IMAGE EVALUATiON 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 I.! 
 
 1.0 K«4»ia 
 
 Ui l&i 12.2 
 IS 1^ 12.0 
 
 
 
 '/ 
 
 FhotDgFa^Jiic 
 
 Sdmoes 
 
 Corpraation 
 
 ^W* 
 
 ^.V* 
 
 23 VVBT MAM STRHT 
 
 WnSTm,K.Y. 14SM 
 
 ( 71* ) •72-4503 
 
 '^ 
 
CIHM/ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 Collection de 
 microfiches. 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historicai IVIicroreproductions / institut Canadian de microreproductions historlques 
 
Technical and Bibliotfraphic Notaa/Notaa tachniquaa at bibliographipuaa 
 
 The Instituta haa attamptad to obtain tha baat 
 original copy availabia for filming. Faaturaa of thia 
 copy which may ba bibliographically uniqua, 
 which may altar any of tha imagaa in tha 
 raproduction, or which may aignificantly changa 
 tha uaual mathod of filming, ara chackad balow. 
 
 Q 
 
 . Colourad covara/ 
 2LI Couvartura da coulaur 
 
 I I Covara damagad/ 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 D 
 
 n 
 
 n 
 
 Couvartura endommagte 
 
 Covara raatorad and/or laminatad/ 
 Couvartura raataurte at/ou pallicuite 
 
 I I Covar titia miaaing/ 
 
 La titro da couvartura manqua 
 
 Colourad maps/ 
 
 Cartaa giographiquatt an coulaur 
 
 □ Colourad ink (i.a. othar than blua or black}/ 
 Encra da coulaur (i.a. autra qua biaua ou noira) 
 
 I I Colourad plataa and/or illuatrationa/ 
 
 Planchaa at/ou illuatrationa an coulaur 
 
 Bound with othar matarial/ 
 Rali4 avac d'autraa documanta 
 
 Tight binding may cauaa ahadowa or diatortion 
 along intarior margin/ 
 
 La re liura aarr^a paut cauaar da I'ombra ou da la 
 diatortion la long da la marga IntAriaurc 
 
 Blank laavaa addad during raatoration may 
 appear within tha text. Whenever poaaible, theae 
 have been omitted from filming/ 
 II ae peut que certainea pagea blanchea ajoutAee 
 lora d'une reatauration apparaiaaent dana la taxte, 
 mala, loraqua cela Atait poaaible, cea pagea n'ont 
 pea AtA filmtea. 
 
 Additional commenta:/ 
 Commentairea aupplAmantairaa: 
 
 L'Inatitut a microfilm^ la mailleur exemplaira 
 qu'il lui a 4t4 poaaible de ae procurer. Lea dAtaila 
 da cat exemplaira qui aont peut-itra uniquea du 
 point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier 
 une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une 
 modification dana la mAthoda normala de f ilmage 
 aont indiqute ci-deaaoua. 
 
 T 
 t( 
 
 I I Colourad pagea/ 
 
 D 
 
 Pagea de couleur 
 
 Pagea damaged/ 
 Pagea andommagtea 
 
 □ Pagea raatorad and/or laminated/ 
 Pagea reataurAea at/ou paiiiculAea 
 
 rri Pagea diacolourad, atainad or foxed/ 
 L^ Pagea dAcolor^aa. tachetAea ou piqutea 
 
 □ Pagea detached/ 
 Pagea dAtachtea 
 
 Showthroughy 
 Tranaparence 
 
 Quality of prir 
 
 Qualit^ InAgaia de I'impreaaion 
 
 Includea aupplementary mataric 
 Comprend du materiel auppl^mantaire 
 
 T 
 
 P 
 o 
 fi 
 
 O 
 b 
 tl 
 al 
 
 o\ 
 fl 
 al 
 
 oi 
 
 rri Showthrough/ 
 
 pn Quality of print variea/ 
 
 I I Includea aupplementary material/ 
 
 r~1 Only edition available/ 
 
 ; 
 
 w 
 
 M 
 di 
 er 
 b< 
 
 re 
 m 
 
 Seule Mition diaponible 
 
 Pagea wholly or partially obscured by errata 
 alipa, tiaauea, etc., have been ref limed to 
 enaure the beat poaaible image/ 
 Lea pagea totalement ou partiallement 
 obacurciea par un fauillet d'errata, une pelure. 
 etc., ont 4t4 filmtea A nouveau de fa^on A 
 obtenir la mellleure image poaaible. 
 
 Thia item la filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 
 
 Ce document eat filmA au taux de reduction indiquA ci-deaaoua. 
 
 10X 
 
 
 
 
 14X 
 
 
 
 
 18X 
 
 
 
 
 22X 
 
 
 
 
 2BX 
 
 
 
 
 30X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 y 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 12X 
 
 16X 
 
 20X 
 
 2IX 
 
 28X 
 
 32X 
 
Th« copy filmad h«r« has b««n r«produc«d thanks 
 to tho gonorotity of: 
 
 Library of tha Public 
 Archives of Canada 
 
 L'axampiaira filmA f ut raproduit grAca A la 
 gin*rositA da: 
 
 La bibliothdqua dat Archivas 
 publiques du Canada 
 
 Tha imagaa appearing hara ara tha baat quality 
 possibia consldaring tha condition and iaglbllity 
 of tha original copy and in Icaaping with tha 
 filming contract xpaclf icationa. 
 
 Original copias in printad papar covara ara filmad 
 beginning with tha front covar and ending on 
 tha laat page with a printad or Illustrated Impres- 
 sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All 
 other original copies are filmed beginning on the 
 first page with a printed or Illustrated imprea- 
 slon, and ending on the last page with a printad 
 or illustrated Impression. 
 
 The last recorded frame on each microfiche 
 shall contain the symbol — ^> (meaning "CON- 
 TINUED"), or the symbol ▼ (meaning "END"), 
 whichever appiiaa. 
 
 Las images suivantas ont 4tA reproduites avac la 
 plus grand soin, compta tenu de la condition at 
 da la nattet* da rexemplaire film*, at en 
 conformity avac las conditions du contrat de 
 filr;tage. 
 
 Le« exempiaires originaux dont la couverture Bn 
 papier eat ImprimAe sont filmis an commenpant 
 par la premier plat at en terminant soit par la 
 darnlAre page qui comporte une amprainte 
 d'impresslon ou d'Sllustration, soit par la second 
 plat, aalon le cas. Tous l«s autres axamplairas 
 originaux sont fiimte en commen^ant par la 
 pramlAre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impresslon ou d'lllustration at en terminant par 
 la darnlAre page qui comporte una telle 
 smprelnte. 
 
 Un dee symboies suivants apparaftra sur la 
 darnlAre image de cheque microfiche, seion la 
 cas: le symbols -*- signifie "A SUiVRE", le 
 symbole V signifie "FIN". 
 
 Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratioa. Those too large to be 
 entirely Included In one exposure are filmed 
 beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frames as 
 required. The following diagrama illustrate the 
 method: 
 
 Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre 
 fllmte A des taux de reduction diff Arents. 
 Lorsque le document est trap grand pour Atre 
 reprodult en un seul cllchA, ii est film* A partir 
 de Tangle supArleur gauche, de gauche A droite, 
 et de haut an bas, «)n prenant le nombre 
 d'imagas nAcessaire. Les diagrammas suivants 
 illustrent la mAthode. 
 
 1 
 
 1 2 3 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
5 " 
 
 1 ^/; , 
 
 •' (.b ' 
 
 f 
 
 
 ITm" 
 
 //T 
 

 BRITISH COLUMBIA ; £ 
 
 ■tfi 
 
 ^ 
 
 ITS 
 
 Condition and Prospects, 
 
 BmiL.. HMmMMn 
 
 AND 
 
 ^) 
 
 imERAL RESOURCES, 
 
 COXSIDKREI). 
 
 
 r>Y Jl K X 11 Y DhGUOOT. 
 
 SAX FRANCISCO : 
 
 Printed at the Alta California lol) Otlicc, l:!4 Sacramento street, up staira, 
 
 1859. 
 
 '^'^i^^^^ 
 
 m 
 
i BRITISH COLUMBIA ; 
 
 ITS 
 
 Condition and Prospects, 
 
 roZ£. illMHTl 
 
 i 
 
 
 AND 
 
 MINERAL RESOURCES, 
 
 HI' . . :> 
 
 CONSIDERED. 
 
 By henry DbGROOT, 
 
 SAN FRANCISCO : 
 
 Printed at the AIt« California Job 0£Sce, 124 Sacramento street, up stairs, 
 
 1859. 
 
fv ^ H I ^i 
 
 
 
 nini 
 
 ( J I 
 
 :i 
 
 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 
 i-ii I 
 
 The content, of the following page,, were originally published in t»'y°»7»» «' »*; 
 Daily Alta Caltfomia, where they appeared in a ,erie, of article, prepared '^^^^^^^l^ 
 And although they have thus obtained k vast publicity, the writer ha, been encouraged to 
 fwnkiSht serve a useful purpose, to present then: in a collected shape, a, furn.sh.ng .n a 
 
 them in their present more pretentiou, form. 
 
 u\ 
 
 ', ' • ' J ! I ' ' '. 1 1 1 f 1 . . 
 
 .? .,•,'''. \y , 'J ii-- '-h'" . .'i 
 
 
BRITISH COLUMBIA: 
 
 Vm SOIL, CLIMATE, RESOURCES, &c. 
 
 of ths 
 paper, 
 ged to 
 ig in » 
 airy Of 
 >twith- 
 t w«y ; 
 :e from 
 lis, and 
 prcwnt 
 
 Having Rpnnt the greater pnrt of the past 
 ■even month's traveling through the interior of 
 British Columbia, in the capacity of newspaper 
 correspondent, the writer has since his return 
 been frequently applied to for information 
 touching that region, by parties desirous of 
 emigrating thither, or by others willing to can- 
 Taiji the inducements for doing so. As a means 
 of answering those inquiries, and embodying 
 the latest authentic intelligence from a quarter 
 which,do<ipitctheir rcccntdisappointments, has 
 not ceased to interest our people, he has 
 determined to publish a short series of articles 
 on the soil, climate and natural resources of 
 that country, selecting as the medium the 
 columns of our oldest and most widely ex- 
 tended journal. The writer engages in this 
 task the more readily from the fact that he 
 has, hitherto, found little inducement to pub- 
 lish any considerable portion of the copious 
 notes kept while journeying over Vancouver's 
 Island and the main land; and for the furlber 
 reason, that his views as heretofore exhibited 
 are lacking in entireness, several lengthy 
 letters designed for publication having failed 
 of that end through the uncertain modes of 
 transmission incident to the remote localities 
 where they were written. 
 
