position, and communication, and 
 there is no reason to think that the failure would be less 
 
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256 
 
 RED RIVER SETTLEMENTS. 
 
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 complete if the name of the Crown were substituted for that 
 of the Company. 
 
 If this subject could only be regarded without passion or 
 prejudice, and with a single view to imperial interests, the 
 solution does not appear difficult. Things are not ripe for 
 any final resolution. Canada is evidently not prepared at 
 this moment either to accept or reject the offer of the Com- 
 pany to take these lands on condition of settling and making 
 communications to them. It is a gross exaggeration to re- 
 present American settlement as having reached the boundary 
 line, and many years must elapse before the space which 
 intervenes between St. Paul's and Pembina is filled up. 
 Everything is in a state of transition and uncertainty. The 
 creation of the new colony of British Columbia points to the 
 possibility of the formation of an overland route by the 
 northern Saskatchewan. Innumerable proJ3cts for an Atlantic 
 and Pacific railroad are in the air. No one can tell what 
 form will arise out of this chaos, and until we know, it would 
 be the height of imprudence to commit ourselves to so 
 decisive and irretrievable a step as the formation of a British 
 colony which we are bound to defend at all hazards.* In 
 this state of transition and uncertainty, we have the good 
 fortune to possess in this fur company an expedient peculiarly 
 adapted to the requirements of the time. If it has no other 
 merit, it secures to us, if we are wise, time for circumspection 
 
 * * These p^^^ 6 were already in the press when the latest work on 
 the subject, Mr. Kane's "Wanderings of an Artist among the Indians 
 of British North America," reached our hands ; and we are happy 
 to find that Mr. Kane fully confirms, from his own personal obser- 
 vation, the opinion we have formed. His pencil has been employed 
 with great success to represent the wild Indian tribes of these re- 
 gions, and the wild scenery in which they dwell. He visited the 
 Red River Settlement, penetrated to Fort Assiniboine, descended the 
 Walla Walla and the Columbia, and has given us a most graphic 
 and entertaining account of the frightful country he succeeded in 
 crossing. We should be ready to rest the whole case on Mr. Kane's 
 evidence, which is really conclusive, and we strongly recommend 
 his most interesting volume to our readers.' 
 
 
THE SAN JUAN DIFFICULTY. 
 
 257 
 
 for that 
 
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 graphic 
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 )mmend 
 
 and deliberation, and saves us from the necessity of taking 
 any rash and ill-advised step. And yet all parties, agreeing 
 in nothing else, seem to have combined for the purpose of 
 destroying the corporation which at this moment renders us 
 such invaluable service. The Colonial Minister, to whom it 
 saves infinite trouble and anxiety, the Canadian Government, 
 whose frontiers it preserves in tranquillity, nay, the very 
 Aborigines Protection Society, whose duties it most efficiently 
 discharges, all combine in the wish to extinguish it. Let it 
 then be extinguished, but do not let us embark in the dan- 
 gerous and expensive folly of colonising the country on our 
 own account. Better to hand it over at once to the United 
 States, and get some credit for liberality, than wait to see it 
 wrested from us without the possibility of resistance and 
 without the grace of a concession. 
 
 I may be permitted to remark relative to the Oregon 
 Boundary dispute that the Home Government has con- 
 ducted the negotiations with the same becoming care 
 and dignity which characterised their despatches in the 
 notorious Trent affair. The administration of America 
 has told the British Government that the Island of San 
 Juan belongs to the then United States, and that it will 
 not be surrendered. All that need be said is, that if 
 the island belongs to the British Crown we shall most 
 assuredly have it ; and that if, on the other hand, it 
 rightfully belongs to her rival, England will not hesitate 
 to relinquish it. The question of right remains to be 
 settled by the commissioners appointed by the two 
 Governments under the treaty, and to violate a treaty 
 is not the way to gain honourable possession. England 
 has signally proved to the Federal Government in the 
 Trent business that she will ever maintain her honour ; 
 and she knows how to recognise the sacred obligation 
 of treaties, should others not. If certain generals of 
 notoriety in '.he American army bi-eak foith and stain 
 
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 258 
 
 THE SAN JUAN DIFFICULTY. 
 
 their country's honour, they only prove themselves in- 
 ferior to barbarians, with whom a whiff of tobacco 
 smoke, or a string of beads, gives not merely binding 
 force, but sanctity, to such obligations. Neither the 
 man nor the Government who thus sells virtue is to be 
 envied ; and what right of citizens will be deemed in- 
 violable if a state renounces the principles which consti- 
 tute their security? In respect to this San Juan affair, 
 let the people of England never forget how nearly we 
 were thrown into all the horrors of war, at a time when 
 the States were not, as now, disunited and helpless, by 
 the intemperate policy of His Excellency Governor 
 Douglas, who is Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty's 
 colony of British Columbia and its dependencies. But 
 for the arrival of Eear-Admiral Sir Eobert Baynes, 
 K.C.B., at the eleventh hour, war with America was 
 certain. This I know, having been upon the island 
 when His Excellency's commands were received. The 
 good old Admiral and the captains of his jfleet boldly 
 refused to adopt a course which would have created a 
 rupture between England and America. These noble 
 upholders of the British Flag contemplated with true 
 feeling the awful effect of the boom of cannon and the 
 roll of musketry. To the chivalry and forbearance, 
 therefore, of these wise and valiant men the two kindred 
 nations owe indeed much. It would be an unpardon- 
 able omission were I not to make special mention of 
 Captain Hornby, of the ' Tribune,' who, although under 
 the most positive instructions from the Commander-in- 
 Chief to declare war at once, took upon himself the 
 responsibility of delaying the execution of His Excel- 
 lency's commands for full two days, until tlie arrival of 
 the Admiral, vdio was daily expected. 
 
 This disputed island is held by a joint occui)ation 
 

 HOW IS BRITISH COLUJUBIA GOVTIRXED? 
 
 259 
 
 ^■•^■.i 
 
 T -M.' 
 
 with the Americans. Our force consists of 66 men of the 
 Eoyal Marines (Light Infantry), one captain and two 
 lieutenants, and one surgeon ; to which it has been re- 
 duced, by one casualty or another, from its original 
 number of 80. When the joint mihtary occupation was 
 entered upon, the American force numbered the same 
 as ours ; it is now, however, reduced to 50 men and one 
 aptain. The officer who had been in command during 
 nearly the whole period of the occupation. Captain 
 Pickett, obtained leave of absence some time back, and 
 is now serving in the Confederate army in his native 
 State of Virginia. Nothing can exceed the good feel- 
 ing and cordiality whicJri subsist between the officers and 
 men on both sides. The officers were from the first 
 continually exchanging civihties, and even warm offices 
 of friendship, whilst the men fraternised together. 
 These are very favourable circumstances, and it is 
 pleasant to record them. Indeed I have invariably 
 found the American officers of the old school gentle- 
 manly, frank, kind, good-natured fellows; and I am sure 
 they will say this much at least >^' our noble-hearted 
 officers young and old. 
 
 I am often asked how British Columbia is governed, 
 and I have as often found myself in a dilemma, know- 
 ing how individual opinions are usually received on 
 such subjects by our good folks at home. If what is 
 stated smacks of dissatisfaction, the unhesitating remark 
 commonly is, ' Oh, you are prejudiced;' and if, on the 
 other hand, it should savour of adulation, 'Oh, you are 
 surely mistaken.' However, as I entertain a very deep 
 conviction of my duty to the poor colonists in British 
 Columbia, I shall boldly declare my views in a plain 
 straightforward manner, utterly regardless of the way 
 in which they may be received by certain interested 
 
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 260 
 
 HOW IS BRITISH COLUMBIA GOVERNED? 
 
 persons, while I am fully conscious that laudatory 
 phrases would be more palatable to the pubhc. In the 
 cause of honesty and truth, however, such considera- 
 tions must be thrown aside. Agents at home, however 
 blundering, can work but limited mischief, as they are 
 instantly and easily removed from office; whilst, as I 
 well know, it is very different indeed in a distant colony. 
 
 Let us cast an eye over the sister colony of Canada, 
 — where the people are unfettered, and have the full 
 management of their own affairs. The Governor of 
 Canada is appointed by the British Crown ; so is the 
 Governor of British Columbia. In Canada the Gover- 
 nor nominates an executive council, who are presumed 
 to be his advisers; the same in British Columbia. 
 There is in Canada a legislative assembly, the members 
 of which are elected by the people and responsible to 
 the electors, as in Great Britain : but in British Colum- 
 bia there is no legislative assembly, and it was only 
 after much pressure from without that Governor Douglas 
 was compelled to nominate an executive council. 
 
 Exorbitant duties are collected, without regard to 
 commercial usage : witness the quadruped tax, which 
 was a climax in the destructive poHcy of His Excel- 
 lency, and which added 2J cents, per lb. on the neces- 
 saries of Hfe to the miner. Will it be credited that 
 sheep are charged 25. per head, cows, oxen, and horses 
 4^. 2d. per head, in a new colony where all such ani- 
 mals should have free admission, and especially where 
 so few are reared ? Unhappily many pages might be 
 thus written upon the pubhc conduct of the officer who 
 so feebly, though it may be honestly, fills the office of 
 chief ruler of British Columbia, but I prefer giving ex- 
 tracts from local newspapers and colonial letters, as 
 better exhibiting the grounds of complaint. 
 
now IS BRITISH COLUMBIA GOVERNED? 261 
 
 From a pamphlet by a merchant : — 
 
 Customs duties are collected without regard to business 
 habits or commercial usage. * The importer has no security.' 
 He may make a heavy importation and be ruined where no 
 foresight could save him. 
 
 Take the instance of liquors. At present the importer 
 pays a duty of ,^1*50 per gallon. He knows his market and 
 is prepared to pay it. Very well; he imports 10,000 gallons 
 of liquor; he pays at Westminster ^15,000 duty; but the 
 importer does not know that the absolute ruler may not 
 suddenly conceive a plan of reducing the duty to 50 cents. : 
 consequently he rises next morning a loser to the tune of 
 |flO,000. 
 
 But this instance has a bright as well as e dark side. *It's 
 an ill wind that blows nobody good.' Perhaps the absolute 
 system may raise the duty to ;^2*00. — No proper notice is 
 given on such occasions, no voice can stay the ' fiat ; ' but 
 nevertheless, some favourite speculator, posted in state mea- 
 sures, makes a bold and safe stroke, and pockets his pile ! 
 
 People of British Columbia, these things hcLve been, and are 
 going on amongst us ; where is it to end ? 
 
 From the 'Victoria Gazette : * — 
 
 The last 'Proclamation Tax' of 1^. sterling for every 
 laden quadruped starting from Douglas and Yale to and 
 towards the mining regions is a fitting climax to the destruc- 
 tive policy of the Government of, or rather out of, British 
 Columbia. 
 
 Tax after tax is being levied on that unfortunate and neg- 
 lected counti j , either with the childish idea that a gold pro- 
 ducing country may be reckoned on as good for any amount, 
 or else for some more crafty purposes which it would bafl3e 
 even Indian subtlety to comprehend, but which can never 
 stand the test of English honesty and common sense. 
 
 The r)resent tax, laying an additional burden on the miner 
 of about 2^ cents, per lb. for the necessaries of life, will at 
 once arrest any contemplated immigration and enterprise; 
 
 
 
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 now IS BRITISH COLUMBIA GOVERNED P 
 
 and if it were the avowed object of Governor Douglas to keep 
 out the mining population by any and every means, it could 
 not have been more effectually done than by the issue of a 
 ' Mule Proclamation,' at this particular juncture. 
 
 From the 'British Colonist : ' — 
 
 The meeting of Saturday night, at Assembly Hall, to con- 
 sider the 11. mule-tax, was very largely attended by an intel- 
 ligent audience. Mr. John Copland was called to the chair, 
 and Mr. Muir was appointed secretary. 
 
 Several speeches were made by gentlemen largely interested 
 in British Columbia and Vancouver's Island, and the general 
 impression seemed to be that if the former colony fell, through 
 the enormous exactions of Governor Douglas, the latter must 
 go with it. 
 
 The utmost unanimity of feeling seemed to exist, and the 
 remarks made called forth the hearty applause of all present. 
 
 During the progress of the meeting, the following resolu- 
 tions were introduced and adopted unanimously : — 
 
 Resolved, That the miners of British Columbia are the 
 bone and sinew of the colony ; that they are the only pro- 
 ducers, and the principal consumers, who pay almost all the 
 taxes, and are therefore entitled to every consideration. 
 
 Resolved, That British Columbia has been and still is most 
 incompetently, unjustly, and arbitrarily governed ; that the 
 numerous burthens and restrictions heaped on the miners, 
 and the refusal to allow the public lands to be settled on, are 
 ample proofs of this fact, and contrary to the express instruc- 
 tions from the Home Government, ' that a council of intelli- 
 gent miners should be from time to time assembled and 
 consulted with.' 
 
 Resolved, That it is totally irreconcilable with sound law 
 and common justice that one man should have the power to 
 levy taxes without the concurrence of the majority taxed, or 
 their representatives, the result of which has been to drive 
 thousands of valuable emigrants from the colony — and to 
 prevent many thousands from coming to it — while those who 
 
now IS BRITISH Columbia governed H 
 
 '2*j3 
 
 remain caunot have any attachment for it under such despotic 
 rule. 
 
 Resolved, That the tax of $5 per head on pack-mules for 
 each trip is most exorbitant and unjust, and ought to be im- 
 mediately repealed, calculated as it is to paralyse commerce 
 by driving all the miners (who would have to pay it) out of 
 the country, and thereby converting thriving towns and vast 
 fields yielding golden harvests into desolate wildernesses. 
 
 Resolved, That we deeply sympathise with our brother 
 colonists, and will use our utmost efforts in combination with 
 them to have the obnoxious pack-animal-tax immediately 
 repealed — and will likowise aid them in obtaining redress of 
 thi'iv manifold grievances. 
 
 Resolved, That while we sincerely deplore the injury done 
 to our brother colonists, we cannot be insensible to the fact 
 that the prosperity of Vancouver's Island depends chiefly on 
 that of British Columbia, and, consequently, self-preservation 
 as well as sympathy calls loudly on us for vigorous combined 
 action. 
 
 Resolved, That the obnoxious mule-tax is another added 
 to the many proofs of the need which exists for a radical 
 change in the form of Government in British Columbia, in 
 order that by the establishment of representative institutions, 
 British Columbia may become, as a colony, a worthy scion of 
 the British realm. 
 
 Resolved, That a petition to His Excellency, praying for the 
 immediate repeal of the mule-tax, be drafted and circulated 
 by a committee to be appointed by this meeting, and also that 
 said committee be authorised and requested to act in concert 
 with British Columbia, in petitioning the Home Government 
 for the immediate establishment of representative institutions 
 in that colony. 
 
 Resolved, That the committee do also take the necessary 
 measures to raise subscriptions, in order to send a delegate 
 or delegates to the Home Government, to represent the 
 grievances of the two colonies. 
 
 W. MuiR, .ToiiN Copland, 
 
 Secretary. Chairman. 
 
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 264 
 
 HOW IS BRITISH COLUMBIA GOVERNED? 
 
 There seemed to be but one sentiment prevailing in the 
 assemblage — that Governor Douglas must be removed. 
 
 The following gentlemen were appointed a committee to 
 carry out the spirit of the resolutions: — Messrs. Waddington, 
 Hicks, De Cosmos, C. B. Young, Shanks, Muir, Copland, and 
 Cooper. 
 
 The meeting adjourned about 11 o'clock, and every man 
 left the room determined to do his utmost towards defraying 
 the expense of sending one or more delegates to England with 
 a petition, asking for the immediate removal of Governor 
 Douglas. 
 
 The meeting had been announced in a most humour- 
 ous manner. A forlorn-looking mule, apparently over- 
 worked, poorly fed, and laden with the prospective 
 sorrows threatened by the tax to his race, was led 
 through the streets by a miserable-looking Indian in 
 most tattered habiliments, who with solemn step tolled 
 a tinkling bell, to draw the attention of the wandering 
 public to the following inscription which was suspended 
 at each side of his muleship : ' Mule-tax meeting to- 
 night at 7 o'clock.' But the chmax of tlie spectacle was, 
 that about the first to behold Mr. long-ears under his 
 novel burden was no less a personage than Governor 
 Douglas himself, which did more towards the abolition 
 of the obnoxious tax than a score of public meetings 
 could have effected. Truly His Excellency did ' look 
 blank.' 
 
 In a leader of the ' Colonist' we find the following : — 
 
 The prosperity of British Columbia is of importance to us 
 all, and her prosperity depends on her freedom. In this age, 
 these two things are inseparable. Anglo-Saxon blood, all the 
 world over, must and will boil at the idea of being despotically 
 ruled. * Britons never will be slaves ! ' British Columbia 
 cannot he 'peopled with a population worth having, unless 
 freedom unites with the prospect of gain, to allure c* desirable 
 
 
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now IS BRITISH COLUMBIA GOVERNED ? 
 
 265 
 
 eniigriition. Everybody, therefore, ought to feel and mani- 
 fest a warm interent in knocking off the sliackles of the sister 
 colony. And we believe that many only desire a suitcable 
 opportunity for taking part in this work of emaucipatiou. 
 Let the opportunity then be fully given. 
 
 By all means, too, let there be a delegation. It would be 
 foolish to court disappointment by trusting to transmission, 
 even though there were reason to expect, which there is not, 
 that the petitions would be sent without unfair comments. A 
 Governor so wedded to absolutiam that he will not even con- 
 sent to a council of his own choosing; so despotic that he is 
 unwilling, even in appearcmce, to divide with others the 
 power which has unfortunately fallen into his hands ; so 
 regardless of the laws of the realm, that he refuses access to 
 poll-books ; so inconsiderate as to levy taxes which have as 
 sure a tendency to repress immigration as a stone has to fall to 
 the earth; and withal so low in his estimate of British 
 Columbians that he proclaims them unfit for self-govern- 
 ment — can hardly be expected to have magnanimity enough 
 to help on their way to the Colonial Office documents that 
 may serve his own official death-warrant. Besides, a delegate 
 or delegates can gain access to royalty much more readily 
 than a petition, which can only come in its turn, and may be 
 crowded out of its turn. 
 
 To accomplish what we have barely hinted at, organisation, 
 deliberation, and thoroughness are needful. There must be 
 no hurry, no hap-hazard work. Funds will be needed, and 
 means must be taken to give all who wish to contribute an 
 opportunity of doing so. We hope that this important matter 
 will not be balked or half done. 
 
 The theory of Government and the proper repre- 
 sentation of the people has for many years puzzled the 
 heads of the ablest men in the British Parliament, and 
 even now the question of Eefonn, still unsettled, re- 
 mains a bone of contention among all parties, and is 
 the rock on which successive ministers have split. The 
 
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 HOW IS BRITISH COLUMBIA GOVERNED? 
 
 most skillful debaters, the most eloquent orators, the 
 most lucid reasoners, the most powerful statesmen, the 
 most favourite leaders, and the most popular dema- 
 gogues — some from devotion to the cause, some from 
 conviction, and others from the necessity of their 
 position, have all tried, and all tried in vain, to produce 
 a bill that will satisfy the country ; the most remark- 
 able failure was that of the great ornament of the 
 popular cause, who has long devoted one of the most 
 luminous intellects that the House of Commons ever 
 possessed, to the consideration of this great measure. 
 With so many illustrious failures before us, we did not 
 expect to receive a perfect bill from the collectivi 
 wisdom of Vancouver's Island, and we have not been 
 disappointed. The bill that has lately become a law is 
 just what we might have expected from the men who 
 passed it — narrow in its views, exclusive in its privileges, 
 and absurd in its defences. For instance, an objection 
 is taken to a voter because he was born in London of 
 an English mother but of an American father ; an 
 appeal is consequently made to the proper constituted 
 Court which holds on the Monday after the election^ 
 which has been hurried through on the Saturday ! 
 Such injustice is, however, of common occurrence in 
 that poor mifortunate place. It reminds one of the 
 Scottish system in the feudal era, titled ' Dornoch 
 Law' — 'hang first, try after.' So much for the 
 Elector ; now for the Candidate. It was announced 
 in the leading local journal, that a certain gentleman 
 whose views are altogether independent of party had 
 started as a candidate for a seat in the new House of 
 Assembly. In an editorial article the following allusion 
 to my justly popular friend was duly made — ' We sin- 
 cerely congratulate Mr. Langford, and counsel him to 
 
 
now IS BRITISH COLUMBIA GOVERNED ? 
 
 267 
 
 the 
 the 
 
 pursue the same manly course he has hitherto done — 
 to truckle to no party, neither to those in power, nor 
 to those wishing to be in power. His pubhc course up 
 to the present time has secured for him the confidence 
 of the whole community. He possesses aptitude for 
 business. He has sympathies with popular rights and 
 privileges. He will see that the pubhc moneys are 
 properly appropriated. He will set his face against 
 lavish expenditure, and raise his voice to expose inca- 
 pacity and absurd patronage in any department of the 
 Government in which it may occur. He will advocate 
 a liberal and generous policy with respect to the disposal 
 of the public lands, and against the policy to which is 
 attributed the present depressed state of this and the 
 adjoining colony. He will support the grand bulwark 
 of all our hberties — " the freedom of the press." He 
 will, as a stanch, though hberal-minded EngUshman, be 
 ever ready to maintain the honour and dignity of his 
 country, and to raise his voice against all oppression.' 
 His Excellency knew that no inducement could swerve 
 this gentleman from the path of duty, that he would 
 serve faithfully and honestly, and that such merits 
 might place the Government in a precarious and 
 difficult position. After, therefore, a most anxious and 
 serious deliberation it was agreed that the screw of the 
 Puget Sound Agricultural Company should be put in 
 requisition (Mr. Langford being one of their Farm 
 Baihffs), the result of which was that a notice appeared, 
 in which this estimable man was forced to say, ' I 
 regret that circumstances over which I have no control 
 render it imperative that I should withdraw the public 
 assent I have given to your kind request that I would 
 become a candidate for your suffrages at the approach- 
 ing election. My reasons for this course are of a 
 
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 268 
 
 now IS BRITISH COLUMBIA GOVERNED? 
 
 private nature which leave me no choice.' Never was 
 there a greater effort made by a Governor to have 
 his nominees returned to a House of Assembly than 
 that which I have witnessed, backed too by all the 
 Government officials, with Judge Begbie in the lead. 
 It is highly creditable to Colonel Moody, the Commis- 
 sioner of Lands and Works, to Captain Gossett, the 
 Treasurer, and to Mr. Brew, Commissioner of Police, 
 that they took no part whatever in this most dis- 
 graceful affair. The same influence almost crushed 
 the efforts of Mr. Cooper to get into the House of 
 Assembly because of the evidence he had given before 
 the Select Committee, which appeared in the Blue 
 Book. Mr. Cooper has been returned, and he makes 
 a good member. I have seen old men, with tears in 
 their eyes, declare that if they voted against the 
 Governor's friends they would be ruined, and the 
 servants of the Hudson's Bay Company were told in 
 very unmistakable terms that their situations depended 
 upon the way they voted. Alas ! the day has not yet 
 gone by when irresponsible autocracy can be the 
 system of Government in our colonies. When will 
 reform triumph ? Not until the Crown of England 
 gives the people of Vancouver's Island and British 
 Columbia an unprejudiced experienced ruler. 
 
 During the late election such things were done as 
 registering votes after the time allowed by law had 
 expired ; little, however, was thought of this in so 
 lawless a country. Indeed, so unscrupulous was the 
 Government clique, that they cajoled the ' Blacks,' who 
 plumped for their men, and returned them against the 
 will of the white population. This was the case in 
 Victoria, except in so far as concerned the return of 
 Mr. Cary, the Attorney-General, who is deservedly 
 
 
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 NEGRO RIOT AT THE THEATRE. 
 
 269 
 
 popular, and makes a very excellent member of the 
 House of Assembly. 
 
 Whilst upon the subject of elections, it will be 
 proper to correct the very erroneous notion circulated 
 in print by the Bishop of Columbia, who stated that 
 ' the Americans tried to obtain a majority in the local 
 ParHament to vote for annexing this colony (Vancou- 
 ver's Island) to the States. They were, however, quite 
 checked ; the finishing stroke was given by the immi- 
 gration of coloured (African) families.' It is really 
 amazing that so sensible a man should have written 
 such an absurdity. The Americans residing in these 
 colonies, with scarcely an exception, prefer the salutary 
 laws of England to those founded on the democratic 
 principle ; it excites a smile, therefore, to read what 
 the worthy Bishop has stated. Although not in any 
 way prejudiced against coloured people, yet I do think 
 that it was highly reprehensible to permit them to vote 
 on that occasion, they not having resided sufficiently 
 long in the country to give proof of their loyalty to 
 Great Britain. So late as the 3rd of last November, a 
 most serious riot occurred at the Victoria Theatre, 
 growing, as credibly stated, out of long-existing preju- 
 dices of the negroes against the whites. On the night 
 in question the negroes concerted a plan to take pos- 
 session of the reserved seats. Two negroes first forced 
 admittance to the parquette. The whites attempted 
 to expel them, and the actors jumped from the stage 
 into the parquette, to assist in the fight. The women 
 took refuge behind the scenes. A party of negroes, 
 armed with clubs, came to the rescue of their fellows, 
 when a number of whites were knocked down and 
 kicked by the negroes, and lighted lamps were thrown 
 about, setting the theatre on fire. The negroes got 
 
 
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 M*%« 
 
270 
 
 A RESIDENT GOVERNOR 
 
 
 
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 possession, and drove out the whites, but were in turn 
 repulsed. Some of the negroes had firearms. One 
 hundred negroes were engaged in this riot, and another 
 attack on the theatre was planned. By recent advices 
 we learn that the leaders in this negro riot had been 
 tried and acquitted, on the ground that the disturbance 
 was not premeditated ! It should be mentioned that 
 the negroes advocate the dangerous principle that there 
 should be no distmction of persons, and that the man- 
 agement of the theatre should not have reserved seats 
 at all. These black fellows must indeed be easily 
 offended when they fancy themselves kept aloof from 
 the holders of reserved seats by a simple passage in a 
 hall which in size more resembles our saloon omnibus 
 than a theatre. To crown all, the negro sits as a 
 juror to judge the white man whom he so bitterly 
 hates, and whom he sneers at for worshipping God. 
 There are of course exceptions, but they are few. 
 A local correspondent asks — 
 
 When will this ambitious, hollow, and treacherous ruler be 
 driven, like a Cardinal Wolsey, from the Court to obscurity, 
 and left naked to his enemies ? When the smouldering em- 
 bers, which have already begun to flicker in his Legislative 
 Assembly, shall have culminated in a blaze. The * Illustrated 
 London News' of March 17, 1860, states: *The elections of 
 representatives to serve in the New House of Assembly, of 
 Vancouver's Island, are just over, and give a very marked 
 majority in favour of the Grovernment.' This was certainly 
 the impression at the time, as every means, covert and other- 
 wise, had been used to secure a majority, and it was obtained 
 only by an overwhelming number of negro votes, having been 
 specially manufactured by His Excellency for the occasion. 
 These black fellows are so numerous that they hold the 
 balance of political power in their hands. 
 
 That affairs in British Columbia have reached a 
 
AND A LEGISLATURE WANTED. 
 
 271 
 
 crisis, any one versed in the principles of constitutional 
 government and the details of colonial history must 
 see. A crisis, however, is not necessarily a catastrophe, 
 but it may easily become one. The very means taken 
 to avert the danger may aggi'avate the evil, and hasten 
 the end, imless dictated by sound wisdom. The pru- 
 dent and most effectual course would, I think, be to 
 forward an authentic statement of the grievances under 
 which the colony groans direct to the Home Govern- 
 ment ; for never has England lent a deaf ear to the 
 cry of her children in distant lands. Two of the most 
 important essentials still wanting in the colony of 
 British Columbia are a resident Governor and a Legis- 
 lature ; without these all else is of no avail. 
 
 Many well-informed persons agree in the opinion 
 that no place is more feebly governed than British 
 Columbia, and it would excite well-grounded surprise 
 if it were otherwise. The representative of Eoyalty in 
 that region has scarcely had time, since the advent of 
 civilised beings upon the territory, to divest himself of 
 the barbarous ideas engendered by thirty years' sojourn 
 among the aborigines. 
 
 It is painfully apparent to all imder his rule, that 
 Governor Douglas is but poorly fitted to regulate the 
 affairs of a civilised community. His pubHc conduct 
 is, indeed, universally and emphatically condemned 
 by all except those who bask, or hope to bask, in the 
 sunshine of office. His Excellency promised that he 
 would use his influence with the Home Government 
 to obtain permission to give free grants of land to 
 settlers, and he maintains that he has used it, but that 
 the request was pertinaciously refused. Probably it 
 may be so ; but it is hard to believe that so desirable 
 a measure would have been refused by our usually 
 
 
 
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 272 
 
 DrSSATISPACTIOX WITH GOVERNOR DOUGLAS. 
 
 liberal Government, if the case had been fairly put. 
 Suffice it to say, that tlie deliberate opinion of the 
 bulk of the people of British Columbia is, that unless 
 Governor Douglas be recalled, and a resident Governor 
 appointed, the few remaining colonists may be expected 
 to leave, as thousands have done already. 
 
 Whilst it is conceded that the present Governor 
 possesses considerable energy, with some abiUty and 
 power of organisation, it will not be denied that he 
 owes his present position infinitely more to the patron- 
 age of a powerful company, than to any peculiar 
 qualifications for the office. From his having lived 
 beyond the pale of civilised life for more than thirty 
 years, he is, as might be supposed, sadly wanting in 
 experience, discretion, and the varied accomphshments 
 so indispensable to his high function. It is admitted 
 that, since his appointment, he has read hard for 
 information; but all the reading in the world will 
 never make a sagacious ruler, any more than the 
 reading of treaties on the art of war will make a great 
 and skillful general. He is sadly deficient in knowledge 
 of the privileges and duties of diplomatic agents, in the 
 conduct and management of negotiations, in the cour- 
 tesies of diplomacy, and in the delicacies, as particularly 
 evidenced in the San Juan difficulty, of international 
 law. His despatches, indeed, read like those of an 
 able diplomatist, but these are said to be written for 
 him by a gentleman who possesses qualifications in 
 which Governor Douglas is unhappily deficient. 
 
 It is rumoured that Colonel Moody, E.E., Chief Com- 
 missionerof Lands and Works in British Columbia, was 
 appointed Lieutenant Governor of the colony in 1858, 
 but that the appointment was afterwards cancelled, 
 at Governor Douglas' request. The colonists were 
 
 
THE GOVERNOR SHOULD RESIDE IN THE COLONY. 273 
 
 much surprised at this change, and still more that the 
 worthy colonel had not been at once raised to the 
 Governorship ; leaving Governor Douglas to preside 
 over the separate colony of Vancouver's Island, in which 
 he has lived for so many years. It is a matter of grave 
 reproach that the ruler of so extensive a territoiy as 
 British Columbia should be permitted to reside far 
 away from the colony, whilst all the other officers have 
 been compelled, by special order from Downing Street, 
 to reside on the spot. The Home Government could 
 not have been at any loss for an able and experienced 
 Governor, even if Colonel Moody had declined, whilst 
 there were such energetic and gallant men as Colonel 
 Hawkins, R.E., Commissioner of the International 
 Boundary, and Captain Gosset, E.E., Treasurer of 
 British Columbia, both so universally popular, and so 
 favourably known in several of our dependencies, 
 Austraha, New Zealand, Ceylon, &c. 
 
 Some persons attribute His Excellency's public con- 
 duct to the advice of certain persons who surround 
 him, and to his inexperience. That may be the case ; 
 and if it be, all we shall say is, that he is not *the 
 right man in the right place.' Nevertheless, there is 
 but little doubt that he fills his office honestly i (; 1 
 to the best of his ability. 
 
 Out of the scores of letters which have been pub- 
 lished relative to pubhc affiiirs in these unfortunate 
 colonies, I shall give one from the pen of a gentleman 
 of prominent and responsible position resident in Van- 
 couver's Island. Although only initialed, it is not diffi- 
 cult to recognise the writer — 
 
 h '>>i 
 
 k''k-h 
 
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 274 
 
 CHARGES AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. 
 
 ft 
 
 M"i'i.'.('' 
 
 
 Victoria, V. I., September 2, 1860. 
 
 LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS — THE FRASER RIVER TRADE BEING 
 SECURED BY THE AMERICANS. 
 
 Improvements are still going on, and our town is spreading 
 its borders with a degree of rapidity which proves that some 
 of the people of this island have not lost confidence in its 
 future prosperity. Nor is the business portion of the town 
 lagging in its show of prosperity, as far as the erection of 
 brick stores are concerned. But money matters are ex- 
 tremely tight. The collection of accounts is difficult, and no 
 one appears to be overburthened with the needful. 
 
 The shipment of goods from this port to Fraser River 
 has been very limited for many weeks past, and many of our 
 merchants wear long faces, and look rather blue, as it is 
 pretty well established that the supplies reach the upper 
 country by way of Oregon and the Dalles, and our merchants 
 and traders look with seriousness upon the state of things 
 which thus deprives them of a large amount of business. 
 
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 A TIRADE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. 
 
 But the fact is, the miserable misrule and mismanagement 
 of Government officials have, from the earliest history of this 
 country, been a curse and a drawback to the miners and 
 business men, and has prevented alike the extensive opening 
 up of the mining districts and the establishment of a large 
 and profitable mercantile business on this island. And there 
 is no room for surprise that men who have suffered so much 
 from their ruler's acts, should so loudly condemn the men 
 who have used their official position and prerogatives to 
 thwart, circumscribe, and limit the prosperity of the whole 
 country. Whether this is the result of ignorance or design, 
 it matters not. The ruinous effect upon the country and its 
 people is the same. 
 
 The Government, from its head to its feet, from beginning 
 to end, is lame and feeble, and the whole body does not com- 
 bine the intelligence of one single smart statesman. The 
 principal office is but feebly, though it may be honestly filled. 
 
 W 
 
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I ' 
 
 SERVILITY IN THE COIONIAL LEGISLATTRR. 
 
 '275 
 
 and the subordinate officers are a common reproach to the 
 people of the country Nearly all the appointeeH are men 
 who have been sent out here from the mother Government, 
 as broken down gentlemen'H sons, half-pay, useless officers at 
 homes, or something of that sort, possessing but few, if any, 
 of the requisite qualifications to commend them to position 
 and favour. Most of them come with piles of letters of re- 
 commendation, and the colonial offices are mostly filled by men 
 who have the largest amount of letter qualifications, and who, 
 be it said with soitow, in too many instances enjoy no recom- 
 mendation beyond what they carry in their pockets. There 
 may be a few exceptions to this sweeping review, but they 
 are too few essentially to modify what I have said. Taking 
 the officials as a whole, they possess scarcely mediocral intel- 
 lect, and far less statesmanship or business qualifications. I 
 have mixed with them sufficient to know that what I 
 say is true, and I doubt whether there is a country 
 under civilised government, where there is less ability dis- 
 played in the departments of government than here. Judi- 
 cious, wise, and able men are not sought after for govern- 
 ment offices. Those who will and do become the subservient 
 tools of the powers that be, are the men most suited for the 
 purposes, and are placed in those positions which should be 
 filled by men of information, intelligence, and experience. 
 This we see demonstrated in a thousand instances, and has 
 brought down many a curse upon the heads of our rulers. 
 
 \{'A|| 
 
 
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 > ' 
 
 THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES — ITS MAINSPRING. 
 
 We have a truthful illustration of this in the House of 
 Representatives. There we find the Government party rul- 
 ing and controlling the destinies of the colonies with merci- 
 less hands. They are in the majority, and dishonourably and 
 dishonestly so, and yet they have not done aught to benefit 
 their constituents. The first act has not yet transpired, to 
 further the interest of the country at large or the town of 
 Victoria. So far, tb y have mainly legislated to oppress the 
 people, by voting large and unnecessary salaries, and creat- 
 ing offices for which there was no necessity; but this is one 
 
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276 INCONSISTENCY OF TIIK GOVEHNMENT PARTY. 
 
 
 of their consisteiicieH. When they nre anked to legislate for, 
 or pay a just demand, repair roada, bridges, &c., the answer 
 is, * the colony is too poor — we have no money ^^ &c. ; but if 
 there can be a fat office made, to open the door for His Ex- 
 cellency to shove some particular favourite or friend in, at a 
 fine salary — all right ; the colony is not too poor for that. 
 . . . . But you may think lam indulging in personalities. 
 Not so. I have no personal ends to serve, and only write 
 from what I see and know. And the conduct of the House 
 of Assembly fully bears me out in my assertions; for the 
 complexion of the House being fully Government, the faults 
 and features thereof are attributable to that quarter. There 
 is one main moving spring in the House, Mr. Gary. With 
 him, or by his consent, all measures on the Government side 
 originate. He does the most of the talking, and at his nod 
 and wink, his automata vote and act. There are men in that 
 House who I believe have not done a single act or thought a 
 thought, without consulting their master. They are bound 
 to him, and would no more dare to oppose him than they 
 would thrust their hand into the fire. And yet this is not 
 BO because of any particular excellence on the part of him 
 whom they obey that they are incompetent, but that they 
 lack the integrity and manliness to oppose one, because he 
 holds a controlling influence at the seat of Government. . . . 
 
 
 INCORPORATION OP VICTORIA — PUBLIC MEETING. 
 
 Last night there was a mass meeting held in the Colonial 
 Theatre, to discuss the question of incorporating the town of 
 Victoria. A number of speeches were made, which in the 
 aggregate amounted to but very little. There is never any- 
 thing effected by mass meetings in this town, for the reason 
 that those who have a right to participate (British subjects 
 only) do not appear to understand how to manage the affair, 
 and generally there is so much thrown in, done and said, 
 foreign to the subject in view, that in almost every instance 
 the meeting fails of accomplishing its object. I have seen 
 more hubbub and disorder in public meetings here than I 
 ever before witnessed anywhere. So, last night, there was 
 
 
 
'V.' 
 
 INCORl'ORATIOX OF VICTORIA. 
 
 277 
 
 liut little Haiti to any purposi?. The great object aimed at 
 was lost Hight of in * around Robin Hood's barn ' speeches. 
 There could have been more said to the point in fifteen 
 minutes, than was said in hours last evening. The object of 
 the meeting was a good one, and it would be well for Victoria 
 the project of incorporation could be consummated, for the 
 town needs what it has not — a competent government. 
 Months have been spent in the House, talking about the 
 matter ; but nothing has been accomplished. Whether the 
 mass meeting will help the matter along or no, remains to be 
 seen. Had it taken the right direction, it would have proved 
 beneficial to that measure. But I have never seen any suc- 
 cess attend such meetings, unless all invidious distinctions 
 between persons and parties were laid aside, and the one 
 grand object of the meeting attended to. 
 
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 ODDS AND ENDS. 
 
 The past three days have been the forerunners of winter. 
 Rain and mud in abundance. I am inclined to think that 
 this will be a hard winter here. 
 
 The river steamers now being built, and of which I wrote 
 you last, are progressing finely. The Hunt is the only boat 
 now running to Fraser River. 
 
 There is considerable said about the mines, And the rich 
 discoveries ; but I have as yet seen none of the undoubted 
 proofs. Letters, expressmen, traders, and samples of gold, 
 are not good authorities for me. Large shipments of dust, 
 and plenty of money, are the only legitimate evidences of a 
 rich country above. And when you take into consideration 
 that there are thousands of white men, and more thousands 
 of Chinamen, in the gold fields of British Columbia, and com- 
 pare the amount of gold received, the matter looks small. 
 
 We are blessed with * shin plasters ' here, issued by the 
 British Bank of North America. They are for $1 and up- 
 wards — U. S. currency, not I. s. d. 
 
 Since my last, there have been several more absconding 
 debtors escaped, with amounts varying from )$500 to ^2,000. 
 
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 278 
 
 ATTEMPT TO SILENCE THE PRESS. 
 
 The steamer which left last Monday carried away three that 
 I know of, one of whom owed board to the sum of ^200. 
 Two mechanics have thus left, as the result of taking work 
 too low. J. E. W. 
 
 I have been, and ever shall be, a friend to the free- 
 dom of the press, although often the venal companion 
 of liberty, believing that without it there would be no 
 liberty. An occurrence took place in these colonies a 
 little while ago, involving thj freedom of the people, 
 and arousing an intense feeling of indignation in their 
 breasts. His Excellency issued a proclamation en- 
 forcing obsolete English statutes, in the hope of stran- 
 gling the Victoria ' Colonist,' for no other reason than 
 because its columns set forth unvarnished truths re- 
 specting the management of the colonies. The jour- 
 nalist had refused to be bribed by the offer of the 
 government printing, had despised patronage in ex- 
 change for integrity, and preferred freedom to the 
 fetters of despotism. The scandalous attempt at sup- 
 pression only increased the success of the paper, whicli 
 continues to be conducted in the same manly and 
 independent spirit, contending more vigorously and 
 fearlessly for the rights and the liberties of the people. 
 The colonists met en masse, and subscribed the re- 
 quired bonds for 800/., to satisfy the terms of the 
 proclamation, and to enable the ' Colonist ' to exist, and 
 lay more naked to the world the arbitrary actions of 
 the chief ruler, which were worked out under the 
 guise of instructions from the British Government. It 
 marks an era in the history of the colony, the people 
 meeting together to assert their rights and support 
 their champion. It proves that ' Britons never will be 
 slaves,' even to such nabobs as were for a few short 
 moments idly congratulating themselves on the sup- 
 
GAGGING THE GOVERNMENT AUCTIONEER. 
 
 279 
 
 pression of a small newspaper, whose only strength 
 lay in the unvarnished truths which its pages told. 
 We are entitled to believe, from the desperate efforts 
 made to fetter the press, that opinion, almost univer- 
 sally, is hostile to the iniquitous and absolute rule under 
 which British Columbia and Vancouver's Island groan. 
 It is to be hoped, therefore, for the salvation of these 
 helpless dependencies, that the Government of the 
 mother-country may not exhibit any longer that extra- 
 vagant indulgence which has hitherto characterised it. 
 It is not only unjust to turn a deaf ear to the cry of 
 an oppressed people, but it is also unwise. Was it not 
 a powerful evidence of the feelings of the colonists of 
 British Columbia that they should have but the other 
 day trampled under foot the special mandate of His 
 Excellency to the government auctioneer to sell certain 
 lots of land at New Westminster ; should have hooted 
 and kicked the public officer from off the rostrum, and 
 have sent him gagged to Victoria, without his having 
 been permitted to sell so much as a single lot ? Can it 
 be denied, even by those who can deny anything and 
 everytliing, that this conduct of the people of British 
 Columbia took place in the presence of Chief Com- 
 missioner of Lands and Works, Moody ; Chief Justice 
 Begbie ; Attorney-General Cary ; Chief Commissioner 
 of Police Brew ; Treasurer Gossett, and a host of 
 other officials, and within gun-range of the military 
 camp ? Let us all bear in mind that ' truth is stranger 
 than fiction,' and ' false friends are worse than bitter 
 enemies.' 
 
 British Columbia wants a Governor of colonial ex- 
 perience, who will leave agriculture, commerce, and 
 manufactures unshackled. 
 
 It is painful to be constrained to speak in such terms 
 
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280 
 
 BRITISH COLUMBIA — ENGLAND. 
 
 
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 iWL -'^ 
 
 of so high an official, but the importance of his func- 
 tions renders it necessary, and justice to the colonies 
 under his rule demands it. 
 
 We who live in England ought to thank God that 
 instead of the dagger and the secret oath, to remedy 
 wrongs and destroy tyranny, we have more effective 
 weapons in absolute freedom of speech and pen. Men 
 in other lands will talk and grumble and conspire in 
 secret against oppression ; but in no country under the 
 sun are grievances so openly denounced, and wrongs so 
 speedily and so surely remedied, as in dear old Eng- 
 land. Through the noble freedom of her press, false- 
 hood is refuted, fallacies exposed, and error corrected, 
 hardships ended, and true hberty obtained. It ought 
 never to be forgotten that conspiracies and secret 
 unions may overthrow an individual tyrant, but cannot 
 make a free people. England is at the present day 
 the most glorious illustration of freedom. Her insti- 
 tutions are the results of the onward march of ages, 
 and her language is the only tongue in which hberty 
 deigns to speak. 
 
 ■' ■ ^^li 1 
 
 <v'': „ '■ 
 
 
281 
 
 ■■■#1 
 
 CHAPTEE IX. 
 
 Emigration an important feature in the Colonial Policy of England — 
 Land the safest Investment for Capital — A glance at our other 
 Colonies — Copious Immigi-ation of Chinese — The Chinese a strange 
 Race — Account of a Wedding — Account of a Chinese Dinner — 
 Civilisation and the English People — Crown Lands of Canada and 
 Australia — Writings of a Clergyman on British Columbia — Financial 
 condition of the Colony — Public Loans — No brighter Picture can be 
 presented — Decimal Currency should be adopted in the Colony — 
 Consumption of Merchandise — Population of British Columbia and 
 Vancouver's Island — The bright side of the Picture. 
 
 Emigration has always been, and will continue to be, 
 an important feature in the colonial policy of England. 
 To people her vast territories with her own hardy and 
 indefatigable race, planting new bulwarks against ig- 
 norance and despotism, will always be Great Britain's 
 grandest work. Whilst thousands have been sent to 
 other colonies, none have been sent to British Colum- 
 bia, and it is fortunate for themselves that they have 
 not, because the men required in British Columbia are 
 those with small means, who will become the support 
 of the colony at once, and not labourers who form the 
 class which the Government usually sends out to the 
 dependencies of the Crown. 
 
 Whether it be right or wrong to induce emigration 
 to British Columbia, one thing is very certain, that if a 
 healthy stream of immigration does not set in from the 
 United Kingdom immediately, the colony must sink 
 into utter insignificance. Whilst ol'ier dependencies of 
 the Crown receive, season after season, a large accession 
 
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 282 LAND THE SAFEST INVESTMENT FOR CAPITAL. 
 
 to their population, and with it a share of the wealth, 
 intelligence, and industry of the mother-country, British 
 Columbia rarely adds even one to her already very 
 limited population. There must be some cause for 
 this, and the cause appears to be that the greater por- 
 tion of the country is wholly unsuited to agricultural 
 purposes, and further depressed by an illiberal land 
 policy. 
 
 In every portion of the world land is looked upon as 
 the safest and best investment for capital; but the effect 
 of such investment on the general prosperity is different 
 in an old and new community. In the former the 
 capital invested is appropriated so as to increase, in 
 the latter to diminish, the opportunities for reproduc- 
 tive employments. The land is the raw material ; the 
 capital, or labour which might be bought with it, the 
 productive power ; if then, the raw material is dimi- 
 nished for present purposes, and the productive power 
 employed in such diminution, it is obvious that the 
 system of investment in land by the capitaHst retards 
 the progress of the colony, and will continue to do so, 
 until the evil shaU have grown to such a head as to 
 cure itself. 
 
 A most striking example of this is shown in the 
 short history of Vancouver's Island. Of the 75,000 
 acres of land purchased for cash, three-fourths at least 
 are held by speculators, merely for the purpose of ob- 
 taining a rise in price. This land has been bought by 
 the present holders at the average price of 1/. per acre. 
 56,200Z. therefore, of the capital, or productive power 
 of the community, are, so far as the present colonists 
 are concerned, utterly destroyed. 
 
 It is apparent to any person travelling througli 
 British Columbia, however strange the circumstance, 
 
 f M 
 
 11! 
 
> 
 
 BRITISH COLUMBIA AND CANADA. 
 
 283 
 
 that although the population is small, and the produc- 
 tion of gold considerable, yet a deep undercurrent of 
 wretchedness and poverty pervades the country. More- 
 over, there is no employment for the labouring man, 
 and the lands are closed against the very people who 
 should cultivate them. The much talked of prosperity 
 is all a fable. Would that it could be said with truth 
 that in a few years 'the wilderness would blossom as 
 the rose,' and huge forest trees give place to thriving 
 cities and towns ! 
 
 It is really difficult to say who should emigrate to 
 British Columbia ; but not so much so to name the 
 classes who ought not. It may be said, therefore, that 
 for mechanics and artisans the field of employment is 
 very limited indeed, and for unskilled labour there is 
 no demand whatever. Great numbers of mechanics 
 and labourers are going about idle, consequently dis- 
 tress is daily on the increase. There must ever be a 
 drawback to this colony as a field for immigration, 
 owing to the want of employment during the winter 
 months ; and it would be cruel and unfair to intending 
 emigrants not to state that not one half have been able 
 to find any kind of employment by which to earn a 
 livelihood. 
 
 The following estimate of the comparative merits of 
 British Columbia and Canada as fields of immigration, 
 extracted from the 'Canadian News,' of April 10, 
 1862, will be read with interest : — 
 
 In the course of our last week's article we remarked upon 
 the great superiority of Canada as a field for immigration, 
 when compared with the newly discovered but, as yet, very 
 imperfectly described gold fields upon the western slope of 
 the Rocky Mountains. We cannot deny, could reliance be 
 placed upon the glowing descriptions with which we have so 
 
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 284 
 
 BRITISH COLUMBIA AND CANADA. 
 
 recently been favoured by the promoters of British Colum- 
 bian emigration, that we should expect to see the tide of 
 British emigrants speedily turned towards this new land of 
 promise ; but, in the mean time, we have no fear of the emi- 
 gration to ourBritish North American Atlantic colonies being 
 in any perceptible degree retarded. We maintain, in the 
 absence of all reliable and official information such as that, 
 for example, aflforded by the Government of Canada in regard 
 to that province, that it is incumbent upon intending emi- 
 grants, especially those with families, to weigh well their 
 prospects of success in this last discovered El Dorado. As 
 distance lends enchantment to the view, it is by no means 
 unlikely that intervening objects, probably far more worthy 
 of attention, may escape notice altogether. At present it 
 must be confessed that we know little or nothing of that vast 
 tract of country on the west side of the Rocky Mountains, and 
 stretching away to the Pacific, beyond some accounts which 
 have lately reached us of a very extraordinary character as 
 respects the quantity of gold to be had for the picking up ; 
 but we do know something of the Canadian expanse of terri- 
 tory on the opposite side of the continent. We know that 
 that country possesses within itself unlimited sources of 
 ever-increasing wealth, with healthy climate, representative 
 Government, and a total absence of all burdensome taxation. 
 These are advantages not to be outweighed by a stake in 
 the gold-field lottery — a speculation in which to every prize 
 there are so many, many blanks — where success is mainly 
 dependent upon chance, and when attained is but too often 
 achieved by the loss of that health and manly vigour so re- 
 quisite for the enjoyment of a hard-earned competence. Nor 
 can we imagine any prudent father subjecting his family to 
 the great fatigue, numberless risks, dangers, and privations 
 to be undergone previous to and during his settlement in the 
 gold districts, when, at far less expense and in much shorter 
 time, by honest industry he may see them comfortably settled 
 in a land not only civilised but overflowing with plenty. To 
 farmers and agricultural labourers, Canada holds out the 
 strongest inducements. Labour is scarce, and the labourer 
 
BRITISH COLUMBIA AND CANADA. 
 
 m 
 
 may calculate upon certain remunerative employment — 
 whilst those in possession of a little capital will find ample 
 means for its safe and very remunerative employment. 
 
 We learn from the report of the Canadian labour market 
 just issued by the Bureau of Agriculture at Quebec much 
 valuable information on this point. This document embodies 
 the answers to an interrogative circular distributed throughout 
 the counties of Upper and Lower Canada, and, with a pamphlet 
 which accompanies it, is intended for extensive circulation 
 throughout tliis country. Copies may be had gratis on ap- 
 plication to the Government Agents now in this country, and at 
 the Grand Trunk Railway offices, 21 Old Broad Street, London. 
 
 In dealing with the statistics we will extract only those 
 which relate to agricultural employments; for, although good 
 openings for artisans are to be found in the many rising 
 towns and villages in the rural districts, still the men more 
 especially wanted at the present time are agricultural 
 labourers. The late abundant harvest enables the farmers 
 who have reaped the benefit of it largely to increase their 
 number of farm hands, whilst those who have a small amount 
 of capital, and are prepared to purchase farms and settle on 
 lands of their own, may speedily turn to account the fertile 
 acres which are theirs at a merely nominal price. From the 
 returns before us we find that 97 out of 116 municipalities 
 in Upper Canada, and 24 out of 71 parishes or municipalities 
 in Lower Canada, are in absolute want of both male and 
 female labour. The total number of emigrants returned as 
 immediately required is as follows : — 
 
 
 Farm 
 Labourers 
 
 Female 
 Servants 
 
 Boys 
 over 13 
 
 Girls 
 over IS 
 
 Eighty-four municipalities of Upper 
 Canada, north of the St. Law- 
 rence and north and west of Lake 
 Ontario, re<]^uire .... 
 
 Thirteen municipalities on the Ot- 
 tawa River, €pper Canada 
 
 Twenty-four municipalities or par- 
 ishes in Lower Canada 
 
 Total 
 
 6,071 
 449 
 393 
 
 4,203 
 244 
 447 
 
 2,565 
 192 
 420 
 
 2,583 
 201 
 
 408 
 
 6,913 
 
 4,894 
 
 3,177 
 
 8,192 
 
 
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286 
 
 BRITISH COLUMBIA AND CANADA. 
 
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 And not only do we see that 18,176 additional hands are 
 imperatively needed, but we find the following high scale of 
 wages is offered to them: — 
 
 Farm labourers 40«. to 60s. per month, with board and lodging. 
 Female servants 12s. Gd. to 175. 6d. do. do. 
 
 Boys over 13 9s. to 40s. do. do. 
 
 Girls do. 5s. to 15s. do. do. 
 
 And, when it is borne mind that the labourer always gets 
 as good board as his master, it must be allowed that the 
 invitation to an agricultural or other labourer is as tempting 
 as it well can be. 
 
 But certain employment and high wages are merely the 
 leading items in a long catalogue of advantages presented to 
 the attention of the intending emigrant. The means of ac- 
 cess to Canada are both easy and inexpensive, whilst to British 
 Columbia they are circuitous, ill-regulated, and costly. The 
 additional time which would be consumed in reaching the gold 
 fields would be sufficient for the purchase of a Canadian farm, 
 whilst the passage -money saved would go a long way towards 
 stocking it. The time wasted in testing various claims until 
 a fruitful one be found would, in nine cases out of ten, enable 
 the settler to build his house, if not to clear the tenth portion 
 of his land, the cultivation of which was the leading stipula- 
 tion of his free grant or purchase ; for, be it remembered, 
 that free lands cannot be acquired in Canada by private com- 
 panies, or for the purposes of speculation, without the regu- 
 lar conditions of so many acres being annually cleared upon 
 each lot being fulfilled. Again, supposing the gold-digger to 
 draw a prize in the lottery, how often is it his miserable lot 
 * to have plenty of gold, but nothing to eat ? * The same 
 account which recently informed us of the rapidly acquired 
 fortunes at the mines, told us also of the privations of the 
 miners — the common necessaries of life, and these of the 
 worst quality, being hardly obtainable, and then only at ex- 
 orbitant prices. How different this from Canada, where every 
 village has its road, its post-office, its school, and probably 
 its telegraph, if not its railway station ; where, even in the 
 
,.t ■l"l 
 
 A GLANCE AT OUR OTHER COLONIES. 
 
 287 
 
 depth of winter, flour is to be had at from lOa. to 12s. per 
 cwt., and beef and mutton at from 2^d. to 5d. per lb. ; and 
 where the means of commimication afford even to the re- 
 motest hamlet a ready market for every portable product of 
 the farm. Whilst gold-fields are ever more or less the scene 
 of lawlessness and dissensions, Canadians are justly said to 
 enjoy more thorough rational freedom than any other people 
 in the world; the management of their own affairs being, 
 through the wisdom of the mother-country, entirely in their 
 own hands. The father, who in British Columbia must 
 expect to see his children reared in the midst of vice and 
 ignorance, the invariable concomitants of mob law and an 
 unsettled state of society, will find in Canada upwards of 
 4,000 capital schools, with free libraries attached, supported 
 partly by the Government, partly by self-imposed taxation, 
 and partly by a small capitation fee. WTiat volumes this one 
 fact speaks for the future of our Transatlantic colony, well 
 described as *the brightest gem in England's territorial 
 
 crown 
 
 f ' 
 
 A glance at other British colonies may not be unin- 
 teresting, especially as we learn from the valuable re- 
 ports issued by Her Majesty's Emigration Commissioners 
 that since 1815 to 1858 inclusive, 4,797,166 persons 
 have migrated from the British Isles. Of these 1,180,046 
 went to the North American colonies, 2,890,403 to the 
 United States, 652,910 to the Australian group of colo- 
 nies, and 73,807 to other localities. The annual average 
 from 1815 to 1858 was 109,026, and for the ten years 
 ending 1858, 261,865. 
 
 Of the Irish emigrants of 1857, 76-60 per cent, went 
 to the United States, 5*17 to British North America, 
 and 17 '8 9 to Australia. 
 
 As the sums of money remitted by settlers for assist- 
 ing emigration of friends, is one of the most substantial 
 evidences of prosperity, and as it goes to show that 
 those who proceeded thither are satisfied with their 
 
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288 
 
 A GLANCE AT OUR OTHER COLONIES. 
 
 
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 condition, a statement of the amounts sent home by 
 settlers in North America to their friends in the United 
 Kingdom from 1848 to 1858, both inclusive, may be 
 given. It amounted to the large sum of 9,937,000/. 
 In the face of such a powerful fact it would be idle to 
 utter one word in favour of that country. 
 
 Let it not be supposed that none of those who emi- 
 grate ever return. For in the year 1857 there returned 
 to the United Kingdom 18,839, equal to 8*84 per cent, 
 of the emigration ; and of these 16,721 came from 
 America. 
 
 The emigration to Australia in 1857 amounted to 
 61,248 souls, being an increase, as compared with 1855, 
 of 8,939, and as compared with 1856, of 16,664. Of 
 these there were sent out by the Government Emigra- 
 tion Board, at the expense of colonial funds, 24,762 ; 
 and 36,486 emigrated at their own expense. Their 
 distribution was — 
 
 To New South Wales 
 Victoria 
 
 South Australia . 
 Western Australia 
 Tasmania . 
 New Zealand 
 
 10,379 
 
 40,921 
 
 3,646 
 
 382 
 
 2,113 
 
 3,807 
 
 The population of New South Wales on January 1, 
 1857, amounted to 286,873, of which there were 
 161,822 males and 124,991 females. 
 
 The population of Victoria on March 29, 1857, 
 amounted to 403,419, of which 258,116 were males 
 and 145,303 females. 
 
 The population of South Australia on January 1, 
 1857, consisted of 53,086 males and 51,622 females. 
 Total 104,708. 
 
 The population of Tasmania on March 31, 1857, 
 
A OI^XCE AT OUR OTHER COLONIES. 
 
 2S9 
 
 home by 
 le United 
 }, may be 
 937,000/. 
 be idle to 
 
 who emi- 
 
 ; returned 
 
 per cent. 
 
 ime from 
 
 Dunted to 
 rith 1855, 
 ,664. Of 
 t Emigra- 
 >, 24,762 ; 
 le. Their 
 
 10,379 
 40,921 
 
 3,646 
 382 
 
 2,113 
 
 3,807 
 
 muary 1, 
 jre were 
 
 J9, 1857, 
 ire males 
 
 [nuary 1, 
 females. 
 
 Il, 1857, 
 
 including 600 military, was 81,402, of whom tlicni 
 were 45,916 males and 34,886 females. 
 The total revenue in 1858 : — 
 
 New South Wules . 
 Victoria . 
 South Australia 
 Western Australia (1857) 
 Tasmania (1857) 
 
 £1, 422,4 nr» 
 
 3,039,791 
 
 715,401 
 
 40,923 
 
 423,973 
 
 These large revenues speak volumes in favour of 
 that marvellous colony of boundless wealth, and of 
 unceasing prosperity, and we may very safely say 
 of unexampled progress. 
 
 The land revenue alone in New South Wales 
 amounted in 1858 to 402,472/. ; and in Victoria to 
 3,039,701/. 
 
 The imports into the colony of New South Wales 
 in 1857 were valued at 6,729,408/. The exports at 
 4,011,952/. 
 
 Among the exports the value of wool was 1,275,067/. ; 
 tallow, 82,134/. ; gold, 1,101,448/. 
 
 The quantity of gold exported from Victoria and 
 New South Wales in 1857 was valued at 10,087,591/. ; 
 and in the first six months of 1858 at 5,119,069/. In 
 these mines a number of steam engines are employed. 
 In May 1858 there were as many as 282, and of 
 puddling machines 4,256. 
 
 The imports of South Australia in 1857 amounted 
 to 1,623,052/. ; and the exports in the same year to 
 1,958,572/. 
 
 The quantity of stock in the colony on December 
 31, 1857, was estimated at — 
 
 Sheep and lambs 
 Cattle . 
 Horses 
 
 2,075,805 
 
 310,400 
 
 2G,220 
 
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 A (}I<A\CK AT OUR OTIIKR ("()!.( »MKS. 
 
 
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 Tlicrc was expended in public works in 1857 no less 
 a sum tiian 335,313/., and the quantity of land alienated 
 from Januaiy 1 to June 30, 1858, was 79,009 acres, 
 and the amount realised 100,502/. 
 
 The followinjT land statistics show the number of 
 acres of land contained in the colony of Victoria ; 
 areas surveyed, sold, leased, and open to purchase by 
 selection ; and average price per acre : — 
 
 1. Total number of acres contained in the colony of Vic- 
 toria, 55,f)44,U)0. 2. Number of acres surveyed to December 
 31, 1859, r>,(;y 1,481 Ir. 2p. 3. Number of acres sold, and 
 avora'^o price per acre — town, 10,28 la. Or. 25p., 196/. 3s. 8^/.; 
 suburban, I94,79()a. Ir. 14p., 0/. On. lb/.; country, 3,296,518a. 
 2r. 6p., 1/. lis. 9(1. 4. Number of acres leased, and aver- 
 ago rent per acre — 2H, 675,829a., 25-28ths of a farthing. 
 5. Number of acres open to selection on March 24, 1860, and 
 average price — 259,630a. Ir. 27p., 1/. Os, 9(/. The second, 
 moved for l)y Mr. Mitchel, shows the number of acres of 
 country lands sold at the upset price of 1/. per acre, and over 
 \I. per acre, (huing the years 1857, 1858, and 1859, and to 
 March 31, 1860, with the amount realised for that over 1/. 
 per acre, as follows: — 1857, 261,851a. Ir. 22p., at 1/. per 
 acre; 221,559a. Ir. 2p., over 1/. per acre; total, 510,752/. 
 15s. lid. 1858, 126,867a. 2r. lOp., at 1/. per acre; 122,280a. 
 3r. 31p., over 11. per acre; total 276,225/. 3s. 2d. 1859, 
 312,784a. Or. 25p., at 1/. per acre; 138,839a. 3r. 24p., over 
 1/. per acre ; total, 306,987/. 5s. 10c/. From January 1 to 
 March 31, 1860 (the items for this period are only approx- 
 imate, as many of the final returns of lands purchased at 
 auction in March are not yet due), 53,080a. 3r. 13p., at 1/. 
 per acre; 18,644a. Or. 35p., over 1/. per acre; total 35,862/. 
 2s. lid. Grand totals, 754,583a. 3r. 30p. at 1/. per acre; 
 501,315a. Ir. 12p. over 1/. per acre; total amount, 1,129,827/. 
 7s. lOd. 
 
HOME CONSUMPTION OP MELnoURNK. 
 
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 292 
 
 EXrORTATIOX OF GOLD FROM AUSTRALIA. 
 
 Exports of gold monthly from the beginning of 
 1852 to the close of 1859. Previously to 1852 only 
 145,146 oz. had been exported : — 
 
 
 1852. 
 
 1853. 
 
 1854. 
 
 1855. 
 
 
 Oz. 
 
 Oz. 
 
 Oz. 
 
 Oz. 
 
 January .... 
 
 160,476 
 
 265,662 
 
 178,148 
 
 180,917 
 
 February 
 
 
 
 
 152,662 
 
 189,078 
 
 20(5,286 
 
 187,274 
 
 March 
 
 
 
 
 107,406 
 
 100,4.'i0 
 
 232,011 
 
 1.36,653 
 
 April . 
 
 
 
 
 92,512 
 
 147,941 
 
 116,077 
 
 320,906 
 
 May . 
 
 
 
 
 94,975 
 
 169,641 
 
 237,145 
 
 1,32,715 
 
 June . 
 
 
 
 
 152,242 
 
 170,200 
 
 146,756 
 
 235,213 
 
 July . 
 
 
 
 
 179,411 
 
 185,7.30 
 
 200,669 
 
 199,933 
 
 August 
 
 
 
 
 172,090 
 
 223,129 
 
 144,183 
 
 291,626 
 
 September 
 
 
 
 161,188 
 
 318,974 
 
 173,280 
 
 253,986 
 
 October . 
 
 
 
 248,.'}9(J 
 
 175,269 
 
 82,217 
 
 232,707 
 
 Noyember 
 
 
 
 322,550 
 
 156,021 
 
 139,248 
 
 262,637 
 
 December 
 
 
 
 131,162 
 
 334,964 
 
 288,673 
 
 142,172 
 
 Totals . . . 
 
 1,974,975 
 
 2,497,723 
 
 2,144,699 
 
 2,576,745 
 
 
 1656. 
 
 1857. 
 
 18-58. 
 
 1859, 
 
 
 Oz. 
 
 Oz. 
 
 Oz. 
 
 Oz. 
 
 January .... 
 
 319,550 
 
 ,306,001 
 
 206,796 
 
 184,403 
 
 Febmary. 
 
 
 
 219,537 
 
 188,565 
 
 220,766 
 
 182,562 
 
 March . 
 
 
 
 82(5,740 
 
 212,957 
 
 224,717 
 
 200,654 
 
 April . . 
 
 
 
 282,566 
 
 250,030 
 
 171,891 
 
 188,367 
 
 May . . 
 
 
 
 238,824 
 
 164,571 
 
 240,314 
 
 169,971 
 
 June . . 
 
 
 
 196,503 
 
 161,353 
 
 175,002 
 
 240,634 
 
 July . . 
 
 
 
 127,326 
 
 247,886 
 
 235,287 
 
 182,909 
 
 August . 
 
 
 
 329,020 
 
 197,452 
 
 238,583 
 
 213,372 
 
 September 
 
 
 
 242,929 
 
 249,926 
 
 187,102 
 
 223,4-44 
 
 October . 
 
 
 
 207,533 
 
 329,325 
 
 221,610 
 
 102,885 
 
 Noyember 
 
 
 
 15.3,722 
 
 223,922 
 
 235,893 
 
 186,805 
 
 December . 
 
 
 
 359,556 
 
 197,661 
 
 179,015 
 
 204,614 
 
 Totals , 
 
 
 • 
 
 3,003,811 
 
 2,729,655 
 
 2,536,983 
 
 2,280,525 
 
 Down to Midsummer last, reckoning from May 1851, 
 the immense quantity of 25,081,468 ounces of gold had 
 been exported from Victoria and New South Wales. 
 The value of this addition to the gold in use in the 
 world was upwards of 96,000,000/. 
 
 S!? 
 
EXTENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN COLONY. 
 
 293 
 
 It may well be said that Australia is the greatest of 
 our colonies, when its surface contents are little less 
 tlian thi-ee millions of square miles, not far short of 
 the size of Europe. Some persons may perhaps better 
 understand its extent, when it is stated that it contains 
 about two thousand milhons of square acres of land. 
 A competent author writes that the Austialian con- 
 tinent has its SaHsbury Plains, its Grampian Hills, and 
 its peaty swamps, some of considerable extent ; yet if 
 we allow for all these one-half of the Avhole extent of 
 country, w^e shall still have left for profitable use 
 regions fully twelve times as large as Great Britain 
 and Ireland ; a country quite sufficient to give ample 
 means of support to all the unemployed population of 
 the mother land for centuries yet to come. 
 
 The scenery of Austraha is, at least in many parts 
 of New South Wales, beautiful in the extreme ; and as 
 Mr. Capper, in his able writings upon Austraha, says : — 
 
 Beautiful as is the scenery, especially in many parts of 
 New South Wales, diversified with ranges of lofty hills, far- 
 spreading forests, and numerous rivers, the size of these is 
 far less than might have been expected from the extent and 
 richness of the country. The forests, though containing 
 trees of far greater size than any in England, and little 
 inferior to the largest growing in the wilds of America, are 
 yet not nearly so dense nor so extensive as most of those on 
 the western continent. The mountain ranges in no instance 
 reach to a greater height than about 6,500 feet, whilst but few 
 are more than 2,000 feet above the level of the sea, most of 
 them being considerably lower. Some of these ranges, how- 
 ever, extend over a large portion of the country, in nearly 
 all cases running from north to south, and seldom at a greater 
 distance from the sea-coast than two or three hundred miles. 
 
 The lofty range stretching along the south-east corner of 
 Australia, and forming a boundary between the colonies of 
 
 ' ■ : mi 
 
 ^■-^■r:i-^^ 
 
 ■; J . ' I 
 
 ■■.,\.y\-.' , . 
 
 ^m:!;,''!:'-!. 
 
 ■vs. ' 
 

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 lo^^rv 
 
 t \ 
 
 ^F'f 
 
 294 
 
 THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 Victoria and New South Wales, are a noble mass of granitic 
 rocks, at the foot of which are to be found some of the most 
 fertile tracts of grass-land in the country. 
 
 The most celebrated of these ranges are the Blue Moun- 
 tains, rising in lofty grandeur from the plains of Bathurst, 
 and forming a granitic barrier between the prairie lands 
 and fields of the sea-coast and the fruitful gold-fields of 
 Ophir and the Turon. They reach an elevation of about six 
 thousand feet in their loftiest summits, and are crossed by dray 
 tracks at some three thousand feet. The approach to these 
 mountains, as well as the road over them, is rough and pre- 
 cipitous, and forms a serious task for loaded teams going to the 
 diggings. Once passed, however, and the way becomes com- 
 paratively easy. These mountains are, indeed, but the 
 continuation of the range known to the south in Gipp's Land 
 as the Australian Alps. 
 
 As regards climate, being so much nearer the equator 
 than this country, Australia is of course considerably milder, 
 inasmuch as it lies to the south of the line ; the seasons are 
 the reverse of ours, that is to say, our summer time is their 
 winter, whilst their summer is from November to the end of 
 January. The winter season of those colonies is, however, a 
 very different affair from our own, seldom lasting longer than 
 three months, and not often cold enough to require fires, 
 except at some of the hill stations, where alone snow is ever 
 known to remain on the ground. Extending, as this region 
 does, over so many degrees of latitude, it must be evident 
 that those settlements as far south as Port Philip enjoy a 
 cooler temperature than those to the north, or nearer the line, 
 such as Swan River, or the northern portion of New South 
 Wales. In South Australia, which may be said to possess a 
 medium temperature, the average extremes of heat and cold 
 are 100 degrees in January, and 48 degrees in June ; the 
 medium temperature of the mild month of April being 65 
 degrees. 
 
 With regard to the eatable fruits natural to the soil, they 
 are very few and scarcely worth mention ; yet every fruit and 
 vegetable known to temperate and tropical climates has been 
 
FERTILITY OF THE SOIL IN AUSTRALIA. 
 
 295 
 
 introduced and cultivated to great perfection. So fertile is 
 the greater part of the soil, and so bland the climate, that 
 even in the wildest districts one may see the oak and the 
 palm growing and flourishing in an equal degree side by side. 
 The wild strawberry is almost the only indigenous eatable 
 fruit; but as a compensative to this state of things, the 
 farmers grow in their gardens and orchards the gooseberry, 
 cherry, apple, peach, strawberry, banana, pine-apple, mangoe, 
 fig, and many others ; whilst they are equally successful with 
 potatoes, yams, cabbage, beans, peas, and sweet-potatoes. 
 
 The vine has likewise been most successfully introduced in 
 almost every part of the country, as also the olive-tree, both 
 of which bear most abundantly. 
 
 Unlike most warm countries, there are very few reptiles ; 
 snakes are neither numerous nor venomous; the guano is a 
 harmless creature. The most troublesome visitors to the 
 settlers are the mosquitoes and white ants ; the bite of the 
 former being painful to many persons, whilst the latter are 
 destructive to clothing, and even furniture. 
 
 I am tempted to quote one or two paragraphs 
 from that justly popular little work by the Rev. D. 
 Mackenzie, ' Ten Years in Australia.' Mr. Mackenzie 
 says, with reference to the appearance of Au.stralia, and 
 to hunting : — 
 
 Picture to yourselves, in the midst of the ocean, surrounded 
 with precipitous rocks, and nearly opposite to England, a 
 vast forest diversified wich mountains and valle3^s ; innumer- 
 able plains without a tree; rivers, some of them consisting 
 only of a chain of ponds ; others of them, after running for 
 hundreds of miles through extensive tracts of fertile soil, 
 rapidly disappearing in the midst of arid sand, while others 
 of them roll their majestic streams for a thousand miles, until 
 they mingle their waters with the ocean; here and there, like 
 an oasis in the wilderness, a solitary patch of cleared land, 
 with a hut constructed of slal)s and bark, in the rear ; a tribe 
 of naked blacks, cariying their weapons of war, roaming 
 
 
 ■*;.i%^ 
 
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 '»■.»■ ■ 
 
 ■ . ■ ' ■ >■' 
 
 ^^M 
 
 
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 •.,■...'4; 
 
 
296 
 
 HUNTING THE NATIVE DOG. 
 
 r»f-^ 
 
 .r^' 
 
 I*!. 
 
 m 
 
 'S 
 
 ih 
 
 across the distant plains; large tracts of open forest-land, 
 resembling a gentleman's domain in England, but occupied 
 by only the kangaroo and the emu, which seem to claim and 
 enjoy hereditary possession; lofty ranges, covered with the 
 most beautiful verdure to their very summits; extensive 
 lagoons, darkened with legions of wild ducks and teal, the 
 property of any man who may choose to shoot them ; 
 innumerable birds of the most beautiful plumage, chirping 
 on every branch around you ; flowers, of every hue and 
 shade of colour, strewing your path wherever you go ; above 
 you an Italian sky, without a cloud or speck, and the air you 
 inhale pure and balmy ; a fearful silence pervading the 
 forest around you, and vividly impressing upon your mind 
 the idea of solitude and desolation — that is Australia ; and 
 the description will not apply to any other country in the 
 known world. 
 
 Hunting is a favourite amusement here. The animals 
 hunted are, generally, the native dog, kangaroo, and emu. 
 The native dog closely resembles the English fox in size, 
 shape, and cunning. The English fox, however, is generally 
 of one colour, viz. red ; whereas, among the Australian native 
 dogs, some are red, some brown, and some black. They are 
 very numerous, and extremely troublesome. They come 
 almost to the very door of the huts, and leap over the hurdles 
 among a flock of sheep on one side of the fold, while the 
 watchman is in his box on the other. A great number of 
 calves — perhaps ten per cent, at some out-stations — are 
 yearly destroyed by them ; and, when pressed by hunger, they 
 will attack foals. I have seen several of my calves which 
 had their ears and tails bit off by these carnivorous animals. 
 To destroy them is, therefore, the great object of every stock- 
 holder in keeping a few kangaroo dogs, which are a breed 
 between a pure greyhound and a mastiff. At every station 
 you find some of these dogs, and accompanied by them, some 
 settlers spend a great part of their time in riding over their 
 runs in search of the native dog. He smells as strong as the 
 English fox, and the dogs no sooner come on his scent, than 
 they start at full speed, their noses to the ground. When 
 
 "-nvnanKiMUP L.« j ji> ^i 
 
THE KANGAROO. 
 
 297 
 
 4 ►/I-" »•>»'■*■ 
 
 ■ mi 
 
 orest-land, 
 t occupied 
 
 claim and 
 i with tlie 
 
 extensive 
 1 teal, the 
 oot them ; 
 3, chirping 
 f hue and 
 
 go; above 
 the air you 
 shading the 
 your mind 
 ralia ; and 
 itry in the 
 
 le animals 
 
 , and emu. 
 
 ox in size, 
 
 s generally 
 
 ,lian native 
 
 They are 
 
 !'hey come 
 
 he hurdles 
 
 while the 
 
 umber of 
 
 lions — are 
 
 Inger, they 
 
 ives which 
 
 IS animals. 
 
 ery stock- 
 
 •e a breed 
 
 !ry station 
 
 lem, some 
 
 over their 
 
 >ng as the 
 
 ient, than 
 
 [1. When 
 
 they get sight of him you must let your horse out and follow 
 them. He will make hard either for the mountains or the 
 river. They soon catch him, and tear him to pieces. I lately 
 came on four of them together, tearing away at the carcass 
 of a calf. They cunningly fled in four different directions. 
 I had only three dogs with me, all of which followed one ; 
 after a smart chase they caught him, and fairly cut his throat. 
 Some years ago, several stock-holders in this colony used to 
 give two shillings and sixpence for every native dog's brush 
 or tail produced ; and then every man who wanted half-a- 
 crown tried to cur-tail them. Their barking is quite different 
 from that of a domesticated dog. It has been erroneously stated 
 that they, being in a state of nature, never bark ; and some 
 writers have obstinately maintained that barking is entirely 
 the result of civilisation. I am aware that the dogs carried 
 by Columbus to America were afterwards found by him to 
 have lost their propensity to barking. They could merely 
 whine, howl, and growl. And the traveller Sonnini also 
 states, that the shepherd's dog in the wilds of Egypt possessed 
 not the faculty of barking. 
 
 The kangaroo is an extraordinary animal. There are 
 several kinds of them, and they are of various sizes. The 
 kangaroo forester is about five feet high, and when pursued 
 by dogs it leaps or bounds from fifteen to twenty paces. 
 The animal goes on his hind legs, steering his body with his 
 tail. His fore-legs are only about half the length of his hind- 
 legs. He is generally of the same colour as the English hare, 
 and his flesh greatly resembles in taste and appearance that 
 of the hare. The tail, which sometimes weighs twenty pounds, 
 is considered the best part of him. It makes excellent soup 
 — indeed, equal to any ox-tail soup I ever tasted. His move- 
 ments in his native wilds are extremely graceful. Seldom 
 rapid, until he sees you and your dog-s in full chase after him, 
 then he hits out in right earnest, hops, skips, bounds, and if 
 you have not fleet dogs before you, and a fleet horse under 
 you, he is soon out of sight. In some parts of the colony 
 they are seen in droves, but I never saw more than five or 
 six of them together. I have often seen them quietly feeding 
 
 '■m\ 
 
 
 '■j^v-' 
 
 '.■,',":';'■* 
 
 
 B*'«,, 
 
 
 
m 
 
 298 
 
 WEALTH OF THE NEW ZfiALANDERS. 
 
 ti^d :•■■■>, 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 li! 
 
 I m 
 Imh! 
 
 11 
 
 among my cattle, with which they seemed to live on peaceable 
 terms. 
 
 The amount of property, says Mr. Swanson, now 
 possessed by the New Zealanders is certainly remark- 
 able. The Bay of Plenty and the Taupo and Eotorna 
 districts have a native population estimated to amount 
 to above 8,000. In the year 1857 the natives of these 
 districts alone had upwards of 3,000 acres of land in 
 wheat, 3,000 acres in potatoes, nearly 2,000 acres in 
 maize, and upwards of 1,000 acres planted with 
 kumeras. They owned nearly 1,000 horses, 200 head 
 of cattle, and 5,000 pigs, four water mills, and 96 
 ploughs. They were also the owners of 43 small 
 coasting vessels, averaging nearly ten tons each (in 
 the year 1858, 53 vessels, each upwards of 14 tons, 
 owned by natives of New Zealand, were registered at 
 the port of Auckland alone), and upwards of 900 
 ciinoes. In the course of the same year the natives 
 of the east coast (a tract of country extending from 
 the East Cape to Turanga, about 50 miles) supphed 
 46,000 bushels of wheat to the Enghsh traders, of the 
 remarkable value of 13,000/. From a distance of 
 nearly 100 miles the natives of the north supply the 
 markets of Auckland with the produce of their in- 
 dustry ; brought partly by land carriage, partly by 
 small coasting craft, and partly by canoes. In the 
 course of a smgle year 1,792 canoes entered the 
 harbour of Auckland, brmging to market by this 
 means alone 200 tons of potatoes, 1,400 baskets of 
 onions, 1,700 baskets of maize, 1,200 baskets of 
 peaches, 1,200 tons of firewood, 45 tons of lish, and 
 1,300 pigs, besides flax, poidtry, kauri gum and 
 vegetables. What a pity that there should be so 
 vexatious and deadly a war in so desia'able a colony. 
 
 
THE CHINESE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
 
 299 
 
 What a warning to the Imperial Government to strike 
 terror among the aborigines of British Columbia at 
 once ere they become more troublesome, if not dan- 
 gerous, to the European population. 
 
 As all about the British colonies is now thoroughly- 
 known, with the single exception of British Columbia, 
 it is only necessary to advise the intending emigrant 
 to be very careful, in selecting a home at the outset, 
 to fix upon a place in which he may stay as long as 
 he lives, bearing in mind that ' a rolling stone gathers 
 no moss,' and that there is much truth in the common 
 saying tliat ' three removes are as bad as a fire.' 
 Neither should he forget that industry and frugality 
 are, in nine cases out of ten, the sure stepping-stones 
 to wealth ; and that perseverance is the grand lever 
 by which tlie most astonishing residts may be accom- 
 plished. The author of 'Lavengro' says, 'Persever- 
 ance and a determination to conquer all difficidties 
 will invariably make a man of the veriest dolt, and 
 make the poorest man rich.' And I may as well 
 add, never expect wealth from any other source than 
 labour, as ' Heaven helps those who help themselves.' 
 
 British Columbians are quite enchanted by the 
 copious immigration of Chinese to their shores. They 
 fancy in their enthusiasm that a new era has dawned 
 upon them, not only in their commercial relations, but 
 in regard to the productive population necessary to 
 open up their gold-fields. However, there is not such 
 great cause for rejoicing. These miserable creatures 
 are purchased for about hi. a-head, and driven to 
 labour like so many half-starved cattle. These 
 wretched men have, with few exceptions, been kid- 
 napped, and are altogether wanting in the means 
 of purcliasing provisions, tools, clothing, cooking- 
 
 
 ;:-5.'iv 
 
 
 
 V 
 
 
 ■1 .'-'.'V 
 
 *■.'■". 'J ^' f I 
 
 ' i .-'1' S 
 
 ' ■'■mi 
 
 ■' f ' 
 
 .-J I 
 
 
 
 

 300 
 
 SUFFERINGS OF THE CHINESE IMMIGRANTS. 
 
 m'r i. > ■ 
 
 apparatus, etc., which are therefore provided for them 
 by the owner of the unhappy crew ; and so they 
 proceed as pilgrims to tlie golden shrine, from which 
 few return to tell the sad tale of their sufferings. The 
 Chuiese in British Columbia, with the exception of 
 Quowg Hing, are the offscourings of the cities of 
 Shunghae, Hong Kong, and Canton, whose habits and 
 mode of life blend but too well with those of the 
 mean grovelling Indian. Whilst the colony may profit 
 dii'ectly by their labour in the mines, it is beyond all 
 doubt that it can never derive from them any per- 
 manent benefit, either to its commerce or its agriculture. 
 I feel confident that the influx of these Chinamen 
 will eventually prove very detrimental to the depen- 
 dency, even were it one of the most flourishing in the 
 world, which, however, it is very far indeed from 
 being. I have ^till a vivid recollection of how 
 much Australia has suffered by them, and how the 
 owners of mines in CaUfornia expel them from the 
 gold-fields. Whilst a few may not only do no harm, 
 but some positive good, the advent of a multitude, 
 coming like locusts, does infinite mischief, and tends, 
 moreover, to put a dead stop upon the emigration of 
 white men to the diggings. They are a poor miser- 
 able half-starved crew, with only a thin blue calico 
 shirt to cover their emaciated bodies. What is to 
 become of them in winter, which is so bitter and cold 
 in these vast solitudes of expiring verdure and snow- 
 capped mountains ? in those wild unfruitful regions so 
 greatly infested by cruel marauders who prowl in 
 search of plunder and human flesh P Truly these 
 helpless creatures in a foreign land are objects of com- 
 passionate sympathy. Should the Fraser Elver diggings 
 prove miremunerative, poverty and destitution must 
 
SCANTY EARNINGS OF TIIR MINERS. 
 
 aoi 
 
 set in, and nothing short of a languishing horrible 
 death awaits them. The precise area of the auriferous 
 country is still unknown ; yet it would seem that 
 matters are not improving, as thousands of miners have 
 left the colony to the tender mercies of the Chinese, 
 who have themselves been lately driv^en from the 
 country in numbers by the Indians. The quantity of 
 gold set forth in the daily press as exported is not by 
 any means a safe or just criterion whereby to judge of 
 the productiveness of the glittering fields, as financiers 
 find such a mode of publication a good method of 
 sustaining false credit. It looks well to see the name 
 of Messrs. A. and B. figure for 4,000/. or 5,000/. now 
 and again in the public journals, but these hollow 
 practices only serve for a time. I think it my duty 
 faithfully to warn people against the delusive idea that 
 to go to the Eraser Eiver is to secure their fortunes. 
 Hundi'eds have returned from these diggings disap- 
 pointed, shoeless, shirtless, and penniless. How many 
 have returned with broken hearts and impaired con- 
 stitutions, in poverty and rags, not to their homes, for 
 these they had recklessly and insanely resigned ! Gold- 
 digging is a species of gambling ; it is quite a lottery, 
 where the prizes are few and the blanks many. The 
 most experienced and hardworking miners are often 
 disappointed, and we have heard scores of them 
 acknowledge that their joint earnings equalled but 
 scanty wages, and that, too, after having undergone 
 severe bodily toil and great privations. There are 
 exceptions, but not many. 
 
 Although approaching evils are seen in the un- 
 restricted emigration of the Chinese to British 
 Columbia, yet it is to be hoped that we shall never 
 see in any of Her Britannic Majesty's possessions such 
 
 
 iVv-^-'" 
 
 ''. .^• 
 
 ■;.j 
 
 ^) 
 
 ■IV. 
 
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 r: '-■ « r: 
 
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 i 
 
 
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 .^■■:-rll 1 
 
 '."'■ '•'rJ : 
 
302 THE BISHOP OP VICTORIA AXD THK CIIIXESE. 
 
 
 ti 
 
 
 cause as has drawn tlic following letter from tlu' 
 Bishop of Victoria, Ilong Kong : — 
 
 The Right Rev. Dr. Smith, Bishop of Victoria, has ad- 
 dressed the following letter to Judge McAllister, of San 
 
 Francisco : — 
 
 San Francisco, July 30, 1860. 
 
 My Dear Sir, — Until my arrival in this city, I hail 
 never become cognisant of the fact that by the legislative 
 action of this State every individual among the 45,()()() 
 Chinese immigrants in California is incapacitated from giving 
 evidence in your courts of law ; and inider no circumstances 
 of cruel oppression, injustice, or violence is the possibility of 
 redress open to a Chinese in this State, unless he be so for- 
 tunate as to have a European eye-witness to bear testimony 
 to the facts of his wrong. 
 
 Chinese merchants in this city, of the highest respecta- 
 bility, who received their education under my roof at Hong 
 Kong, have called my attention to this exceptional legislation, 
 and have feelingly detailed to me cases of almost unparal- 
 leled hardship to which their fellow-countrymen are exposed, 
 as long as this enactment retains its place in the ?<-atute-book 
 of your local Legislature. They are pillaged, plundered, 
 assaulted, and even murdered, by European and American 
 miscreants in your gold-fields ; and, in the absence of Euro- 
 pean witnesses, there remains to these poor Chinese no alter- 
 native but that of helplessly and hopelessly submitting to the 
 oppression caused by this unequal law. A hundred Chinese 
 may have witnessed the deed of violence ; but their united 
 testimony is deemed worthless and inadmissible against a 
 European or American evil-doer within the limits of this 
 State. 
 
 In the name of all that is just, equitable, and humane — 
 in the name of the Christian missionaries, who are endea- 
 vouring on the soil of China itself to impress the Chinese 
 people and rulers favourably respecting the equal toleration 
 and beneficent law^s of Christian lands — in the name of your 
 American plenipotentiaries, who, in China and Japan, are 
 
CHINAMEN NOT PERMITTED TO GIVE EVIDENCE. (VI 
 
 '"'iMt't' 
 
 ■'tr;: 
 
 demanding for Americun citizens equal privileges, immuni- 
 ties, and rights from tlie governments of those pagan lands — 
 in the name of our common Christianity, to whose merciful 
 and tolerant spirit yotir institutions and laws are professedly 
 conformed, I exhort and entreat the Christian citizens of 
 your great and powerful country to arouse themselves to a 
 consideration of this Chinese grievance, and to apply them- 
 selves vigorously to a repeal of this obnoxious Act. 
 
 An intelligent American jury might doubtless be permitted 
 to hear Chinese evidence, and be left to weigh for themselves 
 the real value to be attached to the statements of individual 
 Chinese witnesses. At all events, an exception might and 
 ought to be made in favour of those Chinese who profess the 
 Christian religion. It is better that the exclusion of Climese 
 from the witness-box in your courts of law should be based 
 on objections to the defective character of Pagan morality, 
 than on invidious distinctions calculated to depress the Chinese 
 as a race. 
 
 Sixteen years' experience of the Chinese as a people, and a 
 personal observation of their character and pursuits in cities 
 of the Chinese continent, and as settlers in Singapore, Java, 
 Australia, and Japan, have led me to the belief that, as a body, 
 they are an industrious, orderly, peaceable, and well-disposed 
 race, and that no danger to your institutions or commercial 
 prosperity need be feared from the Chinese immigrants at- 
 tracted to your shores. 
 
 Many an aged parent in China itself is enjoying ease and 
 affluence in his native home, supported by the hard toil and 
 earnings of their sons who have crossed the broad Pacific on 
 the errand of filial piety, and are helping to shed a ray of joy 
 and comfort around the native domestic hearth. 
 
 During my stay under your hospitable roof you have been 
 yourself an eye-witness of scenes in which individual Chinese 
 in this city have afforded substantial and munificent proof of 
 their gratitude toward their former benefactors and instructors 
 in China. On their behalf I raise my voice in earnest depre- 
 cation of that system of legislation by which they are now 
 exposed to the suffering of injury without remedy or redress. 
 
 • ,D ■ . 
 
 ■ •i.-.l •' ' 
 
 - ',■.■ '■.»■• 
 
 , ■ .v.-- ,,ts.' 
 
 

 ao4 
 
 A CHINESE WEDDIXO. 
 
 IP T',/- 
 
 
 mm 
 
 ffi:-; 
 
 !( ill 
 
 m 
 
 l:i, 
 
 III! 
 
 I 
 
 In the hasty preparations for my spocdy depurtino from 
 this city, I have taken the lil)erty, without previous consiiita- 
 tion with you, of addressing to you this letter, and remain, 
 my dear Sir, with much respect. 
 
 Yours, very sincerely, 
 
 Geo ROE Smith, D.I)., 
 Bishop of Victoria, Hun^ Koujj;. 
 
 To the Honourable M. Hall McAllister, LL.D., 
 Judge, Circuit, U. S. Districts of California. 
 
 The Chinese are truly a strange race ; an account, 
 therefore, of a wedding solenniised according to the 
 strictest requirements of tlie heatlien ceremonial, which 
 took place recently at San Francisco, cannot fail to bo 
 interesting. 
 
 It is Sine You, the son of Ah Look, who has thus 
 been married to a Celestial beauty, named Ah Say. As 
 both are the children of Chinese nabobs, the wedding 
 ceremonies were pecuHarly stylish, and they were 
 carried on with pow-wowing enough for the conse- 
 cration of a temple. When we read of the singu- 
 lar customs of various heathen nations, we wonder 
 at those who weep on occasions of mirth, and rejoice 
 on occasions of death. The Chinese have quite as 
 strange a notion, and exhibited it to perfection in this 
 instance, in the heart of the city of San Francisco ; that, 
 namely, of spending several days in bowing before 
 their idol, and wailing several days in sackcloth and 
 ashes, before committing themselves to the dangerous 
 and too often stormy and squally sea of matrimony. 
 
 It is, at best, a very serious thing, under any circum- 
 stances, to get married ; but it is doubly serious to get 
 married as the Chinese manage it, as will be seen by 
 the recital of the trials which precede their weddings, 
 
THE DKIDE AND URIDKOKOOM. 
 
 30 S 
 
 
 without considering tlie long list of dangers Hubscquent 
 to events of tl ml character. 
 
 The bridegroom, in the present case, is the hopeful 
 heir of one of tlie members of the Canton Company, 
 who appears t(. be a dealer in Chinese women, and, 
 as such, considered it due to his exalted j)osition in 
 society to have the wedding go off witli all the con- 
 comitants of barbaric splendour. lie tlierefore adorned 
 his cellar with the complete apparatus of heathen 
 idolatiy, tables groaning with meats, flaming placards, 
 pigs roasted whole, preserves of all kinds, scarlet 
 cloths, tinsel papers, confectiouaries, wax tapers, cen- 
 sers, and, in fact, all the dazzling display which is tt» 
 be seen on occasions of stylish Chinese ceremonies. In 
 this place the bridegroom commenced on a Tuesday 
 morning to call upon his national gods to bless the 
 approaching nuptials, bowing and bending before the 
 household Joss. He was not allowed any sleep for 
 three days and nights, but during the entire time was 
 compelled by the requirements of his faith to hiunble 
 himself, and implore with incessant genuflexion for 
 what must most assuredly depend mainly upon him- 
 self, a happy wedded life. 
 
 Meanwhile the bride wept and bewailed in the most 
 extravagant manner at her residence, a little way 
 up the same street. She is the daughter of one of the 
 women who preside over brothels ; and, though reared 
 in the midst of prostitution, had been guarded all her 
 life, with the most sedulous care, from the contamina- 
 tion of surrounding circumstances. It is the custom 
 of these hags to preserve theii' daughters with the 
 most scrupulous watchfulness, so that, when marriage- 
 able, they may be united with the sons of influential 
 men ; for, of all people, there are none more awake 
 
 . u 
 
 br • 
 
306 
 
 PRELIMINAEY OBSERVANCES. 
 
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 to their own advantage than the Chinese. Love may 
 be said to be unknown to them ; interest alone binds 
 the hymeneal knot, and it is, therefore, not strange that 
 they enter into the marriage state with virtual wailing 
 and gnashing of teeth. Accordingly, during all the 
 time that the bridegroom was bending and bowing 
 before his gods, the bride was weeping. During most 
 of the time she was kept covered up, hiding her face 
 and moping in a corner. Her fingers, wrists, anldes, 
 and ears were indeed adorned with jewellery, and her 
 dress was of the finest materials ; but she lifted up her 
 voice continually in tribulation. 
 
 While the ' cry ' lasted, she was not permitted to 
 see the bridegroom, nor was he permitted to see her ; 
 but each, in their respective places, bewailed the 
 coming day which was to see them united. Biuring 
 these days both parties were surrounded by their 
 friends, both male and female, at their respective resi- 
 dences. Bridal presents passed from the house of the 
 bridegroom to that of the bride and back again con- 
 stantly, whole roast pigs at a time, and great quantities 
 of papers and gewgaws. In each place were to be 
 seen rose-bushes and fancy cakes ; but the chief deco- 
 rations were scarlet cloths and gilded papers. 
 
 After five days came the last of this strange mum- 
 mery. The bridegroom, at a late hour at night, was 
 bowing before his idols, and the bride was waihng on 
 her knees, with her head buried in a scarlet cloth. 
 This was kept up till five o'clock the following morn- 
 ing, when they were made man and wife ; and it is to 
 be presumed that each then went off to get a good 
 sleep, to i.iake up for lost time. Poor things ! they 
 both appeared to be extremely miserable before they 
 were made happy. 
 
■. ■» .. If '■■'I 
 
 ■Si-'\ 
 
 THE BRIDAL CHAMBER. 
 
 307 
 
 The bi'idal chamber was a httle apartment in the 
 cellar of the bridegroom's father, with barely room 
 enough in it for the bedstead, which is a remarkably- 
 small one. There were various presents in it on the 
 evening after they were married, including clotliing 
 and furs of fine kinds, and furniture of lacquered 
 ware ; and the mistress was there, sitting tailor-fasliiou 
 in the midst of her donors. 
 
 One great objection to the chamber, besides its 
 Lilliputian dimensions, was the fact that it was not 
 ventilated, and would be considered as very close 
 quarters in every respect by a person of ordinary 
 lungs ; but the Chinese appear to be singularly gifted 
 in this way. 
 
 The cellar where the ceremonies took place, besides 
 being a squalid hole, notwithstanding all its tinsel, 
 was kept closed during the whole period. Thougli 
 packed all the time with a great crowd of persons, 
 not a door or window was opened. 
 
 Such, the Chinese imagine, is the only true way to 
 get married. Those who took part in the ceremonies, 
 and particularly the women, remarked that court- 
 weddings — that is, marriages before justices of the 
 peace, which are frequent among the Chinese — are 
 great humbugs ; they spoke of American weddings, 
 and evidently considered them * small potatoes.' 
 
 At a burial these Celestials give a bit of silver (a 
 dime usually, worth about fivepence), a drink of 
 wliisky, and cake, to every one present. When they 
 have a second funeral, they disintei the dead formerly 
 inhumed, scrape the flesh, if there be any, off the 
 bones, and ship them to China, to be re-interred there 
 in their native land. This must be from some super- 
 stitious notion, as they evince but little love of country, 
 
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 308 
 
 A CHINESE DINNER PARTY. 
 
 which is no wonder, considering the despotic rule 
 under which they groan. 
 
 To those who have never been present at a regular 
 Chinese dinner, the following account, written by a 
 friend of mine who was present lately at one given by 
 a wealthy Chinese merchant of San Francisco, may 
 prove interesting : — 
 
 Mr. Carvalho, the Chinese interpreter, did the honours 
 of the table, Ah Ching occupying a seat next to Judge 
 McAllister. The table was laid with figured porcelain, and 
 ornamented along the centre with large porcelain vases con- 
 taining bananas, oranges, and apples, all very fine and of 
 superior flavour. Beside each plate stood a saucer containing 
 the tiniest of cups, and a large porcelain spoon upon each ; 
 the latter for soup. The first thing served up was the tiny 
 cup full of a species of Chinese liquor, by way of an appetiser. 
 It had a flavour somewhat resembling orange peel, and was 
 probably an extract from that substance. This was followed 
 by a glass of fine brown Cantegnac claret, which was also 
 absorbed before any eatables were placed upon the board, 
 then came the soup, composed of chicken's flesh, cut into 
 strips like narrow ribbons, and preserved by drying in the 
 open air, and isinglass. It was quite palatable. This course 
 was followed by pigeons stewed with delicate green beans, 
 spring onions, and other condiments. Following this came a 
 dish of pigeons, cooked in another style. This was succeeded 
 by Chinese ortolans, or other small birds. The courses 
 followed each other in regular succession, until ten had 
 been gone through, washed down at short intervals with 
 Cliquot champagne and fine claret. The eleventh course con- 
 sisted of the famed birds' nests, worth their weight in gold in 
 China. 
 
 These nests are built by a species of swallow found in the 
 India seas, particularly the island of Sumatra. The nest is 
 the shape of a common swallow's nest, and is about the size 
 of a goose's egg, and has the appearance of fibrous imper- 
 fectly concocted isinglass. The substance of which it is com- 
 
VISIT TO THE CHINESE THEATRE. 
 
 309 
 
 posed is not known, but it is supposed to be the spawn of 
 fishes, gathered by the bird, or a secretion elaborated from 
 the body of the swallow. The finest are those gathered 
 before the young swallows are hatched, at which time they 
 are pure and white. These nests are found in caverns and 
 almost inaccessible places, rendering it impossible for any one 
 to collect them who has not been regularly brought up to the 
 business. 
 
 After the birds' nests a dish of shark's fins — a great deli- 
 cacy with the Chinese — was placed upon the table. It had 
 a rank musty flavour by no means palatable to outside bar- 
 barians. Another course of some Chinese preparations, and 
 the last one, consisting of stewed duck, wound up the meats, 
 making fourteen courses in all. 
 
 Then came the dessert, consisting of Chinese cakes, jellies, 
 and pates of different kinds, all of which were served up at 
 one time. The bread consisted of two kinds, one in small- 
 sized loaves, about as large and looking just like moderate- 
 sized freshly-peeled mushrooms. They were exquisitely white 
 and light. The other sort of bread was in loaves of the same 
 shape, but about four times larger. On being broken open, a 
 thin plastic covering made of flour peeled off and revealed 
 the light and snowy bread, 1" iked in layers which detached 
 from each other like separate pancakes. Both of these sorts 
 of bread were slightly sweetened. 
 
 At half-past nine o'clock. Ah Ching invited his guests to 
 visit the Chinese theatre. The last performance of the season 
 being then given by the company, who are going on a tour 
 through the interior. Private boxes were provided, from 
 whence the stage and audience could be distinctly seen. The 
 dress circle was occupied entirely by women, and the pit by 
 the men. It would be impossible to convey anything like an 
 accurate idea of the performances ; but several of the actors 
 exhibited wonderful agility in their combat scenes. At ten 
 o'clock the company separated, highly pleased with their host 
 and his entertainment.' 
 
 
 How true it is that civilisation transforms the wilder 
 
 
 ii^^. 
 
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 Mr;.; 
 
 11- '• " ! 
 
 ni'i^ 
 
 
 
 
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 H|i 
 
 ill 
 
 II 
 
 310 EMIGRANTS SHOULD HAVE OOVERXMEXT PROTECTION. 
 
 ness into a garden. Under its influence wild beasts and 
 noxious reptiles disappear, and the earth becomes a 
 laboratory for the exercise of human inteUigence. It 
 spreads man's influence over the whole face of the 
 earth, and brings within his reach every force latent 
 and manifest. Under every aspect Nature is beautiful, 
 but how surpassingly beautiful in her English garb of 
 teeming valley and cultured hill, rich in all the pro- 
 ducts of civihsation. England's people have been cho- 
 sen to chisel the shapeless block of barbarism into form 
 and beauty. Peace and progress follow in her train, 
 and in her rest aU our hopes for the future prosperity 
 of British Columbia. Whilst in the dear old mother- 
 country may be studied those arts which have the 
 power of exciting the deepest emotions, and of gratify- 
 ing the nobler and softer feeUngs of our nature, the 
 senses and the reason, we still find her recognising in 
 all its powerful influence that agriculture is the comer 
 stone of civilisation; indeed that agriculture is the 
 mother of arts. 
 
 There are therefore good grounds for beheving that she 
 will see that her colonists are not impoverished by the un- 
 wise conduct of rulers, whether at home or abroad ; that 
 she wiU see that her children who have gone to foreign 
 chmes with that trustfulness which children evince to 
 a parent, shall not find their trust misplaced ; that they 
 shall no longer go shivering and creeping in the cold, 
 houseless, naked, and without food, whilst she has lands 
 to give them to reheve them from their wants. It has 
 over and over again been asserted that the settler in 
 British Columbia can get full and undisturbed posses- 
 sion of 160 acres of land free, by pre-emption. Tliere 
 is, however, no foundation whatever for such a state- 
 ment. Doubtless it was natural to suppose so, since 
 
SETTLEMENT OF WASTE LANDS IN CANADA. 
 
 311 
 
 free grants of land are given in Canada, a settled coun- 
 try, and one in every respect superior. 
 
 In Canada a mode of settlement of waste Crown 
 lands has been adopted at once antagonistic to the 
 views of speculators, and encouraging to bonA- fide 
 colonists. The plan of proceeding is twofold. Where 
 wild land situated on a Government road is at a distance 
 from town and market, a grant is made with certain 
 restrictions. The applicant, having registered his name 
 at the office of the Crown, and having gone through 
 the necessary prehminaries, is then allowed to take up 
 liis residence on the land allotted to him. During the 
 first year he is required to clear a stated portion of the 
 allotment, and build a house ; the next year more land 
 has to be cleared, and so on, until the expiration of the 
 term agreed on. It being then ascertained that the 
 stipulated improvements have been duly carried out, he 
 acquires an indefeasible right to the land. In the other 
 case, land lying more advantageously is sold by Govern- 
 ment at the upset price of 5^. an acre. The pm-chaser 
 is required to deposit one-fourth of the purchase money, 
 and pay the remainder in annual instalments, so ar- 
 ranged that the disbursements should be felt as lightly 
 as possible. On the payment of the whole, he acquires 
 a full right to the land. Wliy is it that privileges so 
 indispensable to the settlement and developement of 
 British Columbia are withheld? In Canada a most 
 excellent and judicious sj'^stem has been introduced. 
 There free grants of land, equal to any in the whole 
 province for family purposes, are given to immigrants. 
 These lands are chiefly situated on the Ottawa river, 
 and they are capable of producing abundant crops of 
 wheat of excellent qiiality, and also first-rate crops of 
 every other description of farm produce, and when 
 
 
 
 ■:H:V^?;k 
 
 ■'■ , .'■: 'f 'f ■ 
 
 
 

 
 
 W! -1. 
 
 sia 
 
 THE VALLEY OP THE OTTAWA. 
 
 fully populated will sustain in comfort and happiness 
 fully eight millions of people. 
 
 Each grant is for 100 acres, and the intending settler 
 may be a native of any country. He is required to 
 take possession of the land allotted to him within one 
 month, and to build a house at least 20 by 18 feet. 
 He must put into a state of cultivation at least twelve 
 acres of his land in the course of four years, as well as 
 reside on the lot during that period. The Government 
 has already made the necessary roads, and the settlers 
 have only to keep them in repair. These several con- 
 ditions being complied with, the settler will receive 
 from the Government, free of all cost, the title deeds of 
 his property. If a family comprising several settlers en- 
 titled to lands prefer to live on a single lot, the Govern- 
 ment accords permission to do so, provided that the 
 condition of bringing twelve acres of land into cultiva- 
 tion on each lot within four years be complied with. 
 Failure to perform these requirements will of course 
 cause the loss of the assigned lot, whilst their fulfil- 
 ment, on the other hand, puts the holder in possession 
 of a freehold estate, over which he and his family can 
 ever afterwards exercise the fullest rights of property, 
 without further restriction or condition of any sort. It 
 should be remarked, that according to the ratio of pro- 
 gress which Canada has made during the last ten years, 
 the value of land, on an average, doubles within that 
 period ; and this enhanced value is acquired irrespec- 
 tive of improvements by settlers. Indeed, in many 
 counties its value has increased five-fold in ten years. 
 
 Taking Canada as a whole, there is not perhaps any 
 portion of it which offers greater inducements to emi- 
 grants than the valley of the Ottawa ; and it has been 
 asserted, upon good authority, that this valley alone 
 
 iit,^-- 
 
mm 
 
 SALE OF CROWN LANDS. 
 
 313 
 
 lappiness 
 
 ig settler 
 [uired to 
 ithin one 
 18 feet. 
 3t twelve 
 s well as 
 remment 
 e settlers 
 eral con- 
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 deeds of 
 ttlers en- 
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 sir fulfil- 
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 sort. It 
 o of pro- 
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 ;hin that 
 
 n 
 
 irrespec- 
 many 
 
 years, 
 laps any 
 
 to emi- 
 las been 
 
 y alone 
 
 can furnish a comfortable subsistence to a population 
 of two milHons of people. Even in Austraha, where 
 the chmate and soil are incomparably superior to any 
 that may be found in British Columbia, the greater part 
 of six millions of acres was given as grants in its early 
 stages of colonisation, and since the system of free 
 grants was aboHshed, the crown lands were offered for 
 sale at a minimum price of 5*. per acre ; latterly, how- 
 ever, as the country advanced, the price was raised to 
 20^. per acre. This is just as it should be, as every 
 person knows that land increases in value as the coun- 
 tiy advances in civilisation and population. It would 
 be well that those who legislate for British Columbia 
 took a leaf out of the book of the Governor-General 
 of Canada. 
 
 As no doubt many at home would like to know what 
 are the sentiments of some of those who reside in 
 British Columbia on matters in general, the following 
 extract from a pamphlet written by a gentleman in 
 holy orders may be interesting to them. The reverend 
 gentleman says : — 
 
 But I have not quite done with absolute rule. Very 
 pleasant to the ruler, most destructive to your interests. Has 
 such administration, assisted by legal wisdom, developed your 
 country and provided a good land system? Many of us 
 have been in this colony for two years, and yet there is * no 
 pubUcly proclaimed, intelligible, satisfactory Land System.' 
 The recent proclamation, by the side wind of Clause VII., 
 directly favours the capitalist. It does not mention what 
 kind of improvements will be required ; it does not meet the 
 wants of the colony, for it does not encourage immigration 
 Of course, no legal functionary could have framed it, for a 
 proclamation so singularly favourable to legal speculation 
 could not be fastened on a lawyer ! 
 
 We were led to expect a good deal from the promises, 
 
 
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 ai4 
 
 DISPOSAL OP LAND IN TEXAS AND OREGON. 
 
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 admissioDs, &c., of public functionaries, but their assay 
 value is ascertained fractionally in more than this instance. 
 
 It will be contended that nothing will satisfy British 
 Columbians. What we demand, first and foremost, is : — 
 
 1st. Free grants of land, under the same conditions and 
 provisos as those in force in Canada and New Zealand. 
 
 2nd. The reduction of the upset price of land to five 
 shillings an acre. 
 
 3rd. * Improvement ' defined and exacted. 
 
 We are told that such changes rest with the Home 
 Government — that they have been represented and refused. 
 
 I am afraid, fellow-countrymen, and all who desire to 
 settle in British Columbia, that such statements will be 
 received with considerable reservation. Is it to be credited 
 that the Home Government would not have granted these 
 wants had they been sent home as the request of the people, 
 and what they demanded as essential to their own prosperity 
 and the encouragement of immigration I Do you believe it 
 to be the case that the wants of the colony and the wishes of 
 the colonists have been fairly represented and pertinaciously 
 refused ? Have Colonial acts gone so far as to show us that 
 the theory has been held by this Colonial Government from 
 its commencement, * Population is Wealth, Consumers are 
 Revenue ! ' 
 
 The Governor, in his visit up the river, last autumn, ex- 
 pressly advocated these views, and promised his influence 
 with the Home Government in carrying them out. Again I 
 ask, Does the late proclamation bear out promises ? But let 
 us see what is the land policy elsewhere. 
 
 In all enlightened countries these first principles are 
 acknowledged and acted up to; in British Columbia they will 
 apparently be the last. 
 
 In Texas, the Government sold land to settlers as low as 
 ten cents an acre. In Oregon, the Government clearly saw 
 the difficulties of reaching it, and adopted the wise policy of 
 making, for a few years, free grants of land to all settlers, 
 until population was drawn thither and the country became 
 more accessible. 
 

 V^M<\ 
 
 FREE GRANTS IN CANADA. 
 
 315 
 
 Canada makes free grants of land in remote places of the 
 colony. If the land i^ rich, it is coupled with road-making 
 as a condition. Some definite improvement is always insisted 
 on and righteously carried out. If the district is poor, 
 Government makes roads, well knowing that, as soon as the 
 free gifted land is cultivated and its owner a consumer, ftir 
 more will be added to the revenue of the country than can 
 possibly arise from the mere sale of lands. 
 
 This plan directly encourages an enlarged improvement of 
 the colony, while it assists in the most important manner the 
 strong-armed strong-hearted man, whose stock-in-trade are 
 an axe and strength to wield it, a family with just enough to 
 help them at the present, while hope beckons on to further 
 industry and wealth. 
 
 Australia, New Zealand, Cape Colony are all in this way 
 * bidding for immigrants,' offering them a home — every 
 inducement to settle, while British Columbia has evinced 
 from the first an obstructive policy. You hear from many 
 ' we want an immigration : we want a resident population : ' 
 and don't you wish you may get it, at this rate. Let your 
 Governor and Proclamation Bungler throw fewer drawbacks 
 and more encouragements in the way of that much-desired 
 immigration, and there is some chance of their wants and 
 wishes being thought of by very many who would be glad to 
 come, but who certainly will not come unless these conces- 
 sions which we ask are granted; that is, if they have one 
 blessed friend at home to dissuade them crossing the main 
 instead of remaining at home for better and not for worse. 
 
 Fellow-coimtrymen, we have left everything that is dear 
 to man behind us. 
 
 We have left, some England, many Canada, very many 
 America, for our own well-being, we hoped, and to aid in 
 building up another colony where Britain's flag is unfurled. 
 
 We have lived on the fertile soil of California, where every 
 agricultural inducement was offered us to remain; but we 
 preferred the British flag, and therefore we came to British 
 Columbia. The reception we met with will not be offered 
 again, we trust, to any who may hereafter be drawn to British 
 
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 Columbia. Suffice it to say, unless the reforms we advocate 
 are carried out, and the political aspects of the colony improve, 
 others may be expected to leave the colony, as hundreds have 
 done already. 
 
 Ill British Columbia there is no employment for the 
 labouring man, and there cannot be, until the land 
 system is altered. I have, when upon survey duty, 
 been obliged to refuse the services of many able-bodied 
 men, who, with aching heart and in tears, earnestly 
 solicited employment, to obtain a crust of bread to re- 
 lieve the cravings of hunger ; and to the credit of 
 Colonel Moody be it said that many were placed upon 
 my staff of axemen, where they got for a time soldiers' 
 rations. Had a liberal land system been in operation, 
 every one of these poor men could have got employ- 
 ment and enough to eat. Instead of directing the 
 agricultural portion of the immigrants into proper 
 channels, and extending to these pioneer farmers all 
 possible aid and support in their hazardous and la- 
 borious undertakings, and at the same time inducing 
 the idle and the vagrant to engage in such employ- 
 ment as would furnish food and profitable labour, and 
 lay the foundation of moral as well as physical good, 
 everything had been done to discourage and baulk 
 them. 
 
 I cannot avoid mentioning a very reprehensible pro- 
 ceeding on the part of the officials, in regard to the 
 sale of town, lots at New Westminster. It was stated, 
 as an inducement to the purchasers of these lots, that 
 the streets would be at once formed, and other im- 
 provements carried on out of the proceeds ; and under 
 these conditions the sale took place. But, on the re- 
 ceipt of the money, the contract was repudiated, the 
 
C. '• 
 
 
 re advocate 
 
 THE BEST FIELDS FOR EMIGRANT LABOUR. 
 
 317 
 
 works were stopped, and, to crown all, a proclamation 
 came forth offering lots on other parts of the river at 
 10s. ground-rent per month, rendering those purcliased 
 at the sale at once comparatively valueless ; so nnich 
 so, that many were glad to sell them for half the origi- 
 nal purchase money. Indeed the continual planning 
 of cities without a population, instead of developing tlie 
 resources of the countr}% meagre as they are, will be 
 lasting monuments of imprudence and mismanage- 
 ment. 
 
 The people in this colony are like snakes in an 
 Egyptian pitcher, each striving to rear his head above 
 the rest for sheer air and breath ; and a crowning 
 selfishness seizes on all, in the struggle for existence 
 amidst a crowd of competitors. But let the emigrant 
 bear up against all this; for there is no use in getting 
 faint-hearted in a place where almost all Hve the lives of 
 savages, where the cursed love of gold has seared and 
 deadened all the better feehngs, where there is very 
 little compassion for the sick, and where the unfortu- 
 nate die unheeded. Alas ! too many are tempted to 
 put a sudden end to their worldly sorrows and suffer- 
 ings. The settler has need of a stout heart and a strong 
 arm, to hope for even a chance of success in British 
 Columbia. 
 
 It was intended that man should toil to live, but never 
 that man should hve simply to toil ; yet mere work hter- 
 ally fills up the whole span of our existence. But to live 
 we must work ; it therefore behoves us to look to that 
 country for work which is most likely to afford it, and in 
 which it will be best remunerated; and the colonies of 
 Canada, Natal, New Zealand, and Austraha, with their 
 climate, seem therefore to be the most inviting for the 
 honest and hard-working immigrant. There is a positive 
 
 
 
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 318 
 
 THE NATIONAL DEBT OF OliEAT BRITAIN. 
 
 
 ^i^ 
 
 gloom over every face iti British Columbia, and anxiety 
 is not confined to the faces of the merchants. Ilagj^ard 
 looks among labouring men wanting employment, and 
 the stilhiess in the shop of the mechanic, denote the state 
 of trade. All seem to console themselves by abusing 
 the Local Government, and the Local Government blame 
 the Home Government, all of which is worse than use- 
 less. There is no stir nor bustle in the street, the sound 
 of the saw and the hammer is scarcely heard, the veiy 
 mule works lazily, and every face looks care-worn and 
 disappointed ; and it is indeed difficult to account for 
 so deep a depression, even allowing that the energies 
 of the people have been often stifled. But what can 
 the Local Government do? There is only a limited re- 
 venue at their command. The colony wants money 
 and it wants credit. Many of the residents advocate a 
 loan, whilst many denounce the borrowing system as 
 bad. Sceptics have been met in their arguments by 
 reference to the works of our great historian, Macaulay, 
 and attention has been directed to England's prosperity 
 in the days of William and Mary under * Liberal Govern- 
 ment and Eesponsible Institutions.' After accounting 
 for the rise and increase of the national debt, and 
 informing us of the opinion of eminent men, that * at 
 each stage of its increase England's ruin was predicted,' 
 he goes on to say, 'The prophets of evil were under a 
 double delusion, they erroneously imagined that there 
 was an exact analogy between the case of an individual 
 who is in debt to another individual, and the case of a 
 society which is in debt to a part of itself; and this 
 analogy led them into endless mistakes about the sys- 
 tem of funding. They were under an error not less 
 serious, touching the resources of the country. They 
 made no allowance for the effect produced by the in- 
 
DRITISH COLUMBIA IN A STATE OF BAXKIILTTCY. 319 
 
 ccssaiit progress of every experimental science, and by 
 tlie incessant efforts of every man to f,'et on in lite ; tlicy 
 Maw tliat the debt grew, and tliey forgot tliat otlier 
 
 things grew as well as the debt Those who 
 
 conlidcntly predicted that England must sink, first 
 under a debt of forty millions, then under a debt of 
 eighty millions, then under a debt of a hundred and 
 forty millions, then under a debt of two hundred and 
 forty millions, were beyond all doubt imder a two-fold 
 mistake. They greatly overrated the pressure of the 
 burden ; they greatly underrated the strength by which 
 the burden was to be borne.* 
 
 England has risen to her present pitch of prosperity 
 and credit notwithstanding her heavy debt ; and there 
 can be no doubt but these loans have largely helped to 
 make her what she now is. British Columbia wants 
 money, she wants credit, she is positively bankrupt. A 
 gentleman resident in the colony, writing upon this 
 subject, says : * Perhaps an official cheerfully replies ; 
 " The income of British Columbia will yet rise to 
 100,000/. per annum." ' To which the writer rejoins : 
 — * This no doubt looks very promising, the sweet 
 little image to be placed on the chimney-piece of 
 those who regard it from a pleasant point of view. 
 The stern reahty stares British Columbians, however, in 
 the face — it is the result of vigorous screwing I The 
 pile looks pleasing enough when accumulated, it matters 
 not how or where ; but the pile is destined to be cut 
 up in a hundred different and requisite and law/id 
 ways, before it is expended on opening our rivers, 
 roads, and trails.' 
 
 It is grievous to think that no brighter picture can 
 be presented of a country in which gold is said to be so 
 abundant ; and I can honestly say that I should never 
 
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 320 
 
 BKITISH CURRENCY IN THE COLONIES. 
 
 have put pen to paper upon the subject of these distant 
 wilds, had any doubt remained of its correctness. 
 Although the antecedents of Australia, New Zealand, 
 and California ought certainly to stimulate the inhabi- 
 tants of British Columbia to emulate her noble parent's 
 glory, yet there is in the want of a rich soil, favourable 
 climate, and other advantages common to her sister 
 colonies, much to dishearten her people and to fill their 
 minds with serious misgivings and grave apprehensions 
 for the future. 
 
 Among the improvements of the present day may be 
 ranked a decimal currency. Canada, Nova Scotia, 
 Prince Edward's Island, and, we believe. New Bruns- 
 wick, have adopted it. The intimate commercial rela- 
 tions existing between them and the United States have 
 aided materially in lajdng aside the fractional complexity 
 of British currency for the decimal system. Every 
 financial transaction in British Columbian imports and 
 exports connected with the States, which is their prin- 
 cipal market, has to be calculated in dollars and cents. 
 Surely then it is foolish to perpetuate the old system in 
 these colonies, by having the coins of England struck in 
 the mint at British Columbia, and while the decimal 
 currency has been sanctioned and adopted by the trade 
 and commerce of the country. Indeed in the reports 
 printed by order of the House of Commons, we find : 
 — ' Your committee, having well weighed the compa- 
 rative merits of the existing system of coinage and the 
 decimal system, and the obstacles which must neces- 
 sarily be met with in passing from one to the other, 
 desire to report their decided opinion of the superior 
 advantages of the decimal system, and to record their 
 conviction that the obstacles referred to are not of such 
 a nature as to create any doubt of the expediency of 
 
PROPOSED ADOPTION OP THE DECIMAL SYSTEM. n21 
 
 introducing that system.' This regards the system in 
 England, where certain difficulties may probably exist 
 such as could not possibly apply to British Columbia. 
 All the witnesses examined by the committee of the 
 HouSv3 of Commons concurred in the opinion that very 
 great advantages attach to a decimal system, while with 
 regard to the inconveniences of the existing system, 
 the evidence is clear and decided ; and the concurrent 
 testimony of aU is to the effect that its adoption would 
 lead to greater accuracy, simplify accounts, and dimi- 
 nish the labour of calculations to the extent of one-half, 
 and, indeed, in some cases four-fifths. 
 
 It is beyond doubt that the change would be a great 
 national improvement. More than 400,000,000 of the 
 human race, or nearly one-half of the population of 
 the globe, adopt the system, and with very great 
 advantage. An important benefit would be derived in 
 many departments of the public service, and in every 
 branch of industry. It would seem to save labour, to 
 economise time, ensure quickness and accuracy in 
 every description of commercial calculation, and in 
 arranging, keeping, and checldng accounts. It would 
 shorten the period necessary to acquire a competent 
 
 80 
 
 business knowledge of arithmetic. It would save 
 per cent, in the labour of computations, and at least 
 50 per cent, in their examination. It would render 
 calculation and per-centages easy and rapid. It would 
 render more simple and intelligible the accounts of the 
 national inconnj and expenditure. It would save labour 
 and liability to error in questions of foreign exchange. 
 It would bring into general use the table of logarithms 
 wliich so greatly facilitate calculations. It would, 
 doubtless, ensure the adoption of decimal measure- 
 ment, which would add still more benefits. It would 
 
 Y 
 
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 322 
 
 AN IMPROVED CURRENCY MUCH NEEDED. 
 
 reduce immensely the labours of scholars and teachers 
 in schools. It would, in our counting-houses and 
 banks, save at least one clerk in ten. It would enable 
 us to keep accounts with as great ease and accuracy 
 as is done in France, Portugal, Eussia, Japan, and 
 China. It would save the disadvantage to the pubUc 
 resulting from a great number of different coins. It 
 would confer large and important benefits to bankers, 
 merchants, engineers, architects, accountants, and 
 actuaries. In short, its advantages and benefits are 
 innumerable, and it will become a matter of surprise 
 in the history of the business world, that, with a system 
 of such perfect simphcity before us, we should have so 
 long retained a method so comphcated and so utterly 
 wasteful of the business hours upon which we are 
 compelled, by the magnitude of our monetary and 
 commercial transactions and the inconceivable multi- 
 tude of our calculations and accounts, to set so high a 
 value. 
 
 The word decimal is but Httle understood. The 
 general idea of it is, that it means something about 
 fractions only. This is not the case. Our simple 
 arithmetic of whole numbers is a decimal system. A 
 decimal coinage would have no more to do with frac- 
 tions than our present coinage. With our present 
 coins we write Pounds, Shillings, Pence, Farthings. 
 This system gives a world of needless trouble, because 
 the number of farthings in the penny, of pence in the 
 shilling, and of shillings in the pound, are all different, 
 and in every calculation of prices, comparative values, 
 per-centages, and interest — in every addition, subtrac- 
 tion, multiplication, and division — the pounds, shillings, 
 pence, and farthings have to be dealt with differently. 
 They are not only of different values, but they stand 
 
 i-^f'fiv 
 
 K 
 
 
SIMPLIFIED METHODS OF BOOK KEEPING. 
 
 323 
 
 in a different arithmetical relation to each other ; and 
 in a relation different from that of the figures in simple 
 arithmetic. If our coins, as they are written in our 
 account-books, stood in the same relation to each other 
 as the figures in simple arithmetic, there would be ten 
 farthings in the penny, ten pence in the shiUing, ten 
 shillings in the pound ; the coins would be decimal, 
 and there would then be no difference between simple 
 arithmetic and money arithmetic. 
 
 Our present account-book moneys are — 
 
 Pounds. Shillings, Pence, Farthings, 
 
 20 to the pound. 12 to tk^ shilling. 4 to the penny. 
 
 The decimal account-book moneys would be — 
 
 Pounds. 
 
 Florins, 
 to the pound. 
 
 Cents, 
 10 to the florin. 
 
 Mils, 
 10 to the cent. 
 
 It would, -- course, be open to every one to keep his 
 books in the form most convenient to himself. Some 
 would use the columns as they are, and under the 
 decimal system would place pounds in the £ column, 
 florins in the s. column, cents and mils, like pence and 
 farthings, in the d. column. Others would use but two 
 columns — they would write the pounds as now in the 
 first column, and florins, cents, and mils in the second. 
 But the figures themselves would be the same how- 
 ever written, and would stand in the same simple 
 arithmetical relation to each other. It would not 
 matter whether the figures were written £4*252 or 
 £4 2fl. 5c. 2m. 
 
 With the decimal moneys of accounts we should 
 have simple arithmetic. The figures 3 4 5 6 would 
 stand in precisely the same relation to each other, 
 whether they were to be read as three thousand four 
 
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 iiiii 
 
 324 DECIMALISATION OP CURRENCY AND ACCOUNTS. 
 
 hundred and fifty-six, or as three pounds, four florins, 
 five cents, six mils. K we had to subtract from the 
 3456 878, it would make no difference whether the 
 figures were to be read three thousand four hundred 
 and fifty-six, and "bight hundred and seventy-eight, or 
 three pounds, four florins, five cents, six mils, and 
 eight florins, seven cents, eight mils. The sum would 
 be worked in precisely the same way in both cases, and 
 the answer (2578) would be the same whether it were 
 to be read two thousand five hundred and seventy- 
 eight, or two pounds, five florins, seven cents, eight 
 mils. If we had to multiply by ten, we should add 
 the cypher at the end : the 3456 would, as simple 
 numbers, then be read, 34,560, and as money 34/. 
 5 florins, 6 cents, mils. The change to the simple 
 decimal system can be made at once, without anything 
 either to learn or to unlearn. Instead of compound 
 arithmetic we should have simple arithmetic, which is 
 decimal. The change can be made without dis- 
 turbance of any existing ideas as to money or value. 
 There are no new gold coins required, and there are 
 no gold coins to be drawn from circulation. There is 
 no important change to be made in our silver coinage ; 
 nor is there any difl&culty as to the copper required to 
 be used. 
 
 The decimalisation of our currency and accounts 
 was urged by Lord Wrottesly in 1824 ; by Mr. 
 Babbage, in his 'Economy of Manufactures,' in 1832 ; 
 by General Pasley in 1834, in an elaborate work 
 detailing the numerous varieties, especially of measures, 
 in use throughout the kingdom ; by Professor de 
 Morgan in his 'Companion to the Almanack for 
 1841-48 and 53 ;' by the Commission for the Eestoration 
 of the Standard Weight and Lineal Measure, appointed 
 
DECIMALISATION OP CURRENCY AND ACCOUNTS. 325 
 
 by Lord Montreal in 1838 ; by Dr. Bowring, in the 
 House of Commons, in 1847, from which the first 
 practical steps in advance were taken by the issue of 
 the florin, bearing on it the words One-tenth of a 
 Pound \ by the Parliamentary Committee in 1853; 
 by Sir J. Bowring in his able work on Decimals, 
 pubhshed in that year ; and by the second commission, 
 the distinguished members of which, in 1853, wrote to 
 the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging the comple- 
 tion of our decimal system of coins from the pound to 
 the thousandth of the pound, and who, in their Report 
 in 1854, felt it incumbent on them, although the 
 coinage did not form a part of the enquiry referred 
 to them, again to enforce the importance of carrying into 
 immediate effect a change in our coinage which would 
 so much simpUfy all monetary calculations and accounts. 
 The desirableness of a general system of decimal 
 arithmetic is now a matter recognised by all, and its 
 appearance as a national practice is become a subject 
 of anxious expectancy. We have, in proof of the 
 utility of the system, the evidence, not alone of men 
 of science, accustomed to weigh every minutiae of 
 detail with the severity of mathematical exactitude, 
 but the evidence of men of business and accounts — 
 men of incessant practice in every branch of trade, 
 commerce, and money — merchants having transactions 
 with every portion of the globe, and as familiar as with 
 the multiplication table with every slight variance in 
 value of the manifold moneys of the world — manu- 
 facturers, paying weekly every variety of amount to 
 every class of workmen, skilled and unskilled — shop- 
 keepers, selling a vast aggregate in the smallest 
 quantities of goods of ordinary consumption that can 
 be said to meet the wants of the poorest and least 
 
 
 
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 32() DECIMALISATION OP CURRENCY AND ACCOUNTS. 
 
 taught, and who have certainly a knowledge both of 
 the iitiUty of the change, and how it would be received 
 by the masses of the people. 
 
 That the saving of labour is the saving of capital, is 
 a self-evident axiom, and by the decimal system of 
 accounts, labour would be immensely reduced ; conse- 
 quently, capital increased in the same ratio. This 
 mental labour-saving system would not only be the 
 cause of all the great benefits which I have already 
 noted, but would enhance the wealth of our country 
 to an inappreciable extent, and upon which no doubt 
 can for a moment cloud the accepted impression of its 
 extraordinary powers and efficiency. Like all grand 
 facts, ' its simphcity is its truth.' The increasing radii 
 of the operations of our commerce, our banking, mer- 
 cantile, and other extensive establishments, cry tloud 
 for the immediate practical adoption of this system, 
 and it will prove to all as a new hfe, banishing from 
 the brain an incubus of mental mechanism, which ere 
 long will be looked upon as absurd, uncivilised, 
 ignorant, and barbarous. That the change would be 
 hailed by the whole community as the greatest possible 
 boon is undoubted. Why, then, is not the Eoyal 
 proclamation trumpeted, the system adopted, and the 
 benefit conferred, not only in England, but in all her 
 dependencies ? , 
 
 For something like a quarter of a century has this 
 important subject been agitated, and yet, notwith- 
 standing all that has been advanced in its support, 
 certain Commissioners have not long since decided 
 against the measure. Thus, then, whilst many intel- 
 ligent members of the House of Commons have 
 imanimously reported in its favour, and not only so, 
 but recommended its adoption as early as possible, we 
 
INTS. 
 
 WHO CONSUMES THE MERCHANDISE? 
 
 327 
 
 ;e both of 
 e received 
 
 Ccipital, is 
 
 system of 
 
 id; conse- 
 
 tio. This 
 
 ily be the 
 
 re already 
 
 ir country 
 
 no doubt 
 
 ision of its 
 
 all grand 
 
 ising radii 
 
 king, mer- 
 
 cry aloud 
 
 lis system, 
 
 ihing from 
 
 which ere 
 
 uicivilised, 
 
 would be 
 
 t possible 
 
 le Royal 
 
 and the 
 
 in all her 
 
 y has this 
 notwith- 
 support, 
 decided 
 
 any intel- 
 
 ons have 
 only so, 
 
 ssible, we 
 
 are informed that a noble lord, who is a peer of the 
 realm and a Commissioner, has decided against it, and 
 that it has consequently been abandoned. What a pity 
 that, whilst art and science are advancing on every 
 hand, and progress the order of the day, we m. st 
 continue to be encumbered with a most absurd and 
 complex system of money, weights, and measures, 
 because Lord Overstone and his colleagues do not see 
 the advantages of a decimal system. 
 
 Who consumes the merchandise sent to Victoria and 
 British Columbia ? is a question frequently put, and 
 one which puzzles the lynx-eyed speculator, and the 
 far-reaching merchant, whose transactions pervade every 
 portion of the globe. Why should it be so ? Why 
 all this marvel, when the question is of easy solution 
 to persons who have resided for a time in these colo- 
 nies ? True, the white population at Victoria, including 
 the whole length and breadth of the island, does not 
 exceed 2,500 persons ; and the most trustworthy in- 
 formation sets down the entire number of the civilised 
 people in the extensive territory of British Columbia, 
 exclusive of the mihtary, at not more than 3,200 
 souls. Now, we shall teU you ' who consumes the 
 merchandise.' First, these 5,700 persons, aided by the 
 Indians, who are supposed to number about 60,000 in 
 British Columbia, and about 15,000 in Vancouver's 
 Island, and who know how to rehsh the 'muck-a- 
 muck ' (the food) of the w^hite man. Next, the money- 
 lender, who receives large quantities of goods into 
 store, as security for his advances. Next, and not 
 least, the inhabitants of the adjacent American posses- 
 sions ; and this will continue whilst Victoria is a free 
 port, and her merchants, in consequence, able to 
 undersell their American neighbours. 
 
 
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 328 
 
 RESULT OP TOO LARGE AN IMPORTATIOxV. 
 
 It is certainly no proof of the prosperity either of 
 Victoria or British Columbia to show an increased 
 importation for the last one or two months, since it is 
 well known that immigration has ceased, and that 
 family after family are leaving these colonies for the 
 American States and other more favoured countries. 
 
 The inevitable result of too large an importation is 
 a pause, and then a universal smash. Everybody will 
 try to undersell his neighbour, and return but half 
 remittances. Credits will close, and bills can no longer 
 be renewed. Lands even will be unsaleable ; and, 
 with such general insolvency, demands will cease, 
 everything become cheap, and destitution of the most 
 painful character follow. This is no dream. These 
 colonies have to pass, as others have passed before 
 them, through a crisis ; and many an unhappy colo- 
 nist will be left to mourn the day that he was ruined 
 by delusion. 
 
 It may be asked. How is it that crime is on the 
 increase, or at least not on the decrease, in British 
 Columbia and Vancouver's Island, and that so many 
 officers have been appointed for the maintenance of 
 law and order in these dependencies ? 
 
 The public Journal of Victoria is literally teeming 
 with records of the lawlessness of the people of these 
 unhappy colonies. In a single copy of the paper 
 referred to, the following unparalleled black list is 
 given — black, indeed, considering the scanty popula- 
 tion : one murder, two attempts at murder, three cases 
 of burglary, four of theft, one of stabbing, one of 
 indecency, and numerous other minor offences. 
 
 Now the reason. Why crime is on the increase in 
 British Columbia and Vancouver's Island is simply 
 this, — that the Judge passes sentence of fine or short 
 
WHY CRIME IS ON THE INCREASE. 
 
 S29 
 
 imprisonment for such wickedness, and his punishment 
 is invariably over lenient. He dare not act otherwise, 
 lest he offend His Excellency the Governor, whose 
 sympathies are with these savages. For instance, the 
 Judge passes sentence of a short term of imprison- 
 ment for a crime of midnight burglary and robbery, 
 with two attempts at murder! A hardened villain 
 enters at midnight the dwelUng of a respected citizen, 
 armed with the deadliest of weapons, and, after robbing 
 a guest of the family, goes to the bed-chamber of the 
 gentleman's daughter, where, on awaking, she finds a 
 Colt's revolver on her temples, and hears the wretch 
 mutter, ' One word, and I '11 blow out your brains.* 
 Then come screams, and in rushes the gentleman, to be 
 met and grappled with by the assassin at the door. 
 Twice in the dark night he fires at his pursuer, with 
 intent to kill. The brave man still holds the robber 
 at his peril until succour arrives, when, with great 
 difficulty, three strong men bind him, and hand him 
 over to the authorities. 
 
 In what civilised land on earth would such a des- 
 perate character slip out from the meshes of the law 
 without punishment ? — for his sentence is next to no 
 punishment. They have no safe place to keep pri- 
 soners ; and when one contemplates that so light an 
 estimate is put on crime, what security can citizens 
 feel in their life and liberty ? What emotions must 
 have filled the souls of the family so outraged since 
 the sentence was passed, on contemplating the value 
 put upon their lives and property ! There is not a 
 man who will blame them if they instantly flee from 
 the country. Again, a drunken Indian is fined only 
 five shillings for flourishing an axe over the head of 
 an innocent defenceless woman, and knocking her 
 
 mm 
 
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 'Jf 
 
 
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 ■>-;>i^: 
 
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3S0 
 
 GAMBLING AND DUELLING. 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 down in the gutter. Next, the notorious John Butts is 
 lined but $lb for having brutally assaulted and threat- 
 ened the Ufe of a man named Davis. Again, an Indian 
 is condennied merely to the forfeiture of his pistol, for 
 having presented and snapped that instrument of death, 
 loaded and capped, at the head of a British naval 
 officer, at the hour of night, in a lone and uninhabited 
 spot. Numerous are the instances that might be cited 
 to show the awful state of matters in these unfortunate 
 lands. Neither life nor property, female chastity, house 
 or home, are safe from the depredations of the many 
 villains who sojourn there. 
 