 This purpose, then, of placing before the 
 public the information gleaned during his 
 travels in a summary and consecutive* shap';, 
 will form the author's excuse should certain 
 of his ideas seem familiar to the reader, or 
 should something of repetition pppear in what 
 he may now have to say. It will be his aim, 
 however, to avoid reiterating what is already 
 well known, and to adduce as many new facts 
 in the present writing as he shall have in 
 possession or be able to command. It consti- 
 tutes no part of his plan to write a formal 
 "Vindication of the Eraser River Mines;" 
 or to frame apologies for the failures that have 
 so frequently attended their working. This is 
 a business to which he has not felt called — a 
 work, the performance of which, in the absence 
 of any disposition or motive on his part, must 
 necessarily be left to others. 
 
 Yet it is but just a proper exposition should 
 be given of the causes that led to these failures 
 BO continuous, general and disastrous, as to 
 have well nigh destroyed all confidence in the 
 mineral wealth of a country, which, but ten 
 months ago, was, by many, deemed a rival, if 
 not the peer, of California. Candor compels 
 
 the admission that these untoward results 
 were attributable to the precipitate action of 
 the adventurers themselves, coupled with mani- 
 fold and all but insuperable obstacles inter- 
 posed between them and their field of opera- 
 tions, quite as much as to the limited urea cr 
 non-productive character of the mines. A 
 slight examination of the country to be pene- 
 trated, and of the circumstances under which 
 this immigration took place, can hnnlly fail to 
 confirm this opinion, and impress its justness 
 upon every candid and dispassionate mind. 
 No special pleading should be tolerated in 
 behalf of these mines, nor should any attempts 
 be winked at for glossing over the fearful 
 perils and fatal catastrophies that attended 
 their opening. We have had enough of ihis 
 — and too much, as the thousands returning 
 empty-handed, and the hundreds who will no 
 more return at all, can testify. Still, it is meet 
 the public be possessed of all the facts, to the 
 end, that being fu'.ly advised they may fairly 
 judge and intelligently act for themselves. 
 
 It is, moreover, important that the residents 
 of California properly understand the relative 
 postion of their own State and these new com- 
 munities about being planted on their northern 
 border, and that they fully appreciate the re- 
 ciprocal advantages likely to arise therefrom 
 in the future. This is a point on which, owing 
 to a perverted sentiment of patriotism, or a 
 narrow feeling of national jealousy, or, per- 
 haps, to the; low stand-point from which the 
 subject has been viewed, there is much misap- 
 prehension in the minds of our citizens. We 
 Have been apt to consider these colonies of 
 British Columbia and Vancouver as necessarily 
 antagonistic to the interests and progress of 
 California. It has been our wont to regard 
 them 'simply as rivals — competitors entering 
 the field to bid for population — decoying 
 sojourners from our midst, and diverting new- 
 comers from our shores. Some have oven af. 
 fected to see in these distant provinces, so sit- 
 uate on the outer verge of the British empire, 
 the instruments wherewith England hopes to 
 check our growth and impede our march to 
 greatness, if indeed they may not be the germs 
 of a power which is one day to arise and over- 
 shadow our Pacific Republics. 
 
 That England has great purposes to effect in 
 this part of the world, is no doubt true ; that 
 she has grand projects on foot, looking to a 
 union of her North American colonies, and 
 
Aj'fm 
 
 BRITISH COLUMBIA, 
 
 the opening of a higAway from ocpan to oconn, 
 the docs seek to digKiiiso. Tliut' tlioHO now 
 (Cttlpmcntg on our iior'ii arc yet to Ixrunie 
 cotnpetilurs for tho trade of tlio Uii8t, if not 
 the commercial Huprcmacy of tlie I'acilic, it 
 wc-e UBcleis to deny. Kntrcpot.i are loon to 
 ipriii); up on these hitherto undiHturbed wa- 
 ters ; there will be ship-yards and flslicrics 
 there, and to these lands will a numerous peo- 
 ple ^o to dwell and to mine, beyond a pcrad- 
 vonturc. If wo imagine such things will not 
 ' come to pass, or flatter ourselves that we can 
 retard tliem by our silence or defeat them by 
 our opposition, tho sooner we disabuse our 
 minds of these bcguilings the better. Yet, in 
 all these aims of England, so bold, Inr-reach- 
 ing, and vast, there is really nothing calculated 
 to excite our hostility or ulurra our fears ; 
 nothing which a magnanimous people should 
 deprecate, or a young and enterprising nation 
 dread. 
 
 Un the contrary, this opposition is the very 
 thing which, of all others, we most need, and 
 which, instead of proving detrimental to our 
 interehts, would serve to promote thci^ in a 
 variety of ways. Of all the nations on the 
 earth we, of California, are suffering the most, 
 from the want of a stimulus to arouse our dor- 
 mant energies — some outside pressure to terrify 
 us into union and activity. Separated from the 
 older communities, with their schemes of in- 
 ternal improvement and other excitant and 
 energizing agents ; penetrated by inert masses 
 of savage and semi-barbarian life, and sur- 
 roubded on every hand by peoples of low intel- 
 lectuality and unaspiring aims ; never did a 
 State so much need the stimulus of a generous 
 rivalry as ours. Out among the islands we en- 
 counter an enervated and decaying race, too 
 poor to inflame our cupidity and too imbecile 
 to provoke opposition ; while stretched along 
 our south lies poor, ill-faring, ill-fated Mexico, 
 likewise dying, and too far gone to evoke tho 
 spirit of " high emprise," or engender a feel- 
 ing of emulation within us; too far gone to be 
 useful, even as an antagonizing agent, and 
 henceforth to serve only as a sort of territorial 
 catacomb, whence may be dragged a carcass 
 ever as required by that false sense of aggran-- 
 dizement, which lusts for lands without citi- 
 isens, and dominion without power. 
 
 Thus circum3tanced,we are fortunate in hav- 
 ing a rival like England to arouse us from our 
 torpidity, to stir our pride and spur us on in 
 the noble contest fof opulence and empire. 
 Not only this, but the settlement of tho.se tcr- 
 ritoritories so contiguous to our own, must 
 speedily inure the great a;t in of our people 
 by furnishing a steady and lucrative market 
 for almost every species of their surplus pro- 
 ducts, especially those of the orchard, the 
 dairy and the farm,8ince neither of these colonies 
 will be able, for some time at least, to supply 
 their own inhabitants with these staples. In a 
 word, whatever brings immigration to this 
 coast must necessarily advantage California 
 and Oregon, as from them must be obtained 
 
 the breadHtufTH and other prime artlclei necoi- 
 iiiry for their subsislance. And so, again, any 
 largo influx of minors or other tranHient per- 
 sons drawn this" way, whether by the discovcrr 
 of gold, or other attractions, must. In tha end, 
 augment the population of (California, ilnce the 
 manifest superiority of her soil and climate 
 will determine many of them to seek her bor- 
 ders when contemplating a permanent settle- 
 ment. 
 
 Wherefore, view it as we may, while we 
 should adhere strictly to facts in speaking of 
 the resources of those colonies, and abstain 
 from all undue ctfort at encouraging emigra- 
 tion thither, it little behooves tho friends of 
 California to underrate tho advantages of her 
 northern ireighbor or seek to disparage bar 
 claims in tho estimation of those abroad. It 
 requires but an ordinary share of intelligence 
 to see how certainly our welfare must be pro- 
 moted by her growth, and how intimately our 
 interosU aro connected with hers. The peo- 
 pling of her territories will tend to populate 
 ours ; tho increase of her aflluence will add to 
 our wealth, and the progress of her people 
 must inevitably react on our own. 
 
 But however we may regard the advent of 
 England upon our shores, or whatever estimate 
 we may set on the value of her possessions in 
 this quarter, one thing is certain, we have aow 
 got to meet her on this side the globe, as we 
 have met her on the other, and encountering 
 her enterprise and capital ; her practical, pa- 
 tient industry and persistence of purpose, dis- 
 pute with her for the trade, of the Bast and 
 the empire of the seas. It is no mean stake to 
 play for tbiii —a traffic which, in tha middle 
 ages having successively enriched the com- 
 mercial republics of Venice, Genoa, and the 
 towns of the Ilanseatic, at a later period 
 promoted Spain and Holland to the pinnacle of 
 maritime greatness, has now come to be the 
 subject ot tho grandest contest recorded in the 
 history of commercial enterprise. The build- 
 ing of a trans-continuntal railroad, like the dis- 
 covery of the Cape, will divert the trade of tha 
 Orient into a now channel, scattering affluence 
 along its routo and ultimately securing politi- 
 cal predominance to the nation who shall en- 
 joy it. Whore it runs there will be population, 
 and wealth and power ; there will be cities and 
 workshops and cultivated fields, with all the 
 glo.ious attendants of civilizatiou ; and where 
 it terminates there ivill be the emporium of the 
 Pacific — tho permanent metropolis of the Oc- 
 cidental world. 
 
 If England shall precede us in the accom- 
 plishment of this work she will have gained an 
 advantage which wo cannot readily overcome, 
 and which mu-it eventually force us into the 
 rank of a second rate power. As yet, the field 
 is clear, and we have a lung way the start, yet 
 all these advantage's will be lost if we longer 
 waste our time in idle dalliance, or suffer our 
 action to be impeded by sectional jealousi^a 
 and distracted councils. The time has come 
 for harmonizing our differences'aud dismiasing 
 
 !\ 
 
 \ 
 
ITS son., CLIMATE, RESOURCES, Ac. 
 
 these fe«'lir((H of diilriiHt — for unitingour rffortH 
 •nd entering vigurougly on tliu iiroKi'Ciiiiou uf 
 the great wurk to which uur dutjr |)oiiii8, and 
 our destiny invites us. 
 
 I'OTY or Till PHIBH. 
 