 As in all new colonies, there is in British Columbia 
 a set of gambhng low fellows, who are utterly unsus- 
 ceptible of any of those impressions which virtue, 
 honour, sensibility, and friendship should excite. Gam- 
 bling is frightfully common among the mmers and 
 others, who never reflect that the most honourable 
 gamester is necessarily a disreputable man. Duelhng, 
 too, although not common, nevertheless exists ; and 
 the man who never was prone to take offence under 
 the salutary eye of good English law, there becomes 
 the football of passion, and suddenly blows his friend's 
 brains out. As Thomson so well and truthfully ex- 
 presses it — 
 
 The sons of riot flow 
 
 Down the loose stream of false enchanted joy, 
 To swift destruction. On the rankled soiU 
 The gaming fury falls ; and in one gulph 
 Of total ruin, honour, virtue, peace, 
 Friends, families, and fortune, headlong sink. 
 
 As some readers, forgetful of the opening descrip- 
 tions of this wondrous land, may feel displeased at the 
 continuous gloom which necessarily pervades the later 
 
 km.,, 'A 
 
 I 
 
 m 
 
 >m 
 
TITA.VIC SPLENDOUR OF DRITISJI COLUMBIA. 
 
 331 
 
 chapters, I shall for their sakes take a last look at its 
 Titanic splendour. There, then, are some vast moun- 
 tain ranges, rising in the distant snows, and intermin- 
 able dreary forests, stretching far, far away, and at 
 length dissolving in transparent air. There hill after 
 hill breaks into view, each hill as it recedes becoming 
 more aerial than another, until they resemble golden 
 mists floating amongst the clouds of heaven. There 
 are seen huge blocks of granite tumbling about in 
 marvellous confusion, with their crystals sparkling in 
 the grass so brilliantly, and cedars springing out of the 
 clefts ; beautiful splashing cascades, roaring torrents, 
 and all that has a magnificence, too difficult to describe. 
 The climate is cold and intemperate, whilst the atmo- 
 sphere varies rapidly ; yet the eye may travel over an 
 expanse of snow, water, river, and forest, until lost in 
 the glorious sun's bright orb, and dazzled by the flashes 
 of the distant ocean. The aborigines slumber in the 
 woods, whilst the stormy winds attune their souls to 
 war. Around, beneath, above, oppressive sohtude 
 reigns : 
 
 Go east or west, or north or south, 
 Some awful scene is bursting forth. 
 
 
 The whole is wild and grand in the extreme. It 
 truly knows no rival, and I never beheld anything like 
 it. At the close of evening, in that sweet hour when 
 the sun is sinking into the sea, and the wild geese float- 
 ing upon the billows, the moving panorama is singularly 
 picturesque and rapturous. Wolves often find their way 
 to the beachy promenade, to swell the howl and make 
 the wild scene wilder still. 
 
 The whole territory of British Columbia is endowed 
 with savage beauty beyond description, and extremely 
 

 Mm 
 
 ll>|!l" 
 
 •M SUMMIT 0(' MOUNT BAKER. 
 
 interesting to the lover of the sombrous. To obtain an 
 accurate conception of its various remarkable localities, 
 the tourist should go to the summit of Mount Baker, 
 which is, however, capped with eternal snow. TJie 
 traveller, as he penetrates the lone valley, stumbles at 
 times on venerable stumps of ancient trees, and bethinks 
 him of the past, — at times on cairns of human bones, 
 telling of foul and barbarous murders. These recesses, 
 reeking with human blood, are, however, held in horror. 
 There is a charm in the whole aspect of this Enghsh 
 Siberia which truly fascinates the senses. The snow- 
 peaked hills peering through the wild forest, and milky 
 clouds flooded with golden sunshine, remind us of those 
 glorious, though indistinct, views of the Celestial City, 
 which gladdened the Christian pilgrims, in Bunyan's 
 allegory, when they were come into the land of Bewlah, 
 and close a scene of unwonted sublimity and wild ro- 
 mantic beauty, only to be fully appreciated by the 
 uncouth Indian savage and the frantic upholder of these 
 desolate, frozen, sterile, and unfruitful regions, which 
 are the ultima thule of civilisation. 
 
 
 
 mm .-^m I 
 
i'. Vr 
 
 nn.1 
 
 f, i> -♦■. ^1 
 
 e snow- 
 
 CIIAPTER X. 
 
 VANCOUVER'S ISLAND. 
 
 Situation of Vancouver's Island — Its Colonisation, and Conditions of the 
 Grant — Climate — Soil — Harbours — Town of Victoria — The Land 
 System — The Legislative Assembly and the Medical Profession — 
 The Church Question — Government SuppUos — Census of the Island 
 
 — The Indians — General Society — The Chartered Bank of British 
 Columbia and Vancouver's Island — The London Emip^ation Society 
 
 — The Island not yet productive — Expense of living — ' Take a 
 Drink' — Contribution to the Industrial Exhibition of 1802— Who 
 should and who should not emigrate. 
 
 Vancouver's Island is manifestly not British Columbia ; 
 yet nearly all the papers relative to that dependency 
 have been headed * British Columbia.' Vancouver's 
 Island is a distinct colony, separated from Columbia, 
 the main land, by the Gulf of Georgia about 30 miles 
 wide, and has a special constitution of its own. This 
 island extends from north latitude 48"* 17' to 50° 55', 
 and from west longitude 123° 10' to 128° 30', and 
 contains about 670 square miles. On the south it is 
 separated from the American contment by the Strait of 
 San Juan de Fuca, and on the east and north-east from 
 the coast of British America by the Gulf of Georgia, 
 containing the Island of San Juan, about which such a 
 clamour has been made, and by Queen Charlotte's 
 Sound. North of Queen Charlotte's Sound lie Queen 
 Charlotte's Islands, a group of three, collectively about 
 145 miles in length, by about 50 miles in breadth. 
 
 It is unnecessary to enter into the early history of 
 the island, two or three competent writers having done 
 so already. This notice shall therefore go no further back 
 
 'ill' 
 
 K';.. 
 
mi:, 
 
 ^ri'y- 
 
 i.*S1S;H| 
 
 
 
 Iliite i!li 
 
 K' 
 
 334 
 
 COLONISATION OP VANCOUVER'S ISLAND. 
 
 than 1849, the year in which the island was handed 
 over to the Hudson's Bay Company by Lord Grey. In 
 that year a grant was made of the island, revocable at 
 the end of eleven years, upon the understanding that 
 the Company would colonise it ; and as the conditions 
 of the grant are of an interesting character, the official 
 document is here given : — 
 
 COLONISATION OF VANCOUVER'S ISLAND. 
 
 WHEREAS, by a Royal Grant or Letters Patent under 
 the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and 
 Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Thirteenth day of 
 January, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty-nine, the 
 conditions of which are hereunto appended. Her Gracious 
 Majesty Queen Victoria did give, grant, and confirm to the 
 Governor and Company of Adventurers of England, trading 
 into Hudson's Bay, and their successors, that portion of North 
 America called Vancouver's Island : The said Governor and 
 Company, with the view of effecting the objects therein set 
 forth, hereby give notice, that they are ready to make grants 
 of land to any emigrants from Great Britain or Ireland, or 
 from any other part of Her Majesty's dominions,, who may be 
 desirous of settUng on the said island, on the following con- 
 ditions : ■ — 
 
 1st. — That no grant of land shall contain less than twenty 
 acres. 
 
 2nd. — That purchasers of land shall pay to the Hudson's 
 Bay Company, at their House in London, the sum of 
 one pound per acre for the land sold to them, to be 
 held in free and common soccage. 
 
 3rd. — That purchasers of land shall provide a passage to 
 Vancouver's Island for themselves and their families, 
 if they have any; or be provided with a passage (if 
 they prefer it) on paying for the same at a reasonable 
 rate. 
 
 4th. — That purchasers of larger quantities of land shall 
 

 COLONISATION OF VANCOUVER S ISLAND. 
 
 335 
 
 pay the same price per acre, namely, one pound, and 
 shall take out with them live single men, or three 
 married couples, for every hundred acres. 
 
 5th. — That all minerals, whenever found, shall belong to 
 the Company, who shall have the right of digging for 
 the same, compensation being made to the owner of 
 the soil for any injury done to the surface; but that 
 the said owner shall have the privilege of working for 
 his own benefit any coal mine that may be on his 
 land, on payment of a royalty of two shillings and 
 sixpence per ton. 
 
 6th. — That a right of fishing, proposed to be given to the 
 Hudson's Bay Company in the grant, as printed in the 
 Parliamentary Papers relative to Vancouver's Island, 
 having been relinquished, every freeholder will enjoy 
 the right of fishing all sorts of fish in the seas, bays, 
 and inlets of, or surrounding, the said island; and 
 that all the ports and harbours shall be open and free 
 to them, and to all nations, either trading or seeking 
 shelter therein. 
 
 As it is essential to the well-being of society that the means 
 of religious instruction should be within the reach of every 
 member of the community, provision will be made for the 
 establishment of places of public worship, and for the main- 
 tenance of ministers of religion, according to a plan of which 
 the following is an outline : — 
 
 1st. — The island is to be divided into districts of from 
 five to ten square miles where it is practicable. 
 
 2nd. — A portion of land equal to one-eighth of the quan- 
 tity sold to be set aside for the minister of religion. 
 Thus, in a district of ten square miles containing 6,400 
 acres, supposing 5,120 acres sold, the minister would 
 be entitled to 640 acres, and the remaining 640 acres 
 would be available for roads, site of church and church- 
 yard, schools, and other public purposes ; the land so 
 reserved, or its proceeds, to be appropriated for these 
 purposes in such manner as may appear advisable. 
 
 
 
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 COLONISATION OP VANCOUVER S ISLAND. 
 
 3rd. — With the view of enabling the ministers to bring 
 their lands into cultivation, a free passage to be 
 granted to such number of persons as a settler, having 
 an equal quantity of land, would be required to take 
 out, the cost to be paid out of the fund held in trust 
 for the benefit of the colony. 
 4th. — The several apportionments for the purposes of 
 religion to be conveyed to, and to be held by, the 
 Governor and Council, in trust for the parties ap- 
 pointed to perform the clerical duties of the respective 
 districts. 
 The most material provisions of the commission, and 
 instructions to the Governor for the government of the colony, 
 are as follows : — 
 
 The Governor is appointed by the Crown, with a Council 
 of five members, likewise appointed. 
 
 The Governor is authorised to call Assemblies, to be elected 
 by the inhabitants holding twenty acres of freehold land. 
 
 For this purpose, it is left to the discretion of the Governor 
 to fix the number of representatives, and to divide the island 
 into electoral districts, if he shall think such division necessary. 
 The Governor will have the usual powers of proroguing or 
 dissolving such Assembly. Laws will be passed by the Go- 
 vernor, Council, and Assembly. 
 
 The legislature thus constituted, will have full power to 
 impose taxes, and to regulate the affairs of the island, and to 
 modify its iustitutions, subject to the usual control of the 
 Crown. 
 
 The Crown has already power, under the Ist and 2nd Geo. 
 IV. c. 66, to appoint Courts of Justice and Justices of the 
 Peace in the Indian Territories, of which Vancouver's Lland 
 forms a part ; but as the jurisdiction of such Courts is, by the 
 12th section of that Act, limited in civil cases to causes not 
 involving more than 200^. in value, and in criminal cases to 
 such as are not capital or transportable (all of which must be 
 tried in Canada), it is intended to extend the jurisdiction 
 created by the existing Act, by the entire removal of those 
 restrictions. 
 
 iH.l/ 
 
 
 .!■:« 
 
337 
 
 CONDITIONS OF THE GRANT. 
 
 Now KNOW TB, that WE, being moved by the reasons before 
 mentioned, do by these presents, for us, our heirs and suc- 
 cessors, give, grant, and confirm unto the said Governor and 
 Company of Adventurers of England tradiixg into Hudson's 
 Bay, and their successors, all that the said island called Van- 
 couver's Island, together with all royalties of the seas upon 
 the coasts within the limits aforesaid, and all mines royal 
 thereto belonging: And further we do, by these presents, 
 for us, our heirs and successors, make, create and constitute, 
 the said Governor and Company for the time being, and their 
 successors, the true and absolute lords and proprietors of the 
 same territories, limits and places, and of all other the pre- 
 mises (saving always the faith, allegiance and sovereign 
 dominion due to us, our heirs and successors for the same), 
 to have, hold, possess and enjoy the said territory, limits 
 and places, and all and singular other the premises hereby 
 granted as aforesaid, with their and every of their rights, 
 members, royalties and appurtenances whatsoever to them, 
 the said Governor and Company, and their successors for 
 ever, to be holden of us, our heirs and successors, in free and 
 common soccage, at the yearly rent of 7s., payable to us and 
 our successors for ever, on the 1st day of January in every 
 year : Provided always, and we declare. That this present 
 grant is made to the intent that the said Governor and Com- 
 pany shall establish upon the said island a settlement or 
 settlements of resident colonists, emigrants from our United 
 Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, or from other our 
 dominions, and shall dispose of the land there as may be 
 necessary for the purposes of colonisation, and to the intent 
 that the said company shall, with a view to the aforesaid pur- 
 poses, dispose of all lands hereby granted to them at a reason- 
 able price, except so much thereof as may be required for 
 public purposes : and that all moneys which shall be received 
 by the said Company for the purchase of such land, and also 
 from all payments which may be made to them for or in 
 respect of the coal or other minerals to be obtained in the 
 
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 ii 
 
 338 
 
 CONDITIONS OF THE GRANT. 
 
 said island, or the right of searching for and getting the same 
 shall (after deduction of such sums by way of profit as shall 
 not exceed a deduction of ten per cent, from the gross amount 
 received by the said Company from the sale of such land, and 
 in respect of such coal or other minerals aforesaid) be ap- 
 plied towards the colonisation and improvement of the island : 
 and that the Company shall reserve for the use of us, our 
 heirs and successors, all such land as may be required for 
 the formation of naval establishments, we, our heirs and 
 successors paying a reasonable price for the same, and that 
 the said Company shall, once in every two years at the least, 
 certify under the seal of the said Governor and Company, 
 to one of our principal Secretaries of State, what colonists 
 shall have been from time to time settled in the said island, 
 and what land shall have been disposed of as aforesaid : And 
 we further declare, that this present grant is made upon this 
 condition, that if the said Grovernor and Company shall not, 
 within the term of five years from the date of these pre- 
 sents, have established upon the said island a settlement 
 of resident colonists, emigrants from the United Kingdom 
 of Grreat Britain and Ireland, or from other our dominions, 
 and it shall, at any time, after the expiration of such term 
 of five years, be certified to us, our heirs or successors, 
 by any person who shall be appointed by us, our heirs or 
 successors, to enquire into the condition of such island, that 
 such settlement has not been established according to the 
 intent of this our grant, or that the provisions hereinbefore 
 mentioned respecting the disposal of land and the price 
 of lands and minerals have not been respectively fulfilled, 
 it shall be lawful for us, our heirs and successors, to re- 
 voke this present grant, and to enter upon and resume the 
 said island and premises hereby granted, without prejudice, 
 nevertheless, to such dispositions as may have been made in 
 the mean time by the said^Grovernor and Company of any 
 land in the said island for the actual purposes of colonisation 
 and settlement, and as shall have been certified as aforesaid 
 to one of our principal Secretaries of State : And we hereby 
 declare, that this present grant is and shall be deemed and 
 
 
MR. LABOUCHERE'S MOTION. 
 
 339 
 
 taken to be made upon this further condition, that we, our 
 heirs and successors, shall have, and we accordingly reserve 
 unto us and them, full power, at the expiration of the said 
 Governor and Company's grant or license of or for the exclu- 
 sive privilege of trading with the Indians, to re-purchase and 
 take of and from the said Governor and Company the said 
 Vancouver's Island and premises hereby granted, in consider- 
 ation of payment being made by us, our heirs and successors, 
 to the said Governor and Company, of the sum or sums of 
 money theretofore laid out and expended by them in and 
 upon the said island and premises, and of the value of their 
 establishments, property and effects then being thereon. In 
 witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be made 
 patent. Witness Ourself at our Palace at Westminster, the 
 thirteenth day of January, in the Twelfth year of our reign. 
 
 It may be stated that in 1857, Mr. Labouchere, then 
 Secretary of State for the Colonies, moved for a Select 
 Committee to enquire into the state of the territories of 
 the Hudson's Bay Company. After a full investigation, 
 the Committee agreed to a Eeport, in which they recom- 
 mended that we should 'meet the reasonable and just 
 wishes of Canada, to be able to annex to her territory 
 such portions of the land in her neighbourhood as may 
 be available to her for the purposes of settlement; with 
 which lands she is wilhng to open and maintain com- 
 munications, and for which she is wUUng to provide the 
 means of local administration.' If Canada should re- 
 fuse this offer, the Committee thought some temporary 
 provision for the administration of the Red River and 
 Saskatchewan district might be required ; they accord- 
 ingly recommended the separation of Vancouver's 
 Island, which has been acted upon, and thus two 
 colonies, namely British Columbia and Vancouver's 
 Island, were formed instead of one, wliicli certainly ap- 
 pears to have been a very great error. It will be seen 
 
 
 
 
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 11^ 
 
 S40 
 
 CLIMATE OF VANCOUVER'S ISLAND. 
 
 from the following quotation from the Act that power 
 has been reserved however, to the Crown in council, on 
 a joint address from the two Houses of the Legislature, 
 to incorporate the island with British Columbia ; and 
 there can be little doubt that this course will be taken 
 ere long. 
 
 No part of the colony of Vancouver's Island as at present 
 established, shall be comprised within British Columbia for 
 the purpose of this Act ; but it shall be lawful for Her 
 Majesty, her heirs and successors, on receiving at any time 
 during the continuance of this a joint address from the two 
 Houses of the Legislature of Vancouver's Island, praying for 
 the Incorporation of that Island with British Columbia, by 
 order to be made as aforesaid with the advice of her Privy 
 Council, to annex the said island to British Columbia, subject 
 to such conditions and regulations as to Her Majesty shall 
 seem expedient; and thereupon and from the date of the 
 publication of such order in the said island, or such other 
 date as may be fixed in such order, the provisions of this Act 
 shall be held to apply to Vancouver's Island. 
 
 The cUmate is comparatively mild, and it is in many 
 respects more agreeable than that of British Columbia, 
 the island being, as it were, protected by its giant 
 brother from the cold winds of the North and East, and 
 being swept over by the balmy winds of the West, which 
 gain in softness as they steal over the gentle bosom of 
 the Pacific Ocean. *Our own correspondent ' writes in 
 the 'Times', of February 6 last, in reference to the 
 cUmate of British Columbia : — ' The approaches to the 
 country are now sealed to every means of travelling, 
 except on snow shoes, for between the Forks of Quess- 
 nell, the nearest inhabited place, and Cariboo, there are 
 18 to 20 feet of snow.' It may fairly be said, there- 
 fore, that the cUmate of Vancouver's Island is the 
 
ESQUIMAULT HARBOUR. 
 
 341 
 
 mildest and most healthy in British North America. 
 There are occasionally heavy fails of snow, but it soon 
 melts away. Tiie wild apple trees are in full blossom 
 in June, and tne native berries are ripe and abundant 
 in July. The island possesses but a poor Flora, how- 
 ever, and no new varieties of plants have been found. 
 Its surface is chiefly woodland, and contains valuable 
 coal fields. The soil, though somewhat light, is well 
 adapted to such crops as are commonly raised in this 
 country; and, unlike British Columbia, many patches 
 of good prairie land are scattered over the island. 
 There are no high mountains ; and although dreary 
 precipitous rocks characterise the coast, there are 
 several snug httle harbours or arms of the sea indenting 
 the island for considerable distances, and happily, too, 
 through some of the most eligible localities for agricul- 
 tural settlements. 
 
 The scenery of the inland country is very fine, and 
 presents many views of surpassing grandeur and loveU- 
 ness, reminding the Scottish traveller of his native land. 
 
 The most capacious harbour in the island is Esqui- 
 mault. Its waters are smooth at aU seasons, and its 
 shores so rock-bound as to form natural wharves. It 
 affords excellent shelter, and the holding ground is 
 good. It is, moreover, easy of ingress and egress ; 
 indeed the entrance is so easy that the Great Eastern 
 might go in at night ; yet on its tranquil waters rest 
 only Her Majesty's war ships. What advantages thrown 
 away ! 
 
 The entrance to the harbour of Victoria, on the 
 contrary, where the chief town is situated, and which 
 is distant from Esquimault Harbour about three miles, 
 is of small extent, and contains numerous sunken rocks, 
 a few only being marked by buoys. Several ships and 
 
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 342 
 
 ESQUIMAULT HARBOUR. 
 
 steamers have been seriously damaged by seeking 
 refuge within its limits ; and none but reckless agents, 
 or such as are ignorant of facts, can now be found to 
 insure vessels of large tonnage bound for that port. 
 Considering the uncertain tides and winds which pre- 
 vail, it may be truly said that the harbour of Victoria 
 is never safe. The wharves are most irregularly built 
 in consequeilce of His Excellency the Governor having 
 ordered the entire frontage to be parcelled out and sold 
 to persons who constructed jetties as they pleased, no 
 reservation or restriction of any kind having been made. 
 Seafaring men, and others of nautical skill, believe that 
 Esquimault will ultimately supplant Victoria. Esqui- 
 mault is admirably adapted for a naval station, having 
 ample room for fifteen ships of the hue, besides two 
 or three large ocean steamers and smaller vessels, and 
 craft of every description; it moreover presents an 
 excellent situation for a town, and good sites for docks. 
 There is, indeed, no room for disputing the superiority 
 of Esquimaidt harbour and district over that of Victoria. 
 It is a great pity that Governor Douglas should have 
 sent to the Home Government such a report as this: 
 ' The appearance of Esquimault is strikingly unprepos- 
 sessing, the outline of the country exhibiting a confi 3ed 
 assemblage of rock and wood. The shores of the har- 
 bour are rugged and precipitous, and I did not see one 
 level spot, clear of trees, of sufficient extent to build a 
 fort upon,' &c. 
 
 However, notwithstanding all the disparaging state- 
 ments which have gone forth, few commanders or cap- 
 tains will risk their ships by going to the harbour of 
 Victoria, the entrance to which is so intricate and shal- 
 low, when they have the safe harbour of Esquimault to 
 ijfo to. It should be mentioned likewise that some time 
 
 ■3 
 
ESCiUIMAULT LIGHT-HOUSE. 
 
 843 
 
 ago Harbourmaster Nagle took soundings of the depth of 
 water at, and within twenty feet of, the various wharves 
 at Victoria, and that he repeated the task about a year 
 thereafter, when the results showed conclusively that the 
 harbour is rapidly shoaUng. The average filling up at 
 each wharf was two and a half feet, and in some in- 
 stances there was found, between the soundings of the 
 previous period and the latest, a difference of three feet. 
 
 Esquimault harbour possesses great advantages over 
 the harbour of Victoria, and nothing can ever wrest 
 from her the superiority she thus holds. Esquimault 
 must be the harbour for large ships, and consequently 
 tlie emporium from which the interior of the island and 
 British Columbia must ever r^iceive their supplies. 
 Those who say to the contrary, and cry up Victoria 
 liarbour, are only speculators who buy cities and sell 
 them to greenhorns, and so make money and be gone. 
 The site chosen for Victoria must be looked upon as a 
 sad blunder, as large sums of money must be spent in 
 improving it, whilst Esquimault woidd have required no 
 such expenditure. 
 
 The only obstacle, or rather danger, at night in 
 entering the harbour of Esquimault is a small rocky 
 island of about an acre in extent, situated on the left 
 side of the entrance ; but the Home Government has, 
 with its usual attention to all its dependencies, erected 
 a suitable light-house upon it. The foundation of the 
 tower and keeper's house is laid in solid masonry on the 
 summit of the island, which is about thirty feet above the 
 water's level. The tower itself is forty-seven feet in height, 
 which, with the lantern and the height of the rock, gives 
 the light an elevation of ninety-five feet above the water. 
 The tower is built four feet thick, of hard brick; the top 
 is capped with granite ten inches thick by four feet 
 
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 344 
 
 
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 ESQUIMAULT TOWN. 
 
 wide. The keeper's house, wliich is two stories higli, 
 is built entirely of brick, it contains two rooms on each 
 flat, 18 by 14 feet, besides the entrance. From the 
 second story is tlie entrance to the tower, in which is a 
 circular stair, 35 feet high, made of cast iron, filling 
 exactly the hollow in the tower, wiiich is five feet in 
 diameter. The design of this stair was by a San Fran- 
 cisco man, who received 60/. for the pattern. As may 
 be remembered the Home Government appropriated, in 
 1859, 7,000/. for the construction of two hght houses ; 
 one on the rock just referred to, and another on Race 
 Rocks, a short distance up the cliannel. Of this sum 
 3,500/. has been granted free by the Imperial Govern- 
 ment; the other half to be paid back by the two 
 colonies, namely, British Columbia and Vancouver's 
 Island, in e4ual moieties. 
 
 What is called the 'town' of Esquimault is as yet a 
 mere hamlet consisting of half a dozen houses, three or 
 four grog shops, two retail dealers, and a couple of 
 stores. The place is supported altogether by the navy 
 and the small traffic occasioned by the San Francisco 
 ocean steamers, which ply once a fortnight, and which 
 cannot enter the harbour of Victoria with safety. 
 
 ' There are,' says Col. Colqulioun Grant, in a communica- 
 tion to the Royal Geographical Society, ' several places in 
 which the arms of the sea, running inland from opposite sides 
 of the island, approach very closely to each other. In the 
 north, for instance, from Beaver Harbour to Koskiemo, the 
 extremity of an inland loch running in immediately opposite, 
 the distance is only eight miles. From the Alberni canal on 
 the west, to Valdez inlet, called by the natives Saatlam, on 
 the east, the distance is only twenty-two miles ; again, in the 
 extreme south, a rough journey of about seven miles brings 
 the pedestrian from Sanetch, <»n the Canal de Haro, to the 
 
. i- v, 
 
 PHYSICAL ASPECT OF THE ISLAND. 
 
 94$ 
 
 ,ncouver s 
 
 end of Esquimanlt Harbour on tlie Straits of P^icn ; and from 
 Nitinat, between Barclay Sound and Port St. Juan on the 
 Ht)uth-vve8t, in a day and a half the savages pass over to the 
 valley of Cowichin in the south-east. The general aspect of 
 the country throughout the island from the seaward is pecu- 
 liarly uninviting. Dark frowning cliffs sternly repel the 
 foaming sea, as it rushes impetuously against them, and 
 beyond these, with scarcely any interval of level land, 
 rounded hills, densely covered with fir, rise one above the 
 other in dull uninteresting monotony ; over these, again, 
 appear bare mountains of trap rock, with peaks jagged like 
 the edge of a saw — a veritable Montserrat, forming a culmi- 
 nating ridge, which may be said to run with little intermission, 
 like a back bone, all down the centre of the island, from the 
 northern to the southern extremity ; nor does a nearer ap- 
 proach present one with many more favourable features in 
 the aspect of the country. 
 
 ' The whole centre of the island — as far as it has been at 
 present explored — may be said to be a mass of rock and 
 mountain; and of the little available land which is found in 
 patches along the sea-coast, by far the greater part is densely 
 covered with timber, the removal of which would be so 
 laborious as to make the bringing of the said land under 
 cultivation scarcely a profitable undertaking. The little open 
 land which there is, however, is in general rich ; and had the 
 British Government thrown the island open to the exertions 
 of individual enterprise, the greater portion of such open 
 land would doubtless, ere this, have been settled. It is not, 
 however, always that the wooded land is capable of cultivation 
 idong the sea-coast ; on the contrary, the reverse is the rule ; 
 the greater portion of the land on the southern and nearly 
 all on the western coast, as far as it has yet been examined, 
 consisting of barren rock, barely affording sufficient holding 
 ground to the stunted timber with which it is covered. 
 
 'The geological structure of the island corresponds with 
 its physical aspect. The prevailing formation is that gener- 
 ally kno>vn as the gneiss and mica-schist system : — these 
 rocks produce a broken and rugged surface, without being 
 
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 I 
 
 TOWN OP VICTORIA. 
 
 attended with nny picturesque effect. Along the flea-coast on 
 the eastward, from Nanuirao to Sunetch, the principal surface 
 rock is sandstone of the coal formation. From San etch to 
 EH<(uimault gneiss prevails, diversified with beds of dark- 
 colonred limestone. Westward of Esquimault mica slate 
 occurs, whilst from Rocky Point to Port St. Juan the prin- 
 cipal rocks on the sea-coast belong to the clay slate and 
 greywacke systems, interspersed, however, at intervals, few 
 and far between, with cliffs of a white-coloured close-grained 
 sandstone.' 
 
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 II, 
 
 mm 
 
 The only town in the island is Victoria, which is 
 beautifully situated on undulating ground overlooking 
 the bay. The dwellings are built of wood, in the 
 simplest and least costly fashion. There are a few 
 brick stores, and one handsome stone structure, a 
 branch of the Bank of British North America. There 
 are four churches, two occupy prominent places ; they 
 are never full, nor have they architectural pretensions ; 
 One or two Government buildings and a prison with 
 cells fully tenanted, complete the cluster. This 
 modern httle town boasts of a pubhc park within 
 half a mile of its site, a healthy and pleasant place of 
 resort and amusement. It is not yet, of course, a Bois 
 de Boulogne, nor a Hyde Park, filled with the beauty 
 and fashion of Anglo-Saxon Normandom. The day 
 may come, however, when briUiant types of elegance 
 and intellect may be seen whiling away an hour amid 
 shrubbery, flowers, fountains, and statues, in the once 
 rude and uncultivated park of this island's capital. 
 
 In Vancouver's Island gardening is not by any means 
 followed as an art. The shapes of men and animals 
 are cut in trees, and the whole land threatened with a 
 hideous collection of verdant sculpture. There, the 
 inhabitants appear to deviate from nature as much as 
 
ENGLISH GARDENS. 
 
 947 
 
 possible, instead of humouring it. Lord Bacon pleaded 
 strongly in the interests of nature, and insisted there 
 should ever live a portion sacred from the hand of 
 man, a fragment of wild nature, ' the heath, or desert.' 
 However, there is certainly enough of wild nature in 
 that coiuitry to su])ply the omission. 
 
 The chief features in English landscape gardening 
 are gentle undulations and pleasant slopes, irregularly 
 bounded pieces of water, shnibberies, groups of trees 
 and winding walks, imitations of wild nature, and beds 
 cut with ease and elegance. Such is the gardening 
 which gives its peculiar charm to our island and 
 delights the English eye, and which is sought for in 
 vain in any other country. Think of the Crystal 
 Palace Gardens, so lovely and attractive, and one of 
 the wonders of the age. The terraces bordered by 
 stone balustrades and capped with flower vases, urns, 
 and statuary ; the sloping lawns studded with flowers 
 of every hue, sweet-smelling plants, trees, and shrubs, 
 fountains sending skyward their rushing waters spark- 
 ling in the sunlight, nature arrayed in her most 
 beautiful and most magnificent robes, all forming 
 another Eden ; an Eden which delights indeed but 
 wearies the senses, and is far different from the ever- 
 changing never-cloying luxuriance of wild nature. 
 
 As the old settlers have no capacity to appreciate 
 the fine arts, they derive no pleasure from them, 
 intellectual enjoyments being of too high an order 
 for their as yet uncultivated minds. Indeed, the 
 hieroglyphical daub of a sign-painter would be more 
 attractive to them than the hues of Titian or the draw- 
 ing of Michael Angelo ; taste and a just discrimination 
 being so truly the results of education. To these 
 common observers, the most beautiful painting would 
 
 i%\ 
 

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 ' 'in 
 
 
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 > :■■■ \':'m 
 
 'I'.. 
 
 348 
 
 GOVERNMENT OF THE COLONY. 
 
 seem but an assemblage of colours, and the most 
 exquisite composition of less value than a doggerel 
 ballad. 
 
 One fellow had the audacity to declare that a 
 wretched medallion which he possessed, representing 
 the profile of an ape rather than that of a human 
 being, was the production of Alexander Munro, of 
 London. Now, happening to know that Mr. Munro 
 is both by nature and education an artist, that he 
 enjoys a distinguished reputation, that all his works 
 are extremely beautiful and reflect his cultivated and 
 artistic mind, and that in this branch of his art he 
 outstrips all rivals, no persuasion could prevail on me 
 to believe tliat it was even my friend's first work. 
 
 The island enjoys a free Government, controlled by 
 a House of Assembly, elected by the suffrages of the 
 people ; and by a legislative Council appointed by the 
 Crown. The Legislative power rests in these two 
 bodies and in the Governor, wiio have the right to 
 make laws for the colony not inconsistent with the 
 laws of England, and according to the usages and 
 privileges of the other dependencies of the Crown. 
 
 The most important measure passed by the Legis- 
 lative body is a new land system of a hberal character. 
 The former mode of disposing of the public land, at 20^. 
 per acre cash, became the subject of universal dissatis- 
 faction ; and the outcry against the high price of 1/. on 
 acre became so general that the Administration of the 
 colony was compelled to adopt a new system. Li 
 J. 359 the Governor was so hard pressed by public 
 opinion, that an auction was held of public land in the 
 districts near to Victoria, the capital, at the upset price 
 of 4.9. 2d. an acre, which residted in the sale of about 
 1,000 acres at low prices. 
 
 , I' . M 
 
 [ '(■ I. . V ;■..' . !i^. -Jilt 
 
NEW LAND SYSTEM. 
 
 349 
 
 The following are the resolutions which were passed 
 unanimously at an iniluential meeting held at Victoria, 
 Vancouver's Island, on July 2, 1859 : — 
 
 Eesolved: — That the true policy as well as duty of 
 Government is to encourage agricultural pursuits above all 
 others ; to induce immigration to the country ; to invite the 
 hardy pioneer to occupy its territory ; to furnish the actual 
 settler cheap access to the soil — whereon to permanently 
 invest his labour, and rear his home. 
 
 Eesolved: — That in the opinion of this meeting, the 
 public lands of this colony, which are held by the Crown for 
 the benefit of the people, if sold at all to actual settlers, 
 should not exceed in price ^1 25c. per acre, payable in five 
 years — or such sum as would barely pay the expenses of 
 survey. 
 
 Eesolved: — That the practice of making the public lands 
 a source of revenue is unwise and impolitic ; that instead of 
 attracting to, it repels population from the coiuitry; and 
 that the better policy, grounded on the experience of new 
 countries, is to donate the public domain to bond-fide settlers 
 rather than exact a high pri 3e with a view to revenue ; that 
 the taxable property of a country whose land system is liberal 
 so rapidly increases that it soon yields a revenue which far 
 exceeds the proceeds of the sale of lands at any price. 
 
 Eesolved: — That a prefereLce should be given to actual 
 settlers in the choice of the public lands, surveyed or unsur- 
 veyed ; that .^ land system should be adopted which should 
 guarantee to them a pieemptive right ; and that they should 
 have ample time to locate lands for p(?imanent homes, by 
 actu8^ residence and progressive improvements, before they 
 are offered in the market for general competition. 
 
 Eesolved : — That in the opinion of this meeting the de- 
 parture of valuable immigrants from our shores in consequence 
 of not being able to obtain agricultural lands, imperatively 
 de naiids the adoption of p land system which would enable 
 the piouc'cr to obtain land at once, on application, in quan- 
 tities not exceeding 160 acres.' 
 
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 »50 
 
 NEW LAND SYSTEM. 
 
 By the new system, a description of which, condensed 
 from a commmiication in the 'Times' of September 
 21, 1861, is here given. All British subjects above 
 18 years of age may occupy land in any pa^-t of the 
 colony they clioose to select, in the following quanti- 
 ties : — A single man, 150 acres. A married man, 
 whose wife is resident in the colony, 200 acres ; and 
 10 acres additional for each of his children, under the 
 age of 18 years, who resides in the colony. 
 
 Whenever a man selects his land, he is at liberty to 
 occupy it, and as soon as he does so he gives notice of 
 his occupation, with a description of his land, at the 
 office of the Surveyor-General at Victoria, where his 
 ' claim' is recorded for his security, and for which 
 record a charge of 85. 46?. is made. This record and 
 his occupation constitute an inchoate title, and confer 
 all the rights of ownership. 
 
 Terms of Payment: — As some districts are already 
 surveyed, should the land selected be surveyed at the 
 time of selection, it is to be paid for in three instal- 
 ments — \s. \d. within one year, \s. \d. within two 
 years, and 2s. per acre within three years from the day 
 of ' record,' as above ; x ' ig together 4*. 2g?. per acre, 
 that sum being now the fix<^.. Government price for all 
 the public land in the colony. 
 
 Should the land selected be unsurveyed at the time 
 of selection, the full sum of 4.§. 2^. an acre becomes 
 payable as soon as the selected land shall be surveyed 
 by Government ; and no portion of the price becomes 
 due until the land shall have been so surveyed. I may 
 add, on this head, that it is not expected any more 
 siirveys will be proceeded with for some years, so that 
 the occupier of land unsurveyed at the time of selec- 
 tion will have a longer credit tlian tlie occupier of land 
 
 ■'»>. 
 
 

 PRIVILEGES OF PREEMPTION. 
 
 351 
 
 already surveyed, who has to pay by instahnents. 
 This will compensate the former class for having to 
 pay the whole price in one sum. 
 
 It will thus be seen that there are only two condi- 
 tions imposed upon a British subject, to enable him to 
 hold, occupy, and enjoy land in the quantities mentioned 
 in any part of the colony of Vancouver's Island — 
 namely, occupation of the land, and the recording of 
 his claim thereto. 
 
 By ' occupation ' personal residence is not meant. 
 Occupation by a servant or others cultivating the soil 
 will be sufficient compliance with the rule to preserve 
 the title from forfeiture. 
 
 The following important privilege is conferred upon 
 the preemptor, as the occupier of land is called in 
 technical phrase. He, his heirs, or devisees, nfter he 
 or they shall have continued in permanent occupation 
 of the land for two years, and shall have made perma- 
 nent improvements thereon to the value of 10*. per 
 acre, may sell, mortgage, or lease the land before it is 
 paid for — that is to say, in the case of surveyed land 
 before the full price shall have been paid for under the 
 instalment system, and in the case of unsurveyed land 
 before any portion of the price shall have been pcdd ; 
 subject, of course, to the claim of the Crown for what- 
 ever may be unpaid in either case, which remains a 
 hen on the land ; and subject also to the condition that 
 the Surveyor-General is satisfied of the bona Jides of 
 the * occupation ' and ' improvements.' 
 
 Forfeiture by Cessation of Occupation: — When a 
 preemptor abandons his land, he forfeits his title to 
 it, it reverts to the Crown, and is open agam for pre- 
 emption. The rigour of continuous occupation is, 
 however, modified to this extent — namely, that the 
 
 
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 352 
 
 RESERVED RIGHTS. 
 
 ■i .r 
 
 preemptor, after he shall have been eight months in 
 possession, may leave his ' claim ' or farm without any 
 one in charge for six months on giving notice at the 
 land-office of his mtention to leave, or of his having 
 left, within 21 days after leaving. 
 
 To provide for discrepancies between a ' claim ' and 
 the survey, the preemptor wih be entitled to purchase 
 at is. 2d. an acre a certain quantity of unpreem] ed 
 land adjoining his claim in addition thereto. 
 
 Title Deeds: — For siurveyed land conveyances will 
 be delivered when the instalments are all paid up ; for 
 unsurveyed lands, when the sur-, ey is made and the 
 full amount of is. 2d. an acr'. paid. 
 
 The following rights are reserved : — 1, to appro- 
 priate necessary ground for public roads without 
 compensation ; 2, to convey water (across the land) 
 for mining purposes ; and 3, to work the precious 
 metals which belong to the Crown, on payment of 
 compensation for waste and damage in the two last- 
 mentioned cases. 
 
 To prevent litigation, disputes are to be submitted 
 ('before ejectment or action of trespass brought') to 
 the arbitration of the Surveyor-General. 
 
 The foregoing is a synopsis of the essential regula- 
 tions concerning the acquisition and tenure of land by 
 British subjects who have retained their allegiance ; 
 and a marked feature of the new system is, that such 
 other British subjects as may have become, or may at 
 some time have taken steps to become, the subjects or 
 citizens of a foreign nation, and aliens also who shiill, 
 as a condition precedent to recording their claims, take 
 the oath of allegiance to Her Majesty before the Cliief 
 Justice of Vancouver's Island, are put upon the same 
 footing with Briti:?h who never renounced tlieir allegimice. 
 
 ■iV 
 
 'i ' [ 
 
 4' 
 
COLONIAL LAWS. 
 
 353 
 
 The conclusions from these premises are — first, that 
 British subjects generally can hold land without being 
 subjected to any test ; secondly, that British subjects 
 who owe allegiance to a foreign Power can also hold 
 land on taking the oath of allegiance to the Queen ; 
 and thirdly, that all foreigners can, equally, hold land 
 on taking the oath of allegiance, in like manner, to 
 Her Majesty. 
 
 These terms for acquiring land are comprehensive 
 and liberal, and it is a thousand pities that the 
 Governor remained so long opposed to them. It will 
 be seen that this new system embraces the chief 
 characteristics of the American Preemption Laws, a 
 system which has in truth led to the subduing of the 
 vast forests of the great West, and to their conversion 
 into the fertile regions which now support a population 
 of millions in abundance. 
 
 Whilst the land law is all that could be desired, with 
 the exception of there being no ' free grants' — a very 
 serious omission — there are some Inlls discussed in the 
 Legislative Assembly which are much too C > servative 
 in so young a colony. For example : the preamble 
 of a oill for regulating the medical fraternity reads 
 thus : — ' Whereas it is necessary to distinguish quahfied 
 from uiu^ualified practitioners, it is therefore enacted,' 
 &c. &c. The object of this bill is to throw the practice 
 of medicine entirely into the hands of the British 
 physicians, and preclude American, French, and Ger- 
 man doctors, and those of other countries, from 
 following their profession. This measure is, to say 
 the least of it, surely premature in a colony where 
 fees are scarce, and where no properly qualified pro- 
 fessional man would waste his time. 
 
 Another clause in this remarkable document ])rovides. 
 
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 354 
 
 CHURCH MATTERS. 
 
 a punishment of three months in prison for any apothe- 
 cary who may hereafter dare to put up a prescription 
 of any kind for any person, unless he is ordered by a 
 physician of the favoured few so to do. If a man 
 should be troubled with the toothache, or should hurt 
 a toe, or cut his finger, he will be compelled to hunt 
 up a regularly qualified doctor before he can apply 
 the most simple remedy. Of course no head of a 
 family would presume to order or administer a dose of 
 castor oil, or a few drops of paregoric, without first 
 consulting a physician, for he would render himself 
 liable to three months' imprisonment under tlie law. 
 
 Some curious features were exhibited in the debate 
 of the Legislative Assembly relative to Church matters. 
 The Speaker held that ' the Established Church was an 
 integral portion of the State ;' and, though it might be 
 deemed unpopular, he would recompense Mr. Cridge. 
 Recompense, no doubt, meant 400/. a-year for hfe. 
 Such is a statesman who in one breath says he is op- 
 posed to Church and State, and in the next supports it. 
 Mr. Crease also canvassed the country on the ' No State 
 Church ' cry, yet he could not be so ungenerous as to 
 allow the Chaplain to be removed without * equity,' 
 that is, 400/. a-year for Hfe. However, the question 
 has been set at rest for ever. The popular voice has 
 declared that ' there shall be no State Church,' and the 
 Bishop of Columbia, contrary to all expectation, pro- 
 claimed in his first sermon in the colony, that upon the 
 people of the Church rested the burden, and that he 
 did not dream of resting upon the State. 
 
 Having settled the question of Church and State, the 
 next question will be, to whom do the parsonage, 
 Victoria church, and the church reserve belong ? The 
 first two cost the colony nearly 4,000/., a pretty large 
 
 1; 
 
 r-W 
 
 1 
 
EXPENSES OF GOVERNMENT. 
 
 nss 
 
 sum to give to one sect, whilst the others got nothing. 
 It should not for a moment be supposed that all the 
 people of either colony will gather under the banner of 
 the Bishop of Columbia, there being a goodly sprinkling 
 of other denominations, who, in fairness, should not be 
 forgotten in the contributions from this country for tlie 
 advancement of Christianity in these colonies. 
 
 The following is a statement of the supplies voted by 
 the House of Assembly for the expenses of Government, 
 so far as could be ascertained : — 
 
 M 
 
 ■\v. 
 
 
 r-.i 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 Estimate No. 1. 
 
 
 Governor 
 
 
 . £800 
 
 Chief-Justice . 
 
 
 800 
 
 Colonial Secretary 
 
 
 500 
 
 Treasurer 
 
 
 400 
 
 Attorney-General 
 
 
 300 
 
 Surveyor-General 
 
 
 400 
 £3,200 
 
 This amount is to be paid by the colony only when 
 the Crown Lands are transferred to its possession. 
 
 It may be mentioned that the Governor's full salary 
 for British Columbia and Vancouver's Island is 1,800/. 
 a-year, and the Lieutenant-Governor's, Colonel Moody, 
 R K, 1,200/. 
 
 STATEMf:NT A. 
 
 Registrar, Supreme Court . 
 
 Registrar's Clerk 
 
 Furniture for Registrar's office . 
 
 Printing for all the Departments 
 
 Sundries for Treasurer's office . 
 
 Attorney-General's Clerk . 
 
 Incidental expenses — Attorney-General's office 
 
 Acting Colonial Surveyor .... 
 
 A A 2 
 
 £250 
 200 
 100 
 350 
 100 
 200 
 310 
 300 
 
 
k {' . . 
 
 
 !>■-■.- 
 
 
 
 356 
 
 CENSUS RETURNS OP THE POPULATION. 
 
 Brought forward 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 £1,810 
 
 Materials for Surveyor's office . . . . 100 
 
 Postmaster-General . 
 
 
 
 350 
 
 Stationery, &c. for Post-office 
 
 
 
 50 
 
 Carrying mails . 
 
 
 
 200 
 
 Police Department . 
 
 
 
 2,360 
 
 Jail Department 
 
 
 
 1,144 
 
 Harbour Master's Department 
 
 
 
 530 
 
 Registrar of Deeds . 
 
 
 
 150 
 
 Sheriff .... 
 
 
 
 200 
 
 Educational 
 
 
 
 450 
 
 Total amount voted . 
 
 £10,544 
 
 According to the census taken in Vancouver's Island 
 by order of His Excellency Governor Douglas, the 
 numbers reported to the House of Assembly were as 
 follows : — 
 
 Victoria Township 
 
 . 2,350 
 
 Victoria District 
 
 254 
 
 Sooke District . 
 
 24 
 
 Lake District 
 
 65 
 
 Nainaimo .... 
 
 165 
 
 Saanich .... 
 
 26 
 
 
 2,884 
 
 No returns were received from Esquimault Metchosin, 
 or Salt Spring Island. The number in these districts 
 may be put down at 150, thus making the entire popu- 
 lation, exclusive of the aborigines, who number about 
 15,000, 3,034 ; and those figures included British sub- 
 jects, Mexicans, Spaniards, French, Italians, citizens of 
 the United States, Chinese, and coloured men from 
 sunnier chmes. 
 
 This meagre population is widely scattered, con- 
 sequently they are in constant trepidation from the 
 
 % 
 
 - I • 
 
PROTECTION AGAINST THE SAVAGE TRIBES. 
 
 357 
 
 attacks of Indians. Indeed, a short time ago, the people 
 of Victoria were in great fear from an expected immigra- 
 tion of immense numbers of Northern Indians. Several 
 canoeis which had arrived reported that Skedigate, the 
 most powerful chief in the island, was on his way down 
 with a large body of savages. It was also stated that a 
 thousand canoes, full of Indians, numbering perhaps 
 eight or ten thousand, were on their way to Vic- 
 toria. In view of these threatening appearances, the 
 Victoria ' Gazette ' counsels every man to arm him- 
 self, not because they e\\UM't an attack upon the town, 
 but because a drunken brawl might terminate in the 
 most serious consequences. The same paper thinks 
 tliat field-pieces should be kept in readiness. This 
 state of things is the natural result of supplying the 
 Indians with arms, ammunition, and whisky. On several 
 occasions they have committed murders and other des- 
 perate outrages, which the Government was either too 
 imbecile or unable to chastise. Tlie impression obtains 
 with nearly all well-informed men that stringent mea- 
 sures should be adopted and a lesson taught to these 
 natives at once, it being well known that the only way 
 to keep them in subjection is to show clearly that they 
 are the weaker party, and that coming in contact with 
 red and blue coats is no trifling affair. There is no 
 doubt that an Indian war is a thing to be dreaded, and 
 experience has shown, in all countries, that to be effec- 
 tive, the blow struck against the savage must be widely 
 felt and terrible. It is very evident that, the longer the 
 Indians are temporised with, the worse the evil will 
 become. Moreover, it is certain that the public wiU 
 not submit to be maltreated and robbed with impunity 
 by any set of men, be they white or coloured ; while, 
 on the other hand, the Indians, emboldened by impu- 
 
 
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 358 
 
 FORAIATIO:^ OF A CIIARTKKED BANK. 
 
 
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 nity, will go on to add murder to robbery. It is there- 
 fore better to do now what must be done some day, 
 namely, to make a severe example of them. 
 
 Although in a few years Vietoria may become a 
 desirable place of residence, at present it is not so. As 
 may be supposed, this arises hi a great measure from 
 the heterogeneous population. The question is often 
 asked, ' What society is there in these colonies ; how 
 would ladies get on there P ' The answer is short and 
 simple, 'wretchedly.' The colony has hardly had time 
 to adai)t itself to the wants of educated society. In 
 respect to the people whom one meets, Victoria is as 
 truly a modern Babel as otlier towns have been which 
 were situated in the vicinage of gold mines m the early 
 periods of their history. Time will no doubt do its good 
 work, there as elsewhere, and amalgamate the races. 
 Meanwhile, the new arrival in these distant lands is 
 at once struck w^itli the diversity of physiognomy. 
 
 I observe that a banking estabUshment for the 
 British gold regions in North America has just been 
 formed, under the title of the (chartered Bank of British 
 Columbia and Vancouver's Island. The capital is fixed 
 at 250,000/., hi shai'es of 20/. each, and the board of 
 directors comprises gentlemen of standing in commer- 
 cial circles. The head office will be in London, and the 
 chief colonial estabhshment at Victoria, other branches 
 being contemplated as the transactions of the colony 
 become extended. The bank will issue notes, discomit 
 bills, receive deposits, and conduct exchange operations 
 with Canada, China, India, Australia, Japan, and else- 
 where, and perform, in short, all usual money business. 
 This is a thoroughly legitimate undertaking, and one 
 that will likely be crowned with success shoidd the 
 yield of gold continue as large as recent advices set 
 
 
t is there- 
 some day, 
 
 become u 
 )t so. As 
 sure from 
 11 is often 
 lies ; how 
 short and 
 ' had time 
 ciety. In 
 toria is as 
 eeii which 
 I the early 
 .0 its good 
 the races, 
 t lands is 
 omy. 
 
 , for the 
 just been 
 of British 
 al is fixed 
 board of 
 
 commer- 
 n, and the 
 
 branches 
 le colonv 
 
 discount 
 operations 
 and else- 
 
 busmess. 
 
 and one 
 lould the 
 Ivices set 
 
 BULLIOX-DEALERS AT VICTORIA. 
 
 3^9 
 
 forth. For the present requirements of these colonies 
 there is, however, ample banking facility afforded by 
 the branch bank of British North America, which has 
 been incorporated by Eoyal Charter, with a paid up 
 capitfd of 1,000,000/. Besides these are the banks of 
 Wells, Fargo, and Co. ; Macdonald and Co. ; and others 
 of a more private character. Lideed I do not think 
 that, until the new and productive gold field of Cariboo 
 was discovered, even the British North American 
 Bank paid its expenses, so numerous are the fiicilities 
 offered to the miner to dispose of his acquired gold. 
 The statement that the miners complain that they can- 
 not sell their gold at the marketable price should be 
 received with very great reservation. The gold is 
 easily got rid of, and no banking firm need look to 
 any very great gain from the mere purchase of that 
 metal. It is in advancing money for trading purposes 
 that the large profit is to be made. 
 
 To the Editor of the Tlmea. 
 
 Sir, — Judging from the statements put forward in the 
 prospectuses of joint-stock banking companies for Vancouver's 
 Island, there must be a considerable amount of ignorance as 
 to the nature of the banking operations in Victoria. It may 
 therefore be of interest to some of your readers to know that 
 at the commencement of the current year the following firms 
 were engaged in the purchase of gold dust and bars at 
 Victoria, Vancouver's Island: — 1. Messrs. Wells, Fargo, & 
 Co., bankers, and general express agents ; 2. Messrs. Mac- 
 donald & Co., bankers; 3. Messrs. Marchand & Co., assayers; 
 4. Messrs. Robertson & Co., assayers ; 5. The Bank of British 
 North America ; — all subsisting on 1,500,000/. worth of gold, 
 the greater part being bought by the first firm, Wells, Fargo, 
 & Co., who are among the principal buyers and exporters of 
 gold in California and Oregon. 
 
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360 
 
 BANKING BUSINESS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
 
 
 
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 The branch of the Bank of British North America was 
 established in 1859 as an experiment, and at the beginning 
 of the present year the staff of officials was reduced, probably 
 from diminished business. 
 
 There is no authority for the supposition that large profits 
 are to be derived from the circulation of bank notes, as up to 
 the present time the experiment has never been tried on the 
 Pacific coast. There will be less need for it in a short time, 
 as thf Government of British Columbia are about to issue 
 pattern gold-pieces, or tokens, of $20 and $\0 value, for cir- 
 culation in the colony. 
 
 I may state that during four years I never recollect any 
 cases of Indians turning systematic gold-diggers. Indeed, it 
 is very unlikely that they should do so, as they would most 
 likely be driven off by white men from any ricii locality, and 
 their habits would not allow of their working poor claims 
 while they could gain more by hunting or fishing. 
 I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
 
 22 Acre Lane, April. . H. Bauerman. 
 
 The next extract is from the money article in * The 
 Times,' April 10, 1862 : ~ 
 
 The following relates to the new Bank of British Columbia. 
 The writer appears to think that the public may be misled 
 into an idea that the representations put forth as to the 
 necessity of such an establishment were not well founded, but 
 there are scarcely two opinions upon the point among the 
 leading London merchants, and the banking experience in 
 Australia furnishes a sufficient example as to the prospects of 
 success under good management. Messrs. Wells, Fargo, & 
 Co., and the other Californian or colonial bullion dealers, 
 would doubtless, however, be glad to retain the business as 
 far as possible in their own hands. Moreover, the question 
 to be considered is not what is the present amount of the 
 produce and population of the settlement, but what it will be 
 in the course of each succeeding year from this time : — 
 
 Sir, — As no prospectus of a joint-stock banking company 
 
GOVERNOR DOUGLAS ON THE MONETARY SYSTEM. 361 
 
 for Vancouver's Island has been lately published, except our 
 own, which appeared on Mond.ay last, I fear I must look 
 upon Mr. Bauerman's letter, inserted in * The Times ' to-day, 
 as an insinuation that statements there put forward are cal- 
 culated to mislead the public, or are, at any rate, according 
 to his impression, framed with a considerable amount of 
 ignorance as to the nature of banking operations in Victoria. 
 
 Permit me to refer you to a copy of a despatch (No. 25) 
 from Governor Douglas, C.B., to his Grace the Duke of New- 
 castle, dated Victoria, Vancouver's Island, Nov. 14, 1861, 
 received at the Foreign Office on January 13, 1862, and pub- 
 lished a few days ago. The following is a short extract from 
 paragraph No. 2 : — 
 
 * The effects of an over- restricted monetary circulation 
 are now, however, operating so fatally in both colonies that 
 it is indispensable to devise a remedy for an evil that is sap- 
 ping the very foundations of our prosperity. To illustrate 
 this fact I would inform your Grace that at this moment 
 there is an amount of gold dust in the hands of miners from 
 Cariboo, residing at Victoria, exceeding one quarter of a 
 million sterling, and so great is the present dearth of coin 
 that it brings a premium of 5 per cent, and over when pro- 
 curable, which is not generally the case, as men may be seen 
 hawking bars of gold about the streets of Victoria, who can- 
 not raise coin enough, even at the high rates of discount just 
 mentioned, to defray their current expenses.' 
 Your obedient servant, 
 A Director of the Chartered Bank of British 
 Columbia and Vancouver's Island. 
 
 80 Lombard Street, April 9. 
 
 I must be pardoned for taking very great exception 
 to His Excellency's statement, and for frankly saying 
 that he must have been misinformed. There are in 
 Victoria, Vancouver's Island, besides the bankers named 
 above, rich Jews, who would speedily {)urchase every 
 grain of gold dust that might be offered at the market 
 
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 362 PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ASSAY OFFICE. 
 
 value. Moreover, gold is not only never refused when 
 tendered ' to defray their current expenses,' but more 
 is given for it when taken in that way. When gold 
 dust is worth SIQ 30c. it is taken in exchange for 
 goods at /^17 the ounce. Tlie idea of 5 per cent, for 
 coin at a place so near to San Francisco is simply 
 laughably absurd. 
 
 It will be seen by the following correspondence that 
 there is a prospect of an assay office being opened at 
 Victoria, Vancouver's Island, by the well-known house 
 of Messrs. Wells, Fargo, & Co.: — 
 
 Victoria, V. I., April 7, 1862. 
 Messrs. Wells, Fargo, & Co., 
 
 Gentlemen, — We, the undersigned, merchants of this place, 
 beg to direct the attention of your firm to the advisabihty of 
 estabHshing an assay office in connection with your banking 
 business here. 
 
 An article in this morning's ' Colonist ' has led us to desire 
 more security for the deposit and assay of our gold dust than 
 the office of a private individual can afford, and we therefore 
 hope that you may be induced to offer to this commercial 
 community that protection which an assay office under your 
 management would insure. 
 
 We are your obedient servants, 
 G. ViQNOLO. G. B. Wright & Co. 
 
 Edgar & Aime. Guild, David, & Co. 
 
 Caire & Grancini. Gladwin, Tarbell, & Co. 
 
 M. Prag, per J. M. 
 W. H. Oliver. 
 G. SuiR & Co. 
 E. Marvin. 
 Pickett & Co. 
 
 J. A. M'Crea. 
 P. M. Backus. 
 DocAssiN, Campbell & Co., 
 PER Chas. W. Wallace. 
 Sporborg & Goldstone. 
 
 Keply. 
 Victoria, V. I. Office, April 7, 1862. 
 Gentlemen, — Your communication of this date, in regard 
 
CROWN RIGHTS REGARDING MINERAL PRODUCTS. 
 
 363 
 
 f . 
 
 ! t. 
 
 to our esta-blishing an assay office in this city, has been re- 
 ceived. In reply, we beg to say that your letter will be for- 
 warded by the next steamer to Mr. M'Lane, our general 
 Agent at San PVancisco, with a private letter from the writer 
 advising compliance with your request. 
 
 We remain, Gentlemen, your obedient servants, 
 
 Wells, Fargo, & Co. 
 
 To Messrs. G. B. Wright & Co., G. Vignolo, Edgar & Aime, 
 and others. 
 
 THE RIGHT OP THE CROWN TO THE MINERALS IN THE SOIL OP 
 BRITISH COLUMBIA AND VANCOUVER'S ISLAND. 
 
 Discovery after discovery is fast bringing to light the fact 
 that the colonies of British Columbia and Vancouver's Island, 
 with their dependencies, are not only rich in gold, but that they 
 are also rich in silver, copper, iron, lead, tin, coal, &c. As 
 these great natural sources of wealth are discovered, there is 
 a growing desire among capitalists and miners to engage in 
 turning them to a profitable account. The Governments of 
 these colonies may feel, in fact they express, an equal amount 
 of anxiety to second their enterprises ; but it has been, and 
 is, a universal complaint, that, with the exception of the 
 well-known privilege accorded to * free miners ' to work 
 gold-mines in British Columbia, the Government have a 
 most awkward way of showing their sympathy with the 
 capital and labour which offer themselves for investment in 
 mines of silver and the baser metals. Delays and impolitic 
 restrictions imposed, or proposed to be imposed, by Govern- 
 ment on mining enterprises other than gold prove a severe 
 drawback — a positive loss to the country, and an equally 
 positive check to private enterprise — to what every intelli- 
 gent economist must regard in the light of the infant manu- 
 facturing industry of the country, which, if properly encour- 
 aged, would in a few years become of gigantic proportions, 
 employing an immense capital, with thousands of miners, 
 and stimulating both commerce and agriculture. Notwith- 
 standing these governmental annoyances, the prospect of a 
 
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 364 
 
 THE ROYAL PREROGATIVE. 
 
 to« 
 
 '^Z 
 
 
 
 11 * ^r 
 
 f V 
 
 I 1 I 
 
 (, 
 
 i 
 
 
 handsome remuneration for capital and labour, if invested in 
 silver, copper, or coal mines, increases the public interest 
 taken in such mines, and the questions very naturally arise. 
 To what mines has the Crown an exclusive right ? How can 
 capitalists and miners become the owners of mines, or acquire 
 the right to work them ? 
 
 In answer to these questions, we may state that the Crown 
 owns all the mines in both colonies, whether of the precious 
 metals — gold and silver — or of copper and other base 
 metals, except where the Crown has conveyed away its right 
 to private parties, either through sale, preemption, or lease ; 
 and that capitalists and miners can become owners of the 
 precious and base metals in the soil only by a grant or lease 
 from the Crown or its assigns, or they may acquire the 
 ownership of the base metals by preemption or purchase. 
 
 The public generally are under the false impression that 
 the Crown claims the exclusive ownership to the base as well 
 as the precious metals, even when the land has been granted 
 to its subjects, and that it may levy a royalty upon them. 
 But this is a mistake, as we shall show in the following quo- 
 tation from Blackstone on the right of the Crown to mines : — 
 
 * A twelfth branch of the royal revenue — the right to the 
 mines — has its original in the King's prerogative of coinage, 
 in order to supply him with materials ; and therefore those 
 mines which are properly royal, and to which the King is 
 entitled when found, are only those of silver and gold. 
 By the old coinage law, if gold or silver be found in mines of 
 base metal, according to the opinion of some, the whole was 
 a royal mine, and belonged to the King ; though others held 
 that it only did so if the quantity of gold or silver was of 
 greater value than the quantity of base metal. But now, by 
 the statutes 1 W. and M. st. 1, c. 80, and 5 W. and M. c. 6, 
 this diflFerence is made immate ial ; it being enacted that no 
 mines of copper, tin, iron, or lead shall be looked upon as 
 royal mines, notwithstanding gold or silver may be extracted 
 from them in any quantities ; but that the King, or persons 
 claiming royal mines under his authority, may have the ore 
 (other than tin ore in the Counties of Devon and Cornwall) 
 
THE CLAIMS OF THE CROWN SUPPORTED BY LAW. 3G5 
 
 paying for the same a price stated in the Act. This was an 
 extremely reasonable law ; for now private owners are not 
 discouraged from working mines through a fear that they 
 may be claimed as royal ones. Neither does the King depart 
 from his just rights of his revenue, since he may have all the 
 precious metal contained in the ore, paying no more for it 
 than the value of the base metal which it is supposed to be, 
 to which base metal the landowner is by reason and law 
 entitled.' 
 
 Blackstone, in this extract, sets forth three points, viz. — 
 1st. That royal mines are only gold and silver. 2nd. That 
 the Crown has no right to copper or other base metals if not 
 in Crown lands. 3rd. That the Crown can, by paying a fixed 
 price, claim all the gold and silver in mines of base metals. 
 The first two points are now the law of England ; but the 
 third is not, for, by 3 and 4 W. IV., 27, s. 36, the right of 
 the Crown to take gold or silver found in copper, &c., is vir- 
 tually repealed, inasmuch us this statute prevents any remedy 
 at law — no mixed action can be brought. Such was the law, 
 according to the ruling of the courts, in British Columbia 
 and Vancouver's Island at the time of their organisation. 
 
 In tracing down the right of the Crown to the mines in 
 the soil of British Columbia since its organisation into a 
 colony, we find that it has especiallj'^ reserved to itself the 
 precious minerals — gold and silver — with the right to work 
 them itself, or allow its licensees, the * free miners,' to do so. 
 But no reservation of the base metals whatever is made. In 
 the * Gold Fields' Act, 1859,' no allusion is made to any 
 metal but gold. ' Auriferous rock ' is mentioned ; and 
 wherever quartz is mentioned it only has reference to gold 
 quartz, not to copper-bearing quartz or silver- bearing quartz. 
 In the Preemption Consolidation Act, the ' precious minerals' 
 are reserved, not the base metals. Hence, so far as British 
 Columbia is concerned, the Crown's right to the minerals in 
 the soil is — Ist. The right to gold and silver wherever found, 
 whether on Crown land or private land. 2nd. The right to 
 the baser metals only when found on Crown lands. 
 
 Since the organisation of this colony in 1849, Vancouver's 
 
 m "• 
 
 «"\ -'. 
 
 
 .»' "1,.. 
 
 ■ .-■■ W' 
 
366 
 
 PROCLAMATION OF PREEMPTION. 
 
 f ."*> I' 
 
 
 I 
 
 Island was granted to the H. B. Company. Under the grant 
 all * royal mines,' as well as mines of copper, lead, and coal, 
 were conveyed to the company. That grant virtually expired 
 in May 1859 ; but up to the last published accounts the island 
 had not been regranted to the Crown, conformably to the 
 tenor of the original grant. Hence, legally^ the right to 
 * mines royal ' and to the base metals is still vested in the 
 company, except such mines as may be found in lands sold 
 by the company to private parties. Such mines, whether of 
 the precious or base metals, in such private lands acquired 
 from tlie company are consequently private property, and 
 cannot be lawfully claimed by the Crown. The grant to the 
 H. B. Company having virtually ceased in 1859, since then 
 an arrangement has been made between the Crown and the 
 company by which the Crown may dispose of the lands in 
 the colony. By this arrangement the rights of the company 
 to the Crown lands and all minerals in them are practically 
 held by the Crown. Under this right, a Preemption Procla- 
 mation has been issued, in which the right to the precious 
 minerals is reserved from preemption ; but no reservation is 
 made of the base metals. Hence, the ownership of minerals 
 in this colony is as follows : 1. The Crown has a right to all 
 the precious metals in the colony in public and private lands 
 not granted away by the company. 2. To all the base metals 
 in unsold or unpreempted lands. 3. If the company granted 
 lands without reservation of the minerals, the grantees own 
 the minerals. 4. If the Crown has allowed parties to pre- 
 empt land under the Preemption Proclamation, the base 
 metals belong to such preemptors. 
 
 To become the owner of copper, lead, iron, tin, or coal 
 mines in either colony, all that is required is to purchase the 
 land ; or, if the land be Crown land, any British subject, or 
 alien who may take the oath of allegiance, may preempt the 
 land in which these minerals are found, and by complying 
 with the conditions of the * Preemption Consolidation Act' of 
 British Columbia, or the * Preemption Act ' of Vancouver's 
 Island, as the case may be, he can become absolute owner of 
 the land, and the base minerals which it contains. — Vietovia 
 Colonist. 
 
THE VANCOU\'ER COAL-MINING COJfPANY. 
 
 367 
 
 A prospectus has just been handed to me of the 
 Vancouver Coal-mining Company, with a capital of 
 100,000/., in shares of 10/. It appears from this docu- 
 ment that the company has been formed for acquiring 
 and working the extensive and valuable coal fields at 
 Nanaimo, on the east coast of the island ; and that 
 they have agreed to purchase from the Hudson's Bay 
 Company the coal mines in their possession, with the 
 existing machinery and buildings, for 40,000/., of 
 which 25,000/. is to be paid within six months, and the 
 remainder, with interest at 5 per cent., in five years. 
 
 In addition to these extensive and valuable deposits 
 of coal, upwards of 6,000 acres of excellent land have 
 also been acquired. The directors, who are well 
 known public men of the highest standing, calculate 
 on a profit of at least 20 per cent, on the first esti- 
 mated expenditure of 50,000/., in which, from my own 
 knowledge of the locaUty and its intrinsic worth, I 
 fully concur. 
 
 Before giv^ing one or two extracts from the pro- 
 spectus and other documents before me, I must be 
 pardoned the indulgence of my personal feelings in 
 saying of Mr. Nicol, the manager of the coijpany in 
 Vancouver's Island, that I beheve him to be on r of the 
 most able, energetic, and trustworthy men in the whole 
 colony, and that the directors could not have better 
 studied their own interests and the interests of the 
 shareholders than by retaining his services. 
 
 Extracts from the prospectus and other relative 
 papers : — 
 
 The property comprises 6,193 acres of land, and the un- 
 derlying coal, together with a hundred dwelling-houses, stores, 
 workshops, machinery, powerful steam engines, wharfs, and 
 
 \ ii 
 
 
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308 
 
 THE VANnn'VKR COM. Ml NINO COMPANY. 
 
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 l)arg<\s, Haw-inill, iV:i'. ; it includes (lie Hiifc iiiitl coiniixulioiH 
 IiHi'boiir of Nunuiiiio, in wlii«li ure ji'ttirs for tlic lou<lin<i^ of 
 vi>HH<>ls at all periods of the tide, and the islands of Neweasfle 
 and Douj^las, on the former o\' which coal, of -i, superior 
 quality for steam purposes, is hein^ worked, the latter also 
 eontainin^ coal. 
 
 Tl>e circumstai»ces under whicli this property is transferred 
 are miusually favourable. From 1H4K until \H'tU the island 
 of Vancoiiver was heUl in trust for the Crown by tlm Hud- 
 son's Hay Company, who, on the discovery of coal in variotis 
 parts of the island, determined to en^a<;e in the working of 
 the njost promising st'anis. After full and careful examina- 
 tion of all the localities where coal was found, selection wjis 
 inad(» of Nanaimo, as otTerinj^ coal of better «iuality,and more 
 abundant tlian elsewhere, with j^reat faciliti^'s for its workinjif 
 and shipment. Dwellinjj-houses and stores were erected, 
 wharfs constructed, all necessary i)lant and machiiuMy an<l 
 parties of miners sent out from Kngland, and a large outlay 
 incurred in the formation of the establishment and gradual 
 extensii>n of the works. 
 
 I'pitn a capital of i')(),0()0/., which, after providing for tlu; 
 purchase and tirst outlay, will amply suHice to work the coal 
 fields so as to keep pace with the increasing demanil, the 
 directors can with certainty calculate on a profit of not less 
 than 20 per cent. 1, ()()() tons weekly could be raised by this 
 expenditure, and eonld be readily sold at the price of 2,'3s. per 
 ton. Mr. Nicol, the present euergetio manager (in whom the 
 Hudson's J3ay Company have implicit confidence, and whose 
 services the directors propose to retain), calculated, in October 
 last, the cost of raising and shipping the coal, on the average 
 of several years, at 16^. per ton — viz., raising the coal to the 
 surface 10s., shipping and agency 5s., and taxes Is. ; this, at 
 the present price of 25s. per ton, will give a profit of 9s. per 
 ton ; and a sale of even 500 tons weekly would, therefore, 
 ensure a profit of 225/. a week, or nearly 12,000/. a year, 
 upon the estimated expenditure of 50,000/. 
 
 But the capability of the mines and the prospects of the 
 demand are by no means limited to this quantity. Van- 
 
•I. sii|n'n(>r 
 liittiM' also 
 
 lul <^ni(liial 
 
 TlIK VANOOUVLit C'OAh-MININd COMPANV. 
 
 .'i(il) 
 
 CDiivci'^H rHliiiid iniiMt liciioiiM! till! ^'rrat <-(!ii(n> i>\' the (iuhiiihtcc 
 of tlio North l',u;irn', iiiid a (tliirf (!<>alih^' dcput for all tlio 
 HtratiicrH cn^'af^iMl in that ctiiiiiiirrcc. Stoarn iiavi;r;itiuii \h 
 raj»i«lly iiicrniMin^ vvitliin tlic^ Straits ol" h'tica, on tlic I'ViiHcr, 
 illiil oil tlir (!oluinl>iati Lakes. 'I'Ik; H<lr<;tion of tin- iioitir 
 liarhoiir of ICs(|iiiiiiaiilt as the |>rinci|ial station for tin* liritish 
 Navy in t.lir I'acilic, and the formation of an Admiralty coal 
 (Irpot tJirr(; will liavo an imiri*-diat(; and important, (>tV<-ct on 
 tli(> demand for tin; coal <»f Nanaiino, wlii(;li has liccn already 
 extensively nsed in the steamers of tim Itoyal Navy. (Ntal 
 of (Mpial tpiality has not Inten found on the whole Pacific, 
 coawt of North Amt^rica, and the coal fiehls of Nanaimo are 
 extrnsivo enoij^di to Hn[)[)ly all tlaj demand that can thus 
 arise. Thtinj is besides a lar^e consumption of coal in San 
 Francisco, and the other cities on or near the c<»aHt. San 
 Francisco alone consumes 14,()()() tons a month, the j^reater 
 portion of which has hitherto been brought from Kn;j;lan(l or 
 the east«;rii coast of tiie States, and has ixjen sold as lii;^di jih 
 51. per ton. Jjatterly, some portion of this suj)ply, and esfx;- 
 cially that for the ^ua works, has come from Nanaimo, and 
 Mr. Nicol expresses a very confid('nt opinion, that, by a slight 
 reduction in the price, the sale of the Najiaimo coal there 
 nii^ht bo very larj^ely increased. 
 
 le average 
 
 REPORTS ON THE NANAIMO COAL FIELD. 
 
 Froni Report of Dr. James Hectoh, GeoUujist to the Govern- 
 ment Exploriiig Expedition under the command of 
 Captain Palliser (1857 - 1860), in tfie Quarterly Jour- 
 nal of the Geolofjical Society for November, 1861. 
 
 At Nanaimo, as on Newcastle Island, there are two seams, 
 the * Newcastle ' and the ' Douglas,' the first of which is every- 
 where about '^ix feet in thickness, with sometimes a floor of 
 fire-clay, but more generally of sandstone, and the roof con- 
 sisting of a fine conglomerate bed, about sixty feet thick, on 
 which rests the Douglas seam, with an average thickness of 
 
 B B 
 
 m 
 
 .1 . 
 
^''*« 
 
 '<v , 
 
 370 
 
 THR VAXCOrVER COAL-MININO COMPANY. 
 
 from three and a-half to four feet. Tlie roof of this seam 'v^ 
 sometimeH of iron-ehiy shale, but more often of the same 
 tough conglomerate that it rests upon. On Chase River, one 
 and a quarter mile tu the south, the outcrop of a seam has 
 been discovered and worked to a small extent, which they 
 consider to be the ' Newcastle seam ;' and as it occurs right 
 in the line of strike, and as they have ascertained the outcrop 
 at several points, it is probable that the beds of coal are con- 
 tinuous.* 
 
 The existence of coal or lignite on the Pacific coast, of 
 quality fit for the purposes of raising steam, is of great com- 
 mercial importance, and that obtained from Nauaimo is as 
 yet admitted to be the best in the market. If these beds are, 
 therefore, discovered to be persistent, so that they can be 
 worked to advantage on a large scale, there is little doubt 
 that this coal, even though it be an imperfect substitute for 
 the finer coal to which we are accustomed in this coimtry, 
 will form a valuable source of wealth to the new British 
 colony. Already it is extensively used by the British navy 
 on that station, and it was found to require only a slight 
 modification in the method of feeding the fires to make it 
 highly effective as a steam generator. 
 
 From Report of Hilary Bauerman, Esq., communicated by 
 Sir R. MuRCHisoN, in Geological Society's Journal for 
 1860, p. 201. 
 
 Two seams of coal, averaging six to eight feet each in 
 thickness, occur in these beds, and are extensively worked 
 for the supply of the steamers plying between Victoria and 
 Eraser's River. 
 
 The coal is a soft black lignite of a dull earthy fracture, 
 interspersed with small lenticular bands of bright crystalline 
 coal, and resembles some of the duller varieties of coal pro- 
 duced in the South Derbyshire and other central coal fields in 
 England. 
 
 • Since confirmed by actual investigation. 
 
 .itvllir 
 
V. 
 
 this seam is 
 f the same 
 i River, one 
 a seam has 
 which they 
 occurs right 
 the outcrop 
 3al are con- 
 
 fic coast, of 
 ' great com- 
 tiaimo is as 
 ise beds are, 
 hey can be 
 little doubt 
 ibstitute for 
 lis country, 
 Qew British 
 British navy 
 oly a slight 
 to make it 
 
 anicated by 
 ounial for 
 
 eet each in 
 ely worked 
 ictoria and 
 
 ly fracture, 
 crystalline 
 )f coal pro- 
 oal fields in 
 
 THE VAXrOUVKR COAL-MrM.VO COMl'ANV. 371 
 
 In some places it exhibits tlie peculiar jointed structure, 
 causing it to split into long prisms, observable in the brown 
 coal of Rohemia. 
 
 For economic purposes these beds are very valuable. The 
 coal burns very freely, iind yields a light pulverulent ash, 
 giving a very small amount of slag and clinker. 
 
 Extract from the Report of CAriAiN UiriiAnDS, K.N., com- 
 inandhif/ }I,}f.>S. Pliuuper, fo the Gocernor of Van- 
 couver's hlaiid, dated October 23, 1858. 
 
 Of Nanaimo, which, on accoimt of its coal mines, is already 
 one of the most important harbours on the islantl, it seems 
 necessary to offer a few remarks. 
 
 It is a well-sheltered port, having a good entrance from 
 the Oulf of Georgia, and another from the south, by the 
 inner waters before described. This latter is very narrow, 
 though with a good depth of water, and a very rapid tide 
 runs through it. It is generally used by small steamers, and 
 there is no reason why it may not be taken advantage of by 
 vessels of any size, having sufficient steam power, when 
 surveyed. ......... 
 
 A good pier has lately been built, alongside of which 
 vessels may lie and coal with great facility. As iruich as 150 
 tons have been taken by one vessel in a day, and -several 
 vessels together might take in the same quantity. Several 
 thousand tons are ready for shipping, and the miners easily 
 keep that quantity on hand. As regards the quality of the 
 coal, it more resembles the Newcastle than any other, and is 
 but little inferior to the average of that description ; it an- 
 swers very well for steam purposes, but produces a dense 
 smoke, and the tubes of the boilers require sweeping more 
 frequently than with any other coal I am acquainted with. 
 There are some good streams at and near Nanaimo well 
 adapted to mill power, and there are other good harbours in 
 the vicinity, close to coal beds, but which have not yet been 
 surveyed. 
 
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I 
 
 372 
 
 THE TOWN OP NANAIMO. 
 
 4i 
 
 mm 
 
 
 From ^ Facts and Figures relating to Vancouver's Island 
 and British Columbia,'' by J. Despard Pemberton, 
 Surveyor-General, V.I. 
 
 The town of Nanaimo, comprising as it does some fifty or 
 sixty buildings, steam engines, tramways and piers, is very 
 picturesquely situated on the north shore of an excellent 
 harbour, backed by a range of hills some 3,000 feet high. 
 In the harbour and rivers salmon abound, and excellent 
 spars are found in the immediate neighbourhood. So great 
 are the facilities for shipping coal, that at any time of the 
 year 1,000 tons a- week can be removed without incon- 
 venience. — P. 17. 
 
 About Nanaimo the prevailing rock is sandstone, varying 
 in texture from the hardest conglomerate and millstone grit 
 to a soft and workable building stone. The harbour is ad- 
 mirably sheltered and easily approached ; vessels draw close 
 alongside a wharf to load. There several beds of excellent 
 coal are found, nearly horizontal, but dipping sufficiently 
 towards the south and west for drainage, and generally 
 roofed with sandstone. They are all worked within fifty or 
 sixty feet of the surface, and are found cropping out on the 
 islands for several miles inland, and high up the Nanaimo 
 Kiver towards the interior of the island, whioh will give some 
 idea of their vast extent. They are used in Her Majesty's 
 steamers, those of the Hudson's Bay Company, and the river 
 steamers. — P. 46. 
 
 The greatest portion by far of the coals consumed in San 
 Francisco is English, and they also consume for domestic 
 purposes as much Vanconvc/s Island as Oregon coal. The 
 observations previously made on this head show that the 
 prospects of finding coal, suitable for steam purposes, in 
 Vancouver's Island are much more promising than in Oregon. 
 At present, say San Francisco pays 51. a ton for Euglish coal, 
 while Nanaimo coal is sold at 11., and adding ,^3 to $4 freight, 
 and 24 per cent, duty on the cost of production, Nanaimo 
 coal will still be the cheapest in the market ; and we see a 
 certainty of sale for all tl e coal suitable for steam purposes 
 

 3?''s Island 
 Pemberton, 
 
 )me fifty or 
 BIS, is very 
 1 excellent 
 I feet high, 
 d excellent 
 . So great 
 ;ime of the 
 lOut incon- 
 
 ne, varying 
 lllstone grit 
 •hour is ad- 
 draw close 
 3f excellent 
 sufficiently 
 ^ generally 
 hin fifty or 
 out on the 
 Nanaimo 
 give some 
 Majesty's 
 id the river 
 
 lied in San 
 domestic 
 coal. The 
 that the 
 iirposes, in 
 in Oregon, 
 iglish coal, 
 $Ai freight, 
 , Nanaimo 
 i we see a 
 1 purposes 
 
 GOVERNMENT AND THE HUDSON S BAY COMPANY. 373 
 
 that Vancouver's Island or British Columbia can produce ;* 
 and how great the consumption is, may be conjectured from 
 the fact, that a year ago the aggregate tonnage of San Fran- 
 cisco steamers exceeded 35,000 tons, a figure which must 
 since then (1858) have materially increased. — P. 77. 
 
 Extracts from Evidence given before the Committee of the 
 House of Commons^ on the Hudson's Bay Company, in 
 1857. By Eight Hon. Edward Ellice, M.P., Director 
 of the Hudson's Bay Company. 
 
 The sooner some determination is taken with respect to 
 Vancouver's Island the better : it is a most interesting posi- 
 tion and possession ; it can do no good under the Hudson's 
 Bay Company. They have no means to apply to it ; they 
 would sink their whole capital if they were to do more than 
 they have done. They have already expended some 80,000^. 
 of capital in sending persons as settlers and miners to work 
 the coal mines and in doing other things which they were 
 urged to do by the Government and the public, in conse- 
 quence of their having accepted the grant of the Island. 
 Everything hitherto has been outlay, there has been no return. 
 
 The sooner the public re-enter into 
 possession, and the sooner they form establishments worthy 
 of the island and worthy of this country, the better ; it is a 
 kind of England attached to the continent of America. I 
 think it should be the principal station of your naval force in 
 the Pacific. It is an island in which there is every kind of 
 timber fit for naval purposes. It is the only good harbour to 
 the northward of San Francisco, as far north as Sitka, the 
 Kussian settlement. You have in Vancouver's Island the 
 best harbour, fine timber in every situation, and coal enough 
 for your whole navy ; — in short, there is every advantage in 
 
 * This view is, in fact, confirmed l)y a letter received lately from 
 the Island, mentioning that the toiniage carrying coal from Nanaimo 
 in the month of January last had increased to 2,000. The price of 
 Nanaimo cuul at the pit's month varies li-om ^^i to ^6. 
 
 1 . ^ ♦>■■ ■ * 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 If 
 
 
 
 "i 
 
1 
 
 r 
 
 1 ■ 
 'f 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 i • 
 
 yF/JS;^ * 
 
 
 
 1 . 
 
 ' 
 
 374 
 
 RESUMPTION OP VANCOUVER S ISLAND. 
 
 the Island of Vancouver to make it one of the first colonies 
 and best settlements in England. — P. 335. 
 
 By Hon. C. W. W. Fitzwilliam, M.P. 
 
 A 500-ton ship can come within ten yards of the shore, 
 within forty yards of the mouth of the pit. Within a quarter 
 of a mile of the coal mine there is anchorage for any number 
 of ships. 
 
 It is an excellent coal, very like the West Riding of York- 
 shire coal, and in a vein very near the surface. — P. 119. 
 
 «' f 
 
 !i 
 
 Uc I ' 
 
 B^A 
 
 i i. 
 
 I 1 
 
 Resumption of Vancouver's Island by the Crown. 
 {Times, June 13, 1862.) 
 
 Upon a vote of 55,000^ for Vancouver's Island, 
 
 Mr. A. Mills asked for further information beyond the 
 words * an estimate of the sum to defray expenses consequent 
 upon the resumption of Vancouver's Island from the Hudson's 
 Bay Company by the Crown.' 
 
 Mr. FoRTESCUE said it was a vote which never could appear 
 again in the estimates, but it was a vote without which the 
 Crown could not resume possession of the island. In the 
 grant of 1849, to the Hudson's Bay Company, it was provided 
 that the Crown should have the power of resuming possession 
 of the island at any time after the expiration of the license to 
 trade, upon payment to the company of the actual amount 
 which they had expended in establishments, bringing emi- 
 grants there, &c. The company demanded a much larger 
 sum than 55,000/. There had been a great deal of negotia- 
 tion between the representatives of the Treasury and of the 
 Colonial-office and the company. A compromise had at 
 length been arrived at, and legal proceedings of a very pro- 
 tracted and expensive character had been avoided. 
 
 Mr. Adderley said that however satisfactory it might be 
 to hear that the Crown could not buy Vancouver's Island of 
 the Hudson's Hay Company twice over, }?".d that another vote 
 
DISCUSSION IN THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT. 
 
 375 
 
 would not be asked for the same purpose, he still wished to 
 know what the 55,000^. was given for, and he should also be 
 glad to know whether any similar arrangements had been 
 made with respect to the rights of the company to the main- 
 land. 
 
 Mr. FoRTESCUE said he was very sorry that the Crown had 
 been obliged to buy Vancouver's Island at any price, but it 
 was part of the arrangement in 1849, and every farthing of 
 this sum had been expended by the Hudson's Bay Company ; 
 in fact, it was only the residium after giving credit for the 
 proceeds from the sale of lands. With respect to the main- 
 land, the claim of the company was of a very minor char- 
 acter, and it had been compromised upon very favourable 
 terms. 
 
 Mr. Adderley thought they might have an account of what 
 had been done by the company for which the 55,000Z. was to 
 be paid. 
 
 Mr. Guilders was afraid they must vote the money, but 
 hoped the Government would give some details. 
 
 Mr. FoRTESCUE said the sum, arrived at after long nego- 
 tiations, strictly represented the value of the establishments 
 handed over, and of the expense of the emigrants whom the 
 company had conveyed from this country. 
 
 Mr. A. Mills very much doubted if there were many 
 emigrants in the island. A larger demand must have been 
 extortionate. (Hear, hear.) 
 
 Mr. W. EwART pressed for an account. 
 
 Mr. FoRTESCDE promised to give an account showing the 
 items. 
 
 Mr. Childers asked whether any decision had been come 
 to with respect to the separation of the two governments of 
 Vancouver's Island and British Columbia. 
 
 Mr. FoRTESCUE could not give a positive answer. The 
 question was under the consideration of the Colonial Depart- 
 ment, and he hoped it would soon be decided. 
 
 Mr. Pease asked whether emigrants were encouraged by 
 grants of land or minerals ? 
 
 Mr. FoRTESCUE said the land laws of Vancouver's Island 
 
 ■Hi 
 
 X ■■■:'.:^ 
 
 \r ■ •' , 
 ■ t iA ■■>■■■ -• I 
 
 '■ .-■ / 'V, 
 
 
 ■J. 
 
 N'--;>/t- i 
 
87f 
 
 VOTE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. 
 
 
 t; 1 
 
 
 u^,;-jifiii 
 
 l'4 
 
 he 5-!* ' > 
 
 and British Columbia were of a most liberal character, and 
 were on an equality with the land laws of the adjoining 
 territory of the United States. 
 
 Mr. A. Mills asked whether this would be a final settle- 
 ment ? 
 
 Mr. FoRTESCUE said that he confidently believed that this 
 would be a final vote. At the same time, there was a slight 
 difference between the Government and the company, and a 
 claim was made ranging between 5,000?. and 10,000?. ; but 
 he did not think it would come to anything. 
 
 Mr. Baxter thought the committee would hesitate to vote 
 55,000?. if it was not understood to be a final settlement with 
 the company. (Hear, hear.) 
 
 Mr. FoRTESCUE said that the original claim of the company 
 was for 225,000?. That claim was calculated on the suppo- 
 sition that the Grovernment would take the commercial 
 establishments of the company. The Government were ad- 
 vised that they were obliged to repay only the sums which 
 the company had laid out in a public or governmental char- 
 acter. That reduced the claim to 60,000?. The Government 
 had now offered 55,000?., and he had no doubt that the 
 company would accept that sum. 
 
 Mr. Adderley asked whether, if this arrangement was 
 concluded, the company would still retain its exclusive rights 
 over the Hudson's Bay territory ? 
 
 Mr. FoRTESCUE said that this settlement would not in any 
 way affect the rights of the company under their ancient 
 charter over the region bordering on Hudson's Bay ; but if it 
 was carried out, the company would cease to have any power 
 or standing west of the Rocky Mountains, except as a private 
 trading corporation. 
 
 Lord R. Montague asked why, if this sum had not been 
 finally accepted by the company, 25,000?. had already been 
 paid to them ? 
 
 Mr. Baxter hoped that, if this vote was agreed to, the 
 Government would inform the Hudson's Bay Company that 
 there was no chance of the House of Commons being induced 
 to grant any further sum. 
 
FEMALE EMIGRATION SOCIETY. 
 
 377 
 
 Mr. BouvERiE did not see how the Government could 
 adopt such a course as that, because, if the Hudson's Bay 
 Company refused to accept the compromise which had been 
 offered by the Government, they would fall back upon their 
 legal rights, and the House could hardly refuse to vote 
 any sum to which they might be declared to be legally en- 
 titled. 
 
 Mr. FoRTESCUE said that the company now claimed 60,000/. 
 The Government had offered them 55,000/., and he was con- 
 vinced in his own mind that the company would accept that 
 sum. 
 
 The vote was then agreed to. 
 
 
 
 The Press announces that an emigration society has 
 been founded to facilitate the transmission of women to 
 these dependencies. Now, although the patrons of these 
 associations are no doubt actuated by the most philan- 
 thropic and praiseworthy motives, it would be most 
 unpardonable not to observe, that it would be a cruel 
 thing to send out girls in the expectation of being 
 employed, ^s domestic servants, in a colony where even 
 many of the Government officials, wlio have regular 
 and certain pay, cannot afford the luxury of a servant ; 
 and as to 'matrimony,' they would soon outlive the 
 delusion of husbands in perspective. The great pre- 
 ponderance of males, being about 100 to 1, would 
 incline persons to infer that the other sex, like most 
 scarce articles, would be in great demand, but such is 
 not the case. The life of the miner is one of stirring 
 activity; he is of a roving disposition, turning from one 
 occupation to another, and, as he leads a precarious 
 existence, 'neither marries nor is given in marriage.' 
 Until the condition of society in these countries is more 
 stable, it would be madness in females to go thither, 
 
 ,?/": 
 
 a;,v 
 
378 
 
 POSITION OP THE FEMALE COLONIST. 
 
 If/*, 
 
 '%:^ ': 
 
 %\4-i-^ 
 
 when their chances in a matrimonial point of view 
 would be utterly hopeless. It is, moreover, a very 
 hazardous step for the 'good-looking girls who would 
 be the nuggets ' to launch themselves upon the world 
 without the substantial aid and moral support of a 
 relative. Altogether it is most heartless to send poor 
 girls out, to starve and become outcasts, in a country 
 where there is neither shelter nor defence for the 
 unprotected. What more deplorable to imagine than 
 the poor female outcast, destitute, friendless, and home- 
 less, in utter misery, wretcliedness, and awful suffering, 
 in a strange land ! May the bitter, calamitous, and 
 soul-rending cry of the unprotected, forlorn, and outcast 
 females on these distant shores steal over land and 
 water to the hearts of those to whom God has given of 
 this world's goods, and remind them that charity is love 
 to man founded on love to God, and that it is neither 
 philanthropy nor Christianity to contribute to the 
 banishment and ruin of heaven's best gift! There 
 is surely no necessity for this cruelty whilst the colonies 
 of Natal, New Zealand, and Queensland are still un- 
 peopled. 
 
 In Vancouver's Island very little is grown. Every- 
 body is busy building the town of Victoria, and specu- 
 lating. No attention is paid to agriculture, except by 
 a few of those who were, and still are, in tlie service of 
 the Hudson's Bay Company. The correspondent of 
 the ' Times ' states, under date September 21, 1861 : — 
 ' A conclusive proof of this is afforded by the fact that 
 the whole annual agricultural produce of the colony 
 would not supply the demand in Victoria for more than 
 one month in the year. Almost all the flour and 
 cattle consumed in Victoria, and shipped thence to 
 British Columbia, come from Oregon and Washington 
 
y " 
 
 COST OP LIVING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
 
 379 
 
 Territory.' A universal smash, therefore, must sooner 
 or later be the result where all are spending and none 
 producing. Credits must close, and insolvency follow. 
 Like other new colonies, Vancouver's Island and British 
 Columbia have to pass through a crisis. The expense 
 of living, too, is so great in these colonies that 500/. 
 per annum does not nearly procure the sustenance that 
 may be had in this country for 200/. Every article of 
 consumption and clothing is enormously dear. 
 
 In a despatch from Governor Douglas to the Eight 
 Honourable Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., under date October 
 4, 1858, His Excellency says, in reference to the cost 
 of living: — 
 
 The sum meutioned in your letter for British Columbia 
 (1,800^ a year for the Governor of British Columbia and 
 Vancouver's Island), admitting that a separate and larger 
 allowance was made for Vancouver's Island, is manifestly in- 
 sufficient for that purpose, in this very expensive country, 
 where food, clothing, servants' wages, the price of labour, and, 
 in short, of every necessary of life, so far exceeds the standard 
 of those values in England. 
 
 The sum of 5,000^. per annum, including the salaries for 
 both Governments, would be no more than sufficient to cover 
 the actual expenditure of that position. 
 
 Again, in a despatch dated Victoria, November 8, 
 1858, Governor Douglas says ; — 
 
 A gentleman may live in England on an income of 1,000Z. 
 a year with far more comfort than an income of 1,800^. would 
 command in this country. 
 
 The greater number of the inhabitants of Victoria 
 being Americans, the town has in consequence become 
 much Americanised, and everybody knows that ' Take 
 a Drink ' is their motto. Immigrants ought, therefore. 
 
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380 
 
 DRINKING HABITS OF THE AMERICANS. 
 
 to be upon their guard against the many mixtures 
 offered to them. A well-known author writes : — 
 
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 The American drinks cocktails to drown his sorrows ; he 
 swallows them because he is joyful ; he pours them down his 
 throat when disappointed in business, and gorges upon them 
 because he is prosperous. Friendship commences in a julep 
 and ends in a smash. Jealousy broods darkly oyer the ab- 
 sorption of rum-punch, and meditates suicide, murder, or 
 divorce over the last lingering drop of brandy plain. Hope 
 bubbles eternally in sherry cobblers, and wit effervesces in 
 champagne. With us — for are we not a nation of drinkers? 
 — a bargain cannot be settled, unless it is settled over gin 
 and sugar. No president, no governor, no official can be 
 nominated, much less elected, without the bar-feast of 
 crackers and cheese, and the flow of whisky. The welfare 
 of the nation, the stability of the government, cannot be 
 maintained without morning eye-openers, noon-day nips, and 
 midnight night-caps. The goddess of liberty could not stand 
 an hour without her 'smile.' The Great Bird can't fly 
 without the benefit of a tod. We drink when we are dry, 
 and get dry in order to drink, when we are not dry. We 
 drink to the memory of the departed at funerals, and drink 
 consolation to the grief-stricken mourner. The mourner 
 drinks the health of those who do not mourn, and those who 
 do not mourn drink because — they must drink. Drink is 
 the fundamental law of our social system, a part and parcel 
 of the Declaration of Independence, and the bulwark of our 
 nation's greatness. 'Take a drink!' will soon usurp the 
 place of * E Pluribus Unum,' and a bottle and glass occupy 
 the hands of justice, in lieu of the grocery scales and regula- 
 tion sword. Schemes of gigantic import are concocted, war 
 is declared, and peace is made by the power of statesmanlike 
 brandy and wire-pulling whisky. Our horn of plenty resolves 
 into a horn of * red-eye.' We drink fast — Americans. We 
 drink often, and then drink again, that we may have an appe- 
 tite for more drink. The inventive genius of the publican is 
 continually striving to produce new fluidical combinations, 
 with which to astonish and delight the nation of drinkers. 
 

 CONTINGENT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL EXTIIBITION. M81 
 
 From the 'Canadian News,' April 10, 1862 : — 
 
 Industrial Exhibition. — It is expected that the articles 
 contributed by Vancouver's Island for exhil)ition at the 
 World's Fair, 1862, will be placed to-day on board the 
 schooner Meg Merriles, for Barclay Sound, from whence 
 they will be shipped on the Pocahontas, to leave that port in 
 about six weeks for London. The articles contributed com- 
 prise specimens of minerals, fossils, produce, timber, Indiau 
 manufactures, &c., and, on the whole, cannot fail in proving 
 a highly interesting collection, and must attract attention. 
 His Excellency the Governor has appointed the under-men- 
 tioned gentlemen as a Commission to represent the interests 
 of Vancouver's Island at the Exhibition : John Lindky, 
 F.R.S. ; Alfred John Langley, Esq., member of the Legisla- 
 tive Council in this colony ; and Richard Charles iSIaguire, 
 Esq., Commander Royal Navy. There will be, all told, 
 about sixteen tons of goods forwarded from this colony, six 
 tons of which will be of Nanaimo and Newcastle coal. 
 
 Now, as to ' Who should and who should not emi- 
 grate to this distant colony ? ' The gentleman agricul- 
 turist had better stay at home, pondering over the great 
 fact that ' cats in gloves catch no mice ; ' so should also 
 all ' broken down swells,' who are the votaries of loo, 
 bagatelle, and billiards, and who love to fill the ' flow- 
 ing-Lowl till early in the morning.' Professional men 
 of all classes, such as clergymen, lav;yers, doctors, 
 teachers, engineers, surveyors, and all unaccustomed to 
 manual labour, should also stay at home, or go to an 
 older colony. By and by a few able-bodied ploughmen, 
 gardeners, blacksmiths, masons, and mechanics of any 
 kind, might, perhaps, venture with some chance of 
 success ; but at present there are too many of these in 
 the colony, scores being out of employment, literally 
 starving, and without the means to carry them away 
 from the scene of their wretchedness. It would be 
 cruel and most unfair to blink the fact, that not one- 
 
 
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 382 
 
 HINTS TO INTKNDIXG EMIO RANTS. 
 
 half of the professional men who have gone to these 
 colonies have been able to find any kind of employ- 
 ment by which to gain the commonest livelihood. The 
 only class who might emigrate with early hopes of 
 success are persons possessing some capital, and who 
 have been used to manual labour. I would impress 
 upon every intendhig emigrant the importance of being 
 very careful in the selection of new homes in the first 
 instance, and to look more to colonies where disap- 
 pointments are the exception, bearing always in mind 
 that a 'rolling stone gathers no moss,' and that there is 
 some truth in the common saying tliat 'three removes 
 are as bad as a fire.' A facetious Yankee, however, 
 remarked to me one day, wliilst riding over a parched 
 district of Mexico — ' I guess, though, that stdl- water 
 gets tarnation foid.' A sound remark, probably ; but 
 I write of my own experience. 
 
 
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 SH.') 
 
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 c ^ • 
 
 CHAPTEE XL 
 
 SAN FRANCISCO. 
 
 tion as could well be imagined, 
 thrilling 
 
 It was my intention to conclude this work with a 
 record of my impressions of Mexico, California, and 
 the United States, together with a short account of 
 what I had heard and seen during the Prince of Wales' 
 visit to that repubUc ; but as I have already exceeded 
 my prescribed hmits, and as there is much to say upon 
 those subjects, I shall defer noticing them till a future 
 time, with the exception of saying a few words about San 
 Francisco, that remarkable city, tlie site of which, but 
 a few years ago, was in as wild and primitive a condi- 
 
 Many, indeed, are the 
 incidents which have occurred there since 
 the year 1816, when the British sloop-of-war Racoon 
 entered that spacious bay. 
 
 San Francisco is, as most readers are aware, the cliief 
 city of the State of California. In January 1848, the 
 race for wealth commenced by the discoveiy of gold 
 at Coloma, on the American River. Gold dazzled the 
 eyes of all. Merchants and merchants' clerks moved 
 away in search of it. Houses and tents stood empty, 
 and the grass grew where men had trodden. This 
 only continued for a time : rumours of the discovery- 
 soon spread far and wide, multitudes pressed forward 
 to fill the vacant dweUing-places, and the city of San 
 Francisco, with her 100,000 inhabitants, now ranks 
 amongst the chief commercial cities of the world. Her 
 
 
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 884 
 
 SINGULAR rnoPIFKrY, ANT) ITS FrM'ILMKNT. 
 
 weekly export of «;ol(l jilone amounted to ^j?! 1,000,000 
 on the Ist of last November. I3iit it is not the mineral 
 productions wliich have made San Franeiseo what she 
 is, altliou«,di they liave hir^^ely liel])ed ; it is the super- 
 latively good climate, and the soil, which is tiie finest 
 in the world tor agricultural i)urposes. 
 
 In this State are found what may he truly described 
 mammoth farms. As an instiuice, there were harvested 
 last year on General Hutchinson's farm, near Sacra- 
 mento, one thousand [teres of barley, seven hundred 
 acres of wheat, and eighteen hundred tons of hay. 
 The full yield of wheat averaged thirty, and of barley 
 about forty, bushels per acre ; tlie jiroduce is estimated 
 at 00,000 buslieis, at ^1-33 (about o.v. 0^/.) per bushel, 
 or 10,000/. The hay would bring 4,000/. Thus, this 
 piece of land has yielded 20,000/., to meet capital, 
 labour, and taxes. 
 
 The following prophecy, entitled 'San Francisco, a 
 Dream,' which was contributed to the 'California' of 
 December 8, 1847, by the person who ' thought in 
 sleep,' will be read with interest, on account of its 
 marvellous accuracy, especially as the gold had not 
 then been discovered, and few attached any importance 
 to the then insignificant town. Under such circum- 
 stances the following sketch must have been looked 
 upon as a silly joke ; and yet everything, even the 
 'Bank of Francisco,' which was established in 1849, 
 and afterwards died out, has been verified : — 
 
 San Francisco : A Dream. — On a calm and lovely 
 November evening, a weary and travel-stained pilgrim from 
 the far Atlantic shore, borne onward by that restless and 
 indomitable spirit which characterises the Anglo-Saxon race, 
 laid himself do\vn on a solitary spot on the shore of a vast 
 and beautiful hay. No living thing was visible save the wild 
 
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 1,000,()()() 
 ic luincral 
 what sliu 
 the sup(!r- 
 tlie finest 
 
 (loscril)O(l 
 harvested 
 !{ir Sacra- 
 hundred 
 s of hay. 
 of barley 
 estimated 
 er busliel, 
 Tlius, til is 
 }t capital, 
 
 aneiscn, a 
 'oniia' of 
 loiight in 
 lit of its 
 had not 
 iportance 
 circum- 
 n looked 
 even the 
 in 1849, 
 
 id lovely 
 'rim from 
 tless and 
 xou race, 
 of a vast 
 ! the wild 
 
 VISION OF TIIK CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO. 
 
 nna 
 
 
 Itird as it winged it.s lli^lit thrniiiifh the nir, a few deer j^razing 
 quietly on the hillH, and occasionally a timid ral>l)it leaping 
 from tliicket to thicket. KxhauHtcd \ y iixtigne, and hdU'd Uy 
 the gentle ripple of tho l)ay, and the (ti tant murmuring of 
 the Pacific waves, he wmii slept. Jh> <lreamed, and lo 1 'a 
 wilderness of huilding ' rune licfore him ii stately city, 
 thronged with husy multitudes, its streets bordered with 
 noble edifices, its wharves crowded with the merchant princes 
 of every land, its harbour filled with the vessels uf all nations 
 — here the bold eagle of America, beside its well-known ally, 
 the tricolour of France ; there the proud pennon of England, 
 beside that of China; the flags of Russia, Holland, Spain, 
 Turkey, all flaunting gaily in the fair sunlight. Steamers 
 were wending their way in every direction, and not the least 
 conspicuous among them was the little Fairy — the first 
 which ever puff'ed over these waters. A confused jargon of 
 many tongues was around him, requiring a learned black- 
 smith, master of fifty languages, for an interpreter. ' Where 
 am I ?' demanded he of one near him. A stare was the only 
 reply of an * elliptic-eyed ' inhabitant of the land of many 
 letters and few ideas. He turned to another — a brisk and 
 vivacious little man of a very Mercurial appearance. * Je ne 
 V0U8 coTtvprend^ Monsieur,^ said he, with a gracious smile and 
 bow. Perplexed and bewildered, he wandered on, and soon 
 entered a magnificent public square. * Where am I ? ' again 
 asked he, of one whose visage reminded him of home. 
 * Where are you ? Why, Old Rip, you must have been 
 taking a twenty years' nap among the mountains, not to 
 know that. Why, man, this is Portsmouth Square — that 
 the theatre — this is the Bank of San Francisco — yonder 
 the University of California — the Court House, with the 
 learned lawyers around it — there is the principal road to 
 Monterey — here Orleans and Boston, via Tehuantepec — 
 and here come the rail-cars rattling on.' * What news from 
 the East ? ' * Read for yourself,' replied a passenger ; ' here 
 is a New Orleans paper only thirteen days old.' ' That '11 do.' 
 ' But there 's the gong of the City Hotel. Do you stop there, 
 stranger?' 'What, there ! in that splendid building?' asked 
 
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 886 
 
 RAH I) GROWTH OP SAX FRANCISCO. 
 
 > 1 '.* 
 
 he, in looking up to the fifth story of an elegant edifice, 
 whose classic front extended along the entire square. * Why, 
 yes ; and nowhere else can such good fare be found — truffles, 
 oysters, mushrooms, pates a la Tiiode de Paris ; birds' nests, 
 &c., a la mode de Chinois ; beef, beans, and potatoes, a la 
 mode d'Amierique ; hock, burgundy, and champagne ; besides 
 wines from the vineyards of our own California — all that a 
 man can desire. Come ! ' 
 
 From the dinner-table he was conducted through brilliantly 
 illuminated streets to the opera. There, in a luxuriantly 
 cushioned and elegantly draped box, he was at once rapt in 
 elysium by those ' linked notes of sweetness ' which would 
 ' create a soul under the very ribs of death,' and at the same 
 time transported to the seventh heaven by the varied loveli- 
 ness which surrounded him. While thus astonished and 
 entranced, the cry of ' fire ! ' * fire I ' * fire ! ' broke upon his 
 ear. The engines .ioon rushed to the rescue; the vigilant 
 firemen poured in a stream of water, which suddenly dispeised 
 the dream of our pilgrim stranger, and lo ! he was again on 
 the solitary shore, with a pitiless storm beating on his un- 
 sheltered head. * Coming events' had but * cast their shadows 
 before.' Nina. 
 
 Such is the dream which has turned out so true. 
 Verily cities are like human beings, they have their 
 infancy, their childhood, and their old age. Some 
 have had their death. Nineveh, Pompeii, and Palenque 
 passed away, and were forgotten, until Layard, Stephens, 
 and others had moved the rubbish from off* their 
 tombs, deciphered the epitaphs on their stone registers, 
 gathered up their dust and preserved it in their classic 
 urns. Such may some day be the exhumed history of 
 San Francisco. 
 
 This wonderful city is striding onwards in the path 
 of prosperity with a rapidity unparalleled in our age. 
 The hammer and trowel are heard in every direction, 
 while brick blocks are pushing themselves into locahties 
 
 
'THE WHAT CHEER HOUSE.' 
 
 387 
 
 which, at one time, were looked upon as hopelessly 
 inaccessible. All is bustle and activity. Industry is 
 abroad, his shirt-sleeves are rolled up, and his innumer- 
 able artisans are busy at their ceaseless toil. Whilst 
 stone and lime occupy so much of the attention of the 
 energetic and opulent citizens, the formation of rail- 
 roads has not been overlooked, for the first few miles of 
 what is to be the great continental railway were lately 
 completed and thrown open to pubUc traffic. The 
 Avork had gone on so quietly that few would beheve 
 the amount of cutting and grading that has been done 
 within the short space of a few weeks. In some 
 instances sand-hills ninety feet high have been cut 
 through with spade and shovel alone, without the aid 
 of machinery. The carriages are a model of finish 
 and elegance, and the interior decorations are equal, if 
 not superior, to anything of the kind I have seen in 
 the Atlantic cities. The cornices and mouldings trim- 
 med with crimson plush have a pleasing and sumptuous 
 appearance throughout ; whilst the ceiling is lined vnth 
 a pearly-grey figured silk, contrasting tastefully with 
 the plush velvet and the well-pohshed rosewood and 
 mahogany. 
 
 As one of the most notable features of San Francisco 
 something should be said regarding ' The What Cheer 
 House.' Unlike many other celebrated hotels, it has 
 risen from a small and almost unknown establishment 
 to be one of the most popular houses of entertainment 
 on the American continent. It is conducted on both 
 the American and the European plan : that is, board 
 without lodging, and lodging with or without board, 
 to suit the wants of all. A thousand persons can be 
 accommodated in good single btvls with spring and 
 hair mattresses of the best kind ; and shower and 
 
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 388 
 
 THE MUSEUM OF THE HOTEL 
 
 plunge baths, both hot and cold, are arranged in 
 different parts of the building for the benefit of the 
 inmates, free of charge. Very interesting features of 
 this model hotel, Avhich go far to show the enterprise 
 and Hberality of the proprietor, are the museum, 
 library, and reading-room. 
 
 The museum is truly an attractive place of instruc- 
 tion and pleasure. The whole of the Pacific coast has 
 been ransacked to obtain the curiosities. The most 
 beautiful portion of the collection is the ornithological 
 department, in whicli are upwards of six hundred 
 specimens of birds from all parts of the world, but 
 particularly from Europe. Amongst these are to be 
 found the most gorgeous denizens of the tropical forest, 
 such as the toucan, the oriole, the cockatoo, parrots of 
 all shades and hues, the most delicately plumaged doves 
 and pheasants, and a great variety of birds in wdiose 
 feathered garniture are found all tlie colours of the 
 rainbow in endless combinations, from the superb 
 macaw flashing in the brilliancy of his painted attire, 
 to the glittering velvet-winged humming-bird poised 
 like a crowning jewel on some lightly balanced sprig. 
 There are also owls, cranes, storks, hawks, eagles, and 
 aquatic fowl of every kind and plumage. 
 
 Another department is devoted to the eggs of all 
 kinds of known birds, and is a collection of which any 
 museum might be proud. In it are specimens of the 
 largest and the smallest eggs known — from those of 
 the gigantic condor of the Andes, and the ostrich, to 
 diminutive things no bigger than peas. They are of all 
 colours, and very curious, as are also the nmnerous 
 specimens of nests. The sciences of conchology and 
 mineralogy are also well represented. There are three 
 cabinets richly stored with choice specimens from the 
 
AND ITS VARIED CONTENTS. 
 
 389 
 
 four quarters of the globe, and in variety sufficient to 
 delight the eye of the scientific. The shells are exceed- 
 ingly fine, and were procured at very great cost. The 
 cases of insects combine the beautiful and the horrible, 
 and the same may be said of the snakes and reptiles. 
 There are the deadly cobra de capello, the rattle-snake, 
 and numerous others ; also scorpions, centipedes, and 
 tarantulas ; while the eye, if weary of monstrosities, 
 has only to turn in another direction to gorgeous 
 butterliies and rainbow-hued beetles. On the walls 
 are found rare and curious collections from the Pacific 
 Islands and the Arctic regions, war implements, idols, 
 ice-shoes, nets, Japanese oddities, canoes and paddles, 
 agricultural tools, and musical instruments. There are 
 also several stuffed animals. 
 
 The reading-room and hbrary are regularly furnished 
 with nearly all the papers and periodicals in the State, 
 as well as the leading papers, periodicals, magazines 
 and pictorials from all parts of the United States and 
 Europe, in addition to the library of some two thousand 
 volumes, many of them choice and standard works. 
 
 Go where you will in ' The Wliat Cheer House' and 
 some rare and interesting object arrests the gaze. It is 
 really a wonderful place, and like a Babel in point of 
 the different languages spoken wdthin its walls. English, 
 French, German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Portuguese, 
 Danish — in fact, all the civilised tongues of Europe and 
 America, are daily heard within its precincts. It is an 
 establishment per se. 
 
 There are many beautiful and fertile valleys in the 
 State of California in which are raised in great perfec- 
 tion, besides every variety of corn and vegetables, 
 oranges, lemons, bananas, figs, dates, pomegranates, 
 grapes, and olives. The vine is extensively cultivated, 
 
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 390 
 
 THE PRODUCTS OP CALIFORNIA. 
 
 and it is a delightful recreation to stroll through the 
 vineyards and among the fruit-trees bordering their 
 walks. The quantity of wine produced amounts to 
 several millions of gallons, which can be increased 
 indefinitely and the quality much improved by cultuie. 
 For salubrity there is scarcely a climate in the world 
 superior to that of California. The thermometer, at 
 any season of the year, rarely sinks below 50° or rises 
 above 80°. The flora is very rich, and affords a 
 delightful field to the botanist. The religion is the 
 Eoman Cathohc, to which they seem devotedly attached. 
 Altogether California is a most magnificent country, 
 having within its limits many wide-spread plains, 
 sublime mountain scenery, and numerous sylvan 
 scenes of great beauty. Its mineral wealth is ex- 
 ceedingly great, and a marvel the industrial energy 
 of its people, who are as kind and generous as Nature 
 herself has been to their soil. 
 
 
 
391 
 
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 ■ ■■•■ .; !''■* ■ '• 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 HINTS TO EMIGRANTS. 
 
 Should you tliink of emigrating to British Columbia, 
 expect no Government situation unless you arrive 
 with the Treasury warrant from Downing Street, for 
 there are scores of young men starving in the hopes of 
 getting situations. Do not trouble yourself with intro- 
 ductory letters to any of the colonists ; they will never 
 procure you a dinner, unless you are reported to be a 
 man of capital or credit, in which case you will be 
 bedinnered and bedrained until your money is gone 
 and your credit ruined. Place no dependence on the 
 patronage of colonial official gentlemen : you may be 
 received with a few canting phrases, probably a warm 
 shake by the hand; but to-morrow this man notices you 
 not, because he can make no profit by you, and you 
 soon learn that everybody immigrates to benefit himself. 
 If you think of gold-digging, stay at home, unless you 
 have a capital of at least two or three hundred pounds ; 
 for the gold-fields are worked successfully only by men 
 of capital, machinery and numerous labourers being 
 requisite. For farming, the land is too poor, and the 
 expense of clearing too great. Cattle and sheep grazing 
 is out of the question, the country being densely wooded 
 with much underbrush. A professional man, as a 
 lawyer, doctor, or parson, surveyor or engineer, might 
 do very well, if there were a population and money to 
 P'ivc employment ; but these are H9i yet wanting. I>o 
 
 i 
 
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 892 
 
 HINTS TO EMIGRANTS. 
 
 not flatter yourself that you can, as in the flourishing 
 colonies of Australia, New Zealand, the Cape, and 
 Natal, easily become a landed proprietor, and surround 
 yourself with the common comforts or necessaries of 
 life. You pay for every description of labour and food 
 about twice as much as you do in England, 500/. there 
 being equal to 200/. at home. Men possessing capital 
 can find room for its profitable employment in buying 
 gold, or in purchasing machinery for extracting gold ; 
 but without capital you can do nothing. Never be out 
 of employment for an hour if you can help it, as you 
 lose support for that time and the practice that keeps 
 you improving. Moreover, be not too choice in looking 
 out for what may exactly suit you ; but rather be ready 
 to seize on any opportunities which may occur, as a 
 man is far more Ukely to be called from an humble to 
 a more advantageous position, than from idleness to the 
 place he desires. At all times keep your own secrets, 
 or you will soon find by experience that your expected 
 prize has been secured by your wily friend. Guard 
 most vigilantly against evil associates, remembering that 
 reputation once gone is gone for ever. Keep out of 
 debt, for it is a companion v/hich haunts a man in all his 
 movements, embittering and poisoning his cup, stalking 
 before him like a demon skeleton, and making very 
 nature itself lose all its charms. Emigrants should 
 never give up their contract tickets until they reach the 
 port of destination, lest the ship should be prevented in 
 any way from landing the passengers at the place 
 named. Never drink the water of the Eraser Eivcr, 
 as it has a tendency to produce serious bowel ;:*om- 
 plaints, at all events in strangers. Never cinploy 
 'runners,' who crowd on board ships and steamboats 
 oilering their services to get passengers, &c., as they 
 
 
HINTS TO EMIGRANTS. 
 
 393 
 
 will pocket your money and be off. Wlien you want 
 advice or direction, always apply to the Government 
 agents, or to the agents of the ship, who will furnish 
 gratuitously all requisite information. Do not take 
 out implements of husbandry, or anything except what 
 is absolutely necessary for the passage, as everything 
 required can be easily procured in San Francisco. Take 
 out all the money you can, and never carry bank-notes, 
 as they are liable to heavy discounts, but brmg your 
 money in gold, silver, or good bills of exchange. 
 Eemember that what the American terms 'a shilling' 
 is only sixpence English currency, or you mil get into 
 many a scrape. Keep ever before your mind that self- 
 interest and pecuniary aggrandizement will plate truth 
 with fiction, that honoui', justice, and integrity do not 
 always find a place even in high quarters, and that 
 partial and treacherous management may frustrate your 
 most reasonable expectations. 
 
 Finally, I would caution immigrants against going to 
 British Columbia as a suitable place of settlement ; and 
 also against placing too much credence hi the state- 
 ments of certain interested persons who maintain that 
 the colony is flourishing to their heart's wish, and that 
 the productiveness of the soil is not to be equalled in 
 England, Oregon, Washington, or California. These 
 are chimerical ideas, which, if believed in, will assuredly 
 place the immigrant in a ruinous and false position. I 
 affirm, without fear of contradiction by any conscien- 
 tious man, that the reports of the richness of the soil 
 of British Columbia are fabulous; that the territory is 
 all but an inhospitable wilderness, in nowise adapted 
 to agricultural pursuits, fit only for prowling beasts of 
 prey and the usual denizens of the forest ; and that, as 
 surely as the immigrant is lured to tread these lands, so 
 
 ■■-'. ' 
 
 
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i 
 
 
 6,♦*^,,^ 
 
 
 Ik^ 
 
 '» 
 
 •^i 
 
 2 ■S 
 
 i; 
 
 ■I 
 
 I'ji 1 &[" si-'' ■ 
 
 304 
 
 THE CHINOOK JARGON. 
 
 siu-ely will he meet with disappointment, distress, and 
 destitution. It is truly heartrending to meet with sonic 
 Avho have left respectable positions in the mother- 
 country, and Hsten to their tales of penury, misery, and 
 want. Will not the just and Almighty God visit tlie 
 infamy of such as have misrepresented the state of 
 things in British Columbia with an early and stern 
 retribution ? But this can afford but poor consolation 
 to the many persons who have already been ruined, 
 and left in utter hopelessness. 
 
 CniXOOK JARGON AND ENGLISH EQUIVALENT TERMS. 
 
 The Chinook jargon should be learned by everyone 
 contemplating a trip to the Fraser Eiver gold mines, as 
 it is the language used by all the different Indian tribes 
 in British North iVmerica west of the Cascade Moun- 
 tains, as the means of conversation with the whites, 
 and a knowledge of it has in many instances saved the 
 wandering traveller from being scalped, and not a few 
 from being treacherously miu'dered. 
 
 Nika, I 
 Mika, you 
 KUisker, they 
 ]\Iesiker, you (phxral) 
 Tanass man, a boy 
 Chaco, come 
 Momook, Avork 
 Klaawa, go 
 Kar, where 
 Yawa, here 
 Alta, at present 
 Alke, afterwards 
 Illihe, land 
 Ahyak, quick 
 Siya, distance 
 Klakster, who 
 Klosh, good 
 
 Laport, door 
 Konaway, all 
 Sun, day 
 Poolakly, night 
 Tenas sun, morning 
 Sitkum sun, noon 
 Kakwa, the same 
 Yoolkut, long 
 Hy-you, plenty 
 Sockally, high 
 Pilton, fool 
 Tekhope, white 
 Pill, red 
 Klayl, black 
 Letete, head 
 Laposh, mouth 
 Leeda, teeth 
 
 Lelang, tongue 
 Secah-hoose, face 
 Lema, the hand 
 Yak soot, hair 
 Lareh, barley 
 Lopoah, peas 
 Wapito, potatoes 
 Ledowo, turnips 
 Lekarrot, caiTots 
 Lesonion, onions 
 Kabbage, cabbage 
 Klapite, thread 
 Moola, saw mill 
 Percece, blanket 
 Kamoosack, beads 
 Poolally, powder 
 Kula-knlla, birds 
 
THE CHINOOK JAROOxV. 
 
 395 
 
 Munket, a gun 
 Niiuuu'jx. otter 
 Ena, beaver 
 Quanicc, wlmle 
 Yuiceeo, iiorpoiso 
 Oliu'k, siiako 
 Soolee, mouse 
 8ka<l, mole 
 Li'lo, wolf 
 Piish-pisli, cat 
 Kiiitan, a liorse 
 Moos-moos, a cow 
 Lainuto, sheep 
 Namox, a dog 
 Kusliaw, a liog 
 Kimta, behind 
 Shctsham, swim 
 Seeapoose, cap 
 Lcshawl, a shawl 
 P, and 
 AVicliat, also 
 Dly tupso, hay 
 Dly, dry 
 Tum-tum, heart 
 Comb, comb 
 Koory, run 
 Pilpil, blood 
 Lesaji, egg 
 Lepole, hen 
 Lccock, rooster 
 Lapell, spade 
 La])ioRge, hoe 
 Leglow, nail 
 Lake, lake 
 Lachaise, chair 
 Kettle, a pot 
 Oskan, a cup 
 Lope, rope 
 Silux, angry 
 ISharty, sing 
 Mercie, thanks 
 Kinoose, tobacco 
 Chee, ncAv 
 Sunday, Sunday 
 Pooh, shoot 
 Lolo, to carry 
 Klawa, slow 
 Wagh, to spill 
 Ijiti, across 
 
 Lcprate, priest 
 Lejol), devil 
 Kapo, a relation 
 Lei)ied, loot 
 Tee-owitt, leg 
 Yachoot, belly 
 Si)ose, if 
 Delate, straight 
 See])y, crooked 
 Tolo, win 
 Kow, tie 
 Klack, initio 
 Vaka, he 
 Nesika, we 
 Man, man 
 
 Klootchman, woman 
 Chuck, water 
 Linn, rum 
 Patle, full 
 Patlamb, drunk 
 IJoston, American 
 Pesioux, French 
 Malo, none 
 Ilusatchy, bad 
 Tyhee, chief 
 Elitee, slave 
 Ou, brother 
 Ats, sister 
 Kapswalla, steal 
 Ipsoot, secret 
 Patlatch, give 
 Iscum, take 
 Wake, no 
 Nowitka, yes 
 Seokimi, strong 
 Six, friend 
 Ikta, what 
 Pechuck, green 
 Lemoro, wild 
 Daselle, saddle 
 Sitlii, stirrup 
 Lesibro, spiu's 
 Kolan, ear 
 Klapp, to find 
 KuU, tough, hard 
 Lapulla, the back 
 Paplel, wheat 
 Sire saplel, bread 
 LaHscuit, biscuit 
 
 La ween, oats 
 Ijico, rice 
 Sagwa, sugar 
 Soap, soap 
 Molass, molas'OS 
 Stick shoes, shoes 
 Skin shoes, mocasins 
 (.fleece Pire, candle 
 SkuUapeen, a rille 
 Mcmoloose, kill 
 Aetshoot, bear 
 Mowitch, deer 
 Cuitchaddy, ra1)i)it 
 Sknbbyyou, skunk 
 Olikhiyou, seal 
 YakoUa, eagle 
 AYaiigh-waugh, owl 
 Skakairk, liawk 
 ]Mauk, duck 
 Smockmock, grouse 
 IMalaekua, nuis(iuito 
 SAvaa\va, panther 
 Skudzo, a squirrel 
 Enpooy, lice 
 Lesway, silk 
 Lalopa, ribbons 
 Kapo, coat 
 Sickilox, pantaloons 
 Shirt, shirt 
 Aekik, a fish-hook 
 Tootosh, milk 
 Snass, rain 
 Pithick, thick 
 SnoAV, snow 
 Lehash, an axe 
 Laleem, file 
 Opsu, a knife 
 Leklee, keys 
 Pillom, a broom 
 Lakutchec, clams 
 Lacassett, a trunk 
 Tumolitch, a bariel 
 Opkan, a basket 
 Lepla, a plate 
 Latulile, a table 
 Laqueen, a saw 
 Moosum, sleep 
 Cold Illihc, winter 
 \Vai'ni lllihc. sunimcr 
 
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 v.;- 'Is 
 
 
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 B'~ 'I'S ♦''. '^'i 
 
 m ' -41 
 
 lit' '■ ' \ ^ 
 
 mm- 
 
 ^..|-- 
 
 396 
 
 Cold, a year 
 
 Kc waap, a hole 
 
 Zum, ■\vrito 
 
 Klcmenwliit, false 
 
 KIoiuiss, don't know 
 
 Quass, fear, afraid 
 
 Oliilly, berries 
 
 Tzae, sweet 
 
 Tiunalla, to-morrow 
 
 llec-hee, laugh 
 
 ^loon, moon 
 
 Klakeece, stars 
 
 ]I()W, listen, attend 
 
 Sil-sil, buttons 
 
 Lapcei*, pipe 
 
 Akaepooit, needle 
 
 Tin-tin, music 
 
 Tance, dance 
 
 Opootch, tail 
 
 Etlinwill, ribs 
 
 Ikt stick, a yard 
 
 Elp, first 
 
 Clayl stone, coal 
 
 Lesack, a bag 
 
 Newha, how is it 
 
 Tanass Klootchman, 
 a girl 
 
 Tanass, a child, and 
 anything small 
 
 Wawa, language, to 
 speak 
 
 Mamook Chaco, bring 
 
 Muck - Muck, any- 
 thing good to eat 
 
 Pire - Chuck, ardent 
 spirits of any kind 
 
 King George, English, 
 Scotch, or Irish 
 
 Laplosh, a shingle or 
 plank 
 
 Wake nika kumtux, 
 I do not under- 
 stand 
 
 Oihe, Sandwich Is- 
 lander 
 
 Hyass, large, or very 
 large 
 
 Till, heavy, or tired 
 
 Lazy, slow, or lazy 
 
 THE CHINOOK JARGOX. 
 
 IMammook Ipsoot, to 
 
 conceal 
 Ilalluck Laport, open 
 
 the door 
 Ikj)ooy Laport, shut 
 
 the door 
 Klakany, out of doors 
 Midlight, sit do\vn, 
 put down, or stay 
 Midwhit, stand up, 
 
 get up, or move 
 Sitkum, middle, or 
 
 half 
 Tcnas Poolakly, sun- 
 set, or dusk 
 Cockshut, fight, break, 
 
 injiu-e, &c. 
 Wakeskokum, weak 
 Wakekonsick, never 
 Kumtux, understand 
 Tikke, want, desire, 
 
 &c. 
 Ikta mika tikke, what 
 
 do you want ? 
 Okaok, this, or that 
 Wake ikta nika tikke, 
 1 do not want any- 
 thing 
 Sow wash, Indian, 
 
 savage 
 Ankuty, long ago 
 Lay-lay, a long time 
 Konsick, how much 
 Makook, buy or sell 
 Kultis, nothing, or 
 
 gratis 
 Kapitt, finish, stop 
 Kapitt wawa, hold 
 
 your tongue 
 Nanitch, look, to see 
 Sockally Tyhee, the 
 
 Almighty 
 Keekwoolly, deejD, be- 
 neath 
 Quonisum, always 
 Sick, imwell, ill, sick, 
 
 &c. 
 Lecreme, cream-co- 
 lour 
 
 Leky, spotted, or pic- 
 bald 
 Olo, hungry, or thirsty 
 La[)ushmo, saddle- 
 blanket 
 Chick chick, a wagon, 
 
 or car 
 Kull-kuU stick, oak 
 La])lash stick, cedar 
 Legum stick, pine 
 Keleman Sapel, flour 
 Sale, cotton, or calico 
 Kanim, canoe, or boat 
 Klackan, a fence, a 
 
 field 
 Kalidon, lead, or shot 
 Chickaman, meUils of 
 
 all kinds 
 Chickaman sioes, 
 
 horse shoes 
 Tanass Musket, a pis- 
 tol 
 Moolack or Moos, elk 
 Salmon or sallo- waek, 
 
 salmon 
 Tanass Salmon, trout 
 Lemule ou Hyas 
 
 \' Ion, mule 
 Man Moos-moos, an 
 
 ox 
 Tanass Moos-moos, a 
 
 calf 
 Henkerchim, hand- 
 kerchief 
 Coat, a woman's gown 
 Keekwully coat, a 
 
 petticoat 
 Keekwully Sickilox, 
 
 drawers 
 Hachr ou House, a 
 
 house 
 Kata, why, or what 
 
 is the matter ? 
 Whaah (exclamation 
 of astonishment;, 
 indeed 
 Abba, well then, or, 
 
 if that is the case 
 Luckwulla, a nut 
 
EXAMPLES OF CIIIXOOK. 
 
 307 
 
 otted, or pie- 
 
 ^, or thirsty 
 
 10, saddle - 
 t 
 
 ick, a wagon, 
 
 I stick, oak 
 itick, cedar 
 ick, pine 
 Sapel, flour 
 on, or calico 
 moe, or boat 
 a fence, a 
 
 lead, or shot 
 
 11, metjils of 
 
 8 
 
 n snoes, 
 lioes 
 Lisket, n jjia- 
 
 >r Moos, elk 
 sallo-waek, 
 
 mon, trout 
 ou Hyas 
 (lule 
 3-moos, an 
 
 OS-moos, a 
 
 M, hand- 
 
 lan's gown 
 coat, a 
 
 Sickilox, 
 
 House, a 
 
 , or what 
 itter ? 
 clamation 
 lishment;, 
 
 then, or, 
 the case 
 a nut 
 
 Tupao, grass or straw 
 Ilouy-hoey, exchange 
 Tuotosh gleece, but- 
 ter 
 Kcpittilt, to collapse 
 Glass, a looking glass 
 
 or window 
 Kooiy kuitan, a race 
 
 horse 
 Tanasa Lakutchee, 
 
 mussels 
 Koppa, from, towards, 
 
 &c. 
 Chitch, grandmother 
 Kia Ilowya, how are 
 you, or poor, pitiful 
 Lapooelle, frying pan 
 Appola, a roast of 
 
 anything 
 Quis-quis, a straw 
 
 mat 
 Makook house, a store 
 Katsuck, midday be- 
 tween 
 Oloman, an old man, 
 
 or worn out 
 Lemroi, an old woman 
 Hyass Sunday, Christ- 
 mas day and the 4th 
 of July 
 
 Pislicck, bad, ex- 
 hausted 
 
 Paper, paper, books, 
 &c. 
 
 Zum seeahhoosc, paint 
 the liicc 
 
 Fire olally, rii)e ber- 
 ries 
 
 Cold olally, cranber- 
 ries 
 
 Fill olally, straAvber- 
 ries 
 
 Lapiaege, a trap or 
 snaro 
 
 Miami, down the 
 stream, below 
 
 Machlay, towards the 
 land 
 
 Staetijay, island 
 
 Aalloyma, another, or 
 different 
 
 Hee-hee-lema, gamble 
 
 Killapie,retui'n,or cap- 
 size 
 
 Kloch-Klock, oysters 
 
 Lawoolitch, a bottle 
 
 Annah, exclamation of 
 astonishment 
 
 Sick tiun tum, regret, 
 sorrow 
 
 Kooy-Kooy, finger- 
 rings 
 
 Ilrowlkult, stubborn 
 
 Tickwrchy, although 
 
 Tamanawas, witch- 
 craft 
 
 Owaykeet, a road 
 
 Ikt, 1 
 
 Mox, 2 
 
 Klono, 3 
 
 Locket, 4 
 
 Quinum, 5 
 
 Tahum, G 
 
 Sinimox, 7 
 
 Sotkin, 8 
 
 Quies, 9 
 
 Tatilum, 10 
 
 Tatilum pi ikt, 11 
 
 Tatilinu pi niox, 12 
 
 Tatilum-tatilum ou 
 Ikt Takamonak, 
 100 
 
 Ikt hyass Takamonak, 
 1,000 
 
 Stowebelow, north 
 
 Stegwaak, south 
 
 Sun Chako, cast 
 
 Sun Midlight, west 
 
 Examples. 
 American. — Come here friend, I want to talk with you. 
 Indian. — Chako six, nika tikke waw waw copa mika. 
 Am.— What ? Ind.— Ikta ! 
 Am. — I want to buy a canoe with four paddles. 
 Ind. — Nika tikke mokook kanim pe locket issick. 
 Am. — ^Very good. Ind. — Closhe. 
 Am. — What is your price ? 
 Ind. — Konsick dollar mika tikke. 
 Am. — ^Thirty dollars. 
 Ind. — Klone totilum dollar. 
 Am.— No sir, I'll give you ^20. 
 Ind. — ^Wake six, nika marsh copa mika mox totilum dollar. 
 
 « 
 
 
 
 <■ . : \K 
 
308 
 
 KOUTKS TO DRITISH COLJMIHA. 
 
 %!S 
 
 f ■ U.J ' * ' 
 
 Wi 
 
 b ''1., tiJ > » ^ 
 
 «■<! ; 1., 
 
 < ■•■■:?! 
 
 »,«■■ 
 
 ■ ■■ 
 
 1 
 
 
 i 
 
 w •*'' 
 
 
 
 ti 
 
 
 
 l^•■*«'.'w'' . I 
 
 It ''n^'*'-" 
 
 
 
 ri;! 
 
 Am. — T don't know, I'll koc. 
 
 Ini). — Klonass, nikii nanitcli. 
 
 Am. — Will you find three more Indiana and go Avith us to work 
 
 canoo up FruHcr river to tlie gold land? 
 Ind. — Mika klapp klono alloyania siwanho po klatawa copa ncsika 
 
 maniook kanim nockally Frasor river copa golo ilalio? 
 Am. — Yes, that's my mind, if you pay plenty money. 
 Ind. — Nowitliii, coipia i\ika turn turn Hpo.se niika marsh liiyoncliick- 
 
 amcn. 
 
 Routes by which Vancouver's Island and Buiti.sh 
 Columbia may be reached, and the Expense uf 
 
 EACH. 
 
 1. lloiuid Cape Horn, in sailing vessels, direct to 
 Victoria, in Vancouver's Island. The time occupied 
 on this route is about five months. The cost, in the 
 first cabin, is from 50/. to 60/. ; in the second, from 
 30/. to 40/. ; and in the third, 25 guineas. Distance, 
 14,300 miles. 
 
 2. By the West India mail steamers, which leave 
 Southampton on the 2nd and 17th of every month, to 
 Colon ; thence across the Isthmus, 48 miles by railway, 
 to Panama ; thence by the Pacific line of steamers to 
 San Francisco ; and thence to Victoria. By this route 
 Vancouver's Island may be reached in about 50 clays, 
 if passengers are not detained at San Francisco, which, 
 however, they frequently are for ten or fourteen days. 
 The cost of a first class passage is 96/. 155. Od. ; 
 second class, 77/. 5^. Od. ; third class, 35/. Distance 
 6,496 miles. 
 
 First and second class passengers are allowed 20 
 cubic feet only of luggage to Aspinwall, and third class 
 only 501bs. ; from which place 501bs. only are allowed 
 free to passengers of any class, and 5rf. per lb. is 
 
 \m^ 
 
FREir.Iir AND PASSAGE FROM BRITISH I'ORTS. 
 
 399 
 
 TENSE OF 
 
 I'lijirged for all in excess. However, the overlaiul route 
 is decidedh, prefei'able to goiiij^ round the Horn. 
 
 8. Vitl New York to Colon by steamers ; thence to 
 ^an Francisco across the Isthmus ; thence to Van- 
 couver's L md, as stated in route No. 2. Tiie cost 
 of passagLM by this route is much the same as by the 
 second rcuito. 
 
 Passengers arc not allowed to take on board wines, 
 s[)irits, or other liquors for use dunng the voyage, such 
 being provided on board. 
 
 Cost of Passage in Private Ships from Ports in 
 
 England. 
 
 
 Cnbiii 
 
 Intel iiiL-Uiatp 
 
 Stoprngo 
 
 Coat liioluiling 
 provisiuni 
 
 Cost with 
 provisiuiii 
 
 C()«t with full 
 
 uUcwaiitr of 
 
 |irovisions 
 
 
 From To 
 
 From To 
 
 From 
 
 London to Vancouver Is- 
 
 
 
 
 land, round Capo Horn . 
 
 £oO £00 
 
 £30 £40 
 
 £20 C.^. 
 
 London to New ^^'est- 
 
 
 
 
 minster, in British Co- 
 
 
 
 
 lumbia 
 
 £.j2 £02 
 
 £32 £42 
 
 £28 5,>). 
 
 Soutlianipton to Van- 
 
 
 
 
 couver Island, via I'a- 
 
 
 
 
 nania .... 
 
 £9(5 Vis. 
 
 £77 U 
 
 £35 
 
 Southampton to British 
 ColumrDia, via Panama . 
 
 
 
 
 cm los. 
 