 It being apparent, then, that the curly sottle- 
 nient of the Krltinh Provinces on tliis coant, 
 nnd the rapid devi'lopmt'nt of thi-ir refiourcvH, 
 both niAtcrial ond industriol, cannot fail to re- 
 act beneficially on our own State, policy dic- 
 tates that wo encourage emigration thitlicr by 
 every convenient and laudabto lueanH in our 
 power. TImt the newfipuper press prl't^rntll tiic 
 most fit and available agent for cfl'evting that 
 purpose, by broadly diU'using correct intbrina- 
 tion in regard to the country in question, niUHt 
 be obvious to all. Hence, the accoinplishnient 
 of that object may well be considered a part of 
 its legitimate duties, since it will tend to sub- 
 serve the interests of our own people at the 
 same time that it vindicates itself against the 
 charge of dealing unjustly with those (Colo- 
 nies, and renders a good service to the world 
 at large. Kven if the favorable accounts thus 
 promulgated should work the temporary with- 
 drawal of a k'w thousand people from our 
 shores, this same intelligence, acting on the 
 populous conimnities of the Atlantic slope and 
 the Old World, would soon uiorc than compen- 
 sate for that loss — bringing us five, perhaps, 
 ultimately, ten inhabitants to supply the place 
 of every one so nbistractcd. Wherefore, while 
 it can hardly be said the journals of California 
 have generally acted unfairly toward this, our 
 first competitor for population and commercial 
 power on the Pacific, it is yet to be hoped that 
 whatever of seeming jealousy may bcretoforo 
 have been manifested, or whatever of injustice 
 may have been unwittingly done her, our news- 
 paper press, acting in the liberal and cutliolic 
 spirit of the age, will for the future secure our 
 northern neighbor a full and cundid hearing in 
 their columns. 
 
 DKSCRIPTION OF THK COIJNTKY. 
 
 Before proceeding to speak of the gold mines 
 of British Columbia, it may be well, ns a means 
 of illustrating their position and routes of ap- 
 proach, to present a brief description of the 
 geography ana natural features of the country 
 in which they arc located. 
 
 The territory constituting what is now the 
 Province of British Columbia, lies between 
 the 49th and D7th degrees of north latitude, 
 corresponding in area with what was formerly 
 the department of New Caledonia. Hy the late 
 act of Parliament, witbdra\ring it from the ju- 
 risdiction of the Hudson Bay Company, and 
 erecting it into a Colony, it is bounded as fol- 
 lows : on the south, by the frontiers of the 
 United States ; on the east, by the main chain 
 of the Rocky Mountains; on the north, by 
 Simpson's river, and the Finlay branch of the 
 Peace river, and on the west, by the Pacihc 
 Ocean. It embraces within its limits Queen 
 Charlotte's Island, and all the other islands 
 adjacent to the coaiit, except that of Vancouver. 
 As thus bounded, it has Washington Territory 
 on its southern, and the department of New 
 
 Cornwnll on its northorn border; while its 
 western is skirted by the witters ofQnecn Char- 
 lotle's tSound and the (iulfof (ieorgia, which, 
 with their numerous canals and Inlets deeply 
 penetrating the main land, impart to the coast 
 a very irregular outline. As will appear, fi-oni 
 an iiiHpcclion of its limits, BritiKh (Columbia is 
 an extensive region, lieing nc:-ly f)(~o miles 
 long, from north to south, and m) wide, thus 
 containing nearly 20U,U()0 S(|uiirc miles, one- 
 tenth more land than the State uf (Julifuriiia. 
 
 MOUNTAINS. 
 
 The southern and middle portions of this 
 territory are generally rugged, being crossed 
 by several mountain chains of considerable 
 elevation and extent. The northern part is 
 said to bo more level. These inountains, 
 which consist mostly of the Kocky, Cascade 
 and Coast Range, with their various .spurs, arc 
 so raniiticd and difl'used as to constitute a sin- 
 gle group rather than separate riiiiges. Their 
 average height is between four nnd five 
 thousand feet, though many of the peaks are 
 much more lofty. Komeofthcin lie in long 
 ridges consisting of shapeless masses of rock ; 
 some are craggy, precipitous and impending, 
 while others shoot up in splintered spires, or 
 are rounded into huge domes like segments of 
 a shattered world. The lower portions of 
 these mountains arc covered with forests, the 
 higher with snow the entire year, which melt- 
 ing keeps the streams heading in, or running 
 near them at a high stage until late in the 
 summer. Nothing can exceed the grandeur of 
 these snow-delds as seen from a distance on a 
 clear day, or equal their loneliness and desola- 
 tion as impressed on the mind when wo come 
 to visit them. Viewed from the trail along the 
 deep valleys, they are apt to inspire the touri.'<t 
 with a wish to explore their cold and lustrous 
 solitudes. A single day's travel, however, 
 ucroxs their still and pathless wastes will be 
 very likely to extinguish that feeling, e.^necially 
 if the journey be made in thin clothes, and on 
 short rations, as the writer's experience enables 
 him to attest. 
 
 RIVRRH. 
 
 Kritish Columbia is not only a land of moun- 
 tains, but also of lakes and rivers, the latter 
 being numerous, and insomc instances, of largo 
 size. Of the entire number, Krnser river is 
 much the largest, receiving, in fact, the waters 
 of nearly all the others, as it passes longitudi- 
 nally through the centre of the entire territory 
 Its principal branches beginning at its mouwh 
 are, on the left side, Pitt, Harrison, Bridge, 
 (vhillicoaten, West-Road, Stuart and Salmon ; 
 on the right, Anderson, Thompson, Quesnel and 
 Rough Poplar. It has besides, a vast number 
 of smaller tributaries, many of which are swol- 
 len into considerable streams during summer. 
 Most of its larger branches take their rise in 
 extensive lakes and marshes that abound near 
 their sources ; the smaller chicflly head in the 
 mountains and are fed by the molting snows. 
 
 None of these streams afford extended facil- 
 ities for navigation, except the Fraser, which, 
 at a stage of high water, can be ascended by 
 
BRITISH COLlJMniA, 
 
 I'mlit dmnjrht Blrnrnprii to Port Yale, ft point 
 110 iiiilt'8 'ibdve its inoiilli. llitrriHoii river cjin, 
 undor lil<t) ciri'tiinstHiu'i'H, lie aitcendecl to lliir- 
 rlion l.ulic, li dinliiiicc of ten iiiile'4 Troin its 
 JuDclioi) Willi the KriiAiT, MiuuriiiK xtetimbuHt 
 iiaviKiitlon on tliut route, liy nirnnNoniio river 
 and liikc, for over flfly miloH. Smull ntcaniorg 
 euuld i\\»o run on tlio Frii»cr lictwccn tli« 
 Upper ('iinon iind Tliouipsoii'ii Fork, n ntrelrli 
 of twfnt>-livc or tliirly miles. Tlio ujipcr por- 
 tions of'tliiH river, however, ns well us nearly 
 all tliu olliers tliruugliout the territory, gener- 
 ally (low will) >i HlronK eiirrent, broken in 
 mitny plnrrs liy fulls and riipidx, nnd hence lue 
 little uditpted to Hteiunlioiit nuvi((ution. 
 
 I.AKKH. 
 
 Drltlth Colunilila is in every pnrt thickly 
 Rluddcd with hikes, some of them of eonciiler- 
 ablo miiKuitude, iind ncnrly all remarkable for 
 their great deptli of water, a feature traceable 
 no doubt, as i> ((enerjil thin);, to the abrupt 
 character of the mountains in which they are 
 imbosoined. 8omc of even the smaller have 
 l>cen sounded to a depth of 400 feet without 
 finding bottom. In shape, they are usually 
 long and narrow, and in several instances lie 
 in chains linked by connecting streams along 
 decn depressions, to all appearance the beds of 
 former rivers. Somcof Miesc lakes arc between 
 fifty and sixty miles long, and from eight to 
 ten broad. The water is cold Iho year round, 
 and, fcr the most part, exceedingly dear. To 
 this, however, there arc exceptions, ns, for ex- 
 ample, the I/ilooet, the colorof which ia a dirly 
 green, cau?ed probably by its feeders running 
 over a species of aigillaceous cnrtli, that im- 
 parts to the water its turbid appearance. A 
 few of the smaller arc somewhat alkaline, but 
 not to a dcgrf^e tliiit forbids their use. During 
 the summer months salmon of an excellent 
 quality 'ibo\ind in both the rivers and lakas, 
 and form the principal food of the natives, who 
 take them in large quantities, consuming what 
 they require while fresh, and curing the balance 
 for winter use. The salmon season extends 
 from June to October. 
 
 CLIHATR. 
 
 The climate of the I'aciflc coast, as is well 
 known, is no wliere so severe in the same par- 
 allel of latitn<1e as that of the Atlantic, the 
 dilTerenc^ varying from 15 to 20 degrees — that 
 «, we- have to go some 1,200 miles further 
 north on the Atlantic side of the continent to 
 find a mean-winter temperature corre.oponding 
 to that on the Pacific side. And though the 
 climate of British Columbia forms no excep- 
 tion to this rule, it is somewhat varied, certain 
 belts of country being warm and dry, while 
 others arc moist and of a more equitable tem- 
 perature. Thus we hav a district extending 
 from the mouth of Eraser river inland about 
 150 miles characterized by a humid climate, 
 and in which the thermometer of Fahrenheit 
 rarely falls below ten or rises above ninety de- 
 grees in the course of the year. Throughi -i* 
 this region rain is abundant during the sprin ■ 
 summer and autumn, falling not onljr in fre- 
 
 qtient idiowrrs, but rnntinuing sometimes for 
 several '^\yn together. Know oUo tails hcfK 
 in tne winter fri.m one Id two feet, often mor* 
 in the norlheru part of tho district, tliough 
 hardly so much near the sea. It is not apt to 
 lay more than a week or two at u lime, it then 
 melting and the ground remaining bare for • 
 like interval, to bo again KUccecded b? iin- 
 other fall, and so on throughout tho winter, 
 which general'y brenks up in the early part 
 of Marrli, The damp ami cluiidy weather here 
 prevalent during the Nunimcr prevents the heat 
 reaching so high a point asf irtlicr in the inte- 
 rior. When I'le atmosphere is clear heavy 
 dews fall at night, and togs at all seasons of 
 tho year are common. 
 
 Meyond this wet section of country, the 
 northern limits of which crosses the Idlooctt 
 route ill the vicinity of Anderson's lake, and 
 the Fraser bilween the Uper (,'aflon and the 
 Forks, lies a district of about equal breuJth, 
 cliarnrtcri/.ed by greater heat and aridity, and 
 which though situate further north and gene- 
 rally more elavated, is scHr( ely any colder in 
 the winter, and has even less snow llinii ttie 
 country further south along the lower Fraser. 
 North of this, iigaiii, is another belt having a 
 more humiil climate, sl.'<wers being frequent 
 in Ihesiimmer, and the winters somewhatmorn 
 rigorous. 
 