 £70 5,>'. 
 
 £37 
 
 Through freight from Southampton to Panama, and 
 thence to Vancouver's Island, is 30/. per ton of 40 
 cubic feet, exclusive of Custom-house charges at San 
 Francisco. 
 
 Parcels shipped for Vancouver's Island, via Panama, 
 from Southampton, are charged for after the following 
 rates : — 
 
 ^ cubic foot, and 10 lbs. weight 
 1 cubic foot, and 20 lbs. weight 
 1^ cubic feet, and 30 lbs. weight 
 
 35/0 
 
 i2/0 
 
 ;i5/o 
 
 . -r^ I] 
 
 . .•iff 
 

 I, l- 1 
 
 F 
 
 *■ 
 
 1 
 
 ' 
 
 
 ■i'! 
 
 in 
 
 
 
 
 f' 
 
 
 
 i^l 
 
 I;ft5 
 
 k 
 
 
 
 
 ■i* 
 
 ^'«» 
 
 
 400 EXPEXSES OP TH>. ROUTE TO THE GOLD-FIELDS. 
 
 3 cubic feet, and GO lbs. weight . . 00/0 
 
 Packages from 3 to 6 feet measurement . 25; per foot. 
 
 Exceeding 6 feet 20/0 „ 
 
 Periodicals and parcels of no value, under ^ lb. 
 
 weight 20/0 
 
 Jewellery and Specie, when £100 or over in 
 
 value 3^ per cent. 
 
 These rates are exclusive of Custom-liouse charges 
 at San Francisco on dutiable goods. 
 
 It may be well to mention that the steamers from 
 San Francisco do not go to British Columbia, because 
 of the risk to ocean steamers and large vessels in enter- 
 ing the mouth of the Fraser Eiver and navigating its 
 stream. Passengers must therefore disembark at Esqui- 
 mault harbour, three miles from Victoria in Vancouver's 
 Island, proceed to Victoria, and there remain until a 
 steamer starts across the Gulf for British Columbia, a 
 distance of about sixty miles. The passage from 
 Victoria to New Westminster, the capital of British 
 Columbia, is about 2/., and freight about 1/. a ton. 
 
 I do not think that a first class passenger can go 
 from London to New Westminster, in British Columbia, 
 vi^ Panama, taking stoppages and extra expenses into 
 account, for less than 120/. ; a second class passenger 
 for less than 95/. to 100/. ; and a third class passenger 
 for less than 50/. Then the emigrant is still upwards 
 of 400 miles from the new gold-fields of 'Cariboo;' 
 and to reach this new El Dorado would occupy at least 
 four or five weeks, at an additional cost probably of 
 50/., there being no steam power to paddle him up to 
 the realm of gold, nor conveyances of any kind. Thus 
 it would cost the most humble emigrant 100/. to go 
 from England to Cariboo, where if he has no money 
 he must starve. The alternative is as clear as noon- 
 
 ) ' 
 
FIELDS. 
 
 '0/0 
 
 5;0 per foot. 
 
 0/0 „ 
 
 0/0 
 
 3i per cent. 
 
 7" „ 
 
 ise charges 
 
 imers from 
 »ia, because 
 lis in enter- 
 vigating its 
 'k at Esqui- 
 /"ancouver's 
 dii until a 
 olumbia, a 
 isage from 
 of British 
 a ton. 
 ;er can go 
 
 Columbia, 
 Denses into 
 
 passenger 
 
 passenger 
 11 upwards 
 ' Cariboo ;' 
 py at least 
 fobably of 
 lim up to 
 nd. Thus 
 30/. to go 
 no money 
 
 as noon- 
 
 MR. DALLAS S STATEMENT. 
 
 401 
 
 I f , 
 
 day. He can neither buy food nor leave the place 
 unless he has money, or unless fortune favours him at 
 once in ' gold-digging,' which is proverbially a work of 
 'chance.' We hear much of the successful diggers 
 who have returned with golden spoils, but nothing of 
 the many miserable unlucky miners who have failed. 
 Mr. Dallas, a competent authority, says : — 
 
 Spring is the best season in which to arrive. The pons 
 aslnomm is how to get there, and at what cost. The 
 shortest route is by the Isthmus of Panama, which can be 
 reached via New York, or by the West India steamers to St. 
 Thomas's. The latter route ought to be adopted only in 
 winter and spring, as the emigrant may be detained some 
 days both at St. Thomas's and Panama, waiting for the con- 
 necting steamers, and both those places are subject to the 
 visitations of yellow fever. St. Thomas's has been much 
 maligned for its heat and insalubrity, but I heard a Glasgow 
 skipper say it was the finest climate he was ever in, as he was 
 *aye drinking and aye dry.' Whether by St. Thomas's or 
 New York, no emigrant need calculate on reaching his des- 
 tination under 50^. or 60^. The voyage round Cape Horn 
 can be made for 30Z., or even less, but generally occupies five 
 or six months. As the passenger is fed and lodged for such 
 a period, some may consider this an advantage, and, in com- 
 paring the voyage with the shorter one via Panama, and the 
 cost, be of the same way of thinking as the Highlander, who 
 complained of a professional dentist, that he charged him 
 half-a-crown for pulling out a tooth, which was done in a 
 second, while a blacksmith dragged him all round the smithy 
 for a quarter of an hour and charged only sixpence. 
 
 OVERLAND EOUTE VIA CANADA. 
 
 A Company in London is now advertising a project which 
 appears to be very doubtful, if not fraught with danger. It 
 is to carry emigrants across the Rocky ]Mountains to the gold 
 
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 402 
 
 OVERLAND ROUTE VlA CANADA. 
 
 diggings in British Columbia. The time occupied, it is an- 
 nounced, will be very short, and the charge is incredibly 
 small. These tempting proposals, we believe, have induced 
 about 550 intending emigrants to join the Company, and we 
 look with some alarm to the consequences. People who talk 
 of driving four-horse spring-wagons through the passes of 
 the Eocky Mountains must speak in ignorance of the country, 
 for travellers have the greatest difficulty in getting even their 
 horses through ; they have often to cut down trees in order 
 to advance at all, and for days the progress is little more 
 than an hour a day. Dr. Rae traversed part of the route on 
 a hunting expedition last year, and he stated the other night 
 at the Royal Geographical Society that it would take ten 
 weeks to reach the Rocky Mountains, starting from England, 
 to say nothing of the journey across and beyond that stupen- 
 dous barrier. In this excursion Dr. Rae's party travelled 
 300 or 400 miles before they killed an animal larger than a 
 badger, and they would have starved had they not carried 
 with them plenty of provisions. In fact, a great part of the 
 country is a desert: there is nothing to be got, not even 
 game, and the buffalo is not to be depended upon as an 
 article of food. All the horses, wagons, and cattle in the 
 settlement would not be sufficient to carry half the quantity 
 of provisions the proposed expedition of 550 persons, with 
 attendants, would require ; and with an existing scarcity in 
 the colony, consequent on a deficient harvest, there seems 
 really no hope that, unless by some extraordinary contingency, 
 the emigrants will ever reach Fraser River by this route. To 
 add to their difficulties, the Blackfeet Indians — the most 
 hostile tribe in the country — infest the route, and will 
 probably complete what starvation may leave undone. Dr. 
 Rae and Captain Mayne, than whom there could hardly be 
 better authorities on the subject, have warned the public of 
 the danger and impractibility of this route to Fraser River in 
 the present state of the territory. It is, however, a matter of 
 great importance to the future developement of the resources 
 of our western colonies that the authorities of Canada and the 
 Colonial Office should endeavour to make a road available to 
 
OVERLAND ROUTE VIA CANADA. 
 
 403 
 
 ied, it is an- 
 is incredibly 
 have induced 
 pany, and we 
 )ple who talk 
 he passes of 
 ■ the country, 
 ng even their 
 rees in order 
 3 little more 
 the route on 
 3 other night 
 uld take ten 
 om England, 
 that stupen- 
 rty travelled 
 larger than a 
 7 not carried 
 it part of the 
 fot, not even 
 upon as an 
 cattle in the 
 the quantity 
 )ersons, with 
 g scarcity in 
 there seems 
 contingency, 
 lis route. To 
 — the most 
 ite, and will 
 mdone. Dr. 
 lid hardly be 
 the public of 
 •aser Eiver in 
 r, a matter of 
 the resources 
 nada and the 
 1 available to 
 
 emigrants across the Rocky Mountains. The mineral wealth 
 of the west is immense. Sir Roderick Murchison says that 
 the gold ridge which has proved so rich in California, extends 
 all the way northv/ard through British Columbia, even as 
 far as Russian America. To render this wealthy district 
 more available to British emigrants, and to direct through 
 British territory the traffic which must necessarily arise, arc 
 certainly objects of national interest and importance. — In- 
 verness Courier, 
 
 To the Editor of the Times. 
 
 Sir, — On my arrival in England from America a short 
 time since I read with surprise some Advertisements and Cir- 
 culars, the purport of which was that some party or parties 
 were prepared to carry persons wishing to proceed to British 
 Columbia, and set them down safely at the gold diggings in 
 about five weeks after leaving England ; the route proposed 
 being by steamer to Montreal, thence by rail to St. Paul's, and 
 from St. Paul's via Pembina to the diggings, partly by steamer, 
 but principally by four-horse spring-wagons ; the charges for 
 conveyance of each person to be 421. sterling, with 51, or 10/. 
 additional for provisions, making a total sum of 47/. 10s. 
 
 These are among the chief items of the Circular, with the 
 additional information that several hundred persons have 
 on the above-named terms secured passages in a steamer 
 that is to sail from Glasgow for Montreal before the end of 
 ;May. 
 
 Those who have got up this scheme must surely be in 
 great ignorance of the difficulties of the route they purpose 
 taking, if they think to reach by it the centre of British 
 Columbia in five weeks. Under the most favourable circum- 
 stances three months is the shortest time in which such a 
 voyage and journey can be accomplished by so large a 
 number of people. It is likely to take four or five months 
 — or, more likely still, the party may have to winter in the 
 Saskatchewan or among the Rocky Mountains, and thus be 
 exposed to great misery, if not to starvation itself. 
 
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 404 
 
 OVERLAND ROUTE VlA CANADA. 
 
 But, supposing the emigrants did get to the diggings in 
 safety, they would arrive at so late a period of the year that 
 the season for gold-digging would either be ended, or nearly 
 so, and the poor people would have to pass the winter in a 
 place where living is very expensive, and at a time when 
 remunerative labour is not easily obtained. 
 
 PROBABLE TIME (UNDER MOST FAVOURABLE CIRCUMSTANCES) REQUIRED 
 FOR JOURNEY FROM ENGLAND TO CENTRE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA 
 BY ROUTE proposed: — 
 
 England to Montreal. ..... 
 
 Montreal to St. Paul's, including one day detained 
 St. Paul's to Ked River colony, with two days' 
 
 stoppage 
 
 Red River to Edmonton, on the Saskatchewan, 
 
 with loaded carts or wagons .... 
 Edmonton to the diggings .... 
 
 At least four daj's allowed for bad weather and 
 other detentions ...... 
 
 13 days 
 4 
 
 10 
 
 35 
 25 
 
 87 
 
 >> 
 
 >> 
 
 
 V 
 
 91 days. 
 
 It is perfectly impossible in the present state of the 
 country to traverse the whole of the prairie and the passes of 
 the Eocky Mountains with four-horse spring-wagons. 
 
 There are several other particulars, such as trouble with 
 the Indians (who have recently become very bold and tur- 
 bulent), &c., which it is unnecessary to dwell upon. 
 
 A number of young men in Canada, at one time this 
 spring, contemplated going to British Columbia by this over- 
 land route ; but on farther enquiry they all, or nearly all, 
 wisely gave up the scheme and took passage in steamers from 
 New York to Panama, and thence by steamers on the west 
 side of the isthmus to San Francisco and Fraser Eiver. This 
 voyage, including passage from England to New York, would 
 take about six or seven weeks to accomplish, and costs consi- 
 derably less than 47Z. 10s., with this very great advantage, — 
 that a person can travel at any time of the year, and arrive at 
 
diggings in 
 the year that 
 ed, or nearly 
 5 winter in a 
 I time when 
 
 3ES) REQUIRED 
 ISH COLUMDIA 
 
 13 days 
 4 
 
 10 
 
 35 
 25 
 
 87 
 
 91 days. 
 
 state of the 
 he passes of 
 ons. 
 
 trouble with 
 )ld and tur- 
 m. 
 
 e time this 
 )y this over- 
 nearly all, 
 earners from 
 m the west 
 ^iver. This 
 ifork, would 
 costs consi- 
 Ivantage, — 
 nd arrive at 
 
 OVERLAND ROUTE VIA CANADA. 
 
 405 
 
 the diggings early enough to have the whole of the gold- 
 working season before him. 
 
 In making the above statements, I speak in a great 
 measure from personal experience, and partly from informa- 
 tion derived from reliable sources ; and, in addressing you, 
 have no other object than to prevent, if possible, a number 
 of persons being led into useless expense, and probably into 
 trouble and difficulties, from which it will be no easy matter 
 to extricate themselves. 
 
 I may further add that I have not the slightest acquaint- 
 ance or connection with the Pacific Steamship Companies 
 sending vessels either from New York or elsewhere, and 
 consequently have no interest in mentioning the Panama 
 route as being better than the overland one throusjh the 
 British possessions in its present state. 
 
 Should you think this communication worthy of notice, it 
 may be the means of preventing some poor fellows throwing 
 away their money and wasting their time uselessly. 
 
 I enclose my card, and subscribe myself. 
 
 Your very obedient servant, 
 
 London, May 16. CANADA WesT. 
 
 To the Editor of the Times. 
 
 Sir, — I have just read with considerable surprise, and I 
 may add no less indignation, a letter under the soubriquet of 
 'Canada West,' containing a tissue of errors so manifest 
 that I claim your invariable desire to show fair play by the 
 early insertion of the following statement relating to this 
 route and the operations of the Company referred to. 
 
 In the first place, all new schemes meet with jealousy and 
 opposition, more especially if their object is to interfere 
 with certain vested interests. A practical overland route to 
 British Columbia will, when once thoroughly understood by 
 the public, at once direct emigration from the shipping 
 routes via Cape Horn or Panama. Hence the shipping in- 
 terest must suffer, while Canada and the Red River country 
 will benefit. This explains the opposition we experienced at 
 the outset. 
 
 
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 OVERI^ND ROUTE VIA CANADA. 
 
 The overland route is no new scheme, as will be seen by 
 reference to a despatch of Governor Douglas, addressed to 
 His Grace the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and dated 
 December 19, 1859, published in the Parliamentary Blue- 
 books of 1860, and which contains the following passage : — 
 
 * We hope to complete the last section of a pack-road, 
 leading by the left bank of the Fraser from Derby to Lytton, 
 a distance of 170 miles, on or before the 1st day of February 
 next. From Lytton a natural pack-road now exists, leading 
 to Ked Eiver Settlement by the Coutannais Pass, through the 
 Eocky Mountains, and thence, following the valley of the 
 Saskatchewan, chiefly over an open prairie country of great 
 beauty, and replete with objects of interest to the tourist and 
 the sportsman. A settler may then take his departure from 
 Red River in spring, and reach British Columbia by that 
 road with his cattle and stock. This is no mere theory, the 
 experiment having been repeatedly made by parties of Red 
 River people travelling to Colville ; thence there is a good 
 road to Lytton — so much so, indeed,' that one of those persons 
 assured me that the whole distance from Lytton to Red River, 
 with the exception of the Coutannais Pass, which is thickly 
 wooded, may be safely travelled with carts.' 
 
 Before and since the date of this despatch numerous par- 
 ties have left Canada and the Red River Settlements by the 
 overland route, and have reached British Columbia in perfect 
 safety. The country from Red River to the Rocky Moun- 
 tains is chiefly a rolling prairie, and there is an excellent 
 route through the mountains, via the Vermillion Pass, which 
 presents no difficulty for pack-horses, the grade being only 
 1 in 135. A party under Mr. Macqueen performed the 
 journey from Fort Bon to the Fraser River in twelve days, 
 via this Pass. Other parties have done the same. 
 
 Three years ago, Mr. James Whiteford started from the 
 Red River Settlement for British Columbia with a party of 
 thirty, and arrived there in excellent time. (See letter from 
 Red River, dated April 9, 1862, and published in the 'Daily 
 Leader,' Toronto, May 8, 1862, this day received at our office 
 from our agents in Canada. ) 
 
 
OVERLAND ROUTE VIA CANADA. 
 
 407 
 
 We are in receipt of letters from Mr. H. L. Himes, Agent, 
 Masonic Hall, Toronto, dated April 26, in which he writes — 
 ' I attended a meeting of intending emigrants a short time 
 since, and strongly advocated the overland route via St. 
 Paul's and Ked Kiver, since which a party of fifty-two have 
 gone from here by that route, and other parties from different 
 places round about.' We have received intelligence from 
 Fort Garry, announcing the arrival of this party at the Red 
 River Settlement, and stating that they were to start the 
 next day for British Columbia. We are also in receipt of 
 intelligence from St. Paul's, announcing the arrival and de- 
 parture for Red River and British Columbia of another party 
 of thirteen from St. Thomas's, Canada West. The * St. Paul's 
 Pioneer,' of April 27, eulogises the route, and mentions the 
 number of persons availing themselves of it this summer. 
 These facts will show the public that the route is well under- 
 stood on the spot — Canada — where, were it impracticable 
 or dangerous, one hour's notice would bring a host of trap- 
 pers and Hudson's Bay servants, who for years have travelled 
 along the route, to prove its fallacy. 
 
 As to the time occupied by such a journey, * Canada West' 
 proves at the very outset that his calculations are based upon 
 thorough ignorance. For instance, he gives ten days from 
 St. Paul's to Red River ; whereas two days is the time now 
 occupied by the steamers which run on the Red River from 
 Georgetown the entire way to Fort Garry. His other calcu- 
 lations are equally erroneous. As to going through the 
 ' passes ' with wagons, no one ever suggested such an idea. 
 Our passengers will go on pack-horses through the Rocky 
 Mountains into British Columbia. There has been no trouble 
 with the Indians; on the contrary, they are assisting the 
 people now prospecting for gold on the Saskatchewan, and 
 letters from Mr. Hardisty, in command of the post at Ed- 
 monton, dated Edmonton House, January 1, 1862, announce 
 a merry-making on the New Year's Eve, where the Indians 
 were regaled, and a * supper was given to all the men in the 
 establishment, preceded and succeeded by the sounds of the 
 bagpipes and the violin.' The Rev. Thomas Woolsey also 
 
 
 
ilM 
 
 408 
 
 OVERLAND ROUTE VlA CANADA. 
 
 writes from Edmonton : * The surrounding lakes and rivers 
 abound in the finest white fish I have yet met with. We are 
 almost contiguous to the Saskatchewan river, and within a 
 very short distance of the bufifalo ; besides, we have wild 
 fowl in abundance, and moose and other animals as numerous 
 as in any other part of this section. The Indians would wil- 
 lingly furnish meat provisions in exchange. The Saskatche- 
 wan may well be designated the garden of the territory.' 
 * Canada West' writes about the late season emigrants would 
 reach British Columbia by this route. Would emigrants 
 reach the gold-diggings sooner via Cape Horn or Panama — 
 the former a five months' voyage, the latter, on an average, 
 allowing for detention, seventy days, not referring to the 
 yellow fever and its dangers ? 
 
 Let it not be forgotten, when the overland route to India 
 was first suggested by Waghorn, what opposition he met 
 with, and what loud denunciations were hurled at a scheme 
 at first designated * visionary, dangerous, and impracticable.' 
 People were to be lost in the simooms of the desert, and errant 
 Arabs were to carry oflf into inglorious and dishonourable 
 captivity our poor lady travellers, and demand ransom for 
 our venturous males. 
 
 In a letter dated * Eed River Settlement, April 9, 1862,' 
 and addressed to the editor of the * Daily Leader,' Toronto, 
 and published in that journal on May 8 inst., I read of the 
 overland route : * That this is by far the best and cheapest 
 route to the gold-fields is, I fancy, easily proved. Provisions 
 can be purchased here, and, with a horse and cart, with the 
 game which would be killed on the road, would afford ample 
 supplies to reach the Saskatchewan, or the gold-diggings on 
 the Fraser River. There is really no comparison between 
 the routes ; that via St. Paul's and Red River is infinitely 
 superior. The Saskatchewan up to the Rocky Mountains 
 borders on a splendid agricultural region, well-nigh boundless 
 in extent, and of surpassing fertility, where buffalo roam in 
 countless bands. It is intersected with rivers and lakes 
 abounding in the finest fish; from these sources the gold- 
 hunter can secure cheap and abundant supplies of food. 
 
OVERLAND ROUTE VIA CANADA. 
 
 409 
 
 3 and rivers 
 th. We are 
 md within a 
 B have wild 
 as numerous 
 3 would wil- 
 ! Saskatche- 
 le territory.' 
 :rants would 
 i emigrants 
 Panama — 
 an average, 
 ring to the 
 
 ite to India 
 ion he met 
 it a scheme 
 practicable.' 
 ;, and errant 
 shonourable 
 ransom for 
 
 ril 9, 1862,' 
 r,' Toronto, 
 read of the 
 id cheapest 
 
 Provisions 
 rt, with the 
 fford ample 
 diggings on 
 5n between 
 is infinitely 
 
 Mountains 
 h boundless 
 alo roam in 
 
 and lakes 
 3 the gold- 
 is of food. 
 
 Then, crossing the mountains, with horses and pack-saddles, 
 to the travelled roads in British Columbia, is an affair of but 
 eight or ten days.' 
 
 In conclusion, we are only doing by cooperative agency 
 that which hundreds of persons have done by individual 
 enterprise — viz., we have organised a passenger traffic along 
 a route well understood, and which presents no difficulties, 
 except those conjured up in the minds of such * disinterested' 
 individuals as * Canada West.' 
 
 I am. Sir, your obedient servant, 
 
 James Henson, Seci'etary, 
 
 Briti'h Columbia Overland Transit Company's Offices, 
 6 Copthall Court, Tlirogmorton Street, E.C. 
 
 To the Editor of the Times. 
 
 Sir, — May I again trespass on your kindness, and ask a 
 small space in your paper to say a few words in reply to 
 some remarks in Mr. Henson's letter, published in ' The 
 Times' of to-day? 
 
 He says *that, as to the time occupied by such a journey, 
 (* Canada West') proves at the very outset that his calculations 
 are based upon thorough ignorance.' 
 
 In stating what I did, I spoke from facts known to me from 
 having recently travelled the route. The journey from St. 
 Paul's, by Burbank's stage, to Georgetown occupies five days, 
 or did so last season, there being four intermediate sleeping 
 stations. The voyage down the river from Georgetown to 
 Fort Garry was generally three or four days, and very often 
 there was a detention of one or more days at Georgetown, 
 either waiting for the steamer's arrival, or from other causes. 
 So I was not far wrong in saying that this part of the journey 
 would occupy ten days. 
 
 It is very possible that parties from Canada have set out 
 for British Columbia by the overland route since I crossed 
 the Atlantic ; but I believe ten for one have gone by steamer 
 via New York and Panama, who will arrive at Fraser Kiver 
 
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410 
 
 OVERLAND ROUTE VIA CANADA. 
 
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 in about five weeks at farthest. The result will show which 
 liave taken the wisest course. 
 
 Mr. Henson's letter speaks of * countless bands ' of buffalo 
 that roam over the * well-nigh boundless ' plains of the 
 Saakatchewan. This description holds good only as to a por- 
 tion of these prairies. If the journey is made by the usual 
 route, passing Fort EUice, Edmonton, and the north branch 
 of the Saskatchewan, there is not much risk of danger from 
 Indians ; but the party may travel hundreds of miles without 
 seeing a buffalo, red deer, or moose. If the south branch of 
 the Saskatchewan is followed, buffalo may generally (not 
 always) be found ; but in that part of the country the 
 Indians are very hostile and troublesome. 
 
 If roads between Red River and British Columbia are 
 made, and stations with depots of provisions and relays of 
 horses established, this journey may be accomplished in five 
 weeks. Until this is done, I see nothing in Mr. Henson's 
 letter to make me alter my opinion, that, in the present state 
 of the country, three months is the shortest time in which 
 this journey can be performed in the manner and by the 
 means proposed. 
 
 Mr. Henson's ironical remark as to my * disinterestedness ' 
 is not applicable, as my interests are almost wholly centred 
 in Canada, and what will be good for her will be of benefit 
 to me. I beg to subscribe myself. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 London, May 23. CANADA WeST. 
 
 To the Editor of the Times. 
 
 Sir, — I am glad to see that the Secretary of the British 
 Columbia Overland Transit Company discountenances the 
 idea of carrying passengers across the Rocky Mountains in 
 four-horse coaches at the present time ; but it would, perhaps, 
 have been more useful to the general public if he had fur- 
 nished some estimate of the time required for making the 
 journey with pack-animals, instead of producing statements 
 showing that the journey has been made — a fact that does 
 not appear to have been questioned. 
 
OVERLAND ROUTE VIA CANADA. 
 
 411 
 
 In the early part of last autumn, I met, near the western 
 entrance of the Kootanie Pass, a party of men discharged 
 from the service of the United States Boundary Commission, 
 who were going eastward to Minnesota, via the Saskatchewan 
 and Red River Settlement. They were furnished with a 
 well-equipped pack train, and some of them had crossed the 
 plains by the same route before. They estimated the pro- 
 bable duration of their journey at from sixty- five to seventy 
 days to Red River, which is about the time I should have 
 considered necessary under the most favourable circumstances. 
 
 Later in the year, one of Colonel Hawkins's surveying par- 
 ties accidentally fell in with a party of Red River emigrants, 
 who had been about three months oii the road, and were in 
 a state of extreme destitution, having been obliged to kill a 
 portion of their horses, from the failure of other provisions. 
 This is, of course, to be regarded as an exceptional case in 
 point of time ; but it may serve as a useful warning against 
 trusting to vague statements about the abundance of game 
 upon plains of boundless fertility. 
 
 It may not be generally known that there is a daily line 
 of stage-coaches, carrying the United States mails, running 
 between St. Louis and Sacramento, in California. This much, 
 however, is certain — that the majority of passengers still 
 obstinately prefer taking the steamer via Panama to paying 
 a higher fare for the privilege of being jolted over bad roads 
 for a period of nearly three weeks. This result should be 
 taken into account in estimating the value of a new road 
 across the Buffalo plains as a means of passenger transit. 
 
 In conclusion I may state my opinion, that the figures 
 furnished by your correspondent, ' Canada West,' will be 
 found to be very nearly correct. 
 
 I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
 
 22 Acre Lane, May 23, H. BaUEKMAN. 
 
 To the Editor of the Times. 
 
 Sir, — The statements of your correspondents, * Canada 
 West ' and Mr. Henson, differ so materially, that I think the 
 enclosed letter will be of some weight with those likely to be 
 
 
 
412 
 
 OVEBLAN'D ROUTE VlA CAXADA. 
 
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 influenced by the prospectus of the British Columbia Overland 
 Transit Company. It is written by my brother, who is by no 
 means a greenhorn, having roamed over a considerable part 
 of the globe during the last fifteen years, the last five or six 
 being spent in Canada and Ked River. I have other letters 
 from relatives in Red River, which clearly prove the dangerous 
 hostility of the Blackfeet Indians. These letters convey to 
 me a report, current in Red River, of the death of my brother, 
 having been, with the rest of the party, stripped of everything, 
 and left to perish. Fortunately, a few days previous to re- 
 ceiving the first of these letters, a person called upon me who 
 had just returned from Victoria, bringing a message from my 
 brother to say that he had arrived safely, was ([uite well, and 
 would write soon. The second letter contained confirmed 
 statements of the loss of my brother, and the usual con- 
 dolence. I mention these circumstances to show that the 
 Indians are dangerous, and that a party (one only escaping) 
 did perish in the way described, and they were most probably 
 from Canada, en route for the gold regions or Victoria. 
 I um. Sir, your most obedient servant, 
 
 May 23. FaIKPLAY. 
 
 Victoria, Vancouver's Island, Jan. 29, 1862. 
 
 Dear E , — I have arrived here quite safe, but guess 
 
 you will have thought before this that the Indians have got 
 my topknot, but they did not quite. I am still alive, the 'Ugh 
 I have seen some very hard times since I wrote you last 
 from Red River. I then calculated to get through in three 
 months. It was seven months within a few days when 
 I landed in Victoria. The first month of our journey we only 
 made 240 miles, to Fort EUice. We were twice lost in that 
 distance ; the country through which we passed being 
 so very swampy, and such a number of creeks and rivers 
 to cross, we made but little progress ; the creeks wei ; swollen 
 into rivers, and the rivers almost impassable ; the currents 
 were fearful. Day after day, travelling in mud and water, 
 in some places so deep that horses and carts wei ; well-nigh 
 
OVERLAND ROUTE VlA CANADA. 
 
 4X3 
 
 disappearing altogether — they wore continually getting stuck 
 — we had to wade through the mud and water, and put our 
 shoulders to the wheeln ; consequently we were a highly be- 
 spattered community, and I think you would scarcely have 
 known me under the thick coating of black mud, which 
 constituted the only visible part of my costume. 
 
 The mosquitoes tormented lis almost to madness ; no rest 
 (lid they give us night or day. We left our guide at Fort 
 Ellice ; ho proved to be a lazy, useless fellow. After resting 
 a few days we started for Fort Carlton, on the Saskatchewan 
 (distant 350 miles), without a guide, where we arrived 
 on July 30. Here we heard most discouraging accounts 
 of the Indians : we were told it was madness to proceed 
 ftirther than Fort Pitt, as the Blackfeet had sworn to kill 
 every white man that passed through their country. We 
 were unable to procure a guide, so determined to push on 
 alone, and on the ninth day arrived at Fort Pitt. The 
 reports concerning the Blackfeet were here confirmed. We 
 rested several days, bought fresh horses, and succeeded in 
 engaging a Cree Indian to guide us to Edmonton. We were 
 now about to enter the Blackfoot country. Our only hope 
 of safety depended upon the buffalo. If we did not see any, 
 we could safely conclude we should not meet with Indians, 
 and they were reported to be south of our track. The first 
 day we encamped in a small valley to dine ; our Indian guide 
 was describing a battle that had taken place on that very spot 
 between a small party of Crees and a large number of Black- 
 feet: the Crees were overpowered and scalped, two only 
 escaping, one of whom was our guide. He was in the act of 
 showing us an arrow wound which he had received at the 
 time, when we were startled by a tremendous yelling and 
 whooping. We sprang to our feet, and in front of us saw 
 descending the hill a band of what we (the guide included) 
 supposed to be Blackfeet. In a moment, we formed the carts 
 into a circle and placed the horses inside, served our rifles, and 
 then patiently waited their arrival. On they came yelling 
 and cutting up like. Well, just like Indians, and they 
 were Indians, too, but they tunied out to be Crees. We had 
 
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414 
 
 OVERLAND ROUTE VIA CANADA. 
 
 
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 a talk and a smoke ; they told us that we should meet a 
 band of Blackfeet, 400 in number, in about five days ; how- 
 ever, we arrived safe at Edinonton in nine days without 
 seeing them. We had now travelled about 1,000 miles, and 
 this was the last fort on our route this side the mountains. 
 We disposed of our carts, bought fresh horses (it requires a 
 good horse to cross the mountains), and endeavoured to get 
 a fresh supply of provisions, but could only get a few pounds 
 of dried meat and two small bladders of tallow ; the hunters 
 were afraid to go out on account of the Indians. Our great- 
 est difficulty was in obtaining a guide. We got one at last, 
 an Assimpoata half-breed, for the value of 25^. paid in ad- 
 vance, to guide us across the mountains. We started Sep- 
 tember 2, with scant 30 days' provisions. We calculated 
 upon reaching Colville in that time. Our guide led us by a 
 circuitous route through the woods in order to avoid the 
 Blackfeet, whom he appeared to hold in considerable dread. 
 The sixth day we came in sight of the Kocky Mountains, 
 distance about 50 miles ; the 1 1th day our guide vanished. 
 It was impossible for us to go back. On the 15th day we 
 came to a broad river ; we followed it up to the mountains, 
 attempted there, and succeeded. Arrived at Colville Novem- 
 ber 11, about 70 days from Edmonton. You cannot con- 
 ceive, nor can I describe, the dreadful hardships we expe- 
 rienced : lost in the Rocky Mountains 30 days. In the month 
 of October the snow commences to fall in the valleys. The 
 tops of the mountains are always covered. I think we crossed 
 them in the widest part. Our provisions ran out long before 
 we reached Colville. For several days we existed upon rose- 
 berries ; they are rather woolly eating, but we had excellent 
 appetites — so much so, that we killed my poor dog — a fine 
 Esquimaux sleigh dog : we ate him ravenously, leaving only 
 his skin. The poor fellow was very tough ; but that was all 
 the better, as the small portion allowed to each lasted the 
 longer. After the dog was finished, v^c fasted a few days by 
 way of change, but we became so weak we were obliged to 
 kill a horse. As soon as he dropped, eaoh cut a piece and 
 threw it into the fire ; my partner did not wait to cook his. 
 
 ■ "S; ♦ 
 
OVERLAND ROUTE VlA CANADA. 
 
 415 
 
 
 lould meet a 
 3 days ; how- 
 iaya without 
 )0 miles, and 
 3 mountains. 
 (it requires a 
 /^oured to get 
 El few pounds 
 
 the hunters 
 
 Our great- 
 
 t one at last, 
 
 paid in ad- 
 started Sep- 
 e calculated 
 6 led us by a 
 
 avoid the 
 erable dread. 
 ' Mountains, 
 ide vanished. 
 15th day we 
 
 mountains, 
 ville Novem- 
 cannot con- 
 )s we expe- 
 n the month 
 alleys. The 
 k we crossed 
 
 long before 
 i upon rose- 
 id excellent 
 dog — a fine 
 leaving only 
 that was all 
 
 1 lasted the 
 few days by 
 
 obliged to 
 a piece and 
 ;o cook his, 
 
 but ate it raw. We ate more that day than we had eaten for 
 the three weeks previous. We packed the rest of the dead 
 horse on the poor fellow's companions : the poor things were 
 nearly starved to death, having nothing but pine branches to 
 eifist upon. The horseflesh took us nearly to Colville ; but it 
 became highly flavoured, and contained some very fine speci- 
 mens of maggots. For two weeks after our arrival at Colville 
 I did nothing but eat. Colville is a small mining town, the 
 population apparently miners, thieves, and gamblers ; dan- 
 gerous even in daylight to walk about. I was knocked down 
 one evening a little after sunset by two fellows and nearly 
 strangled. Fortunately, I had deposited most of my money 
 in security, but th(;y succeeded in robbing me of ^25. The 
 next day my partner and self started on foot, with our blan- 
 kets and provisions strapped to our backs, for Walla Walla, 
 distant 220 miles. On waking up the morning after our first 
 encampment we found six inches of snow had fallen upon us 
 during the night. It snowed all the way, and the snow be- 
 came wet and slushy; we suffered much on the journey, 
 having started with nothing but mocassins to our feet, and 
 they will not keep out wet. I doubt if we should have been 
 able to walk any distance in boots had we had them. I have 
 hardly got accustomed to them even now. Mocassins are not 
 worn this side the mountains. In Eed River they are worn 
 by all. We arrived in Walla Walla the 10th day. It is a 
 larger town than Colville, with the same kind of population. 
 I left my partner here, and took the steamboat on the 
 Columbia for the Dalles, Oregon, distant 210 miles; from 
 there to Vancouvers, 170 miles; thence to Portland, Oregon, 
 16 miles, where I spent Christmas — not very merry; from 
 Portland to Victoria, 400 miles passage, 20 dollars. I am 
 at present working at carpentering; the wages are 12s. per 
 day in the summer, and 16s. in the winter. I pay 24s. per 
 week for my board. I do not think I shall go to the mines 
 this year. The Cariboo are the richest yet discovered, and 
 are about 600 miles from Victoria, through a mountainous 
 country. It is impossible to get in before the middle of 
 June, as the snow is 15 to 20 feet deep in the winter. 
 
 
 A 
 
 ,;.':'■ ■ 
 
 '■"•'' ' 
 
 Ibli 
 
 Py-: 
 
 ' f ■ ". 
 
 ,' 
 
 
 ' i,' 
 
 '\^ 
 
 *="': ■• \ 
 
 jli.:;- 
 
 ". 
 
 
 
 1.. ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^■■n- 
 
 
,*^- 
 
 
 i:k.h- ^ 
 
 :i.iKn.>;' 
 
 4 '.« 
 
 -..,.■ ■ 
 
 
 
 fi 
 
 [^•: 
 
 
 
 410 
 
 OVERLAND ROUTE VIA CANADA. 
 
 There will be a frightful rush in the spring ; provisions will 
 be enormously dear, if obtainable at all in sufficient quanti- 
 ties. Many will leave their bones there. Men who have 
 iron constitutions to endure the hardships must make large 
 fortunes. Hundreds will be disappointed. We crossed the 
 same range of mountains, but we were to much worn out 
 with hunger and fatigue to think about gold. A small party 
 of miners left here a few days ago in a schooner for Stickren 
 River, on the frontier of the Eussian possessions. If the 
 present reports prove true, of which I have a little doubt, 
 I may possibly go to the gold regions next season. I intend 
 writing a detailed account of my journey, which you will 
 see in the C paper. 
 
 Various communications have been received, expressing 
 doubts whether a project which has been published by a 
 * British Columbia Overland Transit Company,' for the con- 
 veyance of passengers to the gold-fields of British Columbia 
 across Canada to the Eocky Mountains in five weeks, may 
 not result in severe disappointment and suffering to the 
 parties who may be tempted to engage in it; and a com- 
 plaint has been made in the 'Scotsman' that the scheme 
 has been widely advertised in the North in a manner that 
 may entice many emigrants, without the names of any 
 responsible persons being given either as projectors or direc- 
 tors. *This is a case,' it is observed, *in which there is 
 a special need to know under whose encouragement and 
 responsibility the affair is undertaken and recommended.' 
 On that point, however, there has in London, at all events, 
 been no reserve, the Company, when it was introduced on 
 April 4 last, with a proposed capital of half a million, and 
 power to increase it to one million, having presented the 
 following list: — 
 
 Board of Directors — The Hon. F. H. Fitzhardinge 
 Berkeley, M.P,, Victoria Square, Director City Insurance 
 Company; Frederick Mangles, Esq., Gresham House, Old 
 Broad Street ; Edward Loder, Esq., 23 Laurence Pountney 
 Lane, and 17 Great George Street, "Westminster, Director 
 Colonisation Assurance Corporation ; Thomas Southgate, 
 
)vi8ion8 will 
 Lent quanti- 
 i who have 
 make largo 
 crossed the 
 h worn out 
 small party 
 Ebr Stickren 
 ns. If the 
 ittle doubt, 
 L. I intend 
 jh you will 
 
 expressing 
 
 lished hy a 
 
 For the con- 
 
 I Columbia 
 
 «reeks, may 
 
 ring to the 
 
 md a com- 
 
 the scheme 
 
 anner that 
 
 les of any 
 
 rs or direc- 
 
 :h there is 
 
 ement and 
 
 mmended.' 
 
 all events, 
 
 oduced on 
 
 illion, and 
 
 sented the 
 
 tzhardinge 
 Insurance 
 
 louse. Old 
 Pountney 
 
 ', Director 
 
 Southgate, 
 
 OVERL.VND ROUTE VlA CANADA. 
 
 417 
 
 Esq. (firm of Southgate and Mitchell), Yates Street, Vic- 
 toria, Vancouver's Island i H. Edgcumbe Nicolls, Esq., 
 Summer Seat., Bootle, near Liverpool ; Henry Fenton Jadis, 
 Esq., Board f>f Trade ; Robert Grreen, Esq. (firm of R. Green 
 & Co.), 24 Mortimer Street, Cavendish Square, and 
 Milton Lodge, Notting Hill ; S. Grambitz, Esq., Yates Street, 
 Victoria, Vancouver's Island; D. Brodie Campbell, Esq., 
 Bury Street, St. James's ; Samuel Starkey, Esq., New Broad 
 Street, E.C., and Denmark Hill ; Alexander Thurburn, Esq., 
 Penge, Surrey, Director South "Wales Railway Company; 
 Edward Langley, Esq. (Langley Brothers), Yates Street, 
 Victoria, Vancouver's Island ; Frederick Carden Walker, Esq., 
 33 St. James's Square, Pall Mall ; N. J. Fenner, Esq. (firm 
 of N. J. Fenner, Millwall), Croom's Hill, Blackheath ; Charles 
 Barnard, Esq., Margaretting, Essex. Secretary, James 
 Henson, Esq. — Times' Money Article. 
 
 £ £ 
 
 * \ 
 
 * 
 
 1 
 
 
 
418 
 
 THE COLONIAL COURTS IN 
 
 CHAPTEE Xm. 
 
 THE COLONIAL COURTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF 1862, 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 i: 
 
 :<■■ ',fl 
 
 
 ■«S; 
 
 ■ll 
 
 v 
 
 ;;:, I' 
 
 I CANNOT resist peeping for a moment into the 
 Colonial Courts of the International Exhibition, whicli 
 threw open its gates on May 1. There is indeed 
 scarcely anything in the whole structure which pro- 
 duces so profound an impression on the visitors as the 
 varied and marvellous display of natural wealth to be 
 found in some of them. The Colonial Governments 
 have been at great pains to have their respective regions 
 well represented, and the result is a comprehensive and 
 well-arranged collection. Our North- American depen- 
 dencies make an admirable show, with the exception 
 of Vancouver's Island and British Columbia, the con- 
 tributions from which are paltry and meagre in the 
 extreme. This is much to be regretted ; as a full 
 display of their products would effectually disabuse 
 our good people at home of any false impressions they 
 may have received regarding the true capabilities of 
 those wild countries. 
 
 Australia South and West, Cape of Good Hope, 
 Bahamas, Ceylon, Jamaica, Natal, Mauritius, Bruns- 
 wick, Newfoundland, New Zealand, New South Wales, 
 Queensland, Tasmania, St. Vincent's, Africa, Hong 
 Kong, &c., make a profuse and excellent display. 
 
 As anything beyond a brief notice of the most pro- 
 minent of these Courts might be considered out of 
 place, I shall content myself with a glance at the 
 
ION OF 1862. 
 
 t into the 
 tion, which 
 3 is indeed 
 which pro- 
 ;itors as the 
 realth to be 
 overnments 
 Live regions 
 lensive and 
 ican depen- 
 3 exception 
 a, the con- 
 igre in the 
 as a full 
 y disabuse 
 ssions they 
 )abilities of 
 
 Dod Hope, 
 us, Bruns- 
 uth Wales, 
 ica, Hong 
 play. 
 
 ; most pro- 
 red out of 
 Lce at the 
 
 THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. 
 
 419 
 
 Victoria Court, Australia, which is one of the best in 
 the Colonial department. The show of wool is truly 
 wonderful, as is also the display of gold. The gold 
 trophy, which equals the mass of nuggets and gold- 
 washings collected from the diggings in that colony 
 smce 1851, is perhaps one of the most suggestive in the 
 building. It represents a bulk of this valuable metal 
 of 800 tons' weight, and worth about 100,000,000/. 
 Whilst this remarkable obehsk looks perfectly solid 
 and in all respects metallic in character, as like good 
 bullion indeed as any in the Exhibition, perhaps the 
 visitor will be surprised when he is told that it is 
 merely gilt canvas stretched on wooden poles. In the 
 case containing specimens of nuggets picked up at the 
 diggings, is one which weighs 80 oz., and is valued at 
 350/. ; so much for nuggets. 
 
 This Court also offers a rich treat to the agriculturist. 
 Wheat may be here seen weighing 6841b. per bushel, 
 barley 58Jlb., and oats 49Jlb. ; and from New South 
 Wales and South Australia there are specimens as good, 
 within a few ounces. Sir William A. Macarthur and 
 others contribute samples of many varieties of woods ; 
 and there is a stand of New South Wales hermitage, 
 Madeira, amontillado, claret, and other wines of 
 superior quality grown in the colony. The show of 
 fruit, too, is so fine that the mind pictures many Edens 
 in that prosperous and deUghtful country. 
 
 The account of the Colonial Courts furnished by the 
 'Times' is so correct, that I cannot perhaps do better 
 than lay a few extracts before the reader : — 
 
 ' The Canadian timber trophy everybody, of cour5?e, has 
 seen, and, from a timber point of view, no doubt, it is exceed- 
 ingly fine in its details. In smaller blocks we have here 
 examples of the beautiful polish which many of the North 
 
 E E 2 
 
 
i ■ 
 
 • I- 
 
 
 I . 
 
 ■ 'I 
 
 ■ <■■?' 
 
 m 
 
 ti 
 
 »"«* ■■ 
 
 
 •'■' H 
 
 
 'Ci 
 
 il! 
 
 ill 
 
 ?rr 1:1" . '!■/. 
 
 420 
 
 THE COLONIAL COURTS IN 
 
 American woods will take, and of the part they may be made 
 to play in decorative furniture. Nova Scotia, in particular, 
 exhibits a very handsome piano of native woods. The geolo- 
 gist will find a long day's work in the Canadian court alone, 
 and some of the beautiful marbles contributed by the Geolo- 
 gical Survey of Canada cannot fail to attract the admiration 
 of the most ordinary observer. There is an ample collection 
 of all kinds of Canadian grains, on the qualities of which we 
 cannot now stop to dwell, and of agricultural implements, 
 among which we may mention one which does the work of 
 plough, drill, and harrow at one operation. It combines 
 lightness and strength, and seems by no means difficult to 
 manage. A case of plumbago, or graphite, in this court 
 may, perhaps, attract more attention from the very prominent 
 position in the nave which the Kussians have just given to 
 some samples of the same material recently discovered in 
 Siberia. The specimens of Indian work exhibited in the 
 New Brunswick court are more curious than beautiful ; but 
 the bear skins and other furs shown here and in the neigh- 
 bouring collection from Prince Edward's Island are very 
 handsome. Almost the only jewels from this portion of 
 the world are in a case shown by Nova Scotia, the chief 
 attraction of which is that both jewels and the gold setting 
 were found in the province. The greater part of the articles 
 from Ceylon have not yet arrived, but there are already shown 
 some good specimens of carved furniture in ebony and sandal 
 wood. A case of exquisite silver filigree from Malta catches 
 every eye ; and close by, the Maltese lace, which is very well 
 displayed, is sure to have many admirers. In all these 
 colonies, and in Jamaica, Dominica, the Mauritius, and other 
 colonies in the same neighbourhood, there are very full col- 
 lections of the natural products, and tho wax models of the 
 fruits of Guiana are particularly succulent and attractive in 
 appearance. A model of the sleeping cars in use on the 
 Great Western Eailway, shown in the Canadian court, is 
 worth looking at as a sort of example of how comfortable 
 railway travelling can be made if directors are only willing 
 to learn. 
 
THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. 
 
 4-21 
 
 may be made 
 in particular, 
 
 The geolo- 
 i court alone, 
 )y the Geolo- 
 le admiration 
 pie collection 
 1 of which we 
 implements, 
 } the work of 
 It combines 
 IS difficult to 
 in this court 
 sry prominent 
 just given to 
 discovered in 
 ibited in the 
 eautiful ; but 
 in the neigh- 
 md are very 
 is portion of 
 ;ia, the chief 
 3 gold setting 
 >f the articles 
 ilready shown 
 ny and sandal 
 Malta catches 
 1 is very well 
 In all these 
 us, and other 
 very full col- 
 nodels of the 
 attractive in 
 
 use on the 
 ian court, is 
 
 comfortable 
 
 only willing 
 
 Owing to some unfortunate disputes between contending 
 sectaries in the Cape Colony our South African possessions 
 are represented at the Exhibition almost entirely by the 
 contributions from Natal. This rising colony makes a very 
 admirable display, and the small space which has beei allotted 
 to it is crowded with interesting objects. Scarcely an inch 
 of room is lost either on the floor or the walls. The natural 
 products of the colony are very fully illustrated, and the sugar 
 in particular, which within the last ten years has become one 
 of the staple products of the colony, will, no doubt, be exam- 
 ined with much curiosity. Twelve years ago a sample manu- 
 factured from Natal canes was handed about the colony as 
 a curiosity; but within the last two years 2,000 tons, exceeding 
 50,0001. in value, have been exported. The specimens shown 
 here are pronounced to be of excellent quality, and there can 
 be no doubt the climate and the soil are admirably adapted 
 for the production of this necessary article of food. The 
 rapid developement of this capability has led to a rise in the 
 price of land in the colony almost unprecedented. Of arrow- 
 root, for which the colony has also a speciality, there are 
 some fine specimens shown, as well as of coffee, wheat, barley, 
 and maize. Within the last few years the Assam tea plant 
 has been introduced into the colony, and is said to thrive 
 with great rapidity. Some samples of it are exhibited side 
 by side with a small quantity of the Bushman's tea. Another 
 very important item of the colonial exports appears here in 
 the shape of Cayenne pepper, which is said to command ex- 
 cellent prices. Like a great many other places just now, 
 Natal is trying her hand at producing cotton, and som(.' 
 specimens are shown of fair quality. The plant grows readily 
 in the colony, but the chief difficulty is in finding labour. 
 The Colonial Grovernment is making great efforts to induce 
 the Caffres to take to the growing of it, but it appears at 
 present uncertain whether they will be able to overcome the 
 deep-rooted aversion of the noble savage to anything in the 
 shape of work. The cotton shown here was both grown and 
 ginned by natives ; and there is a sample of wool produced 
 from a wild plant indigenous to the country. We may meii- 
 
 -rm 
 
 •i ' 
 
. 
 
 MM 
 
 f'l (• >' > 1 m^ 
 
 1 .'M 
 
 • 
 
 1''' ' 
 
 ■; 
 
 !.' ' 
 
 P'. 
 
 1 i 
 
 jfi 
 
 ' 1, 
 
 
 422 
 
 THE COLONIAL COURTS IN 
 
 tion in parsing that the finest specimens of cotton shown at 
 the Exhibition are from our colonies. New South Wales 
 sends some Sea Island cotton, which has been pronounced 
 by such judges as Mr. Bazley and Mr. Ashworth to be the 
 finest ever seen in this country, and the price they put on it 
 was 48. per lb. From Queensland Mr. Marsh exhibits a 
 sample little inferior, which was priced by the same judges 
 at 3s. 6c?. per lb. The walls of the Natal court are ornamented 
 with some magnificent skins of antelopes, leopards, and 
 other animals shot in the neighbourhood of the colony, and 
 among them is the skin of a boa, eighteen feet long. 
 Elephants' tusks are a considerable article of export, and 
 one is shown here weighing 1261bs. A very interesting 
 portion of the Exhibition is the collection illustrating the 
 habits and modes of life of the CafFre. His great luxury 
 seems to be snuff, and here are every variety of snuff-boxes 
 and snuff-spoons, generally carried in his back hair, along 
 with his nose-scraper and other useful articles, and some of 
 them show considerable skill in carving. A few of them 
 smoke, and by sticking a reed with a bowl made of soapstone 
 at the end of it into a cow-horn, which they fill with water, 
 they manage to extemporise a very rude kind of hookah. 
 Their greatest ingenuity, however, is shown in their musical 
 instruments. The Caffre lyre is a bent bow strung with 
 twisted hair, which, beaten with a stick, will give out some 
 four or five distinct tones, while the Macabere piano, which is 
 a series of strips of wood, each backed by a sounding chamber 
 formed of the rind of some dried and hardened fruit, has one 
 or two notes very nearly approaching to the music of a 
 cracked bell. The extraordinary top-knots which are the 
 most distinguishing feature of their simple costume are well 
 illustrated by a specimen which was torn off the head of a 
 native in a scuffle at D'Urban some little time ago. Two or 
 three articles of red pottery ware, which belonged to the 
 famous Moshesh, are surprisingly excellent in quality. There 
 is a smoothness and finish about them which proves consider- 
 able proficiency in the art. In timbers the colony appears to 
 be rich, for there is an immense variety shown, some of them 
 
 S' : -' 
 
 M. 
 
 lit » 
 
 i? '' ' i 
 
ton shown at 
 South Wales 
 
 pronounced 
 th to be the 
 ley put on it 
 h exhibits a 
 same judges 
 i ornamented 
 iopards, and 
 J colony, and 
 1 feet long, 
 export, and 
 ' interesting 
 istrating the 
 ^reat luxury 
 r snuflF-boxes 
 : hair, along 
 and some of 
 'ew of them 
 of soapstone 
 
 with water, 
 
 of hookah, 
 heir musical 
 strung with 
 ve out some 
 mo, which is 
 ing chamber 
 'uit, has one 
 
 music of a 
 ich are the 
 ime are well 
 le head of a 
 JO. Two or 
 iged to the 
 [ility. There 
 es consider- 
 y appears to 
 me of them 
 
 THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. 
 
 423 
 
 possessing great durability, while others are useful only for 
 ornamental purposes. Two of them rejoice in very singular 
 names — the * sneezewood,' which is of extraordinarily tena- 
 cious fibre, and stands exposure to the weather admirably, is 
 so called from the pungent qualities of its saw-dust; and the 
 * stinkwood,' which is a furniture wood somewhat resembling 
 dark walnut, while green gives out a most disagreeable odour. 
 There is also a very handsome pink wood, which would be 
 valuable to the upholsterer, though it hardly comes up to the 
 wood of the same character in the Guiana court, the beautiful 
 effect of which is so well shown in the elaborate cabinet 
 exhibited here by Sir W. Holmes. 
 
 In our brief summary of the chief objects in the colonial 
 collection, we] omitted to mention the display from the new 
 colony of Queensland, which is very complete, particularly in 
 specimens of raw produce. The samples of Sea Island cotton 
 grown here will no doubt be very carefully examined, as well 
 as the wool and silk, samples of which are also exhibited. 
 Of woods from this colony there is an immense variety, many 
 of them of great beauty, and to show how well they work up, 
 Mr. Justice Lutwyche sends a very elegant set of chessmen 
 and a table of myall and cypress wood mixed. One of the 
 most handsome pieces of colonial furniture is a table inlaid 
 with various woods, at the entrance to the New Zealand court. 
 Lady Cooper contributes a case of Queensland jewellery, the 
 chief objects in which are a pearl of considerable size, 
 mounted in gold, and a brooch of white topazes. There are 
 several cases of Queensland birds in the court, among which 
 the varied and brilliant plumage of the parrots and parroquets 
 will probably attract most admiration. The half-dozen pho- 
 tographs of the aborigines, male and female, which hang by 
 the door, do not invite a second look — except, indeed, it be 
 to decide to which sex the palm of supreme hideousness ought 
 to be given. 
 
 We have before mentioned the impression which appears 
 to be made on foreign visitors by the evidences they find in 
 the Exhibition of the almost unlimited natural wealth of 
 Great Britain's colonies, Australia, perhaps, attracts most 
 
 ■ 1 
 
 I' .' ^ 
 
 '. i 
 
i *. ■! • 
 
 p '■.; 
 
 
 mm' 
 
 i) -I 
 
 ¥ 
 
 424 
 
 THE COLONIAL COURTS IN 
 
 attention, as well from the unprecedented rapidity with which 
 her resources have been developed as from the fine quality of 
 some of the objects displayed. At the last Exhibition this 
 great continent was represented by a few ores and cereals, a 
 olock of timber here and there, and a case or two of wools ; 
 but here are shown in rich profusion samples of all the gifts 
 with which nature can endow a land to make it great and 
 flourishing, such as can hardly be surpassed by the most 
 prosperous countries in the Old World. Geologists from all 
 parts examine with the greatest interest the specimens of gold 
 in all its various deposits in the New South Wales and Vic- 
 toria courts, and of copper from Burra-Burra in the South 
 Australian court. Agriculturists never tire of handling the 
 wheat and maize ; and the wools and cottons have been highly 
 praised by the best judges. The endless variety of woods, 
 useful and ornamental, also comes in for a large share of 
 admiration, and gives some idea of the vastness of the pri- 
 mseval forests, which no doubt will form an important element 
 in the prosperity of the colonies. 
 
 As the first founded and the parent colony, so to speak, 
 of the Australian group. New South Wales, which exhibits 
 a collection of great variety, claims the first notice. Out- 
 stripped by the neighbouring colony in the richness of its 
 gold-mines. New South Wales takes the lead in pastoral 
 industry. At the last stock-taking there were in the colony 
 6,119,163 sheep, 2,408,586 cattle, and 251,497 horses. The 
 sheep were, on an average, 1,700 to each 100 of the popula- 
 tion. The colony owes its prominence in the production of 
 wools to the enterprise of Captain Macarthur, of Camden, 
 who, noting the effect of the natural grasses on the fleeces of 
 ordinary sheep, imported at his own expense three rams and 
 five ewes of pure Spanish breed, with which he crossed all 
 the coarse-wooUed sheep. The result of this patriotic enter- 
 prise is, that in 1860 the export of wool from Sydney was 
 12,809,3621b., and its estimated value 1,123,699^. 
 
 The magnitude of the pastoral interests of the colony may 
 be judged of from the fact that the value of its exports 
 including wool, hides, tallow, and live stock, during the ten 
 
THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. 
 
 425 
 
 :y with which 
 Qe quality of 
 :hibition this 
 ^nd cereals, a 
 ro of wools ; 
 
 all the gifts 
 it great and 
 t)y the most 
 ists from all 
 mens of gold 
 lies and Vie- 
 in the South 
 handling the 
 
 been highly 
 y of woods, 
 rge share of 
 
 of the pri- 
 tant element 
 
 , so to speak, 
 lich exhibits 
 otice. Out- 
 ;hness of its 
 in pastoral 
 the colony 
 Horses. The 
 the popula- 
 roduction of 
 of Camden, 
 he fleeces of 
 e rams and 
 i crossed all 
 riotic enter- 
 Sydney was 
 
 r 
 
 '• 
 
 colony may 
 its exports 
 ing the ten 
 
 years from 1850 to 1860, exceeded by nearly a million the 
 exports of all other produce, gold included. 
 
 The Board of Trade returns put the average value of the 
 Australian wool imported into this country at Is. 7d. per lb., 
 and of all other wools at 9^d. per lb. The samples of wools, 
 fleece and scoured, are of admirable quality, particularly 
 Nos. 238, 248, 251, and 258 ; and there are two or three 
 fine merino fleeces, one of which, the produce of an imported 
 French merino lamb, weighs 7^1b. We may remark, as a 
 general rule, that the wools are by no means so well prepared 
 for exhibition as in the Bohemian or Hungarian courts, for 
 instance; and the colonists would do well to take a lesson 
 from their foreign rivals in this respect. Mr. Ledger exhibits 
 a beautiful sample of wool from the alpacas, which he intro- 
 duced into the colony from Peru with great risk and labour. 
 The acclimatisation of this animal has been attended with 
 great success ; the natural grasses suit them admirably, and 
 Mr. Ledger is said to be confident that they will attain to 
 maturity at an earlier age than in South America, with a 
 larger form and a heavier fleece. In fifty years it is calcu- 
 lated that the flock introduced by him will have increased to 
 9,760,000, producing a clip of 68,320,000lb. ; and the rapid 
 increase of the flocks of merino sheep within the last sixty 
 years appears to be some justification for this apparently 
 extravagant estimate. At the back of the court, under the 
 staircase, and rather too far away from the light for advan- 
 tageous exhibition, is a large case containing seven stuffed 
 specimens — a pure lama, a pure alpaca, and five crosses 
 between them. The lama is the largest animal, but has 
 short coarse wool, with bare head, belly, and legs ; while the 
 pure alpaca has finer, heavier, and longer wool, with head, 
 face, and neck covered. The changes produced by cross- 
 breeding are very curiously shown in the other specimens. 
 The alpaca fat is said to be at least two degrees better for 
 ordinary purposes than mutton fat, and in Peru it is in great 
 request for pomade. A bottle of alpaca pomade is one of the 
 articles exhibited. The woollen goods exhibited in the case 
 hard by are manufactured from the Australian wools by 
 
 .::r: 
 
t'4i' 
 
 
 426 
 
 THE COLONIAL COURTS IN 
 
 >\ 
 
 H i 
 
 English manufacturers, and to uninitiated eyes, no doubt 
 they show its quality much more satisfactorily than the 
 closest inspection of the staple. The merinos and mousse- 
 lino-de-laines, manufactured by Messrs. Pease, almost rival 
 the Cashmere fabrics in the exquisite fineness of their texture : 
 but the most generally admired pieces in the case are two 
 splendid lengths of blue and black beaver cloth, which look 
 stout enough to turn the edge of the keenest nor'-easter. In 
 tlie French Department, Messrs. Seydoux, Sieber, and Co., of 
 Paris, exhibit a shawl manufactured from Australian wool, 
 wliich is of remarkable beauty. 
 
 We have already mentioned that the finest cotton exhibited 
 in the building was to be found iu the New South Wales 
 Court, and some of the samples have been priced as liigh as 
 4s. per lb. The sample marked 81, which has attracted so 
 much attention, was grown fifty miles from the sea-coast, in 
 south latitude 33. No. 76, grown on the Clarence Eiver, is 
 also a sample of great merit. In cereals, too, the colony 
 takes a high rank. The best sample is that marked 54 in 
 the catalogue, grown at Bathurst ; and the three samples of 
 white wheat marked 64a, which run from 641b. to 681b. per 
 bushel, grown at Camden Park, have been much admired. 
 As a flour-making wheat it is said to be of first-rate quality. 
 Maize seems to be a crop with which the soil and climate of 
 New South Wales agree capitally, and some splendid cobs, 
 both for size and close packing of the grain, are shown here. 
 The sample marked 57 is of a most productive kind, and 
 yields as much as 100 bushels to the acre. The large pure 
 yellow sorts weigh 651b. to the bushel, and the smaller yellow 
 661b. The white maize meal is from grain obtained from the 
 Canadian Department in the Paris Exhibition of 1855. There 
 are numerous specimens of the products of the vines of New 
 South Wales, some of which have come direct from the colony, 
 and others have been bottled here, and have been in cellar for 
 some time. They include all the varieties grown there — • 
 Hungarian light wines, Tokay (to which the Muscat has a 
 great affinity). Hermitage, Madeira, Bordeaux, and Burgundy 
 Since the Paris Exhibition, when the jurors reported strongly 
 
THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. 
 
 427 
 
 I, no doubt 
 yr than the 
 nd mousHc- 
 Irnost rival 
 eir texture : 
 ise are two 
 which look 
 easter. In 
 and Co., of 
 alian wool, 
 
 n exhibited 
 )uth Wales 
 i as high as 
 ttracted so 
 sa-coast, in 
 3 Eiver, is 
 the colony 
 'ked 54 in 
 samples of 
 681b. per 
 admired. 
 ,te quality, 
 climate of 
 ndid cobs, 
 lown here, 
 kind, and 
 arge pure 
 Her yellow 
 i from the 
 55. There 
 Bs of New 
 he colony, 
 cellar for 
 there — . 
 cat has a 
 Burgundy 
 J strongly 
 
 in their favour, tho market for Australian wines has very mucli 
 increased. This, however, is a part of the Exhibition wliich 
 the general public must be content to take on trus* for tho 
 information to be gathered from tho outside of tlu^ bottles is 
 but superficial. Among the other products exhibited are 
 cayenne pepper, preserved fruits, tobacco, sponges, an«l 
 sugar-canes, for which some parts of the colony are said 
 to bo admirably fitted. The portions of the show, how- 
 ever, both here and in the Victoria Court, which will 
 probably bo looked at with the deepest interest by most 
 people are the specimens from the gold-fields, which, by 
 the enormous tide of immigration they attracted, are the 
 true cause of the rapid rise of our Australian colonies. 
 What a period of feverish excitement the sight of these 
 glittering little lumps and phials of preciouti sand recalls I 
 — what strange reverses, broken-up families, perilous adven- 
 tures, toils and hardships, unceasing baffled hopes, ruinous 
 failure to many, to a few success beyond the wildest antici- 
 pation I There is the text here for one of the most roman- 
 tic chapters in the history of a nation. The glass case in 
 front of the Nave contributed by Lady Cooper is already a 
 great centre of attraction, and the large nugget, weighing 
 80oz., is handed about freely from one set of visitors to 
 another, not unfrequently for nearly half an hour at a time. 
 The case contains also some very curious specimens, showing 
 the fantastic way in which the gold deposits itself. The 
 small black spot which many people take for an ordinary bit 
 of rock is a piece of petrified mud, over which the gold has 
 spread itself in such minute particles that it is only when 
 you hold it up against the light and catch its refulgent glow 
 that its presence is revealed. In another specimen it lies in 
 the crevices of a piece of quartz in small globules, as if it had 
 dripped from above in a liquid state. The contributions from 
 the Sydney Mint, however, are the most interesting and com- 
 plete of the collection. The first contains samples of all the 
 principal gold-fields of the colony, and some of them are of 
 remarkable purity. From Moruza, for instance, there are 
 two sample?, worth 4:1. 3s. 6d. and 41. 3s. 7d. per oz. respec- 
 
 * '■*. 
 
 .••.^*teJ; 
 
 '. it./ 
 
428 
 
 THE COLONIAL COURTS IN 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i|r;'v.|l 
 
 tively. Another cabinet is very ingeniously arranged so as 
 to show at a glance almost all the various strata the miners 
 have to pass in the different fields, with their character and 
 depth. Both cabinets have been prepared with great care 
 by the deputy master of the Sydney Mint, Captain Ward, 
 and it is to be hoped that they will be secured for one of our 
 Museums when they have done there work here. The yield 
 of the New South Wales gold-fields, though inferior to that 
 of Victoria, is steadily on the increase, and in 1860 amounted 
 to nearly 2,000,000^. in value. The colony has a great ad- 
 vantage over its neighbour in the possession of one of the 
 most extensive coal-fields in the world. The upper seams 
 alone are being worked at present, and the pits in operation 
 at Newcastle, on the Hunter, are capable of yielding 1,000,000 
 tons annually, at prices ranging from 13s. Qd. to 15s. per ton. 
 Samples of the principal pits have been sent over and have 
 recently been tried at Woolwich. Of four sorts the report is 
 most favourable, the per-centage of clinker and ash being 
 considerably less than in the Welsh coal. There are also 
 specimens of the silver, lead, copper, and iron ores of the 
 colony, of porcelain clay, pumice-stone, alum, plaster of Paris, 
 pipeclay, meerschaum, sulphate of antimony, and sulphate of 
 magnesia, all of which are said to exist in great quantities in 
 various parts, and which no doubt, with the further increase 
 of population, will become important items in the trade of 
 the colony. The whole geological collection, on which we 
 have not space to dwell further, is full of interest, and very 
 skillfully arranged. The woods, too, of which there are nu- 
 merous specimens, we must dismiss briefly, merely remark- 
 ing that they range from the hardest iron-barks to the most 
 ornamental furniture woods. There are samples exhibited 
 which have been in use for the last 20, 30, and even 40 years, 
 both under water and under ground, which show remarkable 
 durability. A natural ship-knee of iron-bark, weighing 19 cwt. 
 is very curious, and no doubt, if wooden vessels were not a 
 little at a discount now, would be of considerable value. 
 Among the manufactures exhibited we would draw attention 
 to the boots, paiticularly a pair of kangaroo boots, of such 
 
anged so as 
 
 the miners 
 araeter and 
 '. great care 
 tain Ward, 
 
 one of our 
 
 The yield 
 ior to that 
 ) amounted 
 I great ad- 
 one of the 
 pper seams 
 Q operation 
 r 1,000,000 
 5s. per ton. 
 T and have 
 Le report is 
 
 ash being 
 :e are also 
 )res of the 
 er of Paris, 
 sulphate of 
 lantities in 
 sr increase 
 le trade of 
 
 which we 
 ;, and very 
 re are nu- 
 y remark- 
 ) the most 
 
 exhibited 
 1 40 years, 
 Bmarkable 
 ng 19 cwt. 
 ^ere not a 
 ble value. 
 
 attention 
 s, of such 
 
 THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. 
 
 429 
 
 excellent workmanship that one of the jurors — a London 
 tradesman of great weight in such matters — said of them, 
 * I call these boots with brains in them ! ' The colonists com- 
 plain loudly of a statement made in the House of Commons 
 some little time ago of the want of dock accommodation in 
 the colonies, and they exhibit here two models of dry docks 
 in Sidney Harbour — one 320 ft. long and 66 ft. broad, with 
 a depth of water on the sill of 24 ft. ; the other is 400 ft. 
 long, and about 60 ft. broad. In one or other of these docks 
 the Novara, the Benares, and the Simla have been repaired. 
 We may say of this court in particular what we have said 
 of the Colonial department generally, that it is very effec- 
 tively arranged, and in its almost exhaustive variety reflects 
 great credit on the distinguished colonists who have acted 
 as Commissioners. 
 
 THE BEITISH COLONIES — SOUTH AFEICA. 
 
 {From the * Ohaerver.'') 
 
 Among British colonies the Cape of Grood Hope is the only 
 one that positively refused to contribute to the Exhibition. 
 Common gratitude, to say nothing of less worthy feelings of 
 self-interest, would have led us to expect a different course of 
 policy from the Boors and settlers of this colony. For their 
 defence this country has expended millions in wars against 
 the Caffres, and the large number of British troops that are 
 continually stationed there is a source of great profit to the 
 colonists. Local squabbles, however, and petty sectional dif- 
 ferences and jealousies of the east and west provinces pre- 
 vailed, and the Cape is unrepresented in the great gathering 
 of the World's Industry. Natal, however, a young colony, 
 determined to push its way in the world, 'and resolved that 
 its merits should not be overlooked, voted some 3,000?. for 
 the purpose of having a place in the great Exhibition. Here 
 we have cotton of excellent quality and staple. It grows 
 well in the country, but at present there is some difficulty 
 with respect to the supply of labour. This may, however, be 
 
 
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 430 
 
 THE COLONIAL COURTS IN 
 
 got over either by training the native Zulus, or by the impor- 
 tation of Coolie labourers. The local Government is making 
 great eflforts to induce the Zulus to take to the growing of it, 
 but there is a deep-rooted aversion on the part of the * noble 
 savage' to do anything in the shape of work. The cotton 
 shown here was both grown and ginned by natives, and there 
 is a sample of wool produced from a wild plant indigenous to 
 the country. We may mention in passing that the finest 
 specimens of cotton shown at the Exhibition are from our 
 colonies. New South Wales sends some Sea Island cotton, 
 which has been pronounced by such judges as Mr. Bazley and 
 Mr. Ashworth to be the finest ever seen in this country, and 
 the price they put on it was 4s. per lb. From Queensland 
 Mr. Marsh exhibits a sample little inferior, which was priced 
 by the same judges at 3s. 6d. per lb. The sugar exhibited 
 by this colony represents a branch of industry unparalleled 
 for the rapidity of its growth. About the time of the last 
 Exhibition a small parcel of maple sugar was made as a 
 curiosity, in a small iron cooking-pot ; last year 2,000 tons 
 were shipped from the ports of this colony. This colony, 
 formed of a series of plains rising inland from the sea, enjoys 
 the advantage of the three climates of the tropics, the semi- 
 tropical regions and the temperate zone, and as a conse- 
 quence produces cotton, sugar, maize, tobacco, flax, wheat, 
 cherries, oranges, gooseberries, currants, and apples, and all 
 the products known to our own country as well as those of 
 the tropics. It is curious to see in the same court where 
 these articles, so familiar to Englishmen, are displayed, 
 skins of the antelope, leopards, the skin of a boa eighteeen 
 feet long, and elephants' tusks, one weighing 1261bs., which 
 are obtained in the same country. A very interesting portion 
 of the Exhibition is the collection illustrating the habits and 
 modes of life of the Caffre. His great luxury seems to be 
 snuff, and here are every variety of snuflf-boxes and snuflf- 
 spoons, generally carried in his back hair, along with his 
 nose-scraper and other useful articles. A few of them 
 smoke, and by sticking a reed with a bowl made of soap- 
 stone at the end of it into a cow-horn, which they fill with 
 
THE INTEENATIONAL EXHIBITION. 
 
 431 
 
 
 f the impor- 
 it is making 
 owing of it, 
 f the * noble 
 The cotton 
 iS, and there 
 digenous to 
 b the finest 
 e from our 
 and cotton, 
 Bazley and 
 ountry, and 
 Queensland 
 
 was priced 
 ir exhibited 
 inparalleled 
 
 of the last 
 made as a 
 2,000 tons 
 his colony, 
 sea, enjoys 
 
 the semi- 
 3 a conse- 
 ax, wheat, 
 es, and all 
 as those of 
 )urt where 
 
 displayed, 
 
 eighteeen 
 lbs., which 
 ng portion 
 habits and 
 
 ems to be 
 md snuff- 
 with his 
 
 of them 
 e of soap- 
 7 fill with 
 
 water, they manage to extemporise a very rude kind of 
 hookah. Their greatest ingenuity, however, is shown in 
 their musical instruments. The Caflfre lyre is a bent bow 
 strung with twisted hair, which, beaten with a stick, will 
 give out some four or five distinct nctes, while the Macabere 
 piano, which is a series of strips of wood, each backed by a 
 sounding chamber formed of the rind of some dried and 
 hardened fruit, has one or two notes very nearly approach- 
 ing to the music of a cracked bell. The extraordinary top- 
 knots, which are the most distinguishing feature of the 
 simple costume of the natives, are well illustrated by a 
 specimen which was torn off the head of a native in a scuffle 
 at D'Urban some little time ago. Two or three articles of 
 red pottery-ware, which belonged to the famous Moshesh, 
 are excellent in quality. There is a smoothness and finish 
 about them which proves considerable proficiency in the art. 
 In timber the colony appears to be rich, for there is an 
 immense variety shown, some of the sorts possessing great 
 durability, while others are useful only for ornamental pur- 
 poses. Two of them rejoice in very singular names — the 
 * sneezewood,' which is of extraordinarily tenacious fibre, and 
 stands exposure to the weather admirably, is so called from 
 the pungent qualities of its saw-dust, and the * stinkwood,' 
 which is a furniture wood, somewhat resembling dark walnut, 
 and which, when green, gives out a most disagreeable odour. 
 There is also a very handsome pink wood, which would be 
 valuable for cabinet purposes. Of arrowroot, for which the 
 colony has a speciality, there are some fine specimens shown, 
 as well as of coffee, wheat, barley, and maize. Within the 
 last few years, the Assam tea plant has been introduced into 
 the colony, and is said to thrive with great rapidity. Some 
 samples of it are exhibited, side by side with a small quantity 
 of the Bushman's tea. Another very important item of the 
 colonial exports appears here, in the shape of Cayenne pepper, 
 which is said to command excellent prices. 
 
 si*' 
 
 
 •5* / 
 
 
 1, '■•' -^i * 
 
4 
 
 '■:,''■ 
 
 
 
 im 
 
 43-2 THE COLONIAL COURTS IN 
 
 WESTEKN AUSTRALIA. 
 
 This colony stands alone in being the only one which con- 
 tinues a penal settlement. Here the Robsons and the Red- 
 paths of society at home are provided for; and it is a 
 somewhat interesting fact that in the exhibition now made 
 by the colony the handiwork of one at least of these famous 
 criminals is represented. A cabinet has been sent to the 
 Exhibition, to the construction of which Robson, it is said, 
 devoted some portion of his time and talents. That which, 
 however, is of the most importance is, that the cabinet illus- 
 trates the many excellent varieties of wood, suited to cabinet 
 purposes, which the colony possesses. "Western Australia is 
 particularly rich in timber. The jarrah of this colony grows 
 to enormous proportions, and is a most durable and service- 
 able wood. Six planks, cut out of one tree, have been sent 
 to London ; they are 120 feet long, five feet wide, and seven 
 inches thick. As they cannot be conveniently shown in the 
 building, they have been placed in the Horticultural Gardens. 
 There is another famous tree, called the tooart, which has 
 been used to a small extent in the construction of one of our 
 crack line-of-battle ships — the Hannibal — and which is 
 said to be as durable as the British oak. The sandal-wood 
 of the colony has long been highly prized in Singapore and 
 China; the eucalyptus grows to a height of two or three 
 hundred feet — it has a fine grain and a beautiful colour ; 
 and from the Shea oak excellent spokes and felloes for wheels 
 are made. To show the durability of the timber, there are 
 exhibited some posts and piles of the jarrah, which have lain 
 for many years in land and water, and neither the white ants 
 nor the all-consuming teredos have made any impression 
 upon them ; and the surfaces, which have been planed, still 
 take a high polish. Minerals abound in this favoured colony ; 
 and there are specimens of lead and iron ores shown of un- 
 usual richness, and some copper ores which are said to contain 
 70 per cent, of metal. There is a lump of lead from the 
 Geraldine Mine, which forms part of a mass weighing up- 
 wards of one ton, and a bar of iron sent from the Royal 
 
THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. 
 
 433 
 
 
 B which con- 
 id the Red- 
 md it is a 
 n now made 
 hese famous 
 sent to the 
 1, it is said, 
 That which, 
 iabinet illus- 
 sd to cabinet 
 Australia is 
 iolony groAvs 
 and service- 
 re been sent 
 e, and seven 
 lown in the 
 ral Gardens, 
 t, which has 
 ■ one of our 
 id which is 
 sandal-wood 
 igapore and 
 vo or three 
 iful colour; 
 3S for wheels 
 r, there are 
 3h have lain 
 3 white ants 
 impression 
 planed, still 
 ired colony ; 
 )wn of un- 
 i to contain 
 i from the 
 jighing up- 
 1 the Royal 
 
 Engineer Department, formed from native iron, which was 
 tested against a Swedish bai*, and gave a result of from five 
 to eight in favour of the Western Australian specimen. 
 There are useful clays and pigments, too, in great number, 
 among others the Wilgi, with the qualities of which the 
 natives are well acquainted, and which would, no doubt, 
 prove of service in the arts and manufactures of this country. 
 The natives adorn themselves with this earth, just as our 
 ancestors decorated themselves with the blue dye of the 
 saffron. In order to appear in full costume, the Western 
 Australians — we do not, of course, mean the settlers, but the 
 aborigines — saturate themselves thoroughly with grease, and, 
 having formed this adhesive surface, they rub their bodies 
 over with this light red ochre. The gums and resins of the 
 colony are very valuable ; and there are specimens of tanning 
 barks which deserve the special notice of persons engaged in 
 the leather trade in this country. 
 
 The leathers exhibited speak highly of the value of these 
 substances for tanning purposes. Some black harness leather 
 is equal to some of the best specimens shown on the English 
 side. The kangaroo skin makes very good leather; it is 
 soft, pliant, and tough, and is said to wear well for boots and 
 shoes. A small parcel only of wool is shown, but, judging 
 from this, it would appear that the colony is well suited for 
 producing large quantities of this material. Some fibrous 
 materials are shown, which seem to be well adapted for paper 
 making, or even for the manufacture of ropes and cordage. 
 Among others some specimens of the string made from the 
 fibrous rush which grows plentifully on the banks of the 
 Swan River. The silver wattle bark is also of a very fibrous 
 character ; while some bark from the paper bark tree, which 
 is said to be very easily reducible to pulp, is well worthy the 
 notice of those who are now casting about for new and fresh 
 materials to aid in the manufacture of paper. Furs, feathers, 
 and lace are represented by a rug of the opossum skin, a mat 
 of pelican down, a victorine of parrots' feathers, the skin of 
 the emu, a lady's muff made of the feathers of the parrot, 
 a collection of very pretty feather-flowers and featheis of 
 
 F F 
 
 ■I- .- 
 I 
 
 
 J'.- 
 
 I" 
 I 
 
 
 
 ,.f ,;>,■•■■;■, 
 
 •■V' Ufa- 
 
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 ■*■■' 
 
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 i« '■' 
 
 i :,-: 
 
 
 
 
 /? • : " 
 
 434 
 
 THE COLONIAL COURTS IN 
 
 the white, black, and tipped cockatoo, emu, and night owl. 
 Wheat, and various descriptions of grain, preserved and potted 
 meats, including the dainty kangaroo's tail, mullet, whiting, 
 and salmon ; there is olive-oil and eggs of the emu — a very 
 good article of food — and many varieties of vine grow in the 
 colony. The great value of these colonial displays is that 
 they familiarise the British public with the productions of 
 our varied colonies, and convey a much more accurate notion 
 of their resources, and of their value as places for settlement, 
 than can be obtained by any other means. The specimens 
 exhibited in this court confirm in a striking manner, the 
 accuracy of the description of the Colonial Secretary, viz : — 
 
 ^That the country is subject to no extremes of heat or 
 cold. Cattle have never been known to die from lack of 
 water, and in the very driest weather there is a sufficient 
 supply of food for them. Exposure to weather, by night or 
 day, appears to produce no ill effects on the constitution of 
 the colonists, many of whom, for months together, rarely 
 sleep under any beyond the most temporary dwellings. Snow 
 is never seen, ice only in the depth of winter, and then only in 
 the very early morning. As in New Zealand, both maize and 
 potatoes ripen in this country, and the latter crop is grown to 
 a considerable extent. The apple and the pear, the orange, 
 banana, fig, peach, and apricot, with the melon and the vine, 
 grow luxuriantly, and may be seen ripening at the same time. 
 The colony is peculiarly adapted to the growth of the vine, 
 on the cultivation of which much attention is bestowed, and 
 which is likely to prove very remunerating. English and 
 tropical vegetables are largely cultivated, and yield profusely. 
 Attention is also being directed to dried fruits, and specimens 
 of figs and raisins that have been sent to the periodical horti- 
 cultural exhibition for competition are little inferior to those 
 imported from Europe.' 
 
 The following is a copy of a letter which has been 
 written by the Duke of Newcastle, the Secretary for 
 the Colonies, to Dr. Lindley, the Superintendent of the 
 Colonial Department at the Exhibition : — 
 
THE INTERNATIOXAL EXHIBITION. 
 
 435 
 
 d Dlgbt owl. 
 3d and potted 
 llet, whiting, 
 mu — a very 
 e grow in the 
 plays is that 
 roductions of 
 curate notion 
 )r settlement, 
 he specimens 
 manner, the 
 itary, viz : — 
 )s of heat or 
 From lack of 
 s a sufficient 
 r, by night or 
 onstitution of 
 f ether, rarely 
 allings. Snow 
 I then only in 
 )th maize and 
 p is grown to 
 *, the orange, 
 and the vine, 
 le same time. 
 
 of the vine, 
 estowed, and 
 
 English and 
 jld profusely, 
 tid specimens 
 iodical horti- 
 3rior to those 
 
 h has been 
 3cretary for 
 dent of the 
 
 * My Dear Dr. Lindley : — Now that the Colonial Depart- 
 ment of tbo International Exhibition is very nearly complete, 
 I must PTipicss to you, first, my thanks for the trouble you 
 took in showing me all the various productions, and next, my 
 extreme admiration of the spirited and successful manner in 
 which the colonies, with scarcely an exception, have responded 
 to the invitation of the commissioners to send specimens of 
 their natural products and their industry for the information, 
 and, I may well add, the instruction of the nations of Europe. 
 It is impossible that such a display of what the colonial 
 portions of the British Empire can produce should be with- 
 out a very material influence upon the future prospects and 
 prosperity of each of them. In gold and other metals, in 
 cereal produce, in timber, in wool, above all in cotton, the 
 visitors of the Exhibition will find the English colonies eclip- 
 sing all competitors, and I am much mistaken if foreigners 
 will not find in the department allotted to them more to ex- 
 cite their admiration and wonder than in the more showy 
 and artistic displays, which do so much credit to the taste, 
 energy, and manufacturing power of the mother-country. I 
 assure you that not only officially but individually I am de- 
 lighted at the position before the world which the colonies 
 have assumed in the Exhibition. — I am, my dear Dr. Lindley, 
 yours very sincerely, Newcastle.' 
 
 Before closing these hastily-gleaned notes on the 
 International Exliibition of 1862, I am tempted to 
 extract from the 'Era' the following description of 
 the interesting and exquisite display of Messrs. Mac- 
 dougall and Co., of Inverness, not because of the 
 impression produced by them on the visitor, but 
 because of the commercial alliance which exists be- 
 tween this eminent firm and our chief colonies, in 
 which indeed markets have already been opened for 
 the sale of these articles : — 
 
 There are few ' stands ' in the Exhibition entitled to more 
 favourable notice than that in which are displayed the abovt! 
 
 r F 2 
 
 jli. 
 
 
 WM-- 
 
>, '■'•'. 
 
 
 111 
 
 mi 
 
 W£l 
 
 mm 
 
 436 
 
 THE COLONIAL COURTS IN 
 
 
 named goods. Whether we regard the very beautiful and 
 artistic manner in which the several articles are produced, or 
 the happy and successful way in which the perseverance and 
 enterprise of the above firm have opened the resources of the 
 Highlands and Islands of Scotland, in this particular branch 
 of industry, there is in this display vast food for contempla- 
 tion, as well as a very wide field for observation and admira- 
 tion. But a comparatively few years ago, the manufacture 
 of the class of goods to which we are directing attention was 
 on an exceedingly limited scale, being confined chiefly to 
 supply for home requirements ; but, through the undeviating 
 assiduity of Messrs. Macdougall and Co., markets have been 
 opened up for the sale of the poor Scotch Highlanders' and 
 Shetlanders' handicraft, even in the distant countries of India, 
 Australia, China, Ceylon, &c. To these markets, as well as 
 to those of Grreat Britain generally, the goods of this firm, to 
 an immense amount, are now sent. Well aware that, although 
 the natives of the straths and glens of the * far north ' are 
 poor, they are at the same time industrious ; and rightly 
 judging that, were that industry turned to account — espe- 
 cially in their own homes, during the long and dreary days 
 and nights of winter — it would be advantageous beyond 
 measure to them, Messrs. Macdougall and Co. introduced 
 employment amongst them by placing in their hands native 
 wools, with accompanying shapes, patterns, and so forth, 
 whereby they might work out goods suitable for tI-3 various 
 markets. Stockings, socks, tweeds, plaids, and innumerable 
 articles of clothing besides, have been thus produced ; and 
 many of the articles so manufactured are eminently adapted 
 for the wear of the deerstalker, the grouse-shooter , the 
 angler, and other classes of sportsmen, as well as for the 
 tourist, and which, for variety, utility, wear, and general ser- 
 vice, indeed, are scarcely to be paralleled. 
 
 In class 21, then (No. 4,096), is a tastefully-designed and 
 beautifully constructed fabric, dressed with the various goods 
 yielded through Messrs. Macdougall and Co.'s enterprise, 
 arranged in an exceedingly attractive manner, and from its 
 commanding position — immediately at the top of the stairs 
 
 mm 
 
 ,•1 ;.■>;,*•.; 
 
 
 
THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIOPT. 
 
 437 
 
 Bautiful and 
 Droduced, or 
 verance and 
 )urces of the 
 Dular branch 
 : contempla- 
 md admira- 
 manufacture 
 ttention was 
 d chiefly to 
 undeviating 
 ts have been 
 landers' and 
 ies of India, 
 :s, as well as 
 this firm, to 
 at, although 
 ,r north ' are 
 and rightly 
 unt — espe- 
 dreary days 
 lous beyond 
 
 introduced 
 lands native 
 d so forth, 
 t\.a various 
 nnumerable 
 duced ; and 
 itly adapted 
 shooter, the 
 
 as for the 
 general ser- 
 
 esigned and 
 irious goods 
 enterprise, 
 nd from its 
 ►f the stairs 
 
 leading from the eastern dome to the south gallery — exciting 
 much and deserved attention. Here we have almost every 
 imaginable pattern in plaids, tartans, tweeds, shawls, stock- 
 ings, socks, &c. ; all the handiwork of the poor peasantry, 
 spun and woven from native wools, and dyed, too, with the 
 natural dyes of the country, such as heather, croatal, moss, 
 bark of trees, &c. One point here is especially deserving 
 note, and that is that the fabrics are so constructed that they 
 may be selected so as to harmonise with the features of any 
 particular district — a matter to the deer-stalker, and others 
 in pursuit of sport, of considerable importance, as rendering 
 him less liable to be noticed by his game. These, as well as 
 other classes of goods, are also manufactured of exceedingly 
 light texture, for warm climates, such as India, Ceylon, and 
 some parts of China, where they are in a great measure 
 superseding linen goods. Linsey-woolseys are here, too, in 
 great and very charming variety of pattern, and, considering 
 that they were only introduced a few years ago, have reached 
 such perfection as to have secured the patronage even of the 
 courts of Europe. On each side of this great 'trophy of 
 peace ' are two wax models of youths, clad in Scotch garbs. 
 The one on the right is in a magnificent suit, a fac- simile of 
 those made by Messrs. Macdougall and Co. for theyoung Princes 
 of our own Court, and also for the young Prince Imperial of 
 France, at the express instance of the Empress, from her 
 having seen the former when in England. Some idea may 
 be formed of the variety of lands into which these famous 
 Scotch dresses are being introduced, when we state that the 
 identical class of Highland dress which was worn at Culloden 
 in the days of ' Prince Charlie,' the use of which was prohi- 
 bited for a time after the rebellion of '45, was actually worn 
 but recently by the Prime Minister (himself a Scotchman) of 
 the King of the Sandwich Islands, on some great state occa- 
 sion, and to the delight of His Majesty and his Court. 
 
 We must not omit to notice some very elegant Shetland 
 shawls, also beautifully worked, nor some splendid specimens 
 of other shawls, carriage wrappers, &c., made from Vicima 
 wool (imported from South America). These are exquisitely 
 
 ',:*. ■. 
 
 
 
 
 ':S'V 
 
 
438 
 
 FEENCH EXPOSITIONS OF INDUSTRY. 
 
 ■'■;!);i^.;ff<j 
 
 .w'^ 
 
 "' 1 
 
 
 *♦ 
 
 •A 
 
 it, fc* iz^i 
 
 manufactured, one side of the latter being the wool itself, 
 ia its natural colour, and the other side worked and dyed 
 into Tartan pattern. The shawls of this Vicuna wool are so 
 beautifully fine in their texture that they may be drawn 
 through an ordinary finger ringl There are also, in two 
 cases, magnificent specimens of sporans and dirks. Highland 
 brooches, powder-horns, &c., with brilliant cairngorms, richly 
 set in silver. The whole * trophy ' is surmounted by a noble 
 deer's head with antlers, but little short of a century old, 
 and presenting one of the finest specimens of this stately 
 animal ever met with in the north of Scotland. On either 
 side is also a noble specimen of the eagle, a native of these 
 wilds. There is also a magnificent specimen of a ram's head, 
 mounted in silver, and also set with the cairngorm, comprising 
 a Highland snuff * mull ' and a cigar-case. The whole reflects 
 the highest t.aste and credit on the exhibitors, and deserves 
 special notice. 
 
 So much for the contributions of our colonies to the 
 International Exhibition of 1862 ; but let us not forget 
 that it is to the French nation we must award the credit 
 of having originated expositions of industry. In 1797 
 the Chateau of St. Cloud was converted mto a mighty 
 bazaar. A second demonstration was held in 1798, 
 and so wonderful was its success that another took 
 place in 1801, another in 1802, another in 1806, 
 another in 1819, another in 1823, and another in 1827, 
 when a magnificent building was erected for the pur- 
 pose in the Place de la Concorde. The ninth exhibition 
 was held in 1834, the next in 1839, the next in 1844, 
 the next in 1849, each increasing in success up to the 
 fourteenth in 1855. These numerous exhibitions, which 
 have done much to raise the manufactures of France to 
 their present eminence, were imitated over the conti- 
 nent. Oiu- first Exhibition took place in 1851, and 
 was eminently successful. But the Palace at Sydenham 
 
 r 
 » .1 
 
 i",'il 
 
 ^•t 
 
THE PA LACK AT SYDENHAM. 
 
 43!) 
 
 i wool itself, 
 ed and dyed 
 t wool are so 
 y be drawn 
 also, in two 
 iSj Highland 
 jorms, richly 
 d by a noble 
 century old, 
 this stately 
 On either 
 tive of these 
 I ram's head, 
 I, comprising 
 vhole reflects 
 md deserves 
 
 )nie8 to the 
 i not forget 
 i the credit 
 , In 1797 
 
 a mighty 
 
 1 in 1798, 
 :)ther took 
 
 in 1806, 
 er in 1827, 
 r the pur- 
 exhibition 
 :t in 1844, 
 } up to the 
 ons, which 
 France to 
 the conti- 
 1851, and 
 Sydenham 
 
 was the climax of all such demonstrations, and, as his 
 Eoyal Iliglniess Prince Albert, now alas I no more, 
 said, ' It woidd afford a true test of the point of dc- 
 velopement at which the whole of mankind had arrived, 
 and a new starting point from which all nations would 
 be able to direct all their future exertions.' Let me 
 note also the emphatic words of Mr. Laing : — ' The 
 edifice had originally sprung from the philosophic and 
 enlarged ideas of a Prince to whom they owed the 
 deepest obligations ; and which now, pha3uix-like, was 
 about to arise from its ashes with renewed and in- 
 creased splendour. He asked them to look around and 
 enquire of themselves the question, " Whether a better 
 or more beautiful site could be found for a Peoi)le's 
 Park and a People's Palace than that on which they 
 were standing ?" Former ages had raised palaces 
 enough, and many of them of surpassing magnificence. 
 There were the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Temples 
 of Egypt, the gorgeous structures of Nineveh and 
 Persepolis ; as well as the vast ruins in Greece and 
 Italy, whicli awaken in the minds of those who visit 
 the scattered fragments some conception of the original 
 beauty of Grecian architecture, and the magniiicence 
 and grandeur of imperial Eome. The difference in the 
 motive of these palaces and our own is altogether 
 diverse. They were raised by the spoils of captive 
 nations, and the forced labour of myriads of slaves, to 
 gratify the caprice or vanity of some soUtary despot ; 
 this has been raised for the people.' 
 
 At the risk of being censured for wandering from 
 my proper subject, I could not help adverting to the 
 Temple of Light, the fairy dream of an Arabian tale 
 rather than a real structure of our northern clime, 
 which crowns the hill at Sydenham. Did such a mag- 
 
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 f 
 
 I '\ 
 
 
 
 |i '■ !. ■ ■ 
 
 1^ \ 
 
 • 
 
 1 ■V 
 
 1, 
 
 m "^' 
 
 
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 * 
 
 
 
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 P^O'"' 
 
 :', ;( ■ 
 
 4:-> ►■ i 
 
 
 
 440 
 
 THE EXHIBITION AT SYDENHAM. 
 
 nificent result enter into the imagination of Sir Joseph 
 Paxton when he dashed down the germ of the Hyde 
 Park structure of 1851 on a piece of blotting paper? 
 
 On June 10, 1854, the Exhibition building at Syden- 
 ham threw open its doors to the multitude, and proved 
 that genius knows no country. With what feelings of 
 astonishment and admiration was viewed the extra- 
 ordinary and gigantic production of that year ; the 
 building itself a fairy-Hke tpye of a new order of 
 architecture ; its gardens and plants the concentrated 
 illustration of all that is lovely and beautiful in nature ; 
 works of art bringing into one focus the characteristics 
 of every school; fountains more splendid than any in 
 the world ; the natural history collection full of novel 
 interest ; the display of antiquities unique ; a botanical 
 collection as large and complete as the climate would 
 allow ; the collection of raw produce extensive, and 
 exhibiting those materials furnished by the animal, 
 vegetable, and mineral kingdoms which have been 
 rendered subservient to the requirements of man, and 
 illustrating the different uses to which they have been 
 applied, and the nature of the changes which they 
 undergo in their adaptation to useful purposes, exhibi- 
 ting the resources of the various countries, and thus 
 elucidating the commerce of the world. The display 
 of plants and flowers hanging in the air — in marble 
 vases, and around the fountains, called up ideas of un- 
 wonted admiration. What nobleness of design, and 
 how sumptuously carried out ! Within marble basins 
 floated the most splendid collection of Nymphids, 
 spreading their w^ide leaves over the crystal water, 
 displaying their brilliant flowers in all the luxuriance 
 of tropical climes, and diffusing their sweet odour 
 aroimd, whilst the water pattered on the leaves as it 
 
ITS NATIONAL CHARACTER ESTABLISHED. 
 
 441 
 
 fell from the sculptured fountains. Graceful statues 
 seen here and there gave an oraamcntal efl'ect to a 
 spectacle charming in the extreme, and indescribably 
 magnificent. 
 
 When our most gracious Queen took the arm of the 
 Emperor of France, and when Prince Albert gave his 
 to the lovely Empress, and made a tour of the majestic 
 building, can it ever be forgotten how Their Majesties 
 paused, were filled with emotion, and lost in admiration 
 at the coup d'ceil which the palace presented, with the 
 sunhght pouring floods of radiance over every detail 
 of the perspective. The Royal visit was teUing in 
 efiect. The national character of the mighty university 
 was for ever established. On that memorable day 
 50,000 people testified by reiterated cheers the fervour 
 of their feelings. The 50,000 voices proved also how 
 the Queen of England reigns in the affections of her 
 people. The Emperor, impassible as he is in man- 
 ner, yielded to the excitement, whilst a tear stole 
 down the lovely cheek of the Empress. When can 
 such a spectacle be efiaced from the minds of those 
 who witnessed it ? It is a happy and a glorious thing 
 to think of a nation's loyalty and love, called forth by 
 something more than lofty station and high descent, 
 rendered to a Queen who has manifested those virtues, 
 attainments, and powers which win for her a high 
 place in the hearts of an intelligent and mighty people. 
 A laureate never sung a nobler or a sweeter strain than 
 this : — 
 
 Slie brought a vast design to pass, 
 When Europe and the scattered ends 
 Of our fierce world were mixed as friends 
 
 And brethren in her halla of glass; 
 
i< 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 II'.,' 
 
 
 442 RECOLLECTIONS OF THE LATE PRINCE-CONSORT. 
 
 And statesmen at her council met, 
 Who knew the seasons when to take 
 Occasion by the hand, and make 
 
 The bounds of freedom broader yet. 
 
 By shaping some august decree, 
 
 Which kept her throne unshaken still — 
 Broad based upon her people's will, 
 
 And compassed by the inviolate sea. 
 
 Althougli the Exliibition of 1862 has proved a suc- 
 cess, the structure and grounds at Sydenham must ever 
 continue to be the ' People's Palace ' and the ' People's 
 Park!' 
 
 It is melancholy to think that the building at 
 Brompton, which the good Prince-Consort intended 
 to be the scene of his activity, has, alas I become a 
 mausoleum to his memory. The opening ceremony 
 was indeed a brilliant spectacle, and one which will be 
 long remembered with pleasure by all who witnessed 
 it; but it lacked the august presence of our beloved 
 Queen, and the countenance of him of whose private 
 worth and domestic virtues it does not become me to 
 speak to make it all that could be wished. Deep 
 emoticu filled the souls of all, and many a tear told 
 that a great blank was felt, that the Exhibition of 1862 
 had opened under sadder auspices than the old one. 
 The very skies sympathised with the occasion: they 
 first wept, then dried up their tears, and theu broke 
 out into radiant smiles. 
 
 
 :'K ■'^ 
 
 ^1 
 

 
 liSi-;-. '• ! •)! 
 
 
 
 APPENDICES. 
 
 
 
 i 
 ^ 1 
 
 -'^ 
 
 ■/'^ ■*? 
 
 
 ' " 1 - 
 
 
 ■1 : / 
 
 
 ''>^V 
 
 
 .'Vi'. 
 
 
 -"'-*-'■■■> 
 
 f 
 
APPENDIX I. 
 
 RULES AND REGULATIONS TO BE OBSERVED IN WORKING 
 THE GOLD MINES OE BRinSR COLUMBIA. 
 
 Proclamation. 
 
 By his Excellency James Douglas, Companion of the Most 
 Honourable Order of the Bath, Governor and Com- 
 mander-in-Chief of British Columbia, Vice-Admiral of 
 the same, &.Q. &c. 
 
 Proclamation having the force of Law in Her Majesty's 
 Colony of Bntish Columbia. 
 
 Whereas under and by virtue of an Act of Parliament 
 made and passed in the Session of Parliament held in the 
 21st and 22nd years of the reign of Her Majesty Queen 
 Victoria, intituled an Act to provide for the ' Grovernment of 
 British Columbia,' and by a commission under the great seal 
 of the United Kingdom of Grreat Britain ana Ireland, I, James 
 Douglas have been appointed governor of the said colony, 
 and have been authorised by proclamation, under the public 
 seal of the said colony, to make laws, institutions, and ordinances 
 for the peace, order, and good government of the same : 
 
 And whereas by the 'Licenses Acts, 1859,' it was declared 
 tixat from and after AugUst 31, 1859, the proclamation of 
 
446 
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 r;^.:>^:^■ 
 
 February 8 last past, and the regulations and instructions 
 therein mentioned and referred to, and bearing date respec- 
 tively July 13, 1858, December 28, IS/*?, and December 
 30, 1857, should cease and be of no effect: 
 
 And whereas it is expedient to make provision for regu- 
 lating the law of gold mines in British Columbia in lieu of 
 the provisions so repealed, i A for the administration of 
 justice therein : 
 
 Now, therefore I, James Douglas, do hereby df Jare, pro- 
 claim, and enact as follows ; viz. — 
 
 I. In the construction of this proclamation the following 
 expressions shall have the following interpretations respect- 
 ively, unless there be something inconsistent or repugnant 
 thereto in the context; viz. the governor' shall include any 
 person or persons for the time being lawfully exercising the 
 authority of a governor of British Columbia. 
 
 The expressic i ' gold commissioner ' shall include assistant 
 gold commissioner and justices of the peace acting as gold 
 commissioners either under special authority or the authorty 
 of this proclamation, or any other person lawfully exercising 
 the jurisdiction of a gold commissioner for the locality re- 
 ferred to. 
 
 The word * mine ' shall mean any bar or separate locality 
 in which any vein, stratum, or natural bed of auriferous earth 
 or rock shall be mined. 
 
 The verb ' to mine ' shall include auy mode or method of 
 working whatsoever, whereby the soil or earth, or any rock 
 may be disturbed, removed, washed, sifted, smelted, refined, 
 crushed, or otherwise dealt with for the purpose of obtainino- 
 gold, and whether the same may have been previously dis- 
 tui-bed or not. 
 
 ' Claim ' shall mean, in speaking of individual persons, so 
 much of any mine as by law may belong or be alleged to 
 belong to the individual spoken of, and in speaking of any 
 partnership so much of any mine as may by law belong or 
 be alleged to belong to the persons of whom the partnership 
 shall exist, but shall not extend to a lease of arriferous luiul 
 as mentioned in clause 11. 
 
 
instructions 
 date respec- 
 i December 
 
 >n for regu- 
 >ia in lieu of 
 listration of 
 
 if >lare, pro- 
 
 16 followinjj 
 ons respect- 
 r repugnant 
 include any 
 ;ercising the 
 
 ide assistant 
 !ting as gold 
 blie authorty 
 'y exercising 
 locality re- 
 
 'ate locality 
 'erous earth 
 
 method of 
 or any rock 
 ed, refined, 
 •f obtaining 
 viously dis- 
 
 persons, so 
 
 alleged to 
 
 dng of any 
 
 belong 01' 
 
 partnership 
 
 ferous land 
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 447 
 
 * Free miner' shall mean a person named in and lawfully 
 possessed of an existing valid free miner's certificate. 
 
 * Eegistered free miner' shall mean a free miner registered 
 as entitled in his own right to any claim, lease of auriferous 
 earth, ditch, or water privilege. 
 
 And words in the singular number shall include the plural, 
 and the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender. 
 
 II. It shall be lawful for his excellency the governor by 
 any document under his hand and the public seal of the 
 colony, from time to time to appoint such persons as he shall 
 think proper, to be chief gold commissioner or gold commis- 
 sioners or assistant gold commissioners in British Columbia, 
 either for the whole colony or for any particular district or 
 districts therein, and from time to time in like manner to fix 
 and vary the limits of such districts, and limit new districts, 
 and to revoke any such appointments and make new appoint- 
 ments, and vary such limits and subdivide any such districts 
 into separate and independent districts. 
 ' III. It shall be the duty of every gold commissioner upon 
 payment II. to deliver to any person applying for the same, 
 a certificate to be called a free miner's certificate, which may 
 be in the following form : — 
 
 Date, 
 
 BRITISH COLUMliA. 
 
 FREE miner's CERTIFICATE. 
 
 Not transfciable. 
 Valid for one year. 
 
 No. 
 
 This is to certify that A. B. of has paid me this 
 
 day the sum of one pound sterling, and is entitled to all the 
 rights and privileges of a free miner for one year from the 
 date hereof. 
 
 (Countersigned) A. B. 
 ►Signature of free miner. 
 
 (Signed) G. B. 
 Chief gold commissioner, or assist- 
 ant gold commissioner, or jus- 
 tice of the peace, as the case 
 may be. 
 
 •<i : ■■ : 
 
 % i*;^ ... 
 
 
 
*.5s 
 
 ''•■'■'iS:i' '< ■ 
 
 iff ■■.i^i, ;•;>,, 
 
 BiJi. '■';«■'.,■ ..■-•' 
 
 448 
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 i 
 
 
 li 
 
 
 11. 
 
 
 V' ' 
 
 
 ¥■' 
 
 
 ■? 
 
 
 ' 1' 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 ' 
 
 %, 
 
 
 I: 
 
 
 ^i. 
 
 i.> ■ ■ . 
 
 *,'■• 
 
 
 "'■(i ■ 
 
 
 iv. 
 
 
 ■% 
 
 ■ ' '. ■ ' 
 
 J?,.. 
 
 / ■ •'•■ ■ '•'■.. 
 
 ,.^'' 
 
 i-i-'.M-'^^T 
 
 
 IV. The free miner's certificate shall continue in force for 
 twelve calendar months from the date thereof, including the 
 day of issuing the same, and no longer, and shall not be trans- 
 ferable or capable of conferring any rights upon any other 
 person than the person therein named, and only one person 
 shall be named as a free miner in each certificate. 
 
 Such certificate must be countersigned by the free miner 
 therein named before being produced by him for any purpose. 
 And where such certificate shall be issued to the free miner 
 therein named in person, the gold commissioner or the 
 person issuing the same shall cause the same to be counter- 
 signed by the applicant before himself signing or delivering 
 the same. 
 
 V. Every free miner shall, during the continuance of his 
 certificate, have the right to enter without let or hindrance 
 upon any of the waste lands of the crown, not for the time 
 being lawfully occupied by any other person, and to mine in 
 the land so entered upon. 
 
 VI. All persons who shall at the date of this proclamation 
 coming into force, or previous to October 27, 1859, hold 
 any claim, ditch, or water privilege, must on or before 
 November 1, now next, and all persons who shall at any time 
 after October 26, now next, hold any claim, lease, ditch, or 
 water privilege, must within such space of time after first 
 taking possecsion thereof, as shall be fixed by the rules, 
 regulations, or byelaws for the time being in force in the place 
 or district in which such claim, lease, ditch or water privilege 
 shall be situated, register the same at the office of the go!d 
 commissioner, who shall record in a tabular form, in a book 
 or books to be kept by him, the name of the holder, the dates 
 of his certificate, of his taking possession, and of his recording 
 the claim, the name of the mine, and the distinguishing num- 
 ber of the claim, and all such further particulars as shall from 
 time to time be required by any valid byelaw for the place or 
 district. And such registration shall be valid for the space 
 of one year and no longer. 
 
 Four shillings shall be taken by the gold commissioner for 
 the use of Her Majesty, her heirs and successors, upon every 
 
ArrEXDix I. 
 
 449 
 
 e in force for 
 including the 
 not be trans- 
 on any other 
 y one person 
 te. 
 
 le free miner 
 any pvirpose. 
 le free miner 
 oner or the 
 3 be counter- 
 or delivering 
 
 luance of his 
 or hindrance 
 for the time 
 id to mine in 
 
 proclamation 
 \ 1859, hold 
 n or before 
 I at any time 
 ise, ditch, or 
 le after first 
 y the rules, 
 
 in the place 
 iter privilege 
 
 of the goUl 
 n, in a book 
 
 er, the dates 
 lis recording 
 lishing num- 
 is shall from 
 
 the place or 
 )r the space 
 
 nissioner for 
 upon every 
 
 registration or ro-registration of any claim ; and no person 
 not being a free miner shall be entitled to record a claim or 
 any interest therein. 
 
 VII. Every free miner shall have during the continuance 
 of his certificate the exclusive riglit to the soil and gold in 
 any claim for the time being duly registered and worked 
 by him, according to the regulations and by-laws hereby 
 authorised to be issued, ami tor the time being in force, in 
 relation to the locality or district where such claim is sitiiateil. 
 
 No person shall be recognised as having any right or in- 
 terest in, or t(^ any claim or any of the gold therein, unless 
 he shall be, or in case of any disputed ownership unless he 
 shall have been at the time of the dispute arising, a free 
 miner. 
 
 VIII. In case of any dispute, the title to claims, leases of 
 auriferous earth or rock, ditches, and water privileges will 
 be recognised according to the priority of registration, subject 
 only to any question which may be raised as to the validity of 
 any particular act of registration. 
 
 IX. Every gold commissioner at the time of issuing any 
 free miner's certificate shall record the paper by date, num- 
 ber, and name of the free miner named therein, and whether 
 such certificate was issued to such miner in person or on the 
 application of another person, and the applicant's name, and 
 shall, on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 in every 
 year, cause to be made out a revised list of all the free miners 
 holding certificates issued by himself and still in force, and 
 also of all free miners registered as holding claims in his dis- 
 trict, a d shall cause to be posted up in a conspicuous place 
 on each mine in his district, a list of the free miners for the 
 time being as holding registered claims in such mine. 
 
 The chief gold commissioner shall in like manner, on 
 January 1 and July 1 in every year, cause a revised list to 
 be published of all the free miners iu British (Columbia. All 
 such records and lists shall be open to the inspection of the 
 public gratis, imder such reasonable regulations as to hours or 
 otherwise as the gold commissioner in each place or district 
 may from time to time ordain. 
 
 (i G 
 
m 
 
 >"£••■'■•■ 
 
 f if' *'.'■■ ■ 
 
 '.(%i>ii;'' 
 
 
 
 *\\H 
 
 
 "^if'^r 
 
 c.^/ 
 
 ■;■■ ,1; •■V5 
 
 i 
 
 1*1 ■ 
 
 450 
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 X. In case any free miner's certificate shall be accidentally 
 destroyed or lust, the same may, upon evidence of such loss 
 or destruction, be replaced by a new certificate, to bear tlu> 
 same date and to be issued and signed by the gold commis- 
 sioner for the same district as such lost or destroyed certificate. 
 Every such new certificate shall be marked ' substituted for 
 original of same date this day of .' 
 And until some material irregularity or impropriety be shown 
 in respect thereof, every original or substituted free miner's 
 certificate shall be evidence of all the matters stated therein 
 or clearly implied thereby. 
 
 XI. Leases of any portions of the waste lands of the Crown 
 may be granted for mining purposes, for such term of years, 
 and upon such conditions as to rent and the mode of working, 
 and as to any water privileges connected therewith, and 
 otherwise in each case, as shall be deemed expedient by His 
 Excellency the Governor. 
 
 XII. In respect to any place or district wherein there 
 shall for the time being be no Mining Board as hereinafter 
 described, or any separate mine within such place or district, 
 it shall be lawful for His Excellency the Governor, by writing, 
 under his hand and the public seal of the colony, from time 
 to time to make rules and regulations in the nature of by- 
 laws concerning all matters relating to claims and ditch and 
 water privileges, and leases of the auriferous lands in the 
 colony in larger quantities than the claims herein mentioned 
 or referred to, and for the registration thereof so far as such 
 matters are not herein defined and set forth. 
 
 And also from time to time in like manner to annul, repeal, 
 or alter any existing rule, regulation, or by-law; and to 
 make new rules, regulations, and by-laws in reference to all 
 or any of such matters. And all such rules, regulations, and 
 by-laws shall continue in force until repealed by the governor 
 by some writing under the public seal of the colony, or by 
 some valid by-law established by the gold commissioner and 
 Mining Board of some district under the provisions herein- 
 after contained. 
 
 XIII. It shall be lawful for His Excellency the Governor, 
 
 im 
 
accidentally 
 [)f such loss 
 to bear the 
 )ld commis- 
 1 certificate, 
 jstituted for 
 f 
 
 ty be shown 
 Free miner's 
 ated therein 
 
 f the Crown 
 ■m of years, 
 of working, 
 rewitli, and 
 lient by His 
 
 lerein there 
 hereinafter 
 
 ) or district, 
 
 , by writing, 
 from time 
 
 iture of by- 
 ditch and 
 
 mds in the 
 mentioned 
 far as such 
 
 mul, repeal, 
 aw; and to 
 rence to all 
 ations, and 
 he governor 
 lony, or by 
 ssioner and 
 ons herein- 
 
 Goveruor, 
 
 AI'PK.VDIX I. 
 
 4.';i 
 
 by a notification under the public seal of the colony, to make 
 provisions for the custody and carriage of gold at and from 
 and between such points as may l)e thought proper, and to 
 establish such rates of charge for the carriage and custody of 
 gold as shall be deemed expedient, and in like manner to 
 change and alter any or all of such provisions and charges. 
 
 XIV. The custody and care of all deposits, whether for 
 custody or transport so undertaken by or on behalf of the 
 government, shall be under the like responsil)ility as that 
 under which letters aie received and carried by the Post 
 Offict\ And in case of any loss or dispute concerning any 
 such deposit, the property in tlie same may in any proceedings 
 or suits or actions at law be stated as being in the colonial 
 treasurer for the time being. And all clerks and persons 
 employed by or on behalf of the government, or acting iu 
 the capacity of being so employed in refoTence to any such 
 deposit, shall in case of neglect or misfeasance, be liable in 
 the same manner as if they had been clerks or acting as 
 clerks in the Post Office, niutatis mutandis. 
 
 XV. And as to the power and jurisdiction of and pro- 
 ceedings before a gold commissioner, I do hereby enact, 
 proclaim, and declare as follows, viz. : — 
 
 Every gold commissioner shall have and exercise during 
 his term of office all the authority and jurisdiction of a justice 
 of the peace for British Columbia, in addition to his proper 
 authority as gold commissioner. Any claim, mine, ditch, or 
 water privilege situate, as to part thereof, within the express 
 limits of same gold commissioner's jurisdiction, and as to 
 other part thereof not within the express limits of any gold 
 commissioner's jurisdiction, shall be deemed to be wholly 
 within the jurisdiction within which any part of such claim, 
 mine, ditch, or water privilege shall be situated. In the 
 case of any claim, mine, ditch, or water privilege situate at 
 more than a distance of ten miles from the office of any gold 
 commissioner, any justice of the peace for British Columbia, 
 although not otherwise specially empowered to act as a gold 
 commissioner, is hereby authorised, or, as the case may be, 
 
 u G 2 
 
 .K'V 
 
 •'.'i' 
 
46% 
 
 AITEXniX I. 
 
 jjl*! V'l •''■'■'■ 
 
 ." '? , ,V'. 
 
 -.A-': •?•'. 
 ,t,.. I,., - V ^ 
 
 :;■■;!■ i- 
 
 ■■ .J ■ "t" I 
 -•■•., i:- : ill's 
 
 ■m 
 
 It '- 
 
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 'm^^ 
 
 m u 
 
 [tn 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 
 rcfiuired to do any act herein autlioriseil or required to be 
 done by a ^old comniiasioner. 
 
 And wherever the ditch or other property in respect wliereof 
 ary (piostion may arise shall be situated partly in one district 
 and partly in another, or when it shall ])e (loid)tful within 
 whose jurisdiction the same or any part thfroof shall be 
 totally situated, anyjj^old commissioner in the neigh})ourhood 
 before whom the complaint or matter shall be first brought 
 shall have jurisdiction. In every case in which a justice of 
 the peace, not being also a gold commissioner, shall act as a 
 gold commissioner under this clause, he shall with all con- 
 venient speed communicate the particulars of his acting to 
 the chief gold commissioner, and if there shall be no chief 
 gold commissioner, then to the nearest gold commissioner. 
 
 XVI. All disputes relating to the title to any mine or 
 claim, or to any part of the proceeds thereof, or relating to 
 any ditch or water privilege, or to any contract for labour to 
 be done in respect of a ditch or water privilege, mine, or 
 claim, or relating to the mode of carrying on the same, or 
 any of them, and all disputes concerning partnerships in any 
 mine or claim, may be investigated, in the first instance, 
 before the gold commissioner having jurisdiction as aforesaid, 
 without any limit to the value of the property or subject- 
 matter involved in such dispute. 
 
 XVII. Provided always, that no gold commissioner shall 
 have jurisdiction in civil disputes between partners, unless it 
 shall, in the first place, be shown to his satisfaction that the 
 joint stock of the partnership is under the value of 200^. 
 
 XVIII. Any person convicted under this proclamation of 
 any offence against the same or any by-law, rule, or regu- 
 lation hereby authorised, and sentenced to any term of im- 
 prisonment beyond thirty days, or to pay any fine beyond 
 201. over and above the costs of summary conviction, may 
 appeal to the next assizes to be holden for the district or 
 place wherein the cause of complaint shall have arisen, pro- 
 vided that such person, at the time of such conviction, or 
 within forty-eight hours thereafter, enter into recognisance 
 with two sufficient sureties, conditioned personally to appear 
 
 
 iV|. 
 
aired to be 
 
 ect whereof 
 one district 
 )tful within 
 of shall be 
 ^hlwnrhood 
 rst brought 
 a justice of 
 lall act as a 
 ith all con- 
 is acting to 
 be no chief 
 aissioner. 
 ay mine or 
 r relating to 
 or labour to 
 ;e, mine, or 
 ihe same, or 
 ships in any 
 'st instance, 
 as aforesaid, 
 or subject- 
 
 sioner shall 
 rs, unless it 
 ion that the 
 of 200^ 
 amation of 
 e, or regu- 
 erm of im- 
 fine beyond 
 dction, may 
 district or 
 arisen, pro- 
 nviction, or 
 ecognisance 
 y to appear 
 
 APPKN'DtX I. 
 
 4.';« 
 
 at the said assizes to trysiieh appeal, and to abide tlic fiirtlicr 
 judgement of the cotirt at such assizes, and to pay siidi costs 
 as sliall be by such last-mentioned court awarded. And the 
 convicting gold commissioner may bind over any witnesses or 
 informant, under sufficient recognisances, to attend and give 
 evidence at the hearing of such appeal, and the costs of such 
 witnesses shall ha allowed and paid l)y the colonial treasurer 
 in the first instance, and, if such appeal be dismissed, shall 
 be repaiil to the colonial treasurer by the appellant. 
 
 XIX. On any such appeal no objection shall be allowed to 
 the conviction on any matter of form or insufficiency of state- 
 ment, provided it shall appear to the said supreme court that 
 the defendant has been sufficiently informed of the charge to 
 be made against him, and that the conviction was proper on 
 the merits of the case. 
 
 XX. If either party in any civil cause where the suliject- 
 matter in dispute is more than 20^. shall be dissatisfied with 
 the determination, he may appeal from the same to the 
 supreme court of civil justice in British Columbia, provided 
 that the appealing party shall, within four days of the deter- 
 mination appealed from, give notice of such appeal to the 
 other party, and also give security, to be approved by the 
 gold commissioner, for the costs of the appeal, and also the 
 amount payable by the appealing party under the judgement 
 appealed against. And the said court of appeal may either 
 order a new trial on such terms as it shall think fit, or order 
 judgement to be entered for either party, or try the cause de 
 novo, and may make such order as to the costs of the appeal 
 as such court shall think proper, and such appeal may be in 
 tiie form of a case settled and signed by the parties or their 
 attorneys, and if they cannot agree, the said gold com- 
 missioner may settle and sign the same upon being applied 
 to by the parties or their attorneys. 
 
 XXI. In any case of any cause relating to a mine, claim, 
 or ditch being brought in the first instance before the su- 
 preme court of civil justice of British Columbia, wherein the 
 sum of damages sought to be recovered shall be less than 
 50/., it shall be lawful for the court, after issue joined, to 
 
 
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 APPENDIX I. 
 
 direct the cause to be tried liefore any gold commissioner 
 whom the court shall name, and upon such terms as the court 
 shall think fit. 
 
 XXII. The gold commissioner alone, without a jury, shall 
 be the sole judge of law and fact. 
 
 XXIII. The gold commissioner shall have the power to 
 cause such parties and witnesses as he shall think proper to 
 attend on any proceedings before him, and to compel the 
 production of documents on any such proceedings. 
 
 XXIV. Tiie judge of the supreme court of civil justice 
 shall with the advice and consent of the chief gold com- 
 missioner or of any two gold commissioners, have the power, 
 from time to time, to make, repeal, and alter such rules and 
 regulations for the conduct of the business before the gold 
 commissioners for the times of proceeding, and also such 
 lists of costs of proceedings as he shall think fit : provided 
 always, that all such rules, regulations, and lists of costs 
 shall, within one calendar month from the making thereof, 
 be laid before His Excellency the Grovernor. 
 
 And it shall not be necessary for the gold commissioner in 
 any proceedings before him to follow any set forms, provided 
 that the substance of the things done and to be done be 
 therein expressed ; nor shall any proceedings before any 
 gold commissioner be liable to be set aside for any want of 
 form, so long as matters of substance have not been omitted. 
 
 XXV. It shall be lawful for a gold commissioner, in case of 
 any dispute between partners in any claim, ditch, mine, or 
 water privilege, where the joint or partnership stock shall be 
 shown not to exceed the value of 200^., but not in other 
 cases, to decree a dissolution of partnership and a sale or 
 valuation or division of the partnership stock, and to direct 
 the partnership account to be taken before himself, and 
 declare what amount (if any) is due on the whole account by 
 one partner to another, and generally to make such order and 
 give such directions therein as he shall think fit, and to take 
 such steps (if any) as he may deem expedient in the way of 
 taking security, or appointing a receiver or otherwise for 
 securing the partnership property in the mean time. 
 
APPENDIX I. 
 
 4fi5 
 
 fimissioner 
 s the court 
 
 jury, shall 
 
 ! power to 
 : proper to 
 lompel the 
 
 ivil justice 
 gold com- 
 the power, 
 a rules and 
 e the gold 
 I also such 
 ;: provided 
 ts of costs 
 ing thereof, 
 
 nissioner in 
 IS, provided 
 be done be 
 before any 
 iny want of 
 sn omitted, 
 r, in case of 
 1, mine, or 
 >ck shall be 
 ot in other 
 a sale or 
 id to direct 
 mself, and 
 account by 
 h order and 
 and to take 
 the way of 
 herwise for 
 \e. 
 
 XXVI. It shall be lawful for any gold commissioner, upon 
 complaint made of any wrongful encroachment on a claim, 
 mine, ditch, or water privilege, and deposit made of 2l. in 
 his hands by the complainant, to proceed forthwith to the 
 place at which such alleged encroachment has been made, 
 and there and then to demand the like sum of 2l. from the 
 party complained of, and thereafter, on view of the premises, 
 and on such evidence as to such gold commissioner shall seem 
 sufficient, to hear and determine the dispute in a summary 
 way, and whether all parties in difference shall appear or not, 
 and in a summary way to cause such encroachment to be 
 abated, and to restore to the person who shall appear to be 
 entitled thereto full possession of the claim, ditch, or ether 
 matter encroached upon, or alleged so to be, and also all gold 
 or other property (if any) which may have been unlawfully 
 taken or removed. And also to award such damages as the 
 nature of the case shall seem to require. And if each party 
 shall have deposited the said sum of 21., he shall restore the 
 said sum of 2l. to the party whom he shall judge to have 
 been in the right, and retain the other 2^. as and for costs of 
 court ; and if either party make default in appearance, the 
 gold commissioner may make such order as to costs as shall 
 seem to him proper. 
 
 Provided always, that it shall be lawful for the gold com- 
 missioner, if in his discretion the matter shall not be made 
 clear for a final determination, to take such steps as he shall 
 then think necessary for the preservation of the matter in 
 dispute, and to adjourn the final decision of the case until 
 such time as he shall think proper. 
 
 XXVII. It shall be lawful for the gold commissioner to 
 mark out for the use of any registered free miner in his dis- 
 trict a space of land not exceeding five acres, to be occupied 
 as garden ground or for a residence. The right conferred 
 by such occupation shall only endure so long as the occupier 
 shall be a registered free miner of the district, and for such 
 further period as shall be requisite for the enjoyment of any 
 crop standing thereon at the period when he shall cease to be 
 a registered free miner. 
 
 * J» 
 
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 ^ 
 
 
 
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 45^ 
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 And for attending and marking out such land, wliatever lie 
 the size, the gold commissioner shall be entitled to demand 
 the sum of ten shillings for the use of Her Majesty, her heirs 
 and successors. 
 
 XXVIII. It shall be lawful for the gold commissioner to 
 Tnark out for the use of any person intending to carry on 
 temporarily any trade on or near a mine, a plot or plots of 
 waste Crown land convenient for that purpose, and also for 
 garden purposes, not being larger than one acre. There 
 shall be thereby conferred enjoyment for so long as such 
 trader shall pay all license duties in respect thereof, and also 
 the right to any crop standing thereon at the last payment of 
 license duties. 
 
 Provided always, that the land on or near any mine so 
 marked out for any of the purposes mentioned in this or the 
 last section shall always be resumable by the Crown, and appli- 
 cable to general mining purposes, on six months' notice thereof 
 being given by the gold commissioner to any occupier thereof. 
 
 And as to Mining Boards, I do enact, proclaim, and declare 
 as follows, viz. : — 
 
 XXIX. Upon petition signed by not less than one hundred 
 and one registered free miners in any district, having been 
 on the register of such district for at least three months 
 previous to signing such petition, and holding bona fide claims 
 not abandoned nor forfeited, and upon a certificate from the 
 gold commissioner of such district testifying to the number 
 and good faith of the petitioners, it shall be lawful for His 
 Excellency the Governor, by a notification under his hand 
 and seal, to direct the gold commissioner acting in and for 
 such district to constitute therein a local Board, to be called 
 ' The Mining Board,' in the manner and with the powers 
 hereinafter expressed. 
 
 XXX. The Mining Board shall consist of not less than six, 
 nor more than twelve of the general body of the voters of such 
 district, according to the following scale, viz. : if there shall be 
 not more than one hundred and fifty voters, then the Mining 
 Board shall consist of six members ; and for every complete 
 number of fifty voters beyond the first one hundred and one. 
 
, whatever he 
 ;d to demand 
 sty, her heirs 
 
 iinissioner to 
 y to carry on 
 )t or plots of 
 , and also for 
 acre. There 
 iong as such 
 'eof, and also 
 it payment of 
 
 any mine so 
 in this or the 
 m, and appli- 
 notice thereof 
 Lipier thereof. 
 I, and declare 
 
 one hundred 
 
 having been 
 hree months 
 lafide claims 
 ate from the 
 
 the number 
 iwful for His 
 ier his hand 
 g in and for 
 
 to be called 
 1 the powers 
 
 less than six, 
 roters of such 
 here shall be 
 1 the Mining 
 ery complete 
 red and one. 
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 457 
 
 the Mining Board shall comprise one additional member, but 
 not so as to consist of more than twelve members. 
 
 The members shall be elected by the votes of the registered 
 free miners of the district who shall have been on the 
 register during three months at the least previous to the 
 election, each voter to have as many votes, and no more, as 
 there are members of the Board to be elected or vacancies to 
 be filled up, which he may distribute among the candidates 
 as he may think fit. 
 
 XXXI. The votes of the electors shall be given by word of 
 mouth, and in person, by the voter, the gold commissioner of 
 the district shall be the receiver and examiner of votes, and 
 the returning officer : and the first election shall take place 
 on such a day as His Excellency the Governor may appoint. 
 
 The Mining Board shall meet together at such intervals as 
 shall be appointed by the gold commissioner, and it shall be 
 competent for three or more members meeting together to 
 proceed to the despatch of business. 
 
 XXXII. If any member shall cease to be a registered free 
 miner in the district, or shall be convicted of any misdemeanor 
 or felony, or of any assault, being armed with a lethal weapon, 
 or of any willful and malicious contravention of this act, or of 
 any by-law in force in the district, he shall ipso facto vacate 
 his seat in each case, and not be re-eligible, save that a mem- 
 ber vacating his seat only by reason of ceasing to be a regis- 
 tered free miner shall be again eligible at any time upon his 
 again becoming entitled to vote. 
 
 Three members of the Board, or so many members as, 
 together with the vacancies caused as aforesaid, shall make up 
 three members, shall retire annually, by lot, or agreement, or 
 seniority. Eetiring members shall be immediately re-eligible. 
 
 XXXIII. All vacancies in the Board shall be supplied, and 
 the full number of members for the time being due to the dis- 
 trict according to the tariff aforesaid, shall be made up at a 
 general election, to take place on such day in the month of 
 January in each year as His Excellency the Governor shall 
 from time to time, by notice under the public seal of the 
 colony, direct. 
 
458 
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 •^ 
 
 SV'- .; 
 
 
 XXXIV. The Mining Board shall, subject to the provisions 
 hereof, have power by resolution to make by-laws, and also 
 from time to time to alter and repeal any existing by-laws 
 for regulating the size of claims and sluices, the mode in 
 which claims may be registered, worked, held, and forfeited, 
 and all other matters relating to mining matters in their 
 district : provided that no such new by-law, repeal, or altera- 
 tion shall be of any force imless and until it shall have been 
 approved of by His Excellency the Governor. 
 
 Provided further, that every such by-law, repeal, or alter- 
 ation, being duly made and approved, and not being contrary 
 to the statute or common law, and not being contrary to na- 
 tural equity, shall be admitted in all courts of British Columbia 
 as a good local law, and a copy thereof extracted from the 
 by-laws, and purporting to be signed by the gold commissioner 
 of the district, shall be good evidence thereof, and that the 
 same have been lawfully made and were in full force at the 
 time in such copy or extract in that behalf specified. 
 
 XXXV. Any resolution of such Mining Board and gold 
 commissioner may be passed by a bare majority of the mem- 
 bers of such Board, if the gold commissioner shall consent 
 thereto, or by two-thirds of the members of such Board if the 
 gold commissioner shall not consent thereto. The gold com- 
 missioner shall, within seven days of the passing of any reso- 
 lution concerning any by-law or general regulation which he 
 shall on any grounds deem expedient to lay before His 
 Excellency the Governor, make and send to His Excellency a 
 fair copy thereof, signed by such gold commissioner, with 
 his opinion thereon. 
 
 XXXVI. The votes on all resolutions of the Mining Board 
 shall be given by the members personally, and by word of 
 mouth. 
 
 All qnastions of order and of the time and manner of con- 
 ducting the business at such Mining Board, and of the times 
 and places of meeting after the first meeting thereof, and of the 
 propriety of elections and qualifications and disqualifications of 
 members subject hereto, may be decided by the gold commis- 
 sioner, either from time to time, as any questions shall arise, 
 
APPENDIX I. 
 
 459 
 
 } provisions 
 8, and also 
 ng by-laws 
 e mode in 
 d forfeited, 
 rs in their 
 , or altera- 
 have been 
 
 1, or alter- 
 ig contrary 
 rary to na- 
 1 Columbia 
 I from the 
 nmissioner 
 id that the 
 rce at the 
 id. 
 
 I and gold 
 ' the mem- 
 piU consent 
 oard if the 
 gold com- 
 ' any reso- 
 which he 
 Defore His 
 cellency a 
 )ner, with 
 
 ing Board 
 y word of 
 
 er of con- 
 the times 
 and of the 
 ications of 
 I commis- 
 ball arise, 
 
 or by any fixed rules and orders as may be thought advisable, 
 and which such gold commissioner is hereby authorised to 
 make by writing under his hand and seal. 
 
 XXXVII. It shall be lawful for His Excellency the Gover- 
 nor, by an order under the public seal of the colony, at any 
 time to declare the Mining Board in any district dissolved, as 
 from a day to be named in such order, and if no day be 
 therein named in that behalf, then as from the date of such 
 order. Aud from and immediately after such dissolution the 
 power to make and repeal by-laws, rules, and regulations 
 shall immediately be vested in the governor, in the same 
 manner as if such Mining Board had never been constituted. 
 
 Provided always, that notwithstanding any such dissolution 
 all by-laws and working rules and regulations (if any), and 
 all other acts (if any) made, done, and established in the 
 mean time, under the authority of this proclamation, shall be 
 valid until the same be altered or repealed by the governor 
 by some order under the public seal of the colony. 
 
 XXXVIII. The acts of any Mining Board previous to such 
 dissolution, if sanctioned as aforesaid, shall be valid, not- 
 withstanding any informality or irregularity in the mode of 
 election, or of meeting of such Mining Board, or in the passing 
 of any of such acts. 
 
 XXXIX. Any person who shall wilfully and maliciously 
 damage or destroy any free miner's certificate, or fraudulently 
 fill up, or post date, or alter any name or date or other parti- 
 cular in a free miner's certificate, or in any document purport- 
 ing to be a free miner's certificate, or who shall falsely pretend 
 that he is the person named in any such certificate or docu- 
 ment, or who shall wilfully and maliciously damage, destroy, 
 or falsify any of the records and registers hereby directed to 
 be kept, shall be guilty of felony, aud being duly convicted 
 thereof shall be liable, at the discretion of the court, to penal 
 servitude for not more than ten years. 
 
 XL. Any person wilfully or unlawfully acting in contraven- 
 tion of this act, or of any by-law, rule, or regulation to be 
 established by virtue of this act, or refusing to obey any 
 lawful order of the gold commissioner, shall, on being 
 
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 460 
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 summarily convicted before any justice of the peace or gold 
 commissioner, be liable to a fine not exceeding 50/., or to an 
 imprisonment not exceeding three months. 
 
 XLI. This proclamation may in any proceedings be referred 
 to as the ' Gold Fields Act, 1859.' 
 
 XLII. This proclamation shall come into force as to Queen 
 Charlotte's Island on January 1, I860, and as to the rest of 
 British Columbia on September I, 1859. 
 
 Issued under the public seal of the colony of British 
 Columbia, at Victoria, Vancouver's Island, this 
 thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord 
 one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the 
 twenty-third year of Her Majesty's reign, by me, 
 
 (l. s.) James Dguolas. 
 
 By command of His Excellency, 
 
 William A. G. Young, 
 
 Acting Colonial Secretary. 
 
 GOD SAVE THE QUEEN. 
 
 ^. :'' 
 
 i, 
 
 Enclosure 8 in No. 25. 
 
 RULES and regulations FOR THE WORKING OF GOLD MINES, 
 ISSUED IN CONFORMITY WITH THE GOLD FIELDS ACT, 1859. 
 
 Whereas it is provided by the Gold Fields Act, 1859, that 
 the governor for the time being of British Columbia may, by 
 writing under his hand and the public seal of the colony, 
 make rules and regulations in the nature of by-laws for all 
 matters relating to mining. Now, therefore, I, James 
 Douglas, governor, &c., do hereby make the following rules 
 and regulations accordingly : — 
 
 I. In the construction of the following rules and regula- 
 tions, unless there be some contrariety or repugnancy thereto 
 in the context, the words * governor,' * gold commissioner,' 
 
eace or gold 
 0/., or to an 
 
 s be referred 
 
 as to Queen 
 the rest of 
 
 y of British 
 Island, this 
 of our Lord 
 ■nine, in the 
 jn, by me, 
 
 DUOLAS. 
 
 Secretary. 
 
 OLD MINES, 
 ^CT, 1859. 
 
 1859, that 
 3ia may, by 
 the colony, 
 
 aws for all 
 I, James 
 )wing rules 
 
 md regula- 
 ncy thereto 
 imissioner,' 
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 4G1 
 
 * mine,' * to mine,' shall have the same meanings as in the Gold 
 Fields Act, 1859. The expression *bar diggings,' shall mean 
 every mine over which a river extends when in its most 
 flooded state. * Dry diggings ' shall mean any mine over 
 which a river never extends. * Ravines ' shall include water- 
 courses whether usually containing water or usually dry. 
 
 * Ditch ' shall include a flume or race, or other artificial means 
 for conducting water by its own weight into or upon a mine. 
 
 * Ditch head ' shall mean the point in a natural watercourse 
 or lake, where water is first taken into a ditch. And words 
 in the singular number shall include the plural, and the 
 masculine gender shall include the feminine. 
 
 II. All claims are to be, as nearly as may be, in rectangular 
 forms, and marked by four pegs at the least, each peg to be 
 four inches square at the least, and one foot above the surface, 
 and firmly fixed in the ground. No boundary peg shall be 
 concealed, or moved, or injured without the previous permis- 
 sion of the gold commissioner. 
 
 III. The size of a claim, when not otherwise established 
 by a by-law, shall be, for bar diggings, a strip of land twenty- 
 five feet wide at the mark to which the river rises when 
 flooded, and thence extending down direct into the river 
 indefinitely. For dry diggings, a space twenty-five feet by 
 thirty feet. For ravine diggings, a space of twenty-five feet 
 along the bank of the ravine and extending up to the top of 
 each bank. In quartz chi'ms the size, when not otherwise 
 established by by-law, shall I e one hundred feet in length, 
 measured along the vein or seam, with power to the miner to 
 follow the vein or seam and its spurs, dips, and angles, any- 
 where on or below the surface included between the two 
 extremities of such length of one hundred feet, but not to 
 advance upon or beneath the surface of the earth more than 
 one hundred feet in a lateral direction from the main vein or 
 seam, along which the claim is to be measured. All 
 measurciuents of area are to be made on the surface of the 
 earth, neglecting inequalities. Every claim is to have a dis- 
 tinguis'i;ing number marked on its boundary pegs. 
 