 Taken ultogctlier then, the climate of British 
 Columbia though subject to much Huetuation, 
 and 'arying with locality, cannot be consider- 
 ed one of grea», severity, neither tho heat of 
 summer nor the cold of winter reaching such 
 extremes ns in Canada, or the northern States 
 of the Union. As evidence on this point, it 
 may be stated that the snow tlong the valleys 
 of tho Upper Fraser and its tributaries, rarely 
 ever exceeds eighteen inches in depth, ond 
 for tho most part does not even reach six 
 inches, while a great portion of the time there 
 is none at all on tho ground during winter. 
 The larger lakes never freeze over, nor does 
 the Fraser or other large streams ever close 
 entirely np. Stock is able to subsist on tho 
 bunch grass throughout the winter, and even 
 work animals keep in tolerable condition on 
 the rushes that grow in the bottoms without 
 rthci feed. On the divides and morn elevated 
 places, the depth of snow as well as the degree 
 of cold, depends of course on the height of the 
 locality ; the traveller encountering snow in 
 some places he may have to pass, twice as deep 
 as that found in the valleys There was no 
 snow or frost of any consequence on the Upper 
 Fraser river last year, until about the first of 
 December, when the weather suddenly became 
 cold, the snow falling to a depth of five or six 
 inches, and even a foot, on the lower part of 
 the river. Tho smaller streams and the ditches 
 at the same time became covered with ice, and 
 the ground froze to the depth of several inches, 
 interfering seriously with, and for the most 
 part putting a stop to mining operations. This 
 weather aner continuing for two or three 
 I weeks, moderated, and (or the next fiva weeks 
 
ITS SOIL, CLIMATE, RESOURCES, Ac. 
 
 but little mow TpII, while the thermometpr in 
 two or throe iniitntK ei onljr, went l)clnw 20 iIp- 
 Kreei, fluctuating between tliut point and 4ri 
 degrrei. 
 
 After tliinmild period Rnnin Another Npell of 
 cold ftnd vuryinif wcnthor, tvliicli iield for three 
 or four weelca, wlien tlie enow iind ice moHtl)' 
 diiappearcd, and the Indiund leuvinft their 
 winter hiiiiHos, dccliirnd tliut Huimon at an end. 
 
 The niinvrH niao ^ot to work in their nhtiiim, 
 and have not lince horn interrupted. Tlii* wiih 
 earl/ in the month of March, since wliicli 
 time the wciitlicr Iium been connluntly ({rowing; 
 warmer, the tliurmometer havin;< fiiilen but u 
 'ew timPH bi'iow the frecKinf^ point. During 
 M'irch the wcntlier wait Hhowory, with noniu 
 «light froHte and fulle of Hnow in the early part 
 of the month, 
 
 Much the Hnmc kind of ulimnte a8 above do- 
 «cribed, prevails throughout the regions lying 
 between and bordering on the Kuniluops aiid 
 (Ireat Okinagan lakvM, as well ai tho ext<'ngivc 
 diHlricta to the north and oael. 
 Hon.. 
 
 About thj mouth of Fraser river, and extend- 
 ing up that river forty or fifty riiiU!.s,th" country 
 \n moNtly level and somewhat Bwiiinpy, V/ith 
 the exception of a few smal! ''rairics, and some 
 inconaideralile clearings near Fort Langley, it 
 ie covered with a dense and heavy growth ol 
 timber, as are also the adjacent mountains as 
 high as the limit of vegetation, above which 
 they are clad with perpetual snow. The lower 
 portions of this tiat land near the mouth of the 
 river are nothing but an extended marsh, being 
 overflowed by ttie tides and the stream at itH 
 higher 8ta(;cs, and from the tall thick growth 
 of flags with which they are covered stroncly 
 reriemble the tule lands of California. The 
 soil of the prairies and dryer parts, consists of 
 a black vegetable mold, being warm and fer- 
 tile and capable of producing abundantly of 
 vegetables and ceretls, os the spots about Fort 
 Langley, cultivated for many years to grain 
 and potatoes, amply prove. In places, how- 
 ever, there is rather too largo an admixture of 
 sand with a substratum, of gravel and decom- 
 posed granite, causing the soil to loach and 
 thus readily part with its fertilizing properties. 
 The prairies are covered with rank grass from 
 which the Company have *- "n in the habit of 
 making hay for their wintf asc. 
 
 On the southern limit of tl ' - flat country and 
 lying partly on either side of the line, is the 
 Hmess prairie, of great fertility and considera- 
 ble extent, which,togMher with the Chilliwhaick 
 and hI!<o the Lilooett meadows at the head of 
 Ijilooett lake, will hereafter claim a more par- 
 ticular notice as constituting the most valuable 
 portions of the district under consideration. 
 
 In passing north we next come to the country 
 of the Upper Eraser, with its dry climate, fer- 
 tile bottoms, table lands and prairies covered 
 with bunch grass and scattered pine trees. 
 Here there is a great deal of good land, equally 
 fit for gardening and farming with an unlimit- 
 ed amount of pasturage, grass growing every- 
 
 where, even to the tops of the mountains. Th« 
 only drawback to the succrsHlui unltivation 
 of the toil in this region would be the drouth, 
 which might render irrigation iii^cuHHary except 
 in the more moiNt and fertile botluuis. Thai 
 much of the soil is sutlicienily rich in 
 itself to produce good crops, admit* of no 
 doubt, yet to insure that result irrigation, for 
 which there are, loi'tunatoly, great facilitiex, 
 might, in many canes, be required. The same 
 remark will prubiibly apply with equal forte 
 to the vast region cast of tiio Cuseado itungc, 
 where, it is admitted, there iiru largo bodies 
 of land possessing a very prolific soil, and sup- 
 plying exceedingly de.iiruble places fur settle- 
 ment. 
 
 8CKNKIIV. 
 
 The scenery in almont every part of Hritish 
 Columbia is unique, bold ami iuiprciisive, while 
 in some sections it assumrs an aspect of wild 
 and gloomy grandeur. Vast mountains, cleft 
 to the bese by hidcouii fissures, gigantic for- 
 ests tangled with undergrowth, sullen lake« 
 shaded by lofty cliffy and skirted bysedgy fen- 
 lands, sunless valleys, arid plains and rolling 
 praries, majestiu rivers, cuscadcs, snow-peakx, 
 precipices and foaming lorr^nts form some of 
 the prominent featuies of the scenery every- 
 where met with. To the eant of the Cascade 
 range the scenery is lens striking and varied 
 than elsewhere, though scarttely less attractive, 
 the country abounding in fertile bottoms, 
 watered by numerous wood-fringed streams, 
 and in high praries covered with grass and 
 flowers and a scanty growth of trees. The 
 same description of soil and scenery applies 
 to the valley of Salmon river, and all the 
 southern tributaries of Thomp.son'i Fork, as 
 well an to the region about Lalie Sushwap and 
 the great Ukinagnn. In going north on the Up- 
 per Frascr and its branches, some variation in 
 the landscape is observable ; the plains are 
 narrower and the mountain sides more wall- 
 like ; springs and streams are more frequent, 
 and timber more plentiful, the hills beingoften 
 well wooded, and the praries embossed with 
 clumps of trees. A novel •nd highly pictur- 
 esque feature is here presented in the terraced 
 banks and park-like parterres running' for 
 miles along the dcep-chusmed Fraser. Noth- 
 ing can surpass the beauty of these table lands 
 rising in regular gradations, often three or four 
 tier high, and extending back a great distance, 
 iheir slopes as even and their angles as pharp 
 as if they had been shaped by the hand of man. 
 Indeed, it is hard to believe, in view of their 
 uniform declivity and clean cut edges, that 
 something of art has not been employed in 
 laying them out, or governing their consCruc- 
 tion. 
 
 In truth, there is scarce any part of this ter- 
 ritory in which even the untutored eye fails to 
 detect something calculated to awaken pleas- 
 urable emotions ; some object in nature ap- 
 pealing to our appreciation of the beatiful and 
 vast. The snow cones, when the sky is clear, 
 are especially fitted to arrest the attention and 
 
V 
 
 8 
 
 BRITISH COLUMBIA, 
 
 challenge the itdrn'rotion of even the most 
 itolid arid proeaic. Cold, pure and sky-pierc- 
 ing, the nearest, though afar off, seem strangely 
 present, while the more distant, as they recede 
 farther and further, fade into cloud-like pavil- 
 ions scarce distinguishable from the atmos- 
 phere into which they seem about to dis. olve. 
 Hardl..' less grand, and evem more attractive, 
 are the water-falls often met with in the moun- 
 tainous districts. Sometimes these have a 
 perpendicular fall of a hundred feet or more ; 
 sometimes they rush down the mountain sidtts 
 in a straight shoot two or three thousand fe V,. 
 the water so dashed into foam that it reseir- 
 bles long frills of drifted snow, or wavy threads 
 of silver. Occasionally there are startling 
 sounds as well as strange sights to arrest the 
 attention of the traveler in these solitudes. At 
 times a heavy sound like buried thunder may 
 be heard issuing from the cavernouB gates, and 
 resounding through tue chambers of the mouii- 
 taias. It is an avalanche or land-slide, things 
 not unfrequent when the snow melts aud the 
 frost leaves the ground nn the approach of 
 warm weather. Taken altogether, the scenery 
 of British Columbia is exceedingly picturesque, 
 varied and majestic, affording a rich and am- 
 ple field for the 'explorations of the tourist, as 
 well as the inquiries of the tavant and the study 
 of the urtist, some of whom have already 
 sought it in the prosecution of their researches 
 and the exercise of their calling. 
 
 8ALCBRITV. 
 
 That the climate of Vancouver's Island, as 
 well as of the main land, is extremely favor- 
 able to health is pretty well established by the 
 experience of the large number who visited 
 that section last year ; as also by the testimony 
 of the old residents, nearly all of whom have 
 been remarkably exempt from disease. Not- 
 withstanding the hardship, deprivation and 
 exposure to which thousands of the Fraser 
 river adventurers were subjected, and the 
 severe labor they were called upon lo perform, 
 there was very little sickness amongst them, 
 while the deaths from disease ^ere almost 
 none at all. When it is considered that these 
 men were, r.s a general thing, very unfavorably 
 situated for the preservation of health — many 
 of them proceeding to the mines in oi-en boats, 
 crossing a stormy gulf in their passage, toil- 
 ing up rapid streams week after week, en- 
 camping on the damp ground, almost con- 
 stantly wet from the falling rains, or wading 
 in ice-cold water, exhausted with dragging 
 their boats up rapids, or making portages 
 round falls; of^en annoyed by Indians, and 
 not uafrequently suffering from insufficiency 
 o^food — it speaks well for the sanitary charac- 
 ter of the climate that they should have expe- 
 rienced such 8. general immunity from sickuess 
 and disease. Not only so, but these men, 
 with scarcely an exception, increased largely 
 in flesh at tie very time they were being sub- 
 jected to these deprivations and toils — adding 
 to their weight beyond precedent, and enjoying 
 more robust health than ever before. It was 
 no uncommon thing to hear men boast of this 
 
 ip'"'«!ment, which in some cases, was really 
 qait> extraordinary. 
 
 Tb« circumstances under which the first 
 emigration to Fraser river took place, were 
 certainly as little conducive to health as those 
 attending the early settlement of the Califor- 
 nia mines, vet the proportional amount of 
 sickness in the two cases, shows greatly to our 
 disadvantage — the difference being as three to 
 one against us. 
 
 The most fVequent cause of ailment in 
 British Columbia has, thus far, been rhnma- 
 tism ; apparently the only endemic disease as 
 yet developed in the country; though it does 
 seem a^little strange that fever and ague should 
 scarcely be known, though there is much 
 overflowed and marshy land, pro(^uctive of 
 those miasmatic exhalations on the presence 
 of which this malady is dependent. That this 
 maleria is so little virulent is probably owing 
 to the fact that the district where it most pre- 
 vails, is situate near salt water, being thus 
 influenced by the sea breezes and the tides. 
 But whatever the cause, it is undeniable that 
 the climate of British Columbia is both invig- 
 orating and salubrious, and one to which the 
 immigrant may repair with as little apprehen- 
 sion as to any other on the coast, or perhaps 
 any other on the face of the globe. 
 
 INUIANB. 
 
 The native races dwelling in the territory 
 of British Columbia, although resembling each 
 other in their physical appearance and other 
 leading characteristics, indic'ting identity of 
 origin, are still divided into numerous tribes, 
 each having a distinct name, and for the most 
 part, speaking a different language. In some 
 instances they seem to have been grouped into 
 larger communities or confederations, having 
 the same appellation, being that perhaps of the 
 most powerful or influential of their number. In 
 other cases names have been supplied them by 
 the whites, but which, suggested often by 
 mere caprice or accident, do not appear to have 
 been recognized very fully by thvi aborigines 
 themselves. Thus the term Carrier was ap- 
 plied at an early day to the tribes living along 
 the upper Fraser; and still later the word 
 Couleau was used to designate not only the 
 inhabitants, but also the couniiy further 
 south ; it being a corruption of the Indian 
 Nieoutximeen, the name of a numerous tribe on 
 the lower Fraser, and which from its resem- 
 blance to the Fi-ench, eouteau, a knife, was 
 readily converted into that tern? by the voy- 
 ageurs. The application of a word of such san- 
 guinary signiticance to this people, was some- 
 what mat appropo, since, as would seem, they 
 were rathe distinguished for theirpacific pro- 
 clivities, tl a otherwise. At best, there would 
 appear to have been much confusion in the 
 manner of naming these tribes, scarce two 
 authorities agreeing as to the title by which 
 any particular portion of them should be 
 known, or the precise limit* of their 'territo- 
 rial possessions. Some writers have made the 
 entire number of people occupying this region 
 to consist of 'o great natioDS ; tho Takali 
 
ITS SOIL, CLIMATE, RESOURCES, Ac. 
 
 
 
 really 
 
 first 
 
 were 
 
 those 
 
 ^alifor- 
 
 unt of 
 
 to our 
 
 hree to 
 
 ) 
 
 ■\ 
 
 or Carriers, at the north, and the Atnahs or 
 Sushiwaps further south. Some have divided 
 them into Ghilcotins, Kuz Lakes, Naskotins, 
 Talkotins and Atnahs or Chin Indians. While 
 others have dosiKnated them by dtill different 
 names, or assigned to them boundaries widely 
 diverse. Froci all which it is evident their 
 tribal limits are illy defined, and their geo- 
 graphical nomenclature sufficiently crude and 
 nnscttled. 
 
 To account for this conf^ision and illustrate 
 how these territorial boundaries may be made 
 to suff'er a nominal expansion, a case of recent 
 occunence might be cited as in point. The 
 Lilooett| nation, once powerful, but now re- 
 duced to a few hundred persons, having given 
 their name to a lake and river near their vil- 
 lage, the samn came afterwards to be applied 
 to the new rv>ute opened by Government along 
 these watsrs, and, finally to the country adja- 
 cent, until at present the whole region is in 
 popular parlance termed the Lilooett, and it is 
 common to hear both whites and Indians 
 speak of going to the Liloottt, when perhaps 
 they simply mean the terminus of the Trail, 
 or other point far distant from the home of 
 that people. Extended inquiry, however, into 
 this branch of knowledge, could hardly prove 
 profitable, since the Indian notions on the sub- 
 ject are quite as crude and indefinite as those 
 of the whites. Nor is it at all a matter of 
 practical moment, since in addressing these 
 races, it will be found a sufficient lingual at- 
 tainment to have mastered the terms "Siwash" 
 and "Clootchman," these being well under- 
 stood by all,||and as likely to insure attention 
 as words expressive of individual or national 
 entity. 
 
 Each village, or trib;, isii,ov:rnedby a T)/het, 
 or chief, whose authority, though rather arbi- 
 trary, does not seem to be very extended or 
 well defined, being asnf>uch dependant on per- 
 sonal prowess and wealth, as on any fixed rules 
 or hereditary rights. The amount of property 
 possessed by these Sagamores, such as canoes, 
 horses, blankets, guns, wives, slaves, etc., 
 mostly determines the extent of their influence, 
 and consequent authority, not only with their 
 own people but al&o with their neighbors. By 
 the same rule is measured the degree of honor 
 to be awarded them after death. Besides these 
 leading men, there are Siteum Ti/he.ea, or half 
 chiefs, who aid the principals in the di{" harge 
 of their duties, or act for them in their absence. 
 
 A fierce spirit of animosity prevails amongst 
 many of these tribes; a feeling that formerly 
 manifested itself in sanguinary wars, wherein 
 whole Communities were cut off or reduced to 
 slavery. Since the presence of the whites 
 amongst them, this hostility has been so far 
 restrained as to cpend itself for the most part 
 in private feuds, murders and petty skirmishes, 
 with occasional forays on a weaker neighbor, 
 often attended with circumstances of treachery 
 and cruelty, and almost always conducted in a 
 manner reflecting unfavorably on the magnan- 
 imity and courage of the party assailant. To 
 
 pretend, however, that these Indians a^-e any 
 worse, or to claim that they are any better ihan 
 like races elsewhere, or to say tber' is ai.y 
 more ^rany less virtue and intelligence extant 
 amongst them, would be disingenuous, ondiir- 
 gue an ignorance of savage life generally. As 
 with similar types of men elsewhere, their vir- 
 tues are few and teeble. their vices multiplied 
 and invetei'iite — appetite being apt to predomi- 
 nate over the sense of right, and passion over 
 reason ; yet thry are by no means a dangerous 
 people to dwell amongst, or a difficult one to 
 manage, as the success of the Hudson's Bay 
 Company in their dealings with them fully 
 shows. The tribes about K&mloops and on the 
 upper Fraser, even to the far north, are espe- 
 cially honest, intelligent and tractable, and 
 withal, generally well disposed towards the 
 whites. They are also physically greatly the 
 superiors of the tribeb further south, being 
 much more athletic and i^ell formed. Their 
 features, too, are, 8' a general thing, more re- 
 gular and prominent, some of them having a 
 contour of face highly classical ; a circum- 
 stance lees attributable, perhaps, to any ori- 
 ginal superiority of the race, than to the pres- 
 ence of the whites amongst them. Indeed, it 
 is well known that the Jesuit missionaries, at 
 an early period in the colonial history of 
 Canada, in their zeal to propagate the tenets of 
 the church, penetrated to the remotest parts of 
 the contincntjcarrying their religion far beyond 
 the limits of civilization, and planting it on the 
 distant banks of the Saskatchawan and the 
 Fraser. Here for years, secluded from the 
 world, these holy men Isborcd with results so 
 beneficial to the spiritual and material nature 
 of their neophytes as have led the devout to 
 cauonize them for their self-denying toil, and 
 the physiologist to infer that the Good Fathers 
 had impressed somethingof their own physical , 
 lineaments on these rude children of the wil- 
 derness, while seeking ).o engraft the shoots of 
 evangelical truth on their simple faith. 
 
 The extent to which the efforts of these 
 early heralds of the Gospel were successful, is 
 evinced not only in the somewhat improved 
 morality of these northern tribes, but also by 
 the extent of their knowledge of the cardinal 
 doctrines, and their familiarity with the ccri- 
 ■onial observances of the church. The stran- 
 ger is surprised on falling in with these people 
 to find them making the sign of the cross in 
 token of their Christian belief, while kneeling, 
 genuflexion and the murmuring of set prayers 
 are practiced on every befitting occasion. Tlie 
 crucifix is universally regarded as an object oi 
 veneration, and it is related by the voyagtum 
 who have penetrated far into the interior, thut 
 it is no uncommon thing to find rude crbs ea 
 ) a'.nted on the lodges and deserted huts, or 
 rut on the trees in those distant wilds, to which 
 the natives bow in daily adoration, paying 
 them genuine homage as the emblems of a 
 higher and better fiith, taught them by men 
 who came to benefit and blesi, instead of 
 cheat and despoil them, as has since too often 
 
10 
 
 BRITISH COLUMBIA, 
 
 been the practice of the whites. As evidence 
 of the progress made by these people, not in 
 the mere rituals only, but also in the essential 
 doctrines of the Christian religion, as well as 
 of their generally enlightened notions of 
 morality and justice, an incident may be ad- 
 duced that occurred at the Fountain in Jan 
 nary last : An Indian, belonging to the vil- 
 lage at that place, having committed a trifling 
 offence, fled to the north, taking refuge with a 
 powerful tribe, governed by a chief named 
 Ouillaume, in the neighborhood of Fort Alex- 
 ander. This personage, whose authority is 
 very extended, bising recognized in a general 
 way by most of the tribes north of the Foun- 
 tain, and who had already beard of the diffi- 
 culties between the Indians and the whites the 
 preceding summer, instead of screening the 
 fugitive by affording the coveted protection, 
 had him arrested, and setting out with a 
 numerous re.tinue, brought him in mid-winter 
 all the way to the Fountain, a distance of 
 nearly two hundred miles, where he delivered 
 him into the charge of Alexander YacCrcUish, 
 then an official at that place. 
 