 IV. If any free miners, or party of free miners, shall dis- 
 
 i .• 
 
 
 lt,r..i' 
 
^• 
 
 463 
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 ift " 
 
 .►* 
 
 ^-■ 
 
 cover a new mine, and such di.scovcry slhill be establishtd 
 to the satisfaction of tlie gokl commissioner, the first 
 discoverer or party of discoverers, if not more tlian two in 
 nunjber, shall be entitled to a claim double the established 
 • size of claims in the nearest mine of the same description, 
 (i. e. dry, bar, or quartz di<^<,dn«ifs). If such party consist of 
 three men, they shall collectively be entitled to five claims of 
 the established size, on such nearest mine, and if of four or 
 more men, such party shall be entitled to a claim and a half 
 per man. A new stratum of auriferous earth or rock, situate 
 in a locality where the claims are abandoned, shall for this 
 purpose be deemed a new mine, although the same locality 
 shall previously have been worked at a different level. And 
 dry diggings discovered in the neighbourhood of bar diggings 
 shall be deemed a new mine, and vice versa. 
 
 V. The reiristratiou of claims shall be in such manner and 
 form as the gold commissioner shall in any locality direct, 
 and shall include, besides the matters mentioned in the Gold 
 Fields Act of 1859, all such other matters as the gold com- 
 missioner shall think fit to include. 
 
 VI. No transfer of any claim or any interest therein shall 
 be enforceable, unless the same or some memorandum thereof 
 shall be in writing, signed by the party sought to be charged, 
 or by his lawfully authorised agent, and registered with the 
 gold commissioner. 
 
 VII. Any person desiring any exclusive ditch or water 
 privilege shall make application to the gold commissioner 
 having jurisdiction for the place where the same shall be 
 situated, stating for the guidance of the commissioner, in 
 estimating the character of the application, the name of every 
 applicant, the proposed ditch head and quantity of water, the 
 proposed locality of distribution, and if such water shall be 
 for sale, the price at which it is proposed to sell the same, the 
 general nature of the work to be done, and the time within 
 which such work shall be complete ; and the gold commis- 
 sioner shall enter a note of all such matters as of record. 
 
 VIII. Unless otherwise specially arranged, the rent to be 
 paid for any water privilege shall be in each month one 
 
eatahlisliL'd 
 p, the first 
 :han two in 
 I eatal)lishc<l 
 description, 
 ty consist of 
 ve claims of 
 f of four or 
 I and a half 
 rock, situate 
 hall for this 
 anie locality 
 level. And 
 bar diggings 
 
 manner and 
 
 jality direct, 
 
 in the Gold 
 
 e crold com- 
 
 therein shall 
 
 dum thereof 
 
 be charged, 
 
 ed with the 
 
 h or water 
 ommissioner 
 me shall be 
 aissioner, in 
 irae of every 
 )f water, the 
 ,ter shall be 
 
 le same, the 
 time within 
 
 Id commis- 
 record. 
 rent to be 
 
 month one 
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 46.) 
 
 average day's receipts from the sale thereof, to be estimated 
 by the gold commissioner with the assistance, if he shall so 
 think fit, of a jury. 
 
 IX. If any person shall refuse or neglect to take, within 
 the time mentioned in his application, or within such further 
 time (if any) as the gold commissioner may in his disrreti(m 
 think fit to grant for the completion of the ditch, the whole of 
 the water applied for, he shall, at the end of the time men- 
 tioned in his application, be deemed entitled only to the 
 quantity actually taken by him, and the gold commissioner 
 shall make such entry in the register as shall be proper to 
 mark such alteration in the quantity, and may grant the 
 surplus to any other person according to the rules herein laid 
 down for the granting of water privileges. 
 
 X. Every owner of a ditch or water privilege shall be 
 bound to take all reasonable means for utilising the water 
 granted to and taken by him. And if any such owner 
 shall wilfully take and waste any uiircasoiiahle quiintity of 
 water, he shall be charged with the full rent !is if he had sold 
 the same at a full price. And it shall be lawful for the gold 
 commissioner, if such offence be persisted in, to declare all 
 rights to the water forfeited. 
 
 XL It shall be lawful for the owner of any ditch or water 
 privilege to sell and distribute the water conveyed by him to 
 such persons, and on such terms as they may deem advisable 
 within the limits mentioned in their application : provided 
 always, that the owner of any ditch or water privilege shall be 
 bound to supply water to all applicants, being free miners, in 
 a fair proportion, and shall not demand more from one person 
 than from another, except when the difficulty of supply is en- 
 hanced ; provided further, that no person not being a free 
 miner shall be entitled to demand to be supplied with water 
 at all. 
 
 XII. A claim on any mine shall, imtil otherwise ordered 
 by some valid by-law, be deemed to be abandoned, and open 
 to the occupation of any free miner, when the same shall 
 have remained unworked by some registered holder thereof 
 for the space of seventy-two hours, unless in case of sickness, 
 
 
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 " i •' ill 
 
 h,ffi 
 
 i^''i'.4 
 
 
 
 464 
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 or unless before the expiry of such seventy-two hours a 
 further extension of time be granted by tlie gold commis- 
 sioner, who may grant further time for enabling parties to 
 go prospecting, or for such other reasonable cause as he may 
 think proper. Sundays, and such holidays as the gold com- 
 missioner may think fit to proclaim, are to be omitted in 
 reckoning the time of non-working. 
 
 XIII. Whenever it shall be intended, in forming or up- 
 holding any ditch, to enter upon and to occupy any part of 
 a registered claim, or to dig or loosen any earth or rock 
 within [4] feet of any ditch not belonging solely to the 
 registered owner of such claim, three days' notice in writing 
 of such intention shall be given, before entering or approach- 
 ing within four feet of such other property. 
 
 XIV. If the owner of the property about to be so entered 
 upon or approached shall consider three days' notice insuf- 
 ficient for taking proper measures of precaution, or if any 
 dispute shall arise between the parties as to the proper pre- 
 cautionary measures to be taken, or in any other respect, the 
 whole matter shall be immediately referred to the gold com- 
 missioner acting in the district, who shall order such interval 
 of time to be observed before entry, or make such other order 
 as he shall deem proper. 
 
 XV. In quartz claims and reefs each successive claimant 
 shall leave three feet unworked to form a boundary wall 
 between his claim and that of the last previous claimant, and 
 shall stake off his claim accordingly, not commencing at the 
 boundary peg of the last previous claim but three feet further 
 on ; and if any person shall stake out his claim disregarding 
 this rule, the gold commissioner shall have power to come 
 and remove the first boundary peg of such wrongdoer three feet 
 further on, notwithstanding that other claims may then be 
 properly staked out beyond him : so that such wrongdoer shall 
 then havr but ninety-seven feet. And if such wrongdoer 
 shall have commenced work immediately at the boundary peg 
 of the last previous claim, the gold commissioner may remove 
 his boundary six feet further on than the open work of such 
 wrongdoer ; and all such open work, and also the next three 
 
APPENDIX I. 
 
 463 
 
 ivo hours a 
 lid commis- 
 
 y parties to 
 
 e as he may 
 
 e gold com- 
 
 oinitted in 
 
 iiing or up- 
 any part of 
 rth or rock 
 slely to the 
 :c in writinsr 
 3r approach- 
 
 e so entered 
 lotice iiisiif- 
 II, or if any 
 proper pre- 
 respect, the 
 le gold com- 
 uch interval 
 I other order 
 
 ve claimant 
 iindary wall 
 aimant, and 
 icing at the 
 feet further 
 iisregarding 
 ^er to come 
 ler three feet 
 nay then be 
 ngdoer shall 
 wrongdoer 
 oundary peg 
 may remove 
 irork of such 
 2 next three 
 
 feet of such space of six feet shall belong t j and form part of 
 the last previous claim, and the residue of such space of six 
 feet shall be left as a boundary wall. 
 
 XVI. Every such boundary wall shall be deemed the joint 
 property of the owners of the two claims between which it 
 stands, and may not be worked or injured, save by the con- 
 sent of both such owners. 
 
 XVII. In staking out plots of land for free minors and 
 traders for gardening and residential purposes, under the 
 powers in the said Gold Fields Act, 1859, contained, the gold 
 commissioner is to keep in view the general interests of all the 
 miners in that locality, the general principle being that every 
 garden benefits indirectly the whole locality, and also that 
 the earlier application is to be preferred ; but where the eligible 
 spots of land are few, or of scanty dimensions, and especially 
 where they are themselves auriferous, it may be injudicious 
 that the whole or the gi'eater part should fall into the hands of 
 one or two persons ; and therefore in such cases, the gold 
 commissioner may, in the exercise of his discretion, allot 
 small plots only to each applicant. 
 
 XVIII. Any person desiring to acquire any water privilege 
 shall be bound to respect the rights of parties using the same 
 water, at a point below the place where the person desiring 
 such new privilege intends to use it. 
 
 XIX. Any peraon desiring to bridge across any stream or 
 claim or other place for any purpose, or to mine under or 
 through any ditch or flume, or to carry water through or 
 over any land already occupied by any other person, may be 
 enabled to do so in proper cases, with the sanction of the 
 gold commissioner. In all such cases the right of the party 
 first in possession, whether of the mine or the water privilege 
 is to prevail, so as to entitle him to full compensation and 
 indemnity. But wherever due compensation by indemnity 
 can be given and is required, the gold commissioner may 
 sanction the execution of such new work on such terms as he 
 shall think reasonable. 
 
 H H 
 
 
466 
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 AS TO LEASES IN LARGER PROPORTIONS THAN CLAIMS. 
 
 '•fif^.--'- 
 
 life*: .;•' ■ 
 . , (.■,«»,■ . ■ . - 
 
 f'x- ': 
 
 ' 1*^-' 
 
 i\ 
 
 iFi. • ^J ' 
 
 Mi 
 
 ;4tf 
 
 «<( 
 
 XX. Applications for leases are to be sent in triplicate to 
 the gold commissioner having jurisdiction for the locality 
 where the land desired to be taken is situated. Every such 
 application shall contain the name and additions of the ap- 
 plicant at full length, and the names and addresses of two 
 persons residing in the colony of British Columbia or Van- 
 couver's Island, to whom the applicant is personally known. 
 Also a description accompanied by a map of the land proposed 
 to be taken. 
 
 XXI. Leases will not be granted in general for a longer 
 term than ten years, or for a larger space than ten acres of 
 alluvial soil (dry diggings), or half a mile in length of 
 unworked quartz reef, or a mile and a half in length of 
 quartz, that shall have been attempted and abandoned by 
 individual claim workers, with liberty to follow the spurs, 
 dips, and angles on and within the surface, for two hundred 
 feet on each side of the main lead or seam, or in bar diggings 
 half a mile in length (if unworked) along the high-water 
 mark, or a mile and a half in length along high-water mark, 
 where the same shall have been attempted and abandoned by 
 individual claim workers. 
 
 XXII. Leases as above will not in general be granted of 
 any land, alluvium, or quartz, which shall be considered to 
 be immediately available for being worked by free miners as 
 holders of individual claims. Nor will such a lease in any case 
 be granted where individual free miners are in previous actual 
 occupation of any part of the premises unless by their consent. 
 
 XXIIL Every such lease shall contain all reasonable pro- 
 visions for securing to the public rights of way and water, save 
 in so far as shall be necessary for the miner-like working of 
 the premises thereby demised, and also for preventing damage 
 to the persons or property of other parties than the lessee. 
 And the premises thereby demised shall be granted for 
 mining purposes only, and it shall not be competent for the 
 lessee to assign or sub-let the same, or any part or parts 
 thereof, without the previous license in writing of the gold 
 
CLAIMS. 
 
 triplicate to 
 the locality 
 Every such 
 3S of the ap- 
 resses of two 
 nbia or Van- 
 nally known, 
 and proposed 
 
 for a longer 
 I ten acres of 
 n length of 
 in length of 
 )andoned by 
 w the spurs, 
 two hundred 
 
 bar diggings 
 } high-water 
 ■water mark, 
 bandoned by 
 
 B granted of 
 ansidered to 
 ee miners as 
 3 in any case 
 vious actual 
 heir consent, 
 sonable pro- 
 d water, save 
 } working of 
 ting damage 
 the lessee, 
 granted for 
 tent for the 
 art or parts 
 of the gold 
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 467 
 
 commissioner. And every such lease shall contain a covenant 
 by the lessee to mine the said premises in a miner-like way, 
 and also, if it shall be thought fit, to perform the works 
 therein defined within a time therein limited. And also a 
 clause by virtue whereof the said lease and the demise therein 
 contained may be avoided in case the lessee shall refuse or 
 neglect to observe and perform all or any of the covenants 
 therein contained. 
 
 XXIV. Every applicant for a lease shall at the time of 
 sending in his application mark out the ground comprised 
 in the application by square posts firmly fixed in the 
 boundaries of the land, and four feet above the surface, 
 with a notice thereon that such land has been applied for, 
 stating when and by whom, and shall also fix upon a similar 
 post at each of the nearest places on which miners are at 
 work a copy of such notice. 
 
 XXV. Objections to the granting of any such lease shall 
 be made in writing, addressed to His Excellency the Governor, 
 under cover to the gold commissioner, who shall forward all 
 sach objections, together with his report thereon. 
 
 XXVI. Every application for a lease shall be accompanied 
 by a deposit of twenty-five pounds sterling, which shall be 
 refunded in case the application shall be refused by the 
 government, and if the application shall be entertained, then 
 such sum of twenty-five pounds shall be retained for the use 
 of Her Majesty, her heirs and successors, whether the appli- 
 cation be afterwards abandoned or not. 
 
 Issued under the public seal of the colony of British 
 Columbia, at Victoria, Vancouver's Island, this 
 seventh day of September, in the year of our 
 Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, 
 and in the twenty-third year of Her Majesty's 
 reign, by me, 
 
 (l.s.) James Douglas. 
 
 By Command of His Excellency, 
 
 William A. G. Young, 
 
 Acting Colonial Secretary. 
 
 H H 2 
 
I '' \ 
 
 i > « 
 
 468 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 The following information, which is chiefly derived from 
 the Colonisation Circular issued by her Majesty's Emigration 
 Commissioners, will be found interesting and useful to emi- 
 grants seeking new homes. 
 
 ?lS. 
 
 Ill 
 
 Cost of Passage in Private Ships from Ports in England to a few of the 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 London or Liverpool to New 
 
 Zealand .... 
 London to Sydney, Melbourne, 
 
 &c 
 
 London to Cape of Good Hope 
 
 and Natal .... 
 London to Quebec . 
 London to Vancouver's Island 
 
 round Cape Horn . 
 London to British Columbia . 
 Southampton to Vancouver's 
 
 Island, vi4 Panama 
 Southampton to British Cohim- 
 
 bia, vi& Panama . 
 
 Cabin 
 
 Intebmedute 
 
 Steerage 
 
 Coit includ- 
 ing provision! 
 
 Co8t with pro- 
 visions 
 
 Cost witii full 
 
 allowance of 
 
 proTiaions 
 
 £ s. £ 
 
 42 0to80 
 
 35 „ 80 
 
 35 „ 60 
 12 „ - 
 
 60 „ 60 
 i:. „ 62 
 
 96 16 „ -. 
 
 98 16 „ — 
 
 £ 8. £ 
 
 20 Oto30 
 
 16 „ 20 
 
 20 „ - 
 8 „ — 
 
 30 „ 40 
 32 „ 42 
 
 77 6 „ -. 
 
 79 6 „ - 
 
 £ 8. £ 
 15 10 to 26 
 
 13 13 „ 18 
 
 14 „ 18 
 6 0„ - 
 
 61 10 „ — 
 53 10 „ - 
 
derived from 
 I Emigration 
 eful to emi- 
 
 afem of the 
 
 Stebbagb 
 
 Cost with full 
 
 allowance of 
 
 proTisioDS 
 
 £ 8. £ 
 15 10 to 26 
 
 13 13 „ 18 
 
 14 „ 18 
 6 0„ - 
 
 61 10 „ — 
 63 10 „ - 
 
 APPENDIX II. 469 
 
 FREE AND ASSISTED PASSAGES. 
 
 TO WHAT COLONIES GRANTED. 
 
 The colonies which promote immigration from the United 
 Kingdom by means of their public funds are, New South 
 Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, some of the 
 Provinces of New Zealand, the Cape of Good Hope, and 
 Natal. 
 
 The system on which assistance is afforded varies in each 
 colony, but in all, the persons assisted must belong strictly to 
 the labouring classes. 
 
 New South Wales. — Immigrants at the public expense 
 are introduced in three different ways: (1) by * Bounty 
 Tickets,' (2) by * Passage Certificates,' and (3) by selection 
 of the Em'gration Commissioners. 'Bounty Tickets' and 
 * Passage Certificates ' can be obtained only in the colony by 
 residents depositing at the Government Immigration Office 
 in Sydney, or with the clerks of petty sessions in country 
 districts, sums varying from 21. to 12^., according to the age of 
 the nominees. Thus, for persons between the ages of one and 
 twelve, the deposit is 21. ; for those between the ages of twelve 
 and forty, 41. ; and for those between the ages of forty and 
 fifty, 8^. : for single women above thirty-five, and single men 
 above forty, and persons whose husbands and wives are in the 
 colony, 12^. The nominees must be either mechanics, do- 
 mestic servants, or persons of the labouring class, in good 
 health, and of good moral character. 
 
 * Bounty Tickets ' are available for eighteen months from 
 their date, and for passages in private ships. The payment 
 guaranteed under them by the Colonial Government to the 
 shipowner who provides the passages, is at the rate oi\2l. for 
 each statute adult introduced. 
 
 * Passage Certificates' are available for twelve months 
 from their 'late, and for passages in the Emigration Com- 
 missioners' jhips only. They are not transferable. 
 
 The selections of the Commissioners are made under the 
 subjoined Regulations, page 474. 
 
 :p :< 
 
 III 
 
 i:; 
 
 f • 
 
470 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 Victoria. — The Immigration Begulations issued by the 
 Colonial Government, dated March 29, 1858, have been sus- 
 pended since July 14, 1858. The immigrants, therefore, to 
 be introduced into this colony, at the expense of its funds, 
 are to be selected by the Emigration Commissioners under the 
 Regulations printed at page 474. The only classes at present 
 selected by the commissioners are female domestic servants 
 and married agricultural labourers, now earning their liveli- 
 hood at farm work, and having not more than two children 
 under twelve years of age. 
 
 South. Australia. — Emigrants may be introduced in three 
 different ways, viz. : — 
 
 (1) By entirely free passages through the medium of the 
 Emigration Commissioners. 
 
 (2) By * Passage Certificates.' 
 
 (3) By ' Remission Certificates.' 
 
 Under the first mode the selection of the emigrants is 
 made by an oflScer, appointed by the Colonial Government, 
 who is personally to examine and pass the candidates before 
 the Commissioners issue to them embarkation orders. 
 
 The * Passage Certificates ' are obtained only in the colony 
 by residents paying to the Local Government, as in the case 
 of New South Wales and Victoria, sums varying from 3^. to 
 51., according to the age and sex of the nominee, as shown in 
 the following scale : — 
 
 1. Married agricultural or other labourers, and artisans or 
 
 mechanics, not exceeding forty years of age, each 
 
 2. Ditto, over forty and not over fifty years of age, each 
 
 3. Wives of above, any age, accompanying or coming to join 
 
 their husbands, and widows either accompanying adult 
 sons or daughters, or emigrating to them, each . 
 
 4. Children accompanying their parents or relatives, under six- 
 
 teen of age, each ...... 
 
 6. Single men of above-named classes, sixteen years of age, and 
 
 not over forty years of age, each .... 
 6. Single women, or widows without children, of the labouring 
 
 class, sixteen years of age, and not over thirty-five years 
 
 of ago, each ...... 
 
 £ 8. d. 
 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
ssued by the 
 ave been sus- 
 therefore, to 
 of its funds, 
 ers under the 
 ses at present 
 jstic servants 
 ', their liveli- 
 two children 
 
 need in three 
 
 idium of the 
 
 emigrants is 
 Grovernment, 
 idates before 
 iers. 
 
 n the colony 
 
 I in the case 
 
 from 31. to 
 
 as shown in 
 
 £ 8. d. 
 or 
 
 .600 
 .800 
 
 }in 
 
 ult 
 .600 
 
 IX- 
 
 .300 
 nd 
 .600 
 
 irs 
 ,300 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 471 
 
 The Passage Certificate is transferable, and is available for 
 twelve months, and for passages in the Commissioners' ships. 
 
 * Kemission Certificates ' are attainable in the colony only, 
 by residents of at least one year's standing, who are em- 
 powered to introduce under them at their own cost, in private 
 ships, persons of either of the classes specified in the Free 
 Passage Kegulations. These ' Remission Certificates ' answer 
 to the Bounty Tickets of New South Wales, with the exception 
 that the cost of passage is not fixed at 12^, but is to be based 
 on the average contract rate of the three Government emi- 
 grant ships then previously reported as chartered. The cer- 
 tificates are to be available only in the purchase of Crown 
 lands after maturity (i.e. two years after date), provided 
 the conditions on which they are granted have been fully 
 complied with. 
 
 The emigrants introduced under the first two methods are 
 not required to pay any deposits, but they are required to 
 sign, prior to embarkation, an undertaking not to leave the 
 colony within two years, under a forfeiture of \0l. each ; and 
 they mu&t be personally inspected and approved by an officer 
 specially appointed for the purpose by the Colonial Govern- 
 ment, before the Commissioners issue their embarkation 
 order. 
 
 Tasmania. — There is no free emigration to this colony. 
 The assisted emigration is carried on by an agent, R. Butler, 
 Esq., of 29 Bucklersbury, E.C., appointed by the colonial 
 authorities to select and send out emigrants, and also by 
 means of ' Bounty Tickets,' which are procurable only in the 
 colony. The holders of these tickets (which are payable in 
 the colony) are left to make their own arrangements for pas- 
 sages with any private shipowner who will take the tickets 
 in part payment. 
 
 New Zealand. — The emigrants for three of the provinces, 
 viz. Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury, are selected by 
 agents appointed by, and acting for, the province in this 
 country. 
 
 ••4 .. 
 
 W^'A 
 
 
 tl" 'f ' 
 
 •1" ■ ■! L* ]l 
 
 %. 
 
472 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 ■J^ 
 
 T.4V" 
 
 fr 
 
 f!«f. 
 
 The following are the names and addresses of these 
 agents : — 
 
 For Auckland, Messrs. Ridgway and Co., 40 Leicester 
 
 Square. 
 For Wellington, Messrs. John Gladstone and Co., 3 White 
 
 Lion Court, Cornhill. 
 For Canterbury, Mr. Fitzgerald, 32 Charing Cross. 
 
 The Emigi-ation Commissioners in no way interfere in the 
 emigration to this colony, except in seeing, through their 
 officers, that the provisions of the * Passengers' Act ' are duly 
 carried out in the vessels in which the emigrants sail. 
 
 Of the terms on which passages are granted to Auckland 
 and Canterbury, the Commissioners have received no official 
 information. As regards Wellington, only * guaranteed pas- 
 sages ' are granted, under the following regulations of the 
 Provincial Government, dated February 26, 1857, viz : — 
 
 L Eepayment of the passage money to be secured by pro- 
 missory note, signed by the applicant, and one other party 
 approved by Government, payable on demand, and of which 
 payment will be required by reasonable instalments (i. e. one 
 half during the first year after arrival, the remainder during 
 the second year), except in case of applicant or surety leaving 
 the colony, when immediate payment will be required, or 
 provision must be made for the same. 
 
 2. As a further security, and to protect the parties on 
 whose application the emigrant is brought out, the emigrant 
 himself (or head of a family where there are women and 
 children) will, before embarking, be required to give pro- 
 missory notes, payable on demand, which will be forwarded 
 to the local Government. 
 
 3. In case of any emigrant applied for, accepting the offer 
 of a passage, but not presenting himself for embarkation at 
 the time and place appointed by the agents in England, and 
 80 being left behind, one half of the passage money will be 
 forfeited, and must be paid to the Provincial Government on 
 demand, by the applicants in the colony, for which the first- 
 mentioned promissory notes will be a security. 
 
APPENDIX II. 
 
 473 
 
 3es of these 
 
 40 Leicester 
 Co., 3 White 
 
 Cross. 
 
 erfere in the 
 iirough their 
 Let ' are duly 
 } sail. 
 
 to Auckland 
 id no official 
 ranteed pas- 
 tions of the 
 ', viz : — 
 
 ired by pro- 
 other party 
 nd of which 
 Qts (i. e. one 
 nder during 
 rety leaving 
 •equired, or 
 
 parties on 
 le emigrant 
 ivomen and 
 give pro- 
 forwarded 
 
 g the offer 
 arkation at 
 igland, and 
 ney will be 
 jrnment on 
 h the first- 
 
 4. A depot, or other provision for temporary board and 
 lodging, will be provided at the ports of embarkation at the 
 expense of the agent, in case of the ship not sailing to the 
 day. 
 
 5. Emigrants and their personal baggage will be landed 
 free of expense. 
 
 6. All ships under this arrangement vdll make Wellington 
 their first port. 
 
 7. Rate of passage money : — 
 
 Statute adults (comprising all persons from twelve 
 
 years of age and upwards, . not more than 20^. per head. 
 
 Between one and twelve . . not more than 101. per head. 
 Under one year no charge. 
 
 8. Personal baggage in the following proportions : — 
 
 Jl'fl' f 
 
 Adults 
 
 Not adults, but above 1 year old 
 
 . \ ton 
 
 ton 
 
 Cape op Good Hope. — Emigrants are selected by a special 
 agent appointed by and responsible to the Colonial Govern- 
 ment under regulations substantially the same as those 
 subjoined ; but the vessels for the conveyance of the people 
 are chartered by the Emigration Commissioners. The colonial 
 agent is also authorised, in certain cases, to provide passages 
 in private ships. 
 
 Natal. — Residents in this colony can nominate, for 
 passages, persons in the United Kingdom, on giving to the 
 Colonial Government a guarantee for the repayment of the 
 passages, at the rate of lOl. per statute adult, within twelve 
 months after the landing of the emigrants. Married persons, 
 with the members of their families, under twelve years of age, 
 are required to repay the advance at the rate of 10^. per annum. 
 Any excess of passage money beyond the 10^. is paid out of 
 colonial funds. 
 
 Western Australia. — The Emigration Commissioners are 
 occasionally authorised, by the Secretary of State, to select 
 eniigiants, and to grant them passages at the expense of 
 
 ■■ 'I 
 
 
 't 
 
 i 
 
 'M 
 
 I 
 
 ■'%'. 
 
474 
 
 APPENDIX 11. 
 
 >^-!A^-- 
 
 imperial funds. In this case they are selected under tlio 
 regulations of which an outline is subjoined. 
 
 To the other British Colonies there is no assisted 
 emigration. 
 
 The following are the Emigration Commissioners' Regula- 
 TiONS under which emigrants are selected for passages to 
 New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western 
 Australia, when there are funds for the purpose : — 
 
 Eligible candidates. — The candidates must be in the habit 
 of ivorking for wages at one of the callings mentioned below, 
 and must be going out with the intention of working for hire 
 in that calling. They must be sober, industrious, of good 
 moral character, in good health, free from all mental and 
 bodily defects, within the ages specified, appear physically to 
 be capable of labour, and must have been vaccinated or had 
 the small-pox. 
 
 Ineligible candidates. — Passages cannot be granted to 
 persons who have not arranged with their creditors, or to 
 persons in business, or intending to set up in business in the 
 colony for themselves, to buy land, or to resort to the gold 
 fields ; to persons in the habitual receipt of parish relief ; to 
 families which have more than two children under seven, or 
 than three under ten years of age ;* to widowers and widows 
 with children under eighteen ;t to parents without all their 
 children under eighteen, f in this country; to childrep under 
 eighteen t without their parents; to husbands without their 
 wives, or wives without their husbands ; to single women over 
 thirty-five ; to single women who have had illegitimate chil- 
 dren ; single men over forty ; and for Victoria, single men of 
 any age, unless they accompany their parents, and, at least, 
 an equal number of sisters over twelve. 
 
 * Not applicable to South Australia, 
 t For South Australia the age is sixteen. 
 
 t > '\ 
 
Bd under the 
 no assisted 
 
 3ns' Regula- 
 r passages to 
 and Western 
 ie: — 
 
 '■ in the habit 
 ;ioned below, 
 king for hire 
 oils, of good 
 mental and 
 physically to 
 lated or had 
 
 granted to 
 iitors, or to 
 iness in the 
 to the gold 
 h relief; to 
 er seven, or 
 and widows 
 ut all their 
 drep under 
 ithout their 
 ivomen over 
 iimate chil- 
 igle men of 
 id, at least, 
 
 APPENDIX 11. 
 
 APPLICATION AND AFPBOYAL. 
 
 476 
 
 The first step is to make application to the Emigration 
 Commissioners in London, or their nearest selecting agent, 
 by correctly filling up and sending in the prescribed form. 
 If the applicants are married, the certificate of their marriage 
 must be sent at the same time. [Time and place for a 
 personal inspection of the applicants will thereafter be 
 appointed, and they will also be informed what other certifi- 
 cates (if any) are required in support of their applications].* 
 The candidates will [after inspection]* then be informed 
 whether or not a passage can be granted. If it can, they will 
 subsequently receive [an * Approval Circular,' pointing out the 
 time and manner of making the payment mentioned below. 
 After the money is paid, they will receive]! an Embarkation 
 Order {which is not transferable), naming the ship in which 
 they are to sail;, and the time and place of joining her. 
 
 CLASSES ELiaiBLE, AND PAYMENTS FOB OTHER COLONIES 
 THAN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 
 
 £ 8. d. 
 
 1. Married agricultural labourers, shepherds, and herdsmen, 
 
 under forty-five years of age .... 
 
 2. Forty-five and under fifty years of age 
 
 3. Fifty and under sixty years of ago .... 
 
 4. Single female domestic servants, not exceeding thirty-five 
 
 years of age ...... 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 II 
 
 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 No payments are required for wives, or for children under 
 fourteen years of age accompanying their parents. 
 
 CLASSES ELIGIBLE FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 
 
 I. Married agricultural labourers, shepherds, herdsmen, and 
 copper miners, not exceeding forty-five years of age. 
 II. Single men, or widowers without children under sixteen, 
 of any of the above classes, not exceeding forty years 
 of age. 
 
 * Applicable to South Australia only, 
 t Not applicable to South Australia. 
 

 476 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 
 
 'i'k»1 
 
 .(, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Emigrants for any of the colonies must pay their own way 
 to the port of embarkation. They can, however, travel to 
 the port by any of the ordinary trains on the Great Western, 
 South-Western, London and North-Western, South Devon, 
 Bristol and Exeter, or Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire 
 Junction Railways, or the lines connected therewith, with 1 
 cwt. of luggage per adult, for Id. per mile ; children between 
 1 and 14 years of age paying half fare. 
 
 Outfit, &c. — Candidates must find their own outfit, which 
 will be inspected before embarkation by an officer of the 
 Commissioners. The smallest quantity that will be allowed 
 is, for each male over twelve — six shirts, six pairs of stock- 
 ings, two warm flannel shirts, two pairs of new shoes or boots, 
 two complete suits of strong exterior clothing, four towels, 
 and two pounds of marine soap ; and for each female over 
 twelve — six shifts, two flannel petticoats, six pairs of stock- 
 ings, two pairs of strong boots or shoes, two strong gowns 
 (one of which must be made of a warm material), four towels, 
 three sheets for each berth occupied on board ship, and two 
 pounds of marine soap. N.B. — If any difficulty is experienced 
 in procuring good marine soap where the applicants reside, 
 there will be ample opportunity for purchasing it after their 
 arrival at the depot. 
 
 Two or three coloured shirts for men, and an extra supply 
 of flannel for women and children are very desirable. 
 
 The quantity of baggage for each person over twelve must 
 not exceed twenty cubic or solid feet, or half a ton in weight. 
 It must be closely packed in one or more strong boxes or 
 cases not exceeding fifteen cubic feet each. Larger packages 
 and extra baggage, if taken at all, must be paid for. Mat- 
 tresses and feather beds, fire-arms, and oflfensive weapons, 
 wines, spirits, beer, gunpowder, percussion caps, lucifer 
 matches, and any dangerous or noxious articles cannot be 
 taken by emigrants. 
 
 Cautions. — Candidates must not reckon upon passages, or 
 make any preparations for departure, unless they receive 
 
APPENDIX II. 
 
 477 
 
 beir own way 
 ^er, travel to 
 eat Weatern, 
 louth Devon, 
 ind Cheshire 
 with, with 1 
 iren between 
 
 outfit, which 
 fficer of the 
 1 be allowed 
 irs of stock- 
 oes or boots, 
 four towels, 
 female over 
 irs of stock- 
 trong gowns 
 four towels, 
 lip, and two 
 experienced 
 ants reside, 
 b after their 
 
 stra supply 
 sle. 
 
 welve must 
 L in weight, 
 ig boxes or 
 sr packages 
 for. Mat- 
 3 weapons, 
 ps, lucifer 
 cannot be 
 
 assages, or 
 ey receive 
 
 notice that they have been approved [on inspection]. Agents 
 have no authority to receive money for the Board. Persons 
 cannot be received into the Commissioners' depot, or on board 
 ship, without an embarkation order duly signed, or unless 
 they are in a fit state of health for the voyage. 
 
 Any false signatures, misstatements, or omission to state a 
 material fact in the candidate's papers, or any attempt at 
 deception whatever, or evasion of the Commissioners' regu- 
 lations, will subject candidates to a forfeiture of any money 
 paid, and of all claim on the Commissioners ; and, in case of 
 false signatures, v/ill, moreover, render the offender liable to 
 a heavy penalty under the Passengers' Act. 
 
 Failure to attend at the time and place of embarkation, 
 without having previously given to the Commissioners timely 
 notice and a satisfactory reason, or any insubordination or 
 misconduct in the Commissioners' depots, or on board ship 
 before sailing, or refusal to proceed in the ship, will subject 
 candidates to the loss of their passage and to a forfeiture of 
 any money paid, and of all claims upon the Commissioners. 
 
 Applications should be addressed, post paid, to S. Walcott, 
 Esq., No. 8 Park Street, Westminster, S.W. 
 
 Applications for passages to South Australia may also be 
 addressed to Mr. Dashwood, 8 Great Queen Street, West- 
 minster. Those for the Cape, to Mr. Field only, at 3 Bridge 
 Street, Westminster. 
 
 HINTS TO EMIGRANTS TO AUSTRALIA. 
 
 1. Length of Voyage, — The usual length of the voyage to 
 the Australian Colonies is about 3^ months, and to New 
 Zealand a little longer ; and as, at whatever season of the 
 year it may be made, passengers have to encounter very hot 
 and very cold weather, they should be prepared for both. 
 
 2. Outfit. — The following is a list of the principal articles 
 required; but it cannot be too strongly impressed, as a 
 
 t- ^r i 
 
 lif'l' i\ 
 
 
478 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 
 general rule, that the more abundant the stock of clothing 
 each person can aflford tu take, the better for health and 
 comfort during the passage : — 
 
 Single man's outfit to Auttralia 
 
 1 1)oaT«rteeii jacket (warm linod) 
 1 ditto waistcoat with sleeves 
 1 ditto trowsers (warm lined) 
 1 duck ditto .... 
 1 coloured drill jacket . 
 1 ditto trowsers .... 
 1 ditto ditto waistcoat 
 
 1 blanket over-coat 
 Or, 1 waterproof coat . 
 
 2 blue serge shirts, or Jersey frocks 
 
 1 folt hat 
 
 1 Brazil straw hat 
 
 6 blue striped cotton shirts, each . 
 1 pair of boots* .... 
 
 1 pair of shoes .... 
 4 handkerchiefs, each . 
 
 4 pair worsted hose, each 
 
 2 pair cotton hose, each 
 
 1 pair braces .... 
 4 towels, each .... 
 Razor, shaving-brush, and glass . 
 
 Single woman's outfit to Australia, 
 
 1 warm cloak, with a cape 
 
 2 bonnets, each 
 1 small shawl 
 
 1 stuff dress 
 
 2 print ditto, each 
 6 shifts, each 
 
 2 flannel petticoats, each 
 
 1 stuff ditto 
 
 2 twill cotton ditto 
 1 pair of stays 
 
 « 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 2 
 2 
 2 
 
 10 
 7 
 4 
 2 
 
 d. 
 6 
 6 
 
 3 
 9 
 6 
 
 
 6 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 e 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 3J 
 6 
 
 «. 
 6 
 
 d. 
 
 
 3 
 
 10 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 11 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 9 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 * For use on the voyage, shoes or slippers are much more convenient 
 than boots. The following is a cheap and excellent composition for preserving 
 leather from the bad effects of sea-water ; Linseed oil, 1 gill ; spirit of turpen- 
 tine, 1 oz. ; bees' wax, 1 oz. ; Burgundy pitch, J oz. ; to be well melted together 
 and kept covered in a gallipot ; lay it on boots or shoes, rubbing it in well, and 
 set them in a hot sun, or before the fire. 
 
of olothinj( 
 health and 
 
 ». d. 
 
 . « 6 
 
 . 4 6 
 
 . 
 
 . 2 3 
 
 . 2 9 
 
 . 2 6 
 
 . 2 
 
 . 10 
 
 . 7 6 
 
 . 4 6 
 
 . 2 
 
 . 10 
 
 . 1 6 
 
 . 8 6 
 
 . 5 
 
 . 6 
 
 . 1 
 
 . 
 
 . 3J 
 
 . 4J 
 
 . 1 6 
 
 ». d. 
 
 . 6 
 
 . 3 10 
 
 . 2 3 
 
 . 11 
 
 . 6 
 
 . 1 3 
 
 . 2 6 
 
 . 3 9 
 
 . 2 
 
 . 2 6 
 
 )re convenient 
 for preserving 
 irit of tnrpen- 
 lelted together 
 it in well, and 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 Sitiffle woman's ou(fit to Australia — continued. 
 
 479 
 
 4 pocket Immlkorohicfii, puoh 
 
 2 n«*t ditto for n«<(-ic, each 
 
 3 cn|is, each 
 ♦ night-caps, frtph 
 
 4 slfx-pinp jackets eat'll 
 2 blttck worstf'il hose, each 
 4 cotton ditto, each 
 1 pair of ithoos 
 1 ditto boots 
 6 towels, each 
 
 Each person would also require — 
 
 1 bowl and can 
 
 1 knife and fork, 1 deep tin plate, 1 pint tin drinking mug, 1 
 table-spoon, 1 tea-spoon . 
 
 An assortment of needles and thread 
 
 2 lbs. of marine soap, at 
 
 1 comb and hair brush 
 
 3 sheets, each .... 
 
 2 pots blacking, each . 
 
 «. d. 
 3 
 6 
 10 
 
 7 
 
 1 4 
 10 
 10 
 
 2 9 
 6 
 4J 
 
 », 
 2 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 
 d. 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 4J 
 
 2 shoe brushes, each 
 1 pair of blankets . 
 1 counterpane 
 1 strong chest, with lock 
 1 linen clothes bag 
 1 mattress and pillow 
 
 Cost of above outfit for a single man, about 
 Ditto ditto single woman „ 
 
 Ditto ditto married couple „ 
 
 s, 
 
 8 
 1 
 8 
 1 
 6 
 
 d. 
 
 n 
 
 
 
 6 
 9 
 
 A married couple 
 require only 1 
 set of these ar- 
 ticles. 
 
 £5 10 
 
 6 15 
 
 10 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 The cost of an outfit for children varies with their size. 
 Generally speaking, three children under 7, or two between 
 that age and 14, may be clothed for about 51. ; but a well 
 grown girl or boy of 13 years of age will cost nearly as much 
 as an adult. 
 
 3. Expense of erecting a dwelling suitable to an agri- 
 cultural labourer. 
 
 New South Wales 10^ to 40/., 
 
 According to materials, locality, and extent of accommodation. 
 
 u 
 
480 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 51 '4'«? '". 
 
 c 
 
 VicTOBU. — Very few country dwellings are in course of erection. 
 Country labourers are always provided with dwellings, rent free, by their 
 employers. 
 
 Western Austbalia, about ......... 201. 
 
 South Austbaxia, from 201. to 60^. 
 
 Country labourers are provided with dwelling houses, rent free, by their 
 employers. 
 
 Tasmania. — A hut fit for a labourer 10^. to 157. ; a hut in the bush for 
 shepherds for 61. ; in the towns, a building of brick or stone for 207. or 251. 
 
 New Zealand. — In the country, cottages built of 'raupo' (the native rush) 
 can be put up for 61. to 107., which can be made very comfortable, and quite 
 impervious to the weather; but from their inflammable nature, they are not 
 allowed in the towns. In the towns, a weather-boarded cottage of two rooms 
 can be built for about 407. or 507., or one can be rented for from 8s. to lOs. per 
 week. 
 
 4. Rent of a town lodging for a mechanic'a family. 
 
 New South Wales 25s. to 30s. per week. 
 
 y...)in country townships, about . . . 10s. 
 
 > in Melbourne, about 20s. 
 
 Western Australia, about 6s. 
 
 South Australia, from 6s. to 10s. 
 
 Tasmania from 2s., average 5s. 
 
 New Zealand 8s. to 10s. 
 
 Cape of Good Hope : 
 
 In Cape Town, from 15s. to 27. per month. 
 
 Graham's Town, firom 17. to 17 10s. „ 
 
 Fort Elizabeth „ „ 
 
 'm ■ 
 
 - ^■■21 
 
 I 
 
 MA 
 
 {" 
 
 4 ■ 
 
 ^*^*'j'' 
 
 5. Caution not to linger in the toivns. — Emigrants to the 
 Australian colonies are strongly advised, with a view to their 
 own advantage and health, to look immediately on arrival for 
 employment in the country, and not to linger in the crowded 
 dwellings of the towns. 
 
 r J 2 Ji 
 
 
on. 
 
 t free, by their 
 
 . 20/. 
 
 20/. to 60/. 
 free, by their 
 
 a the bush for 
 20/. or 26/. 
 
 he native rush) 
 ible, and quite 
 e, they are not 
 ;e of two rooms 
 1 8s. to 10s. per 
 
 family. 
 
 . per week, 
 f. 
 
 per month. 
 Os. „ 
 
 rants to the 
 
 lew to their 
 
 arrival for 
 
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 APPENDIX II. 
 
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 APPENDIX II. 
 
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 IN l-H (N (?1 1-4 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 488 
 
 DEMAND FOK LABOUR. 
 
 Canada. — A. C. Buchanan, Esq., the chief agent for immi- 
 gration at Quebec, in a report dated January 20, 1859, 
 says : — 
 
 ' The prospects which Canada holds to some classes of the 
 emigration of 1859 are less encouraging than could be wished 
 for. The condition of the province is materially improved 
 since the close of 1857, and it may be reasonably expected that 
 each month, particularly after the opening of the summer, 
 will show an increasing improvement in every line of employ- 
 ment. It will, however, be some time before the existing 
 redundancy in mechanics' and artisans' labour can be pro- 
 vided for; and while established workmen are to be had, the 
 newly arrived will find difficulty in obtaining situations. 
 
 ' There is, at present, throughout the western districts of 
 the province, a want of employment in all branches; and 
 even agriculturists, acquainted with the country, are in many 
 cases unable to earn fair wages ; in this, the reports of the 
 agents at Toronto and Hamilton concur, bat in the Ottawa 
 district the agent's information is to the effect that few or no 
 men of any class are unengaged. If, then, the anticipations 
 of more general activity, which are confidently entertained, 
 throughout the country, should be fulfilled on the reappear- 
 ance of summer, and if the immigration should be of no 
 more than moderate extent, I do not anticipate any great 
 difficulty in our absorbing the usual proportions of the la- 
 ])ouring classes. Farming men will be generally in demand. 
 Female servants, with some experience, will find places 
 readily. But no encouragement can be offered to the immi- 
 gration of superior artisans and mechanics — shopmen, 
 teachers, clerks, and persons, old or young, who are without 
 special trade or calling, and who do not possess physical 
 strength and ability, with willingness to work. These cljxsses 
 may be subject to great distress after arrival, if they have 
 
 I I 2 
 
 
 *^:-'*.- 
 
h'M- 
 
 r^> 
 
 r 1 
 
 ?> '''' ' . 
 V -• ' - ' 
 
 .'T 1, t , 
 
 r,< I, * 
 
 
 ^ « 
 
 
 1-r. 
 
 > I ' 
 
 A I V ^ 
 
 
 
 
 t 
 
 K 41 
 
 >^' , s 
 
 ■I 
 
 484 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 no resources upon wliich to fall back in case of delay in tlieir 
 finding employment.' 
 
 A. B. Hawke, Esq., the agent for Western Canada, in a 
 report dated February 13, 1859, says : — * That until a change 
 takes place in the condition of Upper Canada, it will not be 
 desirable for any considerable number of emigrants to come 
 here. Farmers possessed of four or five hundred pounds, 
 being prudent and industrious, are sure to do well. Capi- 
 talists can always find good and safe investments. The legal 
 interest is now seven per cent., but ten or twelve per cent, 
 can be obtained on landed security. Grood farm servants 
 stand the next best chance of settling to advantage, but clerks, 
 porters, grooms, gentlemen's servants, male and female, and 
 mechanics accustomed to the highest kind of skilled labour, 
 had better remain at home until the times change.' 
 
 There is one piece of advice often given of great impor- 
 tance to the settler, but which is not so much attended to as 
 it ought to be, viz., that settlers should come out early, and 
 if they wish to avoid imposition should come via Quebec or 
 Portland. If anything goes wrong with them, or their bag- 
 gage, it is impossible to obtain redress if they come via 
 Boston or New York. 
 
 New South Wales. — The most recent report (in 1858) from 
 H. H. Browne, Esq., the immigration agent at Sydney, con- 
 tains the following remarks : — 
 
 ' Owing to the productiveness of the gold fields in this and 
 the neighbouring colony of Victoria, every description of la- 
 bour is in request ; mechanics, however, are not in demand 
 to the same extent as other labourers. 
 
 'Female domestic servants, thoroughly acquainted with 
 their duties, as well as farm labourers and shepherds, can de- 
 pend on obtaining situations on most remunerative terms; 
 but for educated persons, such as governesses, tutors, clerks, 
 &c., there is no demand, and the emigration hither of such 
 persons (unless for the purpose of joining friends or relatives 
 able to maintain them for some time after arrival), should 
 not be encouraged, nor should they under the present 
 
 A.^^i 
 
APPENDIX II. 
 
 480 
 
 lelay in their 
 
 !;!anada, in a 
 ntil a change 
 ^t will not be 
 mts to come 
 Ired pounds, 
 well. Capi- 
 3. The legal 
 ve per cent, 
 irm servants 
 fe, but clerks, 
 female, and 
 dlled labour, 
 
 ;e.' 
 
 great impor- 
 ttended to as 
 it early, and 
 a Quebec or 
 or their bag- 
 ey come via 
 
 n 1858) from 
 Sydney, con- 
 Is in this and 
 iption of la- 
 >t in demand 
 
 minted with 
 erds, can de- 
 ative terms; 
 utors, clerks, 
 ither of such 
 8 or relatives 
 ival), should 
 the present 
 
 circumstances be provided with passages at the public 
 expense. 
 
 *The Colonial Government has made the most careful 
 provisions and regulations for the protection and effective 
 settlement of the single women who come to the colony under 
 the auspices of the Emigration Commissioners, unaccompanied 
 by friends or relatives, as well as of those who are so accom- 
 panied, but whose relatives desire that they should take ad- 
 vantage of the Government regulations. 
 
 ' Each immigrant ship is, on arrival, immediately visited 
 by tlie agent for immigration, who ascertains the capabilities 
 and wishes with regard to employment of the immigrants on 
 board. 
 
 * The single women are at once landed, and received into 
 the Institution at Hyde Park, which is always ready for their 
 reception, where they are comfortably located in large and 
 well-ventilated dormitories, and are treated with the greatest 
 care and attention by the matron, under the direction of the 
 agent for immigration. They are allowed to remain in the 
 depot for a few days (under the superintendence of the matron 
 of the department), to wash and mend their clothes, and make 
 preparations for service. When they are reported by the 
 matron to be ready for service, a hiring day is appointed, 
 which is advertised in the daily papers. No person is ad- 
 mitted into the hiring-room who is Bot personally known to 
 the officers of the department to be of good character, or who 
 has not a certificate of respectability from a clergyman or 
 magistrate. 
 
 * Families and single male immigrants are hired from on 
 board ship, under the superintendence of an immigration 
 officer, and the surgeon superintendent of the ship.' 
 
 Victoria. — J. D. Pinnock, Esq., the immigration agent at 
 Melbourne, in his report dated November 2, 1858, says : — 
 
 ' I would observe, with reference to the state of the 
 labour market in this colony, that, although healthy, any 
 large addition to it at the present moment would be lui- 
 advisable. A moderate number of agricultural labourers 
 
 <i L 
 
 ■v:.(\ M 
 
 I'm-". .'■ 
 
 \'- 
 
A 
 
 '* *'^v I'd 
 j_ ' * A I 
 
 M ■ ■ 
 
 .\ .»: 
 
 '»<' 
 
 / ^ 
 
 X "^t 
 
 .^. )• 
 
 
 
 ^liiS 
 
 486 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 (with few children), and single girls well accustomed to 
 domestic service, could, however, meet with engagements 
 in some of the inland districts, at a remunerative rate of 
 wages. While discountenancing the influx of a large 
 body of immigrants at the present time, I am strongly 
 of opinion that before the termination of the ensuing 
 year, Victoria will be in a position to give employment to a 
 large number of agricultural and railway labourers. By that 
 time the railway works, which have so recently been com- 
 menced, will afford to the latter class a means of obtaining a 
 good livelihood. 
 
 ' It must be observed, however, that persons of a superior 
 class, such as clerks, shopmen, governesses, milliners, &c., are 
 doomed to certain disappointment if they come to this colony 
 with a view to obtaining employment in their respective 
 professions or trades. The number of persons of the 
 above classes already here, are much beyond the requirements 
 of the colony, and much misery has been experienced in 
 consequence. 
 
 *The arrangements for the reception of immigi*ants in 
 Victoria are something similar to those in force in Sydney. 
 Two days after the arrival of a Government vessel, the pas- 
 sengers are all received into depot, where they are allowed 
 one day to make preparations for service. No persons un- 
 known to the officers of the immigration department are 
 permitted to engage female servants from the depot, and 
 every precaution is taken to guard against girls being en- 
 gaged for hotels, lodging houses, or by improper persons. 
 
 * Depots are now established at Geelong, Portland, Belfast, 
 Warmambool, and Port Albert, where immigrants are kept a 
 few days until they obtain situations.' 
 
 South Australia. — Dr. Duncan, the immigration agent at 
 Adelaide, says, in his report, dated October 5, 1858 : — 
 
 * During the last quarter tl\o labour market has been 
 rather glutted with the class of ordinary labourers ; and it 
 is very desirable that there should be no selections of such 
 persons for some time. 
 
justoraed to 
 in^agements 
 tive rate of 
 of a large 
 im strongly 
 the ensuing 
 )yment to a 
 rs. By that 
 ' been com- 
 ' obtaining a 
 
 f a superior 
 lers, &c., are 
 3 this colony 
 ir respective 
 sons of the 
 'equirements 
 perienced in 
 
 imigrants in 
 p in Sydney, 
 sel, the pas- 
 are allowed 
 persons un- 
 artment are 
 depot, and 
 3 being en- 
 persons, 
 and, Belfast, 
 ;s are kept a 
 
 ion agent at 
 558:— 
 has been 
 and it 
 ions of such 
 
 it 
 
 irers ; 
 
 APPENDIX 11. 
 
 487 
 
 * Farming men and domestic servants, of good character, 
 arriving in moderate and steady numbers, are sure to find 
 remunerative employment, generally immediately, but always 
 a few weeks after arrival. 
 
 * I have in other reports shown the reasons why such classes 
 of labour are likely to be always in steady demand, and also 
 that the ultimate prospects of such persons in this colony arc 
 of the most promising nature. 
 
 ' The demand for many other classes of skilled labour 
 varies according to the circumstances of the colony for the 
 time being.' 
 
 The following extract of a despatch from the Governor, 
 dated January 30, 1849, is still applicable : — ' Under the 
 impression that the present impulse, extensively prevalent in 
 Great Britain in favour of emigration to South Australia, may 
 very probably not be confined to such persons only as are 
 qualified to succeed as colonists, it is as well, before closing 
 this despatch, to observe that, whilst little fear need be en- 
 tertained of industrious steady men and women, accustomed 
 to labour with their own hands, doing well, so long as their 
 influx is regulated by the demand for their services, as 
 safely indicated from time to time by the extent of Crown 
 land sales, emigration to this province is not equally profit- 
 able to persons without capital and unaccustomed to manual 
 labour. Gentlemen agriculturists have very seldom, if evei", 
 proved a thriving class. Purchasers of laud at public auction 
 from the Crown, at an upset price of \l. per acre, usually 
 and very readily obtain from 4s. to 7s. per acre for unen- 
 closed land, and proportionately higher rates for land that is 
 fenced ; and money lenders at present get from 10^ to 15/. per 
 cent, per annum on good security. The cost of butchers' 
 meat and tea is now as great as in England, and all other 
 sustenance much dearer. Wages and the rent of houses are 
 higher; and the return for expenditure under these heads 
 is less satisfactory than that which is obtainable for the same 
 outlay in Great Britain. Those who emigrate in quest of 
 salaried situations in public or private employment are 
 usually disappointed.' 
 
 1:4, 
 
 i '1, 
 
 1 ,:' 
 
mm 
 
 
 
 It . 
 
 '•'■JVV5 
 
 u 
 
 K. 
 
 
 ' r ,-* .KB I'M 
 
 488 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 In a subsequent despatch of January 26, 1850, Sir H. 
 Young stated that there was no need of an increased 
 supply of governesses, there being already in the colony 
 more respectable and educated females seeking employ- 
 ment in that capacity than there are families requiring their 
 services. 
 
 Western Australia. — In a report from A. Durlacher, Esq., 
 the immigration agent at Perthjdated December 10, 1857 (still 
 applicable, November 1858), it is stated, that ' the demand for 
 free male labour is but limited, and chiefly confined to skilled 
 agricultural labourers and lead and copper miners — the bond 
 population supplying labour for other purposes. But, on the 
 other hand, there is much demand for single females, who 
 will find no difficulty in securing service at reasonable wages, 
 and who become rapidly absorbed into the population by 
 marriage. From 300 to 400 of this class would, doubtless, 
 find employment during the year.' 
 
 F. P. Barlee, Esq., the Colonial Secretary, in a despatch dated 
 November 11, 1858, states that 'Mining operations in the 
 colony are progressing very favourably : the ore (copper) sent 
 to England has realised a large per-centage, and the superior 
 mineral indicat'ons in the northern portion of the colony are 
 attracting universal attention. One company has already 
 been formed in England to work a lead mine in the colony, 
 the produce and quality of which have been placed beyond 
 doubt.' 
 
 Tasmania. — Inareportfrom Mr. Loch, the immigration agent 
 at Hobart Town, dated November 8, 1858, it is stated that the 
 demand for usefid female domestic servants continued great, 
 and that they obtained excellent wages. Domestic men 
 servants were not in much demand ; but there was good em- 
 ployment for many kinds of ordinary labour. There was, 
 however, little demand for millwrights and engineers, millers, 
 plasterers, quarrymen, tanners, stock-keepers, and shopmen ; 
 and no demand for brassfounders, braziers, brickmakers, 
 cabinet-makers, coopers, shipwrights, wheelwrights, white- 
 smiths and blacksmiths, engineers, harness-makers and 
 
APPENDIX II. 
 
 489 
 
 B50, Sir H. 
 n increased 
 the colony 
 u^ employ- 
 quiring their 
 
 rlacher, Esq., 
 0, 1857 (still 
 B demand for 
 led to skilled 
 3 — the bond 
 But, on the 
 females, who 
 mable wages, 
 opulation by 
 Id, doubtless, 
 
 Bspatch dated 
 ations in the 
 (copper) sent 
 I the superior 
 ae colony are 
 has already 
 n the colony, 
 aced beyond 
 
 gration agent 
 ated that the 
 tinned great, 
 amestic men 
 f'dH good em- 
 There was, 
 leers, millers, 
 nd shopmen ; 
 brickmakers, 
 ights, white- 
 makers and 
 
 saddlers, hut- keepers, labourers (town), masons, watchmakers, 
 and jewellers. 
 
 For the protection and advantageous settlement of female 
 immigrants, not under the charge of relatives, the Colonial 
 Government has made the most careful provision. The ship 
 is, on its arrival, immediately visited by the immigration 
 officer, by whom the capabilities and wishes of each woman 
 with regard to employment are ascertained. The women are 
 then landed in Government boats, and admitted to a large 
 and commodious building, where beds, provisions, and other 
 advantages are provided for them. Here they remain for 
 some days to wash their clothes and make preparations for 
 service, in the charge of an experienced matron, under the 
 direction of the immigration officer. Persons who wi.sh to 
 obtain their services are requested to make written application, 
 on which printed * authorities ' are transmitted to approved 
 applicants, who, on presenting them at the depot, are at 
 liberty to make arrangements with the immigrants by mutual 
 consent, the women receiving such advice and information as 
 they may require. No person is permitted to hire any female 
 from the * depot ' without the ' authority ' above mentioned ; 
 and as this is only sent to those who are known to be suitable 
 employers, no young woman can fall into improper hands on 
 first arrival in this colony. These must be seen to be very 
 important advantages. 
 
 New Zealand.— The following report has been forwarded 
 by the Colonial Secretary of New Zealand, dated September 
 10,1858:— 
 
 * The demand for agricultural labourers, shepherds, and farm 
 servants still continues ; the limited supplybeing insufficient to 
 meet the continued demand caused by the increased and 
 increasing occupation of the colony by European settlers. 
 Carpenters, masons, bricklayers, blacksmiths, cabinet-makers, 
 harness-makers, wheelwrights, plasterers, shoemakers, tailors, 
 tinsmiths, ropemakers, bakers, coopers, millwrights, painters, 
 plumbers, and slaters, lind ready employment in all the 
 settlements in the colony. 
 
¥i* 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 rv. 
 
 |^<^. * 
 
 ::?/^ . 
 
 
 
 
 400 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 * The natives continue quiet and useful, both as producers 
 themselves and as helps to Europeans. Tliey also purcluise, 
 very considerable quantities of Europefin (chiefly British) 
 manufactured goods with the money which they obtain by 
 their labour, and the productions of their own lands brought 
 to the markets in their own vessels. 
 
 * Cultivatiou, both by natives and Europeans, is rapidly 
 extending. Both races are amassing wealth, and in other 
 respects the state of this colony continues to be peaceful and 
 prosperous. In the provinces of Nelson, Canterbury, and 
 Otago, the native title is extinguished over all the lands. It 
 is only in the northern island that land can now be ac(iuired 
 from the natives.' 
 
 Young men of no particular profession and without capital 
 invariably fail to procure empk^ ment ; and even those who 
 have been brought up to mercsantile pursuits are equally 
 unsuccessful. From October to April is the best season for 
 arriving in New Zealand, and from May to September the 
 least favourable ; the colony is very healthy at all seasons, 
 but the weather is boisterous and rainy during the last- 
 mentioned period, although it has been less so lately than in 
 former years. 
 
 Cape of Good Hope. — The following extracts are taken 
 from the report of Rawson Rawson, Esq., Colonial Secretary, 
 dated Cape of Grood Hope, October 21, 1858: — 
 
 ' In both the provinces (Eastern and Western) of this 
 colony there is a constant demand for an increased supply of 
 European labour ; and sober, honest, and industrious men are 
 sure to succeed in either of them ; the long-established and 
 settled nature of the greater part of the colony, rendering it 
 more suitable for those who will be content gradually to 
 acquire a competence, than for any who, by emigration, 
 expect to realise rapid fortunes. The prospect of perma- 
 nent security, by the dispersion of the tribes on the Caffrarian 
 frontier, and the commencement of a systematic immigration 
 under the management of the Colonial Government (for 
 which the Cape Parliament has already voted a sum of 
 
i producers 
 o purcluise, 
 fly British) 
 r obtain by 
 ids brou«j;ht 
 
 , is rapidly 
 id in other 
 eaceful and 
 srbury, and 
 ! lands. It 
 be acquired 
 
 tiout capital 
 a those who 
 are equally 
 it season for 
 •tember the 
 all seasons, 
 Lg the last- 
 ;ely than in 
 
 are taken 
 Secretary, 
 
 rn) of this 
 supply of 
 )us men are 
 jlished and 
 endering it 
 radually to 
 emigration, 
 of perma- 
 Caffrariau 
 nmigration 
 iment (for 
 a sum of 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 491 
 
 80,000/., and is prepared largely to extend tlii URtnt if ire 
 system should work efficiently), have greatly iJifream«l. the 
 eligibility of the colony as a resort for European uiiinigrauts ; 
 and the important works which are in execution, or are 
 about to be commenced, offer a favourable opening to 
 mechanics and skilled labourers. Among these works may 
 be enumerated a railway, about 50 miles in length, from Cape 
 Town to Wellington ; a harbour of refuge in Table Bay, on 
 which it is contemplated to expend a sum of 350,000/. ; a 
 new general hospital and asylum in Cape Town ; and thirty 
 or forty prisons in different parts of the country. 
 
 * In the Paarl Division, coopers are in demand ; in the 
 George, tanners and curriers are wanted. 
 
 * Immigrants wishing to settle in the Western Province 
 should take ship to Table Bay (Cape Town); those for the 
 Eastern Province will save both time and money by sailing 
 direct to Algoa Bay (Port Elizabeth), which is distant about 
 90 miles from Graham's Town.' 
 
 Natal. — The following report from William C. Sargeatmt, 
 Esq., then Colonial Secretary at Natal, is dated December 1, 
 1856: — 
 
 * Agricultural and domestic servants are still much in 
 demand ; a steady supply would meet with immediate employ 
 at wages which, compared with those received for similar 
 services in England, may be called high. I believe no able- 
 bodied white man, capable here of manual labour, receives 
 less than from 3s. 6cL to 4s. Gd. per diem. Where employed 
 on farms at any considerable distance from the chief towns, 
 the wage given is generally from 21. to 3/. a month, with 
 board and lodging. 
 
 ' Many men without capital, and without a particular pro- 
 fession, experience great difficidty in obtaining a livelihood ; 
 as a class they generally fail as immigrants ; even those who 
 have been brought up to mercantile pursuits caimot find 
 ready employment. Those who have been accustomed to 
 live, when in England, in towns are ill adapted to contend 
 with the difficulties at the outset of their arrival ; real agri- 
 
 f 
 
 !i" i 
 
1 
 
 im'm ^ 
 
 J**,;-, 
 
 ■ ?»? 
 
 if^ 'ft"' 
 
 
 ^! 
 
 •0 ■ 
 
 
 '^4 
 
 
 ,*>. 
 
 
 403 
 
 Al'l'ENDlX II. 
 
 cultural labourers seem to prosper best; and generally, if 
 Hteady, becorno possessed of property, and employers of labour 
 in their turn.' 
 
 Skilled Lahou)'. — * Mechanics are still much in demand; 
 masons, carpenters, bricklayers, wheelwrights, &c., get from 
 6s. to lOs, per diem. To show the detnand for these services, 
 1 may mention that it is not uncommon for master mechanics 
 to take apprentices, not merely without a premium, as com- 
 monly paid by the parents and guardians in England ; but 
 in order to secure their services, say for two years, besides 
 teaching them their trades, paying during apprenticeship 
 what would be considered in England sufficient for support.' 
 
 In a report from George Macleroy, Escj., the Colonial 
 Secretary, dated November 13th 1857, it is stated that the 
 preceding remarks are still applicable ; but it is added that 
 * it should be clearly understood that, owing to various circum- 
 stances, this colony can only absorb a very limited increase 
 of labourers and mechanics, and that a large influx of these 
 classes, unaccompanied by employers of labour would be pro- 
 ductive of serious evil. 
 
 ' The circumstances alluded to are — the smallness of the 
 present white population (which does not exceed 8,000 souls, 
 including about 3,000 Dutch boors and their families, who 
 seldom cultivate much land, and are not employers of white 
 labour to any extent), the scarcity of capital, and the abund- 
 ance of unskilled labour.' 
 
 It is further stated, that a plan of immigration had been 
 commenced, which it was anticipated would meet the present 
 requirements of the colony, as regards the supply of skilled 
 labour, pending the adoption of other measures, then in con- 
 templation, for the promotion of a more extensive emigration 
 from the United Kingdom. 
 
[cnemlly, if 
 1-8 of labour 
 
 in demand ; 
 !., get from 
 38e Bervices, 
 r meciiauicH 
 im, as com- 
 igland ; but 
 sars, besides 
 prenticeahip 
 )r support.' 
 he Colonial 
 ed that the 
 added that 
 ious circvun- 
 ted increase 
 lux of these 
 ould be pro- 
 
 |lnes8 of the 
 8,000 souls, 
 imilies, who 
 ers of white 
 ;he abund- 
 
 n had been 
 the present 
 
 y of skilled 
 len in con- 
 
 I emigration 
 
 m 
 < 
 
 
 Si 
 
 I* 
 
 'A 
 
 
 5^ 
 
 9 B-oO 
 
 AITENDIX II. 
 
 'lolZ^ 3 
 
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 494 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 CLIMATE. 
 AUSTRALIAN COLONIES. 
 
 New South Wales. — The climate is considered to be very 
 salubrious, but, from the great extent of the colony and other 
 causes, almost every variety of climate may be found. 
 
 January is the hottest month. In 1855 the highest tem- 
 perature in that month, at the meteorological register kept 
 at South Head, Port Jackson, was 87° and the lowest 63°. 
 
 July is the coldest month. In 1855, the highest tem- 
 perature in that month at South Head was 64°, and the 
 lowest 48°. 
 
 The fall of rain, at the same place, in 1855 was, 52*85 
 inches. The maximum height of tJie barometer was 30*373, 
 and the minimum 29*300. The number of days on which 
 rain fell was 138. 
 
 Prevalence of winds at Port Jackson, in 1855. 
 
 Direction of wind 
 
 Number of days .... 
 
 N. 
 77 
 
 NE. 
 64 
 
 E. 
 34 
 
 SE. 
 71 
 
 S. 
 44 
 
 SW. 
 49 
 
 28 
 
 NW. 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 Victoria. — This territory, extending eastward from the 
 141st to the 150th degree of east longitude, and embracing, 
 from north to south, the immense district lying between the 
 Eiver Murray and Bass's Straits, comprehends an area which 
 is estimated at 90,000 square miles ; and, being the most 
 southerly part of New Holland, enjoys a comparatively cool 
 climate, and is, therefore, found to be peculiarly well adapted 
 to the European constitution. The mean temperature of the 
 year 1857, according to the observations taken at the Govern- 
 ment Observatory, Melbourne, was 59°*0, being only 9°*(5 
 higher than the temperature at Greenwich. Tlie highest 
 
APPENDIX II. 
 
 495 
 
 ■i I 
 
 mean monthly temperature in Melbourne was 72*'*3, and the 
 lowest 49°*4, being a difference of 22°*9 ; while the highest 
 mean monthly temperature at Grreenwieh is 61 "'8, and the 
 lowest 38°*8, being a difference of 23 degrees. The diurnal 
 ranges of temperature in the summer season, however, are 
 sometimes very considerable. — Report of Registrar-General 
 of Victoria, June 30, 1858. 
 
 The hottest month is January, the mean temperature of 
 which is about 68^ 
 
 In the years 1856-7-8, the mean temperature of that 
 month was, at Melbourne, 67*''9, 66°'4, and 72"'*3. 
 
 The coldest month is July, the mean temperature of which 
 is about 49° In the years 1856-7-8 the mean temperature 
 of that month was, at Melbourne, 48°'3, 46°'8, and 47°*5 Ice 
 is very uncommon ; hoar frost is sometimes seen early in the 
 
 morning. 
 
 The year is divided thus : — Spring — September, October, 
 and November. Summer — December, January, and February. 
 Auturan — March, April, and May. Winter — June, July, 
 
 and August. 
 
 
 } 9> 
 
 
 s: 
 
 
 "S OD 
 
 
 
 KS 
 
 
 G 
 
 S£ 
 
 o" 
 
 S-.3 
 
 
 1° 
 
 £5 
 
 B 
 
 £•3 
 
 S-'S 
 
 
 
 ean 
 
 ratur 
 
 year 
 
 
 2 
 
 ea>i 
 
 mete 
 
 year 
 
 uanti 
 
 rain 
 
 they 
 
 ° e 
 
 
 S 
 
 U 
 
 S 
 
 a 
 
 'A 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 In. 
 
 
 London 
 
 50 
 
 62 
 
 36 
 
 29-89 
 
 20 
 
 178 
 
 Madeira .... 
 
 64 
 
 73 
 
 68 
 
 30-03 
 
 25 
 
 73 
 
 Auckland, N. Z. . 
 