 This gentleman, in view of the trifling 
 nature of the alleged offence, handed the 
 accused over f > his own people, to be dealt 
 with as they might see fit. A council having 
 been called, and the case examined, the pris- 
 oner was found guilty, and condemned to be 
 publicly whipped, a sentence that was forth- 
 with carried into effect. This species of pun- 
 ishment is one of which the Indian has a 
 special dread, not so much for the physical 
 pain attending as the social degradation at- 
 taching to its infliction. After receiving it, 
 the culprit, unlcoa previously rendered insensi- 
 ble to shame, is apt to avoid, for the time be- 
 ing, the society of bis fellows, and withdraw- 
 ing, sit apart, bowed down with a sense of 
 humiliation. From the stigma of his disgrace 
 he is not readily relieved, unless restored to 
 good ctanding at the time by those who have 
 decreed his punishment — an act of clemency 
 frequently extended to the culprit on his mani- 
 festing a due degree of contrition, coupled 
 with the promise of amendment. Our hero on this 
 occasion, having placbd himself in this category, 
 was graciously reinstated by the considerutb 
 and kind hearted GuiUaume, who had just*be- 
 fore passed sentence upon him. The act of grace 
 was conducted as follows ; — A bountiful feast 
 having been prepared — the supplies generously 
 donated by Mr. MacCrellish — all the prin- 
 cipal men were gathered about the board, after 
 which, a blessing having been invoked in true 
 Christian style, the transgressor was beckoned 
 to draw near. This he did, approaching on 
 his knees, when the old Chief, placing his 
 hands on the rcpentant's head, kindly soothed 
 his sorrow and quitcd hie sobs, whispering to 
 him in the meantime wurds of consolation and 
 encouragement, and finally imploring the aid 
 of the Great Spirit to strengthen his good reso- 
 lutions, pronounced a benediction, declared 
 his forgiveness, and invited him to partake of 
 the repast, a privilege denied other attendants. 
 
 From the above, it will be seen that them 
 people, however we may call them savages, or 
 treat them as such, are by no means deficient 
 in the religious sentiment, or ignorant of the 
 code of Christian ethics. It is not alwaj'S that 
 criminal cases are adjudicated with so much 
 good sense as in the example just recited; nor 
 is it every tribunal that so effectually attains 
 the true aims of punishment, while it so fully 
 vindicates the claims of justice. Indeed, a 
 finer instance of well directed benevolence — of 
 the rigor of law, tempered with merited cle- 
 mency, is not often met with. Nor would it be 
 easy to find, even within the pale of civilized 
 life, one endowed with more native goodness, 
 or whom wo would so instinctively trust, as 
 this same unschooled Chief of the Carrier Na- 
 tion. When looking into his calm and benig- 
 nant face, one can hardly believe that the la- 
 bors of the contemned and world-feared Jesuit 
 were all fruitless of good, since he sees the re- 
 flex of their teachings there, and reads in every 
 act of this old man's life a living illustration 
 of the doctrines of Jesus. 
 
 The foregoing case has been presonted thus 
 broadly not so much for its intrinsic interest, 
 as because it serves to throw light on the con- 
 dition and character of a race with whom 
 some portion of our own people may hereafter 
 come in contact, inasmuch as they inhabit • 
 district in which the most prolific part of the 
 Fraser river mines is supposed to be located. 
 Being timely advised as to the disposition or 
 other peculiarities of the natives, those enter- 
 ing their territory will know how to approach 
 and regulate their intercourse ivith them, thus 
 securing advantages that might otherwise be 
 lost, and avoiding difiiculties into which, 
 through ignorance or misapprehension, they 
 might bo betrayed. As has been stated then, 
 the Indians on the upper Frnser are morally 
 and physically superior to the tribes further 
 south, as well as those generally met with on 
 American territory. And although they are 
 averse to having the whites enter their coun- 
 try, there will be no active opposition, once 
 they find it inevitable. Indeed, by the ob- 
 servance of a little tact and good management, 
 the new comers may not only gain easy ingress 
 to the country, and procure the objects of their 
 visit in peace, but also secure the friendship of 
 the natives and render them highly serviceable 
 to them in their labors. 
 
 There are two lines of policy or modes of 
 treatment, either of which is tolerably effective 
 in the conduct of our intercourse with the In- 
 dians. One of these adopts the plan of yield- 
 ing to his caprices, falling in with his notions, 
 and accommodating ourselves to his peculiat^ 
 ities and modes of living, as is apt to be the 
 practice of the French. The other consists in 
 treating him with kindness and justice, but at 
 tiie same time making few concessions to his 
 views or wishes while we sternly mou/d him 
 to our own purposes, and compel him to yield 
 in everything essential to our success and 
 comfort. 
 
 Either of these modes, as has been stated, if 
 
 at 
 
 01 
 
 ri 
 ni 
 
 a 
 
 ei 
 ci 
 h 
 h 
 
 C( 
 
 ci 
 
ITS SOIL, CLIMATE, RESOURCES, Ac. 
 
 11 
 
 eonsifitently carried out, will answer very well, 
 but it is tbe inisfortiino of the Americans that 
 while they attempt both they adhere strictly 
 to neither, it being too much their cuatom to 
 bully and abuse tne Indian at one time, thur 
 arousing his enmity and opposition, and to 
 trifle with him at another thereby encouraging 
 him to disobedience and incurring his con- 
 tempt. By pursuing a course digniflcd but 
 conciliatory, kind but firm, the troubles, or 
 rather miserable squabbles, into which our 
 people arc so apt to be involved, might for the 
 most part be avoided. Let it be borne in mind 
 that the tribes of which we are speaking are 
 not the degraded, sensual creatures elsewhere 
 met with, ready to submit tamely to the indig- 
 nities of the white man, or pander to bis lust. 
 With these, female purity is carefully preserved 
 and highly prized — conjugal infidelity or other 
 species of incontinence being of rare occur- 
 rence. If our people will bear these facts in 
 mind, and regulate their conduct accordingly, 
 they will have little to fear from the opposition 
 or enmity of these not very sanguinary, nor yet 
 altogether savage tribes. 
 
 POSTS or TiiK Hudson's bay comfant. 
 
 Located in various parts of British Colum- 
 bia the Hudson's Bay Company have a number 
 of forte or trading establishments for carrying 
 on their traffic with the native tribes. These 
 posts generally bear the name of some member 
 of the Company, or other individual proi linent 
 ill their service. They ore all constructed on 
 the same general plan, differing only as to tbe 
 number or dimension of their buildings, being 
 governed in these particular.- by the impor- 
 tance of the trade at the point where they are 
 located. In founding a post reference is always 
 had to accessibility, the number of Indians, 
 and the abundance of fur-producing animals 
 in tbe neighborhood. It is also desirable that 
 there be some good land convenient, that a 
 sufficient supply of grain and vegetables may be 
 raised for the wants of the place. These latter, 
 however, and even bread have often to be 
 dispensed with by these hardy employes of the 
 Company, their only food being salmon or 
 other fish, with such wild fruits as the Indians 
 may gather, and an occasional contribution of 
 game. Of the latter they obtain but a very 
 scanty supply, every species of animal being 
 scarce throughout the Territory owing to the 
 pertenacity with which they have long been 
 bunted both for their petries and flesh. Yet, 
 at a number of these establishments, not 
 only gardening but also farming, has been car- 
 ried on to a considerable extent, while large 
 numbers of neat cattle have been raised and 
 n some instances also sheep. 
 
 The site selected for these forts is generally 
 a spot on the bank of a lake or river, suffici- 
 ently elevated to command the surrounding 
 country. The buildings are constructed of 
 hewed timber, and vary from a single block- 
 house to fifteen or twenty in number. They 
 consist of one or two large houses fof the ac- 
 commodation of the officers and clerks, and 
 
 others, the quarters of the laborers and me- 
 chanics; also spacious storehouses for the re- 
 ception of goods and furs, with shops for car- 
 penters, coopers, blacksmiths, &c., and apowder 
 magazine, built of brick or stone. Tin; more 
 important posts have, in addition, a school- 
 house and chapel. The whole establishment 
 is surrounded by a stockade fifteen or twenty 
 feet high, inside of which, near the top, is u 
 gallery, with luop-holes for muskets. This 
 picket-work is flanked with bastions of which 
 there are generally two, placed at diagonal 
 corners These mount several small pieces 
 of cannon and are also amply pierced for mus- 
 ketry. Seen from a distance these posts pre- 
 sent a rather formidable appearance, and 
 though capable of offering but slight resistance 
 to artillery, have ever been found sufficient to 
 overawe the Indian or resist his attacks. 
 
 FORT LANGLRY. 
 
 In ascendinfi Fraser river, the first fori 
 arrived at is Langley, on the south bank of 
 the river, twenty-five miles from its mouth. 
 It is an old and extensive establishment, ut 
 present under the supervision of Mr. Y ale. The 
 Company have a large farm at this place, with 
 a considerable amount of stock. The land, 
 cleared of heavy timber, is said to produce 
 good crops, and in the garden attached to the 
 fort vegetables grew last summer with the 
 greatest luxuriance, while the apple trees were 
 loaded down with fruit. There are many iittle 
 prairies in the neighborhood, which being cov- 
 ered with coarse grass, aflbrd ample feed for 
 stock as well as hay for winter use. The Com- 
 pany had large stores of goods at this post last 
 season, it being a sort of distributing point to 
 places above, and to which many of the miners 
 ftnd traders came for supplies. There is an 
 Indian village on the opposite side of the river 
 containing the remnant of a once numerous 
 tribe, but like most -of the race in this part of 
 the country, they have become not only greatly 
 reduced in numbers but sadly demoralized, 
 and it is questionable whether their services or 
 trade can hereafter prove of much advantage 
 to the Company, or any one else. 
 FonT uorR 
 
 Is the next post met with in going up the 
 river, on the same side with Langley, and sev- 
 enty miles above it. It is an old settlement, at 
 present in charge of Mr. Walker, and consists 
 of three block buildings within a picketed in- 
 closure. Being 8f limited capacity and some- 
 what dilapidated, additional bouses have been 
 erected for the accommodation of the very ex- 
 tensive trade carried on, this place having thus 
 far proved the head of steamboat navigation. 
 Suitable steamers, it fs thought, can run to 
 Fort Yale during high water, the Umatilla 
 having reached that point once last summer. 
 The passage, however, will always be attended 
 with difficulty and some degree of danger. 
 
 PORT YAL>. 
 
 This place is fourteen miles above Fort Hope 
 and on the opposite or west bank of the river. 
 The original post consisted of a single log hut, 
 
12 
 
 BRITISH COLUMBIA, 
 
 of imnll dimentiions, without any palisade or 
 other military gurroundings. Last year a large 
 block Htorc in addition was erected. This has 
 since been kept well stocked with goods, which 
 have been sold at a moderate profit, however 
 the market might at times have justified higher 
 prices. The post is nnnicd after Mr. Yale, now, 
 as has been stated, Chief Trader at Lungley. 
 He is an old and efficient servant of the Com* 
 pany, having been on Fraser river over thirty 
 years, during which time he has been but once 
 absent from the Territory. Mr. Alvord is at 
 present Superintendent at this place. 
 
 rORT DALLAS ANU FOBT BKnKNS. 
 
 The former of these posts is situated about 
 fifly miles above Fort Yale, on the east bank of 
 the river, and three miles below the mouth of 
 Thompson's Fork. It is named after Mr. Alex. 
 O. Dallas, a son-in-law of Governor Douglas, 
 a gentleman whose efficient services and liberal 
 views have alike secured him the confidence of 
 the Company and the respect of the public,and 
 who, in the estimation ol all, is deemed justly 
 to merit the compliment thus paid him. The 
 buildings not yet occupied, being in an unfin- 
 ished state, are located on a handsome grassy 
 eminence, overlooking the river, toward which 
 it slopss with an eveu and gentle declivity. 
 They will be completed and brought into use 
 the present summer, there being a numerous 
 mining population in the vicinity. Fort Berens, 
 also named after a member of the Company, is 
 situated on the same side of the river, fifty 
 miles above Foi t Dallas, at a point opposite tbe 
 terminus of the new trail opened through the 
 Lilooett country to the upper Fraser. It occu- 
 pies a magnificent table land, commanding a 
 view for many miles up and down the river, 
 and though laid out on an extensive 8ca1e,J8 
 in a still more unfinished state than Fort Dai- 
 las ; yet,Iike the latter, is to be finished nnd oc- 
 cupied during the present spring or summer. 
 
 FOnT KAMLOOPS. 
 
 Making a deflection one hundred miles east, 
 we arrived at Fort Kumloops, also called Fort 
 Thompson. It is situated on the North Branch 
 of Thompson's Fork, near its junction with the 
 main stream, and a little above the head of 
 Kush wap Lake, in the midst of an extended and 
 highly fertile bottom. It is the only post the 
 Company have in the interior of British Colum- 
 bia to the east of Fraser river — Fort Colville, 
 On the Columbia, at one time thought to be on 
 the English, having been ascertained by the 
 late survey to be on the American side of the 
 line. It is the intention of the Company to 
 carry it to their oWn side this summer, and 
 re-erect it under tbe name of Fort Shepherd, 
 as a mark of respect for the present Governor of 
 tbe Hudson's Bay Company. There are several 
 hundred acrei of land under cultivation near 
 Port Kamloops, a large proportion being 
 planted to potatoes, whioh grow here with lit- 
 tle culture, and of an excellent quality. Wheat 
 and other cereals also thrive well, the yield 
 being abundant and the crop quite certain. 
 There is also a fine range for atock in tbe 
 
 neighborhood, the cows and oxen, of which 
 there are several hundred head, with a large 
 number of horses, keeping fat through the 
 summer, and in tolerable condition through 
 the winter, though none except the working 
 animals receive any fodder, unless, perhaps, it 
 be a little straw. The Indian Chief, Paul, Ht- 
 ing near the Fort, owns a large amount of stock, 
 the sale of which to the whites of late has ren- 
 dered him quite wealthy. This post is under 
 the management of chief trader McLean, a 
 man held in great awe by the surrounding sav- 
 ages, from his summary and decisive manner 
 of dealing with ofl'cnders. Indeed, ho is quite 
 remarkable for his reckless intrepidity, even 
 amongst a class distinguished for cjol and 
 determined courage. 
 
 FOKT ALHXANDRIA. 
 
 Returning, and follwing up the Fraser over 
 150 miles above Fort Berens, we arrive at Port 
 Alexandria, or as it is commonly called, AIex« 
 ander, being named after Sir Alexander Mac- 
 Kenisie, who indicated the spot as favorable 
 for a station as early as 1793. Having reached 
 this point on his journey ot exploration, this 
 celebrated traveler being advised by the natives 
 of tlie dangerous navigation of the river below, 
 and conscious that he was already near the 
 Pacific, directed his course toward the west, 
 and stricking the Salmon river, followed it to 
 its disemboguement in one of thosedeep canals 
 that penetrate the coast of British Columbia 
 in snch a remarkable manner. It is the prin- 
 cipal post of the company in this region, being 
 a sort of depot for receiving the produce 
 gathered at the stations still further on, of 
 which there are a number, all however of 
 secondary importance. This Fort is situated 
 on the east bank of the Fraser, nearly in lati- 
 tude 52° N. The country a 'jaccnt is open and 
 picturesque, and is said to aff'ord good hunting 
 grounds, whence the Indian procuring an 
 abundant supply of skinc, that trade has always 
 been active at this point. 
 
 To the southwest of Alexandria, some fifty 
 hiiles, is Fort Chilcotin, on a river, near a lake, 
 and in the country of a tribe all bearing tbe 
 same name. These people were once numer- 
 ous, and their land abounding in beaver and 
 other fur-producing animals, it was deemed 
 advisable to establish a post amongst them. 
 Subsequently, however, their number being 
 reduced through war and disease, their trade 
 proved profitless, and this station like several 
 others further north, has been abandoned or is 
 occupied only as occasion may require. In 
 this catalogue may be enumerated Fort George, 
 one hundred miles north of Fort Alexandria, 
 at the junction of Stuart and Fraser rivers, 
 ana the still more inconsiderable stations of 
 Fort Fraser, McLeod aud St. James. 
 
 FOBT aiMPSOM. 
 
 The only remaining post requiting special 
 mention is that of Fort Simpson, situated on 
 Chatbams Sound, in the extreme northwest 
 come: V Of British Columbia, adjacent to the 
 Russian Possessions. Located on a fine har 
 
ITS SOIL, CLIMATE, RESOURCES, Ac. 
 
 18 
 
 f which 
 a Urge 
 ugh the 
 through 
 workiug 
 irhaps, it 
 'aul, liT- 
 of stock, 
 Las ren- 
 is under 
 cLean, a 
 ding sav- 
 Q manner 
 is quite 
 liity, even 
 cjul and 
 
 raser oTer 
 ve at Fort 
 led, Alcm 
 nder Mac- 
 favorable 
 ng reached 
 ation, this 
 the natives 
 iver below, 
 f near the 
 i the west, 
 lowed it to 
 deep canals 
 Columbia 
 IS the prin- 
 igion, being 
 10 produce 
 ther on, of 
 however of 
 ^ IS situated 
 arly in lati- 
 is open and 
 ood hunting 
 ■ocuring an 
 e has always 
 
 , some fifty 
 ,near a lake, 
 
 bearing the 
 once numer- 
 
 beaver and 
 was deemed 
 longst them, 
 imber being 
 e, their trade 
 1 like several 
 indoned or is 
 
 require. In 
 1 Fort Oesrge, 
 t Alexandria, 
 i'raser rivers, 
 le stations of 
 les. 
 
 ailing special 
 I, situated on 
 me northwest 
 Ijacent to the 
 on a fine bar 
 
 bor, the neighboring waters abounding in fish, 
 and the land in wild animals, the centre of a 
 large number of active and thrifty tribes, it 
 eiyoys s large and lucrative trad*. It is the 
 •mart for all the various northern Indians, being 
 frequented not only ty those on the main land, 
 but also by the inhabitants of Queen Char- 
 lotte's Island, and the Russian Possessions. 
 It is called (iter Sir George Simpson, formerly 
 a Governor of the Company, and is flrequently 
 visited by steamers from Victoria, which carry 
 up large quantities of goods adapted to the 
 Indian trade, and return freighted with the 
 commodities procured in exchange. 
 
 OOLD MINKS — THEIR BARLV HISTORY. 
 
 The existence ot gold on Thompson's Fork, 
 and possibly on other tributaries of the Fraser, 
 has been known to the Hudson Bay traders for 
 the last five or six years, the Indians having 
 been in the habit of bringing in small quanti- 
 ties and exchanging it for other coiqmodities 
 during this time. Mr. McLean, Chief Trader 
 at Kainloops, procured some dust from the na- 
 tives as early as '52, since which period more 
 or less has been received at this and other posts 
 of the Company, chiefly on Fraser river. The 
 amount thus obtained, though perhaps consid- 
 derablo in the aggregate, was not jo large as 
 commonly conjectured, having been insuflicient 
 to awalun a suspicion in the minds of these 
 traders fliat diggings remunerative to white 
 labor existed in that quarter ; at least so little 
 did they concern themselves about the matter, 
 that others were left to make the final discovery 
 which has resulted in so rapidly populating the 
 country. The finding of paying placers in this 
 region was not en event, however, of such sud- 
 dsn or recent occurrence as is generally tup- 
 posed, various parties having prospected the 
 banks of Thompson's river and its branches at 
 different times since theopening of the Colville 
 mines in the fall of '55, and always with re- 
 sults showing that moderate wages could be 
 made on that stream, though not such as would 
 then justify men remaining, the prices of pro- 
 visions being enormously high, and the Indians 
 disposed to be troublesome. During the sum- 
 mer and fall of '57, a number of persons,-bcing 
 mostly advjenturers from Oregon and Washing- 
 ton Territories, or the Colville mines, together 
 with a, sprinkling of half-breeds and Canadian 
 French, formerly in the Company's service, 
 made their way into the country on the upper 
 Fraser, where, prospecting in the neighbor- 
 hood of the forks, they found several rich bars, 
 on which they went to work, continuing opera- 
 tions with, much success, until forced to leave 
 from want of provisions ot| the approach of 
 cold weather. Coming to Victoria, or return- 
 ing whence they came, these men spread 
 abroad the news of their good luck and laid 
 the foundation for the excitement that soon af- 
 ter followed. 
 