 69| 
 
 69 
 
 52 
 
 29-92 
 
 45| 
 
 160 
 
 Adelaide, S. A. . 
 
 65 
 
 73 
 
 55 
 
 30-2 
 
 22 
 
 139 
 
 In 1851, however, the fall of rain at Adelaide was 30*63 
 inches. In 1852 the highest range of the thermometer was 
 105°, the lowest 44°, and the average 67°. The number of 
 days on which rain fell was 115, and the total quantity 
 27*34 inches. 
 
 In 1855, the extreme range of the barometer in Adelaide 
 at the hours of 10.30 A.M. and 3.30 p.m., extended from 30°-96 
 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 
 I !' 
 
 I 
 
 if 
 
 1 .;', ■ 
 ' 1 
 
 1 
 
 II 
 
 ■ ■! 
 1 
 
 i'; 
 
 11 ■■ 
 
 

 496 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 
 
 
 '^^U 
 
 
 fc„tj 
 
 II 
 
 ir< \ 
 
 Wi * 
 
 -•i^ • 
 
 !•*> 
 
 *i?>>!«fy 
 
 
 
 
 in March to 29°'18 in April, the general average of the twelve 
 months giving the following results : — 
 
 Mnximum 
 300-28 
 
 30°-09 
 
 Minimum 
 29°-64 
 
 The temperature varied in Adelaide during the above- 
 named five hours at its greatest extreme, from 108° in 
 January to 50° in August, the general averages of the year 
 working out to — 
 
 Maximum 
 80° 
 
 Mean 
 67°-94 
 
 Minimum 
 690-46 
 
 The total rainfall in Adelaide during the year amounted 
 to 22-32 inches, the greatest fall in any one month having 
 been 3'76 inches in May, and January having been the only 
 month without rain, even on the Adelaide Plains. 
 
 The most steady rains begin with the wind about NE., 
 increase as it veers to the N., and fall heaviest when the wind 
 is about NW. 
 
 There is no endemic disease; intermittent fevers are 
 scarely known, nor has any eruptive fever, excepting occa- 
 sional scarlatina and measles, yet appeared. Scrofulous 
 diseases are rare; tubercular affections of the lungs are 
 infrequent ; epidemic cholera has not visited the colony ; 
 diseases of the eyes are frequent in summer, irritated by the 
 impalpable dust of the streets and roads, or occasioned by 
 exposure to the night air after being subjected to the glare of 
 a cloudless sky. 
 
 Western Austealia.— The Colonial Secretary, in a report 
 dated Perth, November 11, 1858, states that 'The colony 
 possesses one of the most healthy climates in the world. The 
 mortality since its occupation has not averaged one per cent. 
 
 * I doubt if any portion of the world is better suited to the 
 English constitution. The mean of the barometer is about 
 30 inches, and of the thermometer, about 63°. 
 
 *I believe that in general salubrity of climate Western 
 Australia possesses a marked superiorit}' over any of the 
 
APPENDIX ir. 
 
 497 
 
 the twelve 
 
 the above- 
 tn 108° in 
 )f the year 
 
 r amounted 
 nth having 
 en the only 
 
 about NE., 
 len the wind 
 
 fevers are 
 pting occa- 
 
 Scrofulous 
 
 3 lungs are 
 
 he colony ; 
 
 ated by the 
 
 asioned by 
 
 ;he glare of 
 
 in a report 
 The colony 
 vorld. The 
 le per cent, 
 uited to the 
 
 er is .about 
 
 te Western 
 any of the 
 
 Australian colonies. It is subject to no extremes of heat or 
 cold. Cattle have never been known to die from lack of 
 water ; and, in the very driest weather, there is a sufficient 
 supply of food. Exposure to weather by night or day appears 
 to produce no ill effects on the constitution of the colonists, 
 many of whom, for months together, rarely sleep under any 
 beyond the most temporary dwelling. Snow is never seen ; 
 ice only in the depth of winter, and then only in the very 
 early morning. 
 
 * As in New Zealand, both maize and potatoes ripen in this 
 country, and the latter crop is grown to a considerable extent. 
 The apple and the pear, the orange, banana, fig, peach, and 
 apricot, with the melon and the vine, grow luxuriantly, and 
 may be seen ripening at the same time. The colony is 
 peculiarly adapted to the growth of the vine, on the cultiva- 
 tion of which much attention is bestowed, and which is likely 
 to prove very remunerating. English and tropical vegetables 
 and fruits are largely cultivated and yield profusely. 
 
 ' Attention is also being devoted to dried fruits, and spe- 
 cimens of figs and raisins that have been sent to the pe- 
 riodical horticultural exhibitions for competition, are little 
 inferior to those imported from Europe. 
 
 * Fruits and vegetables from all parts of the world grow to 
 great perfection ; the vine in particular, the culture of which 
 for wine and dried fruit is now engaging much attention.' 
 
 With a coast of 2,000 miles on the Indian Ocean, and with 
 a westerly aspect, from which the prevailing winds blow, 
 there are abundant rains during the tillage season, and the 
 farmer is relieved from that anxiety about his crops which is 
 felt in other parts of Australia on account of drought. There 
 is also abundance of edible fish on the coast and in the nume- 
 rous estuaries. The heat of summer is moderated by alternate 
 land and sea breezes. All sorts of vegetables and fruit trees 
 flourish luxuriantly, especially the vine ; and the land bears 
 good crops of grain of all kinds, particularly on the low 
 alluvial flats which line most of the rivers. The Darling and 
 Roe ranges of hills, rising to the height of 1,500 to 2,000 feet 
 above sea-level, lie parallel to the western coast, at ten to 
 
 K K 
 
 li 
 
 \' 
 
 V; 
 
r \ ■f » £' 
 
 
 
 498 
 
 APPENDIX 11. 
 
 twenty-five miles from it, and are dotted with numerous 
 thriving farms amongst its hills and valleys. These ranges 
 are twenty to fifty miles across, and on their eastern side the 
 undulating grassy lands are situated, which constitute the 
 principal sheep and cattle runs. 
 
 Lord Grey, in the House of Lords, on March 13, 1861, 
 thus alludes to Western Australia : — * The developement of 
 the resources of Western Australia is a matter of the highest 
 moment. Coal is to be found there, and, in steam commu- 
 nication with India, I need scarcely remind you of the vast 
 value of such a product. Further, I may state, that Western 
 Australia abounds with forests of the finest timber, while it 
 possesses a climate and soil capable of producing anything 
 which a tropical region of the earth may be expected to yield.' 
 
 The number of sheep in the colony in December 1859, 
 was about 235,000; of cattle, 31,000; pigs, 11,000; goats, 
 2,283; horses, 8,400. Consumed in 1859 — sheep, 39,000; 
 cattle, 6,300. 
 
 Quantity of land under lease as stock runs, 5,250,000 acres ; 
 quantity of land in fee simple, 1,600,000 acres, scattered over 
 18 districts, which occupy an area of 560 miles N. and S., 
 and 200 miles E. and W. Extent of country explored is 
 800 miles in a northerly direction to the tropic of Capricorn, 
 and 250 miles wide from the coast ; and 500 miles of the 
 southern part of the colony, extending 100 miles inland. 
 
 Land in cultivation, 36,430 acres ; yield of wheat in harvest 
 of 1859-60, at the low average of only 12 bushels per acre, 
 163,320 bushels. 
 
 Wine made in 1859, 20,833 gallons; fruits, dried, 18,952 
 pounds. 
 
 The imports for the same year amounted to 1 37,638i. 13s. 8d., 
 and the exports to 93,395Z. Os. 4c?. 
 
 A considerable addition must of course be allowed for 
 increase of stock and cultivation since the end of 1859. A 
 great increase has also taken place in the exports of the 
 colony, particularly in the articles of sandal-wood, jarrah and 
 tooart timber, and copper ore. The colony now (1861) pro- 
 duces nearly sufficient wheat, barley, maize, potatoes, &c., for 
 its requirements, which is not the case in any other Australian 
 
APPENDIX II. 
 
 499 
 
 colony, except South Australia, which is more of an agricul- 
 tural than a pastoral country. 
 
 The revenue of the colony for 1860 was 66,029^. lis. 5d. 
 and the Colonial Government expenditure 58,361^. 6s. 5d. 
 
 The Imperial expenditure for 1859 was 92,070/., tliat for 
 1860 being about 82,000/. 
 
 Population at the end of 1859, 14.837. Deaths in 1859, 
 209, or 1*141 per cent. Average per-centage of deaths to 
 population in 12 years, 1848-59, 0*91 per cent. ; maximum, 
 do. do. 1*47 ; minimum, do. do. 0*55. Total deaths in 1859, 
 209, namely : — Under 3 years of age, 101 ; 3 to 5, ; 5 to 
 20, 12 ; 20 to 40, 56 ; 40 to 60, 31 ; 60 and upwards, 9 ; 
 total above 5, 108. During the last 30 years the deaths of 
 colonial-born, 5 to 30 years old, were only 20, namely : — 
 From disease of the brain, 3 ; disease of the bowels, 4 ; acci- 
 dent, 8 ; whooping-cough, 1 ; decline, 4 ; total in 30 years, 20. 
 
 The population of each of the principal towns of the colony 
 on December 31, 1859, was — Perth, 2,762; Fremantle, 
 2,392; York, 618; Albany, 492; Guildford, 369; Bunbury, 
 228 ; other parts of the colony, 7,976 ; professing the follow- 
 ing religious persuasions : — Church of England, 9,942 ; 
 Wesleyans, 895 ; Independents, 385 ; Presbyterians, 207 ; 
 Baptists and other Protestants, 63 ; Church of Rome, 3,354, 
 Jews, Mahomedans, and Infidels, 51. The population on 
 December 31, 1861, may be computed at about 16,000. 
 
 No endemic diseases. An epidemic catarrh, * influenza,' 
 twice a year, i. e. at the changes from summer to spring, and 
 winter to summer. It is mild, but very general when it 
 appears. 
 
 Tasmania. — The climate is considered to be very healthy. 
 The temperature, taking the average of nearly twenty years, 
 rnay be stated at fifty-three degrees of Fahrenheit, and the 
 average annual rain-fall at twenty-one inches. The thermo- 
 meter, during very hot winds, has been noted at 105" in the 
 shade, and the black bulb thermometer at 156° in the sun ; but 
 these occasions are so rare as to make them very remarkable. 
 The thermometer seldom falls below 25°, and then only in 
 the higher regions of the colony, and during the continuance 
 
 K K 2 
 
 w 
 
 
 i ' 
 
500 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 ¥'i!■^ 
 
 ,^y^ 
 
 
 § 
 
 of the keen north-west winds. In no season of the year is the 
 weather so excessively hot or cold that the ordinary field 
 operations may not be carried on without danger to health. 
 Thunder-storms are not frequent. 
 
 The following extracts are taken from a letter from the 
 Governor of the colony, November 3, 1850 : — 
 
 * Upon Hobart Town the amount of rain falling annually 
 varies from fifteen to twenty-five inches. January, February, 
 and March, the summer months, are generally dry, but of 
 course the climate varies very much according to position. 
 The central parts of the island are about three thousand feet 
 above the level of the sea, and this portion may be said to 
 form a plateau covered with lakes, from which nearly all the 
 rivers in the island flow in difierent directions. In many 
 parts of the country vegetation suffers from summer frosts ; 
 the low damp valleys appear to be most subject to this 
 infliction, from which the sides of the hills appear to be 
 exempt in great measure. The winter is never severe, snow 
 seldom lies anywhere, except on the elevated plateaux and on 
 the mountain ridges, for more than a day, and the climate is 
 singularly healthy. 
 
 Synopsis of the meteorological observations for the years 1854, 1865, and 1856. 
 
 1854 
 
 1655 
 
 1856 
 
 Inches 
 
 Incheii 
 
 Inches 
 
 29-785 
 
 29-746 
 
 29-696 
 
 30-56 
 
 18-25 
 
 22-89 
 
 63°03 
 
 68°06 
 
 55°88 
 
 Mean pressure of the year, cor-'^ 
 
 rected down to the standards 
 
 temperature of 32° Fahr. ) 
 Quantity of rain 
 
 Mean temperature of the year 
 
 Remarks for 1854. — Thunder-storms in January, March, October, No- 
 vember ; hot winds, January, from NW. ; gale of wind, February, from 
 SSW., accompanied by a torrent of rain 8| in., having fallen in 38 hours ; 
 gale from SE. March 22, also attended with heavy rain and causing a flood ; 
 gale from NW., September 16, lasting 24 hours. 
 
 Remarks for 1865. — The maximum temperature of the year 1855 was 
 96° ; the minimum was 30° ; the maximum solar intensity, black bulb ther- 
 mometer, was 132°; thunder-storm in October; high winds, March, May, 
 August, November. 
 
 Remarks for 1856. — Maximum temperature, 94°; minimum, 30°. 
 
APPENDIX II. 
 
 601 
 
 New Zealand. — The following table and observations on 
 the climate of New Zealand, are extracted from an official 
 report^ on the subject, dated Auckland, April 21, 1858, by 
 Dr. A. S. Thomson, of the 58th Eegiment, in charge of the 
 Principal Medical Officer's Department in New Zealand : — 
 
 
 
 Mean 
 
 Average 
 
 Arerage 
 
 Till mho ■• 
 
 Mean 
 
 Average tem- 
 perature of the 
 
 Place* 
 
 Latitude 
 
 annual 
 tempe- 
 rature 
 
 rail 01 
 rain in 
 inches 
 
 iiuiiiut^r 
 
 of day* 
 
 on which 
 
 rain fell 
 
 annual 
 baro- 
 meter 
 
 
 
 Coldest 
 
 Warmeit 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 month 
 
 month 
 
 North Island : — 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Kaikohe, N. Z.» 
 
 35-20 S. 
 
 59 
 
 . . 
 
 147 
 
 • • 
 
 47 
 
 69 
 
 Auckland, N. Z. 
 
 36-50 S. 
 
 59^ 
 55^ 
 
 45J 
 
 160 
 
 29-95 
 
 61 
 
 68 
 
 New Plymouth, N. Z. 
 
 39-3 S. 
 
 69 
 
 126 
 
 29-86 
 
 46 
 
 64 
 
 Wellington, N. Z. . 
 
 41-16 S. 
 
 66 
 
 49| 
 
 99 
 
 •29-79 
 
 45 
 
 65 
 
 Middle Island : — 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Nelson, N. Z. . 
 
 41-15 S. 
 
 54 
 
 34i 
 
 120 
 
 29-79 
 
 44 
 
 64 
 
 Christchurch t . 
 
 43-35 S, 
 
 53 
 
 31 
 
 61 
 
 29-74 
 
 40 
 
 64 
 
 Otago, N. Z. 
 
 45-46 S. 
 
 50 
 
 30 
 
 130 
 
 29-69 
 
 42 
 
 68 
 
 Mauritius 
 
 20-9 S. 
 
 77 
 
 39 
 
 148 
 
 30-08 
 
 72 
 
 82 
 
 Fremantle, Western 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Australia . 
 
 32-15 S. 
 
 62 
 
 33 
 
 88 
 
 30-04 
 
 63 
 
 71 
 
 Sydney. 
 
 33-51 S. 
 
 66 
 
 62 
 
 . 
 
 29-50 
 
 59 
 
 73 
 
 Cape Town . 
 
 34-0 S. 
 
 67 
 
 , , 
 
 76 
 
 , , 
 
 57 
 
 79 
 
 Melbourne, Port Philip . 
 
 37-49 S. 
 
 61 
 
 25 
 
 • • 
 
 29-96 
 
 53 
 
 69 
 
 Port Arthur, Tasmania . 
 
 43-10 S. 
 
 58 
 
 44 
 
 • • 
 
 29-57 
 
 63 
 
 62 
 
 Colombo, Ceylon . 
 
 6-56 N. 
 
 80 
 
 71 
 
 112 
 
 29-90 
 
 78 
 
 82 
 
 Barbadoes 
 
 13-4 N. 
 
 80 
 
 68 
 
 171 
 
 29-60 
 
 78 
 
 82 
 
 Up Park Camp, Jamaica 
 
 )7-59N. 
 
 79 
 
 34 
 
 60 
 
 30-05 
 
 75 
 
 82 
 
 Madeira 
 
 32-37 N. 
 
 64 
 
 29 
 
 70 
 
 30-00 
 
 69 
 
 71 
 
 Malta .... 
 
 35-53 N. 
 
 67 
 
 28 
 
 75 
 
 2994 
 
 54 
 
 79 
 
 Gibraltar 
 
 36-6 N. 
 
 64 
 
 47 
 
 127 
 
 30-02 
 
 50 
 
 77 
 
 Philadelphia . 
 
 39-56 N. 
 
 53 
 
 • 
 
 • • 
 
 • • 
 
 32 
 
 77 
 
 New York . 
 
 40-46 N. 
 
 63 
 
 • m 
 
 , 
 
 • • 
 
 25 
 
 80 
 
 Rome .... 
 
 41-54 N. 
 
 60 
 
 31 
 
 117 
 
 « • 
 
 47 
 
 74 
 
 Montpelier . 
 
 43-36 N. 
 
 57 
 
 29 
 
 80 
 
 • • 
 
 42 
 
 76 
 
 Halifax, Nova Scotia 
 
 44-39 N. 
 
 44 
 
 65 
 
 • • 
 
 29-98 
 
 21 
 
 66 
 
 Milan .... 
 
 45-28 N. 
 
 65 
 
 • • 
 
 • • 
 
 , , 
 
 36 
 
 74 
 
 Quebec .... 
 
 46-47 N. 
 
 41 
 
 • • 
 
 t • 
 
 • • 
 
 13 
 
 73 
 
 St, John's, Newfound- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 land .... 
 
 47-35 N. 
 
 44 
 
 65 
 
 137 
 
 29-89 
 
 22 
 
 64 
 
 Paris .... 
 
 48-50 N. 
 
 51 
 
 ^ , 
 
 , , 
 
 , , 
 
 36 
 
 65 
 
 Jersey .... 
 
 49-16 N. 
 
 53 
 
 • • 
 
 , 
 
 , , 
 
 41 
 
 63 
 
 Brussels . . . 
 
 50-50 N. 
 
 51 
 
 , , 
 
 • • 
 
 , , 
 
 35 
 
 67 
 
 London. 
 
 51-30 N. 
 
 50 
 
 24 
 
 178 
 
 •29-89 
 
 37 
 
 63 
 
 Amsterdam . 
 
 52-22 N. 
 
 51 
 
 • • 
 
 , , 
 
 , ^ 
 
 35 
 
 66 
 
 Edinburgh . 
 
 55-58 N. 
 
 47 
 
 40i 
 
 168 
 
 29-82 
 
 34 
 
 59 
 
 * The observations recorded at 9 a. m. have been adopted, as it has been found 
 tliat where only one observation is made, tliat made at nine gives the nearest 
 approach to the average temperature of the twenty -four hours. 
 
 t As the observations were made during the heat of the day, I have assumed 
 
 t' i\ 
 
 
 
 i\% 
 
 t«i 
 
 'i 
 

 502 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 
 
 
 The following extracts are taken from a pamphlet entitled 
 'Auckland and its Neighbourhood,' published by the 
 Attorney-General, W. Swainson, Esq.: — 
 
 * The general salubrity of the climate of New Zealand has 
 now been established by the experience of years. . . . 
 Compared with that of Nice, one of the most celebrated 
 continental climates, the climate of Auckland is more t&tn- 
 perate in summer, milder in the winter, equally mild in the 
 spring, but a little colder i)i the autumn, with this advantage 
 too over all the boasted continental climates, that it is not so 
 liable to the very great variations of temperature common to 
 them all from sudden shifts of wind. The climate of New 
 Zealand is doubtless less charming and delightful than that of 
 Italy and the south of France, but it is certainly more salu- 
 brious, and probably better suited to the English constitution 
 generally than even the climate of Madeira. . . . Compared 
 with Great Britain, New Zealand, as far as its general salu- 
 brity can be ascertained,*possesses a marked superiority. . . . 
 The only class of cases in which the comparison is unfavour- 
 able to New Zealand are complaints of the eye, which are more 
 than twice as numerous here as they are in Great Britain. 
 Scarlatina, measles, and whooping-cough have, however, re- 
 cently made their appearance, and aflfected the young, espe- 
 cially, of both races. . . . Compared with an English 
 summer, that of Auckland is but little warmer, though much 
 longer ; but the nights in New Zealand are always cool and 
 refreshing, . . . It is also much warmer here both in 
 the spring and autumn ; and the winter weather of England 
 from the middle of November to the middle of March, with 
 its parching easterly winds, cold, fog, and snow, altogether 
 unknown. Snow, indeed, is never seen here ; ice, very thin 
 and very rarely ; and hail is neither common nor destructive. 
 The winter, however, is very wet, but not colder than an 
 English April or October, There is a greater prevalence of 
 
 tluxt tlie diiFerence Letwccn tlie night temperature and the day temperature in 
 twi'lve degrees, the same as at Nelson, and I have adopted the above as the mean 
 temperatiure of the year, and of the warmest and the coldest month at Christ- 
 church. 
 
APPENDIX 11. 
 
 503 
 
 high winds too than is personally agreeable, but with less 
 wind the climate would not be more healthy. There is 
 most wind in the spring and autumn, rather less in the 
 summer, and least of all in winter. . . . The days are 
 an hour shorter in the summer and an hour longer in the 
 winter than in England ; of twilight there is little or none. 
 
 * Winds at Auckland. — Fine dry weather is sometimes 
 seen in all winds, but, as a rule, when winds having a north- 
 erly direction prevail, the weather is often cloudy and 
 unsettled, atmosphere moist. The thermometer rises a few 
 degrees, and northerly winds often terminate in a short gale. 
 When winds being much westerly prevail, the weather is 
 often unsettled, with showers ; it frequently blows very hard 
 from the W. in winter and spring. Easterly gales often 
 occur about the full and change of the moon, and blow for 
 two or three days on such occasions ; in winter these easterly 
 gales are often very violent. When the winds having a con- 
 siderable southerly direction prevail, the weather is fine, 
 atmosphere dry, sky clear, and the thermometer falls. 
 
 ' There is a sea breeze sets in from the N. about 10 a.m. in 
 calm weather and dies away at sunset, when a light land 
 breeze from the southward occasionally springs up.' 
 
 Cape of Good Hope. — The climate of the eastern and 
 western districts varies, but are both peculiarly healthy. 
 The winter and spring months are the most agreeable and 
 pleasant. The summer heat is oppressive, but does not affect 
 health. 
 
 The range of the thermometer is considerably less than in 
 England. The general temperature is much higher, but 
 from the dryness of the atmosphere during the greatest heat, 
 the degree indicated by the instrument is far beyond any 
 personal discomfort or inconvenience caused. 
 
 Exposure to the midday heat of summer is unpleasant, 
 but not dangerous. The nights are generally cool, and the 
 cold of winter is only sufficient to be bracing, frost or snow 
 being rare or unknown, except in very elevated tracts of 
 country. About once in four or five years the drought may 
 
 I 
 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
S64 
 
 ArPENDIX II. 
 
 
 
 
 
 mi 
 
 partially injure the crops. In some parts of the eastern 
 districts, and sometimes during wet seasons in the western, 
 the wheat is liable to rust, but on arable lands in favourable 
 situations the soil usually yields excellent crops without 
 much cultivation or care. 
 
 The following is an epitome of the most important results 
 of the meteorological observations made at the Royal Obser- 
 vatory, situated three and a half miles east of Cape Town, in 
 latitude 33" 56^ 3'', during fourteen years, from 1842 to 
 
 1855:— 
 
 Barometer at temperature 32°. 
 
 Mean of 14 years 30'036 inches. 
 
 Muximom difference of annual means .... '053 „ 
 Maximum difference of monthly means .... '229 „ 
 
 Temperature. 
 
 Mean of 14 years (in England 62°) 61-71 
 
 Difference of highest and lowest annual means .... 2*33 
 
 Difference of highest and lowest monthly means .... 14*42 
 
 Mean daily range 10*32 
 
 Mean of greatest range on any one day of each month in 
 
 14 years 25*5 
 
 Mean of least range on ditto ditto 6*1 
 
 Mean of highest monthly range (April) 35*1 
 
 Mean of lowest monthly range (December) 27*9 
 
 Humidity. 
 
 Mean of each year (14) 75*14 per cent. 
 
 Mean daily range 17'9 „ 
 
 Mean of yearly fall of rain 23*309 inches. 
 
 Maximum annual 33*467 „ 
 
 Minimum ditto 18*783 „ 
 
 Maximum monthly (Juno) 4*311 „ 
 
 Minimum ditto (December) 0*616 „ 
 
 Six months, from April to September 18*309 „ 
 
 Six months, from October to Mai*eh .... 6*999 „ 
 
 Direction and force of wind in 16 months, Sqdcmher 1854 to December 1855. 
 
 Direction.— S. to W. 241 days. 
 
 „ WNW. toN. ....... 137 „ 
 
 NNE. toSSE 27 „ 
 
 Force. — Mean, on the square foot 0*59 lbs. 
 
 „ Maximum in one month (December) . . . 1*12 „ 
 
 „ Minimum in one month (May) .... 014 „ 
 
 To the frequent winds may be attributed the noted salu- 
 biity of the Cape climate, particularly the absence of those 
 
APPENDIX II. 
 
 605 
 
 fevers of the bilious remittent type which in many otiier 
 countries are produced by marsh miasma or by continued 
 calm hot weather. 
 
 Natal. — The following tables and statements have been 
 furnished by the Surveyor-General to the Colonial Commis- 
 sioners, as illustrating the climate of this colony :— 
 
 Table I. — Tho Weathbb at PiBTEnuABiTZBUBO 2,114 feet above the 
 
 mean level of the sea. 
 
 18S4 
 
 Number of days 
 
 cloudy or misty 
 
 throughout 
 
 Number of days 
 
 clear through- 
 
 out 
 
 Number of days 
 clear in fore- 
 noon 
 
 Number of days 
 clear in after- 
 noon 
 
 Number of days 
 
 in which rain 
 
 fell 
 
 Number of dars 
 
 in which thunder 
 
 and lightning 
 
 occurred 
 
 e 
 
 "SI 
 
 "SI 
 
 It 
 
 January 
 February 
 March . 
 April . 
 May . 
 June . 
 July . 
 August. 
 September 
 October 
 November 
 December 
 
 
 
 20 
 16 
 
 17 
 6 
 6 
 2 
 
 4 
 4 
 11 
 10 
 8 
 
 1 
 4 
 7 
 
 14 
 13 
 18 
 27 
 18 
 17 
 13 
 4 
 6 
 
 10 
 14 
 16 
 16 
 18 
 24 
 30 
 26 
 26 
 13 
 23 
 23 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 18 
 
 20 
 
 22 
 
 27 
 
 21 
 
 10 
 
 13 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 17 
 
 16 
 
 13 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 12 
 
 14 
 
 17 
 
 10 
 9 
 
 7 
 6 
 1 
 
 
 2 
 3 
 6 
 6 
 14 
 
 In. 
 4-289 
 7-624 
 3-289 
 1-565 
 1-282 
 4-056 
 0-000 
 0-256 
 1-660 
 8-424 
 7-762 
 10-710 
 
 Totals 
 
 104 
 
 141 
 
 238 
 
 162 
 
 114 
 
 62 
 
 60-696 
 
 Table II. — Analysis of the Direction of the Winds, with reference only 
 to the period of their duration. 
 
 1854 
 
 Forenoon 
 
 Aftemocn 
 
 Total in each month 
 
 W, 
 
 S. 
 
 E. 
 
 N. 
 
 W. 
 
 S. 
 
 E. 
 
 N. 
 
 W. 
 
 S. 
 
 B. 
 
 N. 
 769 
 
 January . 
 
 135 
 
 493 
 
 1-242 
 
 660 
 
 47 
 
 424 
 
 1'450 
 
 209 
 
 182 
 
 917 
 
 2-672 
 
 February 
 
 112 
 
 2-24 
 
 117H 
 
 754 
 
 88 
 
 610 
 
 1-062 
 
 31(1 
 
 200 
 
 834 
 
 2-240 
 
 1-069 
 
 March . . 
 
 3<;-i 
 
 .WS 
 
 1-232 
 
 262 
 
 856 
 
 674 
 
 1-084 
 
 376 
 
 1-018 
 
 1 212 
 
 2-316 
 
 638 
 
 April . . 
 
 858 
 
 56(1 
 
 520 
 
 27U 
 
 880 
 
 670 
 
 452 
 
 268 
 
 1-738 
 
 1-230 
 
 97--' 
 
 558 
 
 May . . 
 
 1-380 
 
 70S 
 
 498 
 
 178 
 
 7-20 
 
 750 
 
 906 
 
 224 
 
 2 100 
 
 1-J5S 
 
 1-404 
 
 402 
 
 June . . 
 
 I33fj 
 
 892 
 
 428 
 
 44 
 
 29-2 
 
 !>b6 
 
 1-518 
 
 288 
 
 1-6-28 
 
 1-448 
 
 1-946 
 
 332 
 
 July . . 
 
 1466 
 
 1-078 
 
 IHO 
 
 1--8 
 
 134 
 
 244 
 
 1-100 
 
 572 
 
 1-580 
 
 1-322 
 
 1-880 
 
 730 
 
 August 
 
 518 
 
 6oO 
 
 1-170 
 
 446 
 
 2-20 
 
 652 
 
 1-562 
 
 406- 
 
 738 
 
 1-302 
 
 2 7:w 
 
 912 
 
 September 
 
 538 
 
 946 
 
 904 
 
 402 
 
 226 
 
 614 
 
 1-474 
 
 468 
 
 764 
 
 1-400 
 
 2-39'* 
 
 870 
 
 October . 
 
 CIO 
 
 314 
 
 1-268 
 
 598 
 
 452 
 
 356 1-198 
 
 604 
 
 1062 
 
 670 
 
 2-406 
 
 1-202 
 
 November 
 
 560 
 
 342 
 
 1-428 
 
 464 
 
 6.56 
 
 308 1-086 
 
 510 
 
 1 222 
 
 5.M) 
 
 2-514 
 
 980 
 
 Ductmber 
 Totals . 
 
 180 
 
 354 
 
 1-6U8 
 
 464 
 
 158 
 
 446: 1«074 
 
 612 
 
 338 
 
 800 
 
 
 
 13-203 
 
 3-28-2 
 
 976 
 9-433 
 
 8-01I 
 
 0-999 
 
 11-662 
 
 4-620 
 
 4-729 
 
 0-204 15-186 
 
 4-813 
 
 12 770 
 
 20-848 
 
 \\i 
 
 III 
 
 ili 
 
 
 Ml 
 

 600 
 
 AITENDIX It. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 B 
 
 ws\ 
 
 
 II 
 
 'mk 
 
 s 
 
 ^m 
 
 fSSi 
 
 *, 
 
 i^mImi 
 
 lii'tV'"" ■ 
 
 il 
 
 a 
 
 m. 
 
 1 
 
 H 
 
 H 
 
 
 1 
 
 K 
 
 A8 Bhown in the above tables, the seasons ap{)ear to be 
 tolerably well defined. Comparatively little rain falls in the 
 winter months. When, however, precipitation occurs in that 
 season, it is usually of the character of the winter rains pre- 
 vailing at the Cape of Good Hope, and unattended by great 
 electrical disturbances, as in the other seasons. The annual 
 rain-fall, amounting only to fifty inches, is moderate. The 
 greatest quantity in twenty-four hours rarely amounts to 
 three inches; and the great number of perfectly and par- 
 tially clear days, is such as gives the climate features peculiar 
 to tropical and intertropical regions. As shown in Table II., 
 the wind blows longer from the eastward than from any 
 other quarter ; contrary to the popular belief, that the 
 moisture comes from the west, the east winds reaches its 
 monthly maximum duration in the wet season and descends 
 to its minimum in the opposite or dry season. At the ele- 
 vation mentioned, the mean atmospheric pressure was 28*082 
 inches, and the range from the greatest to the Ifnist pressure 
 observed, did not exceed eight-tenths of an inch. The 
 mean temperature was 63°, and the range of the thermo- 
 meter from about 100° to 28°. At D' Urban, however, only a 
 few feet above the sea-level, the mean would be 70°, and the 
 range from about 104° to 40°. At the ridge of the Daan- 
 kensburg, averaging 7,000 feet above the level of the sea, 
 where snow lodges for many consecutive days, the mean would 
 be about 46°. 
 
 The following general observations respecting the climate 
 of Natal occur in a despatch from Lieut.-Governor Pyne, 
 which accompained the blue book for x853 : — 
 
 'The spring in this country commences in September, and 
 the autumn about March. These transition seasons are, 
 however, of short duration, so that the period from September 
 to March may be regarded as the summer, that from 
 March to September as winter. The hottest weather is pro- 
 bably in December and January, the coldest in June and July. 
 In the summer rain falls nearly every day, accompanied 
 occasionally by violent thunder-storms. In the winter there 
 is but very little rain, and the sky clear and cloudless ; 
 
AiTKNDIX II. 
 
 fi07 
 
 in this eeoson we aro Bometimes many weeks without any 
 rain. 
 
 ' Owing to tho gradual elevation of the country from the 
 sea coast upwards, it possess a great variety of climate; it 
 may, however, for this purpose be generally considered as 
 divided into three regions. 
 
 * Ist. In the country along the sea coast, for ten or 
 twelve miles inland, the heat in the summer is as great 
 as that of the tropics ; in the winter the temperature is 
 cooler, and a slight hoar frost occasionally occurs in the 
 night. 
 
 * 2nd. In the part of the country higher up, as far as and 
 including Pietermaritzburg, the summer season is also very 
 warm ; but in the winter, and especially in the evening and 
 morning and during the night, the cold is often very piercing, 
 and hoar frosts are frequent, and now and then the ice is 
 seen of the thickness of a shilling or half-a-crown. 
 
 *3rd. In the region beyond Pietermaritzburg, and still 
 higher, the winter cold is more intense, and the hills are 
 frequently covered with snow. The changes in the temper- 
 ature of this region are however very great within twenty- 
 four hours. In the middle of the day it is often almost op- 
 pressively warm, while in the morning and evening it is in- 
 tensely cold. In the summer season this part of the country 
 is generally extremely warm. The most prevalent winds are 
 the NW. and SE. The former are frequently in the form of 
 what are called the hot winds, which are extremely dis- 
 agreeable, and parch up vegetation. The latter are generally 
 cooler and stronger. 
 
 • * The most common diseases are dysentery, diarrhoea, and 
 rheumatism. A kind of bilious fever is also not un- 
 common in the summer timr, especially in the neighbour- 
 hood of Pietermaritzburg, much resembling in its general 
 features the West Coast fever, but of not so malignant or 
 fatal a type. 
 
 ' I consider the climate generally very salubrious, but also 
 I think that in order to enjoy health, persons must take 
 a greater amount of out-door exercise than is required in 
 
MS-: 
 
 ffOS 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 \i« 1, 
 
 England. I do not think the climate so favourable as that of 
 Britain for sedentary ccupations. 
 
 * To persont} engaged in farming, and taking abundance of 
 exercise, I look upon this climate as one of the beat in the 
 world.' 
 
 The following table is from that admirable little work on 
 the colony of Natal, by Eobert James Mann, M.D., F.R.A.S., 
 Superintendent of Education in that dependency : — 
 
 Abstract of mean and extreme temperature and rain-fall, for the Port of 
 ly Urban, in the several months of the year 1858. 
 
 
 Thermometer 
 
 
 
 
 
 Mean mois- 
 
 Sum of 
 
 Months 
 
 
 
 
 ture of air. 
 
 rain-fall 
 
 
 Monthly 
 
 Highest 
 
 Lowest of 
 
 Situation 100 
 
 in inches 
 
 
 mean 
 
 of month 
 
 month 
 
 
 
 January 
 
 74-2 
 
 93 
 
 67 
 
 76-6 
 
 3-210 
 
 jTebruary 
 
 • 
 
 
 77-0 
 
 91 
 
 61 
 
 71-6 
 
 3104 
 
 March . 
 
 
 
 73-6 
 
 91 
 
 51 
 
 78 
 
 12-138 
 
 April . 
 
 
 
 70-9 
 
 89 
 
 47 
 
 82 
 
 4-494 
 
 May . 
 
 
 
 64-0 
 
 83 
 
 44 
 
 76 
 
 0-404 
 
 June . 
 
 
 
 63-6 
 
 86 
 
 48 
 
 76-6 
 
 0-969 
 
 July 
 
 
 
 62-4 
 
 81 
 
 45 
 
 77 
 
 2-988 
 
 August . 
 
 
 
 65-2 
 
 81 
 
 49 
 
 72 
 
 3-928 
 
 September 
 
 
 
 67-1 
 
 87 
 
 47 
 
 71 
 
 0-236 
 
 October 
 
 
 
 66-9 
 
 84 
 
 66 
 
 85-3 
 
 9-916 . 
 
 November 
 
 
 
 72-0 
 
 93 
 
 65 
 
 86-3 
 
 5029 
 
 December , 
 
 
 
 740 
 
 92 
 
 55 
 
 84 
 
 7-721 
 
 Mean for year , 
 
 691 
 
 87-6 
 
 51-2 
 
 77-9 
 
 54-12 
 
 Note. — The observatio 
 
 ns from which the abstract is 
 
 derived were taken at 
 
 the Gardens of the Horticultural Society of D' Urban 
 
 by standard thermo- 
 
 meters ; the station being at the base of the Berea hi 
 
 Is, about ninety feet 
 
 above the sea-level, and three miles fi:om the shore, ii 
 
 a latitude 29° 53' S. ; 
 
 longitude 31° 2' E. 
 
 
 INFORMATION FOR MILITARY AND NAVAL OFFICERS 
 PROPOSING TO SETTLE IN CERTAIN COLONIES. 
 
 1. Privileges in the acquisition of lands are at present 
 allowed to military and naval officers in the colonies of New 
 South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, some of the pro- 
 vinces of New Zealand, Ceylon, the Cape of Good Hope, and 
 British Columbia. 
 
;s < ' 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 509 
 
 that of 
 
 ance of 
 in the 
 
 rork on 
 ,R.A.S., 
 
 hrt of 
 
 Sum of 
 rain-fall 
 in inches 
 
 3-210 
 3104 
 12-138 
 4-494 
 0-404 
 0-969 
 2-988 
 3-928 
 0-236 
 9-916 
 6029 
 7-721 
 
 I 64-12 
 
 I taken at 
 thermo- 
 nety feet 
 |0 63' S. ; 
 
 FICERS 
 
 p. 
 
 [present 
 of New 
 le pro- 
 
 [pe, and 
 
 In all the above-mentioned colonies, except Ceylon, the 
 control of the waste lands of the Crown has been transferred 
 to the local legislatures. Her Majesty's government cannot 
 therefore guarantee the continuance of the following regu- 
 lations, as they will be liable to be altered or discontinued by 
 the local legislatures. 
 
 2. In the above-named colonies, land is disposed of by sale 
 only ; but officers purchasing land are allowed a remission of 
 the purchase money, according to the under-mentioned 
 scale : — 
 
 £ 
 
 Field oflSicers of twenty-five years' service and upwards in the whole 600 
 
 Field officers of twenty years' service and upwards, in the whole . 600 
 
 Field officers of fifteen or less years' service, in the whole . . 400 
 
 Captains of twenty years' service and upwards, in the whole . . 400 
 
 Captains of fifteen years' service or less, in the whole . . . 300 
 
 Subalterns of twenty years' service and upwards, in the whole . . 300 
 
 Subalterns of sevei; years' service and upwards, in the whole . . 200 
 
 Subalterns, under seven years' standing, are not entitled to 
 any remission in the purchase of land. 
 
 Regimental staff officers and medical officers of the army 
 and navy are allowed the benefit of this rule : but military 
 chaplains, commissariat officers, and officers of any of the 
 civil departments of the army ; pursers, chaplains, midship- 
 men, warrant officers of every description, and officers of any 
 of the civil departments of the navy, are not allowed any pri- 
 vileges in respect of land. Although members of these classes 
 may have been admitted formerly, and under different cir- 
 cumstances, they are now excluded. Mates in the royal navy 
 rank with ensigns in the army, and mates of three years 
 standing with lieutenants in the army, and are entitled re- 
 spectively to corresponding privileges in the acquisition of 
 lands. 
 
 3. In order to take advantage of this privilege, officers of 
 the army and navy on full or half-pay should provide them- 
 selves with a certificate from the office of the General 
 Coramanding-in-Chief, or of the Lords Commissioners of the 
 Admiralty, showing that their settlement in a British colony 
 has been sanctioned, and stating their rank and length of 
 
 ili 
 
510 
 
 APPENDIX 11. 
 
 '\' 
 
 service. No document from the office of the Secretary of 
 State is necessary. 
 
 4. This certificate will not on any account be issued more 
 than once to the same officer, or to any officer on half-pay 
 who shall for two years immediately preceding the date of 
 this notice have resided in the colony in which he seeks to 
 make it available. 
 
 5. Gentlemen who have ceased to belong to Her Majesty's 
 service will not be allowed advantages in the acquisition of 
 land. This rule, however, is not to affect officers who, having 
 obtained permission to settle in a British colony, have quitted 
 the service for the purpose of doing so. But, in such cases, it 
 will be necessary that their certificate of service and permission 
 should bear the date of their retirement from the service, and 
 that, within one year from that date, but not otherwise, it 
 should be presented to the Governor of the above-named 
 colonies, which will be a sufficient warrant for allowing the 
 bearer the advantages to which his rank and length of service 
 may entitle him according to the above scale. 
 
 6. The object of the regulations being to encourage the 
 permanent settlement in the above-named colonies of military 
 and naval officers, and it being necessary to prevent those who 
 have no intention of settling there from taking advantage of 
 the privilege, officers will not, for the space of two years from 
 the making out of their certificates, receive a Crown grant 
 for any land purchased by such certificates, but will in the 
 mean time receive a * location ticket.' At the expiration of 
 two years, the officer, on showing to the satisfaction of the 
 Governor that he is bona fide a resident settler in the colony, 
 and has so resided continuously since receiving his * location 
 ticket,' will be entitled to a Crown grant in exchange for it. 
 If, however, application should not be made for the exchange 
 of the * location ticket ' within twelve months from the ex- 
 piration of the two years for which it is granted, it will be 
 considered to have lapsed, and the land will be open to 
 sale or grant. In case of the officer's dying while holding a 
 * location ticket,' the land to which it refers will be trans- 
 ferred to his legal representative. 
 

 APPENDIX II. 
 
 511 
 
 tj I 
 
 In case of such death occurring before the 'location ticket' 
 is obtained, the Grovemor of the colony is authorised to 
 make the certificate available in favour of the child, or 
 other nearest representative, of the deceased officer, as he 
 may find advisable. 
 
 CHARGES ON tAND AND EXPENSES OF CLEARING. 
 
 Canada, West. — The cost of clearing waste land is stated 
 at about 50s. per acre ; the expense is, however, greater in 
 the remote and unsettled districts, in consequence of the 
 difficulty of procuring labourers. The only charge on land is 
 a tax w^ich seldom exceeds Id. per acre on cultivated lands, 
 and three-eighths of a penny currency on wild lands. 
 
 Canada, East. — The expense of clearing amounts to about 
 50s. sterling, varying with the nature of the soil and the 
 quality of the wood. The only local charge is that of making 
 roads and bridges. 
 
 New Brunswick. — The average cost of cutting and clear- 
 ing off the trees, leaving the stumps standing, is from 3^. to 
 41. currency {21. 1 4s. to 3^. 12s. sterling) per acre. There 
 are no charges except that for surveying, which is about 3d. 
 per acre. 
 
 Nova Scotia. — Woodland can be chopped, rolled, and 
 burned for about 31. per acre. As a general rule, the first 
 crop pays for such clearing. There is a moderate county tax 
 upon all real and personal estate, the proceeds of which are 
 applied to the county expenses. 
 
 Prince Edward Island. — The clearing expenses vary 
 from 21. to 41. per acre, according to the growth of the wood 
 upon the land. The only charges are those made from time 
 to time by local assessment. There is a tax imposed by the 
 local legislature of 9s. 2d. currency on every 100 acres of 
 wilderness land, and 6s. 8d. currency on every 100 acres of 
 improved land in the possession of individuals. This tax in 
 
. '■♦),i. (I 
 
 512 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 
 A 1 
 
 lb I- 
 
 S'^H 
 
 '!w: 
 
 m"!-a!i 
 
 
 1854 amounted to 4,92 1^ currency, and is applied to free 
 education. 
 
 Newfoundland. — Land may be cleared by the ordinary 
 mode at a cost of about 51. per acre, or if the stones are 
 thoroughly removed, at from 6^. to 61. 10s. per acre. 
 
 Cape op Good Hope. — The land generally requires little 
 or no clearing. Fences are seldom required. Lands already 
 granted are liable to a road tax, which, however, is not levied 
 regularly, and cannot exceed one penny in the pound in any 
 year. 
 
 New South Wales and South Australia. — There is 
 much good land, with little or no timber, and much more, 
 free from underwood, with timber only in such quantity 
 as is useful and desirable for fencing, fuel, and country 
 purposes. The expense of ordinary fencing is from 3s. to 4s. 
 per rod. 
 
 Western Australia. — Except in occasional patches of 
 swamp lands, the average cost of clearing is from 10s. to 21. 
 per acre. 
 
 Tasmania. — To grub land, clearing out all the stumps, 
 would cost from 51. to 121. an acre ; to clear it, leaving the 
 stumps standing, from 21. to 4^. an acre. It is stated by the 
 Governor that the value of the potash, extracted at a trifling 
 cost from the ashes of the refuse timber, would, in most 
 instances, more than cover the cost of clearing the land, if 
 not of grubbing it. 
 
 New Zealand. — Fern-land, 10s. to II. 10s.; woodland, 
 3^. to 10^., according to the size of the timber. This does 
 not include the breaking-up of the soil. 
 
 SALE OF LANDS. 
 
 Canada. — Emigrants desirous of purchasing Crown lands in 
 Upper or in Lower Canada, may obtain the fullest information 
 as to the price and quality of the lands for sale by applying to 
 the Government land agents appointed for the several muni- 
 
APPENDIX II. 
 
 618 
 
 cipal districts. By a Provincial Act of 1841, c. 100, Crown 
 lands are to be sold at a price to be from ttme to time fixed 
 by the Governor in Council. The prices range from Is. to 
 7s. Gd. per acre, as shown in the subjoined notice. Two Acts 
 have been since passed (12 Vict. c. 31, 1849, and 16 Vict, 
 c. 158, 1853), to amend the law for the sale and settlement 
 of public lands in Canada. 
 
 The following are the latest Regulations issued under these 
 Acts for the sale and management of the public lands by the 
 Governor in Council. They are dated Toronto, January 13, 
 1859. 
 
 It will be seen from them that the whole of any township, 
 of which the exterior lines only have been run, may now 
 be purchased for cash at the price of oO cents or half a 
 dollar per acre, subject, nevertheless, to certain settlement 
 duties — that in townships already laid out, or to be laid out, 
 in lots — one or more lots may be purchased for cash at 70 
 cents per acre, or on credit, at one dollar per acre, payable, 
 one-fifth down, and the remaining four-fifths in four equal 
 annual iDstalments, with interest. In either case, the lands 
 are also subject to settlement duties. All other lands are to 
 be sold by public auction at such times, and at such upset 
 prices as the Commissioners of Crown lands shall fix. 
 
 The foregoing prices apply, however, only to lands iu 
 Upper Canada. In other respects the Regulations apply to 
 both Provinces. 
 
 BEGULATIONS. 
 
 1. Sale of whole Townships. — That the lands in town- 
 ships which have already been delineated, or shall hereafter 
 be delineated, on survey by the exterior lines only, may be 
 offered for sale en bloc on the following terms, viz. : — 
 
 2. PHce. — That the price shall be one half dollar per acre, 
 payable at the time of sale. 
 
 3. Survey. — That the purchaser shall cause the lands to be 
 surveyed at his own expense into lots comprising either one 
 hundred or two hundred acres of land in each lot ; and on 
 the north shore of Lake Huron into quarter sections of 160 
 
 L L 
 
#u 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 !i 
 
 
 acres eacb, except in spots where the configuration of the 
 township may render such exact quantities impracticable, and 
 then as near to those allotments as possible. 
 
 4. That such survey shall be made by a duly licensed 
 provincial land surveyor approved of by the Commissioner of 
 Crown lands, and acting under his instructions, who shall 
 make his return with field notes, &c., &c., in the usual 
 method observed by surveyors, to be also approved of by the 
 department. 
 
 5. SeUlemmt Duties for whole Townahvp, — That one third 
 of the quantity of land in the township shall be settled upon 
 within two years from the time of sale; one third more 
 settled upon within the following five years, that is, seven 
 years from the time of sale; and the residue within the 
 further period of three years, i.e. ten years from the date of 
 sale; the settlement required being that there shall be at 
 least one bona fide settler in authorised occupation for every 
 two hundred acres of land ; all land not so settled at the 
 expiration of ten years from the time of sale to become 
 forfeited and revert to the Crown absolutely, except such 
 portions thereof as shall be found unfit for settlement, or such 
 portions as are of very inferior quality, and by reason thereof 
 have remained unoccupied, in respect to which the Governor 
 in Council may, upon application, dispense with the forfeiture 
 and cause the same to be conveyed to the original purchaser 
 or his assignee. 
 
 6. Settlement Duties of Sub-Purehaaera. — A contract of 
 sale to be made with the purchaser &om the Crown, subject 
 to the foregoing and following conditions; but patents for 
 the land to issue only to the occupants of the lots purchased, 
 deriving claim under the vendee of the Crown, or to the 
 assignees claiming under such purchasers and occupants who 
 shall have complied witl the conditions of settlement herein- 
 after mentioned, upon a certificate or other evidence that 
 they have paid such vendee or his assignee, or complied with 
 the contract with him, for or in regard to such particular lot ; 
 and upon evidence that the party applying, or some one 
 under whom he claims, has been a resident on the said lot 
 
APPENDIX II. 
 
 616 
 
 for at least two years continuously, and that upon the same 
 (not exceeding two hundred acres) at least ten acres for each 
 one hund'c-d acres have been cleared and rendered fit for 
 cultivation and crop, and have been actually under crop, and 
 that a habitable house in v 'mensions, at least sixteen by 
 twenty feet is erected thereon, and upon payment of the 
 sum of four dollars as patent fees to cover expenses, &c. The 
 nature and description of proof above referred to, to be settled 
 and prescribed by the Commissioner of Crown lands. 
 
 7. All lands which shall under the foregoing conditions 
 revert to the Crown, shall be exposed to sale at public auction 
 at such times and places and on such upset price as the 
 Commissioner of Crown lands shall fix. 
 
 8. Sale of Single Lota. — That in townships which have 
 been surveyed and laid out into lots, and where lauds are 
 now offered for sale at four shillings per acre, or where no 
 lands have as yet been offered for sale, and in townships 
 under survey or yet to be surveyed into lots, lands be sold 
 under the following regulations, to wit : 
 
 C. P-iH^x. — ^That lands be sold for cash at seventy cents per 
 acre, and, on time, upon the following terms, viz., one dollar 
 per acre, one-fifth to be paid at the time of the sale, and the 
 remaining four-fifths in four equal annual instalments, with 
 interest on the purchase money unpaid. 
 
 10. Auction. — That when the lands in a township have 
 remained open for sale for one yeax after public noMce 
 thereof, the lands unsold at the expiration of that period 
 shall, at a time to be fixed, and after reasonable notice given 
 by the Commissioner of Crown lands, be offered for sale by 
 public auction at the upset price fixed for their sale as above, 
 or at such other upset price as under special circumstances 
 may be named by the Commissioner of Crown lands ; and 
 that such public sales of all lands which shall remain unsold 
 in the mean time shall take place semi-annually at times to 
 be named therefor by the Commissioner of Crown lands until 
 the whole of the lands in the township shall have been dis- 
 posed of ; the lands remaining unsold after any such public 
 sale to continue open for private sale at the said upset price 
 
 L L 2 
 
 ^il 
 
616 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 
 y 
 
 I '>■ -I 
 
 M" . ! 
 
 
 "S 
 
 mil 
 
 
 until the period of one week next before the time at which 
 the next public sale shall take place. 
 
 11. Free Grants. — That all lots of land which shall have 
 been oflfered as * free grants ' and shall not have been located 
 and occupied at the expiration of one year from the time the 
 same shall have been so oflfered, shall no longer remain as 
 * free grants,' but shall be open for private sale or shall be 
 exposed to public sale by auction as part of the lands in the 
 township in which the same are situate, and upon the same 
 terms as other lands therein. 
 
 12. Settlement Duties. — That all lands (except those now 
 exempt) shall be subject to settlement duties, and no patent 
 in any case (even though the land be paid for in full at the 
 time of piu*chase) shall issue for any such land to any person 
 who shall not by himself, or the person or persons under 
 whom he claims, have taken possession of such land within 
 six months from the time of sale, and shall from that time 
 continuously have been a bona fide occupant of and resident on 
 the land for at least two years, and have cleared and rendered 
 fit for cultivation and crop, and had under crop within four 
 years at farthest from the time of sale of the land, a quantity 
 thereof in the proportion of at least ten acres to every one 
 hundred acres, and have erected thereon a house habitable 
 and of the dimensions at least of sixteen by twenty feet. 
 
 13. Auction. — That all other lands not embraced in the 
 foregoing category be exposed to sale by public auction 
 annually, or in the discretion of the Commissioner of Crown 
 lands half yearly, for cash, at such times and places and at 
 such upset prices as the Commissioner of Crown lands shall fix. 
 
 14. Clergy Reserves. — That the lands known as * Clergy 
 Keserves' be sold on the same terms and in the same 
 manner as other public lands in the townships in which they 
 respectively lie. 
 
 15. Punctual Payment. — That prompt payment in all cases 
 be made of the essence of the contract, and any default to 
 be on pain of forfeiture of all previous payments and of all 
 right in the lands. 
 
APPENDIX II. 
 
 517 
 
 16. An^ears. — That in the cases of sales already made, 
 payment of arrears be required, and that public notice be 
 given in the Official Gazette, and through the usual channels, 
 that unless such arrears be paid within twelve months from 
 January 1, 1859, the land in respect of which default shall 
 continue will be resumed by the Crown and re-sold, and 
 that in regard to all purchase moneys and interest hereafter 
 to fall due, prompt payment will be exacted. 
 
 17. Squatters. — That the system of recognising unautho- 
 rised occupation of land, commonly known as * squatting,' be 
 discontinued, subject to the following provisions, viz. : — 
 
 That public and general notice be given by the Crown 
 Lands Department, that no claim to pre-emption by reason 
 of such occupation will be entertained after the Ist day of 
 September next (1859) and that no claim to such pre-emption 
 not now in a state to be admitted can be made good by any 
 act of the party hereafter, and that therefore his labour will 
 be thrown away. 
 
 ReatHction of Prices to Upper Canada. — That the prices 
 above fixed for lands shall apply to Upper Canada only. 
 
 The prices of lands in Lower Canada shall be regulated by 
 Orders in Council from time to time. 
 
 le same 
 
 Lower Canada. — It will be perceived from the last para- 
 graph of the preceding regulations, that the prices therein 
 fixed apply only to lands in Upper Canada, but not to 
 lands in Lower Canada, which are to be regulated from time 
 to time by Colonial Orders in Council. The following are 
 the present prices of lands in Lower Canada, as fixed by 
 Government notice dated Quebec, August 5, 1852 : — 
 
 * From the county of Ottawa, north of the St. Lawrence to the 
 
 county of Saguenay, and south of the St. Lawrence in the 
 district of Quebec, east of the Chaudi^re River and Kennebec 
 Boad, Is. 6d. per acre. 
 
 * In the district of Quebec, west of the river Chaudidre and 
 
 Kennebec Road, 2s. per acre. 
 
1 ' ' ' 
 
 6\B 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 * In the districts of Three Rivers, St. Francis, and Montreal, 
 
 south of the St. Lawrence, 38. per acre. 
 
 * In the district of Gasp6 and county of Saguenay, Is. per acre. 
 
 * In all cases payable in five annual instalments, with interest, 
 
 one-fifth at the time of sale. 
 
 * For lands enhanced in value by special circumstances, such 
 
 extra price may be fixed as His Excellency the Governor- 
 General in Council may direct. 
 
 * Actual occupation to be immediate and continuous ; the land 
 
 to be cleared at the rate of 5 acres annually for every 100 
 acres during 5 years, and a dwelling-house erected not 
 less than 18 feet by 26 feet. 
 
 * The timber to be subject to any general timber duty that 
 
 may be imposed. 
 
 * The sale to become null and void in case of neglect or 
 
 violation of any of the conditions. 
 
 * The settler to be entitled to obtain a patent upon com- 
 
 plying with all the conditions. 
 ' Not more than 200 acres to be sold to any one person,' 
 
 Fbee Grants op Land on the Colonisation Eoads in Canada 
 West. — The Provincial Government have opened three great 
 lines of road, and laid out for settlement the lands through 
 which they pass; they are styled Ist. *The Ottawa andOpeongo 
 Road,' which runs east and west; it will eventually be 171 
 miles in length, and connect the Ottawa River with Lake 
 Huron. 2nd. * The Addington Road,' which runs north and 
 south, is 60 miles long, and starts from the settlements in 
 the county of Addington until it intersects the Opeongo 
 Road. 3rd. * The Hastings Road,' which runs nearly parallel 
 to the Addington Road, is 74 miles long, and connects the 
 county of Hastings with the Ottawa and Opeongo Road. 
 
 In order to facilitate the settlement of this part of Canada, 
 and to provide for keeping the roads in repair, the Provincial 
 Government have authorised free grants of land along these 
 three roads, not to exceed in each case 100 acres, upon the 
 following conditions : — 
 
APPENDIX II. 
 
 610 
 
 1. That the settler be eighteen years of age. 
 
 2. That he take possession of the land allotted to him 
 within one month. 
 
 3. That he put in a state of cultivation at least twelve 
 acres of the land in the course of four years. 
 
 4. That he build a log-house (at least 20 by 18 feet) and 
 reside on the lot until the conditions of settlement are duly 
 performed. Families comprising several settlers entitled to 
 lands, preferring to reside on a single lot, will be exempted 
 from the obligation of building and of residence (except upon 
 the lot on which they live) provided that the required clear- 
 ing of the land be made on each lot. No title is given to the 
 settler until after these conditions have been performed, and 
 the non-performance of them entails the immediate loss of 
 the assigned lot of land, which will be sold or given to 
 another. 
 
 The road having been opened by the Government, the set- 
 tlers are required to keep it in repair. 
 
 The log-house required by the Government to be built is of 
 such a description as can be put up in four days by five men. 
 The neighbours generally help to build the log cabin for 
 newly-arrived settlers without charge, and when this is done 
 the cost of erection is small ; the roof can be covered with 
 bark, and the spaces between the logs plastered with clay, 
 and whitewashed ; it then becomes a neat dwelling, and warm 
 as a stone house. 
 
 Other lines of roads, similar to the Ottawa, Opeongo, Ad- 
 dington, and Hastings roads, are in course of construction. 
 Emigrants are not advised to settle on these lands unless they 
 have sufficient capital to enable them to subsist for the first 
 year, say, for a young man, 251., or, for a man having a wife 
 and family, 501. 
 
 The lands in Canada West already opened up for settle- 
 ment are capable, both as to soil and climate, of producing 
 abundant crops of winter wheat, of excellent quality and full 
 weight, and also of every other description of farm produce 
 grown in the best cultivated districts of that province. 
 

 
 
 l^'r. 
 
 11 
 
 i"' 
 
 
 
 
 
 020 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 In Buch a large extent of country, however, there are great 
 varieties in the character and quality of land, but there is an 
 abundance of the best land for farming purposes. 
 
 The heavy timbered land is almost always the best, and of 
 it the ashes of three acres, well taken care of and covered 
 from wet, will produce a barrel of potash, worth from 6^ to 
 71. currency. The capital required to manufacture potash is 
 very small, and the process is very simple and easily under- 
 stood. 
 
 The expense of clearing and enclosing heavily timbered 
 lands, valuing the labour of the settler at the highest rate, 
 is about 4^. currency per acre, which the first wheat crop, if 
 an average one, will nearly repay. The best timber for fenc- 
 ing is to be had in abundance. 
 
 Water for domestic use is everywhere abundant, and there 
 are, throughout, numerous streams and falls of water, cap- 
 able of being used for manufacturing purposes. 
 
 The climate throughout these districts is essentially good. 
 The snow does not fall so deep as to obstruct communication, 
 and it affords material for good roads during the winter. 
 
 The agent for the granting of lands on the Ottawa and 
 Opeongo Eoad is Mr. T. P. French, at Mount St. Patrick, 
 near Eenfrew, on the Opeongo Road. The route to his resi- 
 dence is through Montreal, up the Ottawa River to Bonchdre 
 Point, and thence by land to the township of Grattan, distant 
 about thirty miles westward. 
 
 The agent for the Addington Road lands is Mr. E. Perry, 
 in the village of Flints Mills. The route is by way of Kings 
 ton, Canada West, thence to Napanee, either by land or 
 steamboat, and thence north, to the township of Kaladai* and 
 the village of Flints Mills. 
 
 The agent for the Hastings Road is Mr, M. P. Hayes, in 
 the village of Hastings, about twenty-eight miles north of the 
 town of Belleville. The route is by Kingston, and thence 
 by steamboat, up the Bay of Quinte (fifty-six miles) to Belle- 
 ville. 
 
APPENDIX II. 
 
 sn 
 
 The Crown Lands of Canada. Canadian News, May 8, 
 1862. — We are in receipt of the report of the Commissioners 
 of Crown Lands of the operations of the department for the 
 year ending December 31, last. The figures which are given 
 are of a very satisfartory character, as showing the gradual 
 filling up of the public lands. It appears that — 
 
 During the year 273,835 acres of Lower Canadian Crown 
 lands were sold for ^126,043*90, and ,^73,915'69 were re- 
 ceived on account of sales and payments due on previous 
 years. 9,811 acres of the same domain were disposed of for 
 gratuitous locations on colonisation rjaJs. o,u3C,*<33 acres 
 still remain for future disposal. The sales of Clergy lands 
 during the same period amounted to 41,299 acres, the piur- 
 chase money )?36,511, and the gross amount received for 
 instalments, rents, &c., ^26,869, the which gave a nett revenue 
 of ,^21,480. 392,502 acres still remain unsold in this depart- 
 ment. The Jesuits' estates returned a nett revenue of )|J 1 5,0 1 8, 
 and the Crown domain <96,105. The St. Maurice Forges, a 
 branch of this latter department, were seized in virtue of a 
 judgement obtained by the Crown for non-payment of the 
 balance of the purchase price of the property, and sold on 
 October 22, but not bringing the price set upon it by the 
 Crown, were acquired by the latter for i$!7,200, and are now 
 for sale. The seigniory of Lauzon yielded j$ll 2,569, or 
 ^11,497 in nett receipts. 
 
 The Upper Canadian Crown lands realised ^338,153 — 
 257,933 acres being sold. During the same period 30,800 
 acres were granted gratuitously to settlers on the colonisation 
 roads. At the close of the year 2,021,229 acres still remained 
 undisposed of. In the Clergy reserves the sales amounted to 
 74,366 acres, the purchase money of which was ,^181,674*37. 
 The gross amount of the receipts was ^228,129, which, 
 deducting ^60,099 for commissions, &c., gave a nett revenue 
 of ^238,030 for appropriation under the provisions of the 
 Clergy Eeserves Act. There are 124,608 acres of these lands 
 still undisposed of. The sale of Grammar School lands 
 produced a nett revenue of ^17,678, and the sale and collec- 
 
APPENDIX II. 
 
 "V 
 
 iU 
 
 
 I .ij 
 
 hi ; n- ? " 
 (Ml i<l 
 
 .5\ ' * 
 
 'M\ 
 
 S -' 
 
 tions for Common School lands to a nett income of jf88,683. 
 The total nett amount realised from these lands since they 
 have been put in the market is 1^744,640. 
 
 The important branch of Woods and Forests shows the 
 amount of revenue which has accrued during the year from 
 timber dues and ground rents to be ,^327,503, and from slide 
 dues $55,5^6j making the total accrued from these sources 
 i^383,050. Owing in part to the unhappy civil war, the 
 export trade in sawed lumber has sufifered considerable 
 depression. The prospect of opening up new markets is, 
 however, encouraging, twenty cargoes of lumber having 
 already been exported to the continent of Europe in conse- 
 quence partly of the visit to its principal towns of the Super- 
 visor of Cullers. Further enquiries continue to be made from 
 France, Spain, and Germany in the same relation. The yield 
 from deep sea, river, and lake fishing has been throughout 
 last year steady and unusually large. 
 
 Respecting the mining transactions of the past year there 
 was little to communicate. Some of the mines already opened 
 had been worked, but the American difficulties had aflFected 
 this as well as other branches of trade. There could be no 
 doubt that the copper ore on the Canadian side of the lakes 
 was equal to that on the southern side. What was wanted 
 was capital, and increased means of communication and facili- 
 ties for the transport of passengers and goods. 
 
 The amount of revenue accrued from timber dues and 
 ground rent during the year 1861 was i?327,503*97, and 
 from slide dues iJf55,546'6, making the total accrued from 
 these sources ^383,050*3, which amount includes |'4,484*38 
 for clergy, school, Indian, and Jesuits' estates. The amount 
 of revenue collected from timber dues and ground rent was 
 ,?255,811-99, and from slide dues ^43,991*72, making the 
 total revenue collected during the year 1861, $299,803*71, 
 in addition to which the sum of ;?3,293*57 was collected 
 for the other services mentioned. The recent decree, ad- 
 mitting, on better terms than formerly, Canadian ships to 
 the French markets, would prove of great benefit to the 
 
 il 
 
APPENDIX II. 
 
 523 
 
 province, and serve greatly to restore the business of ship- 
 building. 
 
 In the deep-sea, river, and lake fisheries, again, the de- 
 pressing influence of the American war had been felt, though 
 the fishermen had derived a sort of indirect compensation for 
 closed markets in the cheapness of their supplies and mate- 
 rials freed from Customs' charges and by increased returns. 
 Within a few years the numbers engaged in fishery pursuits 
 in the gulf districts had largely increased, and the ratio of 
 such increase had been greatest last year. The means 
 adopted for protecting the salmon fishery had already pro- 
 duced encouraging results. The experiment of transplanting 
 oysters from beds in the waters of New Brunswick to GaspS 
 Basin continued to give promise of success. 
 
 The report then goes into particulars of the surveys made 
 during the past year in Upper and Lower Canada. Those 
 carried on in Upper Canada consisted chiefly of the comple- 
 tion of the townships commenced about the latter part of the 
 year 1860, in the Huron and Ottawa territory and on the 
 north shore of Lake Huron. The surveys of public lands in 
 Lower Canada for purposes of actual settlement and coloni- 
 sation up to December 1861, were distributed in twelve 
 counties, forming the districts of Ottawa, Joliette, Quebec, 
 Beauce, Montmagny, Eimouski, and Grasp^, extending the 
 field for colonisation purposes by nearly 4,800 lots, aver- 
 aging 100 acres, and, with few exceptions, situated in highly 
 favourable localities in point of agricultural as well as natural 
 advantages. The aggregate of the lands so surveyed formed a 
 total of 507,789 acres. 
 
 This growth of settlement and of wealth on the Upper and 
 Lower Canada colonisation roads appears from the report to 
 have been highly satisfactory. In the lower province during 
 the past year 107f miles of colonisation roads were completed, 
 79^ miles opened. 
 
524 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 COST OF FASSAQE IN FRIYATE SHIPS FROM SOME OF THE 
 PMNCIPAL PORTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. 
 
 - "■ " ' .■ 
 
 CABIN INTERMEDIATE 
 
 STEERAGE 
 
 Cort 
 
 Including 
 
 CMt 
 
 with 
 
 Cost 
 without 
 
 Com 
 
 with full 
 
 allowance of 
 
 Cost 
 
 without provi- 
 
 ■ion> bejond the 
 
 legal allowance 
 
 
 proTiiloni 
 
 proTiiloni 
 
 proTUloni 
 
 proTiiloni 
 
 Quebec — 
 
 £ S. £ 
 
 £ $. £ $. 
 
 £ t. £ t. 
 
 £ t. £ S. 
 
 £ 1. £ t. 
 
 London . . . 
 
 . 12 Oto .. 
 
 8 Oto .. 
 
 fl* •• 
 
 GO 
 
 • « •• 
 
 Literpool . . 
 
 . IS 15 ,. .. 
 
 5 10 „ .. 
 
 • • •• 
 
 • • • • 
 
 4 10 
 
 Plymouth . . 
 
 . 10 „ 12 
 
 6 „ 7 
 
 • • a • 
 
 5 
 
 • • •• 
 
 Ports in the Clyd< 
 
 ) 12 „ .. 
 
 4 10 „ 5 
 
 • • •• 
 
 4 to 4 10 
 
 • • • • 
 
 Dublin . . . 
 
 . 12 „ .. 
 
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