 This intelligence reached San Francisco 
 early in '58, and being confirmed by subse- 
 quent reports, spread rapidly thro'igh the State, 
 affecting every class, and causing a general 
 
 stampede, until culminating about the middle 
 of July, the movement had transferred full 
 twenty thousand people from Califurnia to this 
 new field of enterprise and exertion. How 
 this all turned out in the end it is now useless 
 to inquire, nor is it worth while to attempt in- 
 dicating the particularagencies through which 
 it was brought about. Some have attributed 
 it to the efforts of the shipping interest opera- 
 ting through the presj, while others, with more 
 reason and fairness', have detected its main 
 spring in the privrtto advices sent from tbr 
 mines, and the 'jaturally impulsive spirit of 
 our people, who, in like cusc, have ever shown 
 a penchant for acting first and deliberating af- 
 terwards. That the newspaper press can be 
 justly charged with any such complicity no 
 well informed person will contend, since it 
 would be difficult to find a single line in the 
 editorial columns of any journal in the State 
 calculated to magnify the wealth of those 
 mines, or encourage emigration thither. If 
 the directors of the press published letters, or 
 extracts from other papers calculated to pro- 
 duce that end, it was simply discharging their 
 duty as impartial journalists, which require* 
 they shall present every side of a question en- 
 gaging the. public attention, ho^^ever it may 
 conflict with individual interest or their own 
 private opinions. 
 
 The truth is, every closs of persons was more 
 influenced by private letters received from 
 parties who had already proceeded to Fraser 
 river than by anything that appeared in the 
 newspapers. It cannot be forgotten, that the . 
 mining community, recalling how often they 
 had been mislead by similar rumors, took 
 every precaution to guard against their being 
 deceived in this instance; companies and small 
 camps frequently delegating one of the most ex- 
 perienced and trusty of their number to go 
 and examine what foundation there might be 
 for these flying stories, and report aceordingly. 
 And it was on the^" reports, or intelligence 
 derived through like sources, that people for 
 the most part acted. Sometimes a secret note 
 addressed to a friend advising a hasty visit to 
 the new Dorado, would gain publicity, and 
 forthwith a general scamper would ensue, 
 scores rushing away who never would have 
 vhought of going from anything they might 
 see in the public prints. More than once a 
 single letter so received from a precocious ad- 
 venturer has had the effect to depopulate a 
 farming district to an extent that seriously 
 interfered with the gathering of the harvest. 
 But why this vindication of the newspaper 
 press, or wherefore these excuses for the con- 
 duct of our people? Perhaps they did not err 
 in their judgment so widely, or act so very 
 foolishly after all. Let us review a little and 
 see how this ib. 
 
 Here was a river reaching many hundred 
 miles inland, the batiks of which along its low- 
 er portion were rich in gold, to all appearance 
 washed down from above. Upon several 
 tributaries of this river good diggings hbd also 
 
u 
 
 BRITISH COLUMBIA, 
 
 \r 
 
 been found. Adjacent to the region trarersed^ 
 by It, and lying between the same mountain 
 ranges were extensive placeres, that had been 
 «acueii8fully worked for ycara. What was 
 there tlien, so preposterous in supposing an 
 auriferous rpf^ion existed along tlie banks of this 
 Mtream ? Was it not reasonable to conclude 
 such was the case ? Was not this a fair de- 
 duction — an inference warranted by geological 
 Hcience and our gold mining experience? Of 
 course it was ; and herein the press has ample 
 juttiRcation for the course it pursued, and every 
 Craser-river adventurer a sutlicient reason for 
 the hope that was in him. It ntust be admit- 
 ■ tod we were mistaken — possibly in our esti- 
 mate of the magnitude and value of these 
 mines, 'though this remains to bo proved ; but 
 certain it if., we misapprehend theirprecise lo- 
 cHlity, and the ditllcultics we should have to 
 encounter in reaching them. Apart from this, 
 no very great blunder was committed after all. 
 Wu had what seemed r.afe data for action; and 
 however we may now speak of it as a delusion, 
 or denounce it us a humbug, it is not always 
 our people have so sound abasia for their finan- 
 cial and commercial speculations, or industrial 
 projects, as had this widely execrated and suf- 
 ficiently unfortunate Fraser river movement. 
 And although it has become the fashion to rank 
 it with tiold lake expeditions and South sea 
 schemes — projects purely speculative or whol- 
 ly visionary — it may safely -be affirmed that 
 before two years mote shall have passed, these 
 mines will redeem themselves from the odium 
 of the comparison, if they do not fully realize 
 the expectations of the pioneer crowd, all of 
 whom sought them too early, and many of 
 whom left them too soon. That this opinion 
 of their future may not seem too sanguine, let 
 OS examine for a moment. 
 
 TUBIB PRODUCTIVK.NESS AND EXTRNT. 
 
 If we begin at Fort Hope, and follow up Fra- 
 ser river to the vicinity of Fort Alexander, we 
 <hall have passed over a stretch of country 
 more than 300 miles long, all of which is 
 auriferous. Some pay diggings have been 
 found below Fort Hope, and to what extent 
 the couiitiy above the highest point mentioned 
 may be gold producing, has not yet been ascer- 
 tained. Nearly all the bars within this scope, 
 some of which are very extensive, contain a 
 large amount of pay dirt. The high banks in 
 some places have also shown a good prospect, 
 while gold in small quantities has been found 
 even on the table lands and sides of the moun- 
 tains. But the gold fields of British Columbia 
 are not confined to the banks of the Fraser. 
 Several of its tributaries are known to abound 
 in the precious metal ; the yield of some hav- 
 ing been quite as prolific as any part of the 
 main stream itself. The banks of Bridge river, 
 for forty miles up, have furnished very satis- 
 factory diggings, the dust being coarse, of good 
 quality and easily saved. The bars on Thomp- 
 son's Pork, as high up as Nicholas river, have 
 uniformly paid fiiir wages. Above that they 
 have not generally, thus far, proved remuner- 
 ative. Along Nicholas, Bonaparte and Tran- 
 
 quille rivera, all branches of the Fork, th« dig- 
 gings that will pay moderate wages — aay four 
 or five doliari per day — mny be measured bj 
 the acre. On the latter stream parties mining 
 with rockeri, averaged five dollars a day, dur- 
 ing all last autumn. It has been prospected for 
 forty or fifty miles, showing dirt along all that 
 distance that would pay equally well. Gold has 
 also been found in other directions, and on wa- 
 ters far separated from the Fraser. On the Liloo- 
 ett river, reaching from one end to the other, are 
 numerous bars on which small wages can be 
 made. The extreme fineness and levity of the 
 dust, however, together with the long contin- 
 ued stage of high water, the bars being gen- 
 erally low, will preclude any chance of success- 
 ful mining on this stream, unless carried on 
 by some improved process, or during the three 
 or four months preceding the commencement 
 of cold weather. 
 
 Such are the limits of the Fraser river gold 
 fields as 'ascertained by actual exploration. 
 How much they may be enlarged by future 
 discoveries, or how rich these partially pros- 
 pected streams may eventually prove, is matter 
 for conjecture. That the multitude who re- 
 sorted to them have been put poorly rewarded 
 for their loas of time and outlay of money — 
 that capital has met with indifferent returna, 
 and merchandise netted but sorry profits, ia 
 lamentably true. Yet all this loss, disttvpoint- 
 ment and disaster, is not to be set down to the 
 narrow limits or poverty of the mines. As bat 
 been said, the laborer could not reach the 
 actual mining district until too late in the 
 seast"^^ for successful operations. Besides, a 
 vfry .irge percentage of those who went to 
 Fraser river were either mere speculators and 
 adventurers, or persons mentally indisposed to, 
 if not physically incapable of doing bard work. 
 As to the pecuniary loss attending invest- 
 ments in that quarter, let us \sk ourselves 
 how much of this raay be traced to the most 
 wild and absurd kind of speculation — to build- 
 ing towns, erecting wharves, and cutting trails 
 where nature never intended, and the rcouire- 
 ments of business never called for such im- 
 provements? Thousands and hundreds of 
 thousands of dollars were thus spent in futile 
 attempts at building up cities where none 
 were needed, and in ridiculous endeavors at 
 forcing trade into costly and impracticable 
 channels. Let the forced growth of Port 
 Townsend, and the unwholesome impetus giv- 
 ing to nearly every other place on the Sound, 
 producing overtrade and a fictitious rise in 
 real estate — let the acres of ruins and piled 
 water lota at Whatcom, the foolish outlays at 
 Point Roberts,Semiahmoo and Sehome, together 
 with the spirit of reckless expenditure and 
 insane speculation everywhere exhibited, come 
 in for their proper share of the losses incurred 
 by these unfortunates, and which have so gen- 
 erally but unjustly been charged to the ac- 
 count of Fraser river. 
 
 INDnOBMCNTS TO ■mORATIOH. 
 
 It being evident, then, that the acope of pay 
 diggings in British Oolumbia ia aufilciently 
 
 di 
 
 be 
 
ITS SOIL, CLIMATE, RESOURCES, Ac. 
 
 15 
 
 aitennivo, the qneitlon arises as to their rich- 
 neii, or rather thcircapacity to give immodlate 
 and profltablo employment to any considerable 
 population. The practical point to be decided 
 is, whetherevery thing considered, better wages 
 can be realized there than in the mines of Cali- 
 fornia. Of course, it is not to be expected that 
 any person, however much he may have seen 
 of the two countries, or however conversant 
 he may be with their comparative advantages, 
 will assume to advise which should be chosen 
 aa a field for mining operations. So much 
 depends on circumstances — the situation of 
 parties, their fitness to endure hardship and 
 exposure, on the increase of facilities for reach- 
 ing the interior of British Columbia, and a 
 variety of considerations, applying with greater 
 or less force in each individual case, that any 
 advise given on this point would necessarily be 
 qualified to an extent rendering it nearly value- 
 less as a general rule of action. The most that 
 could be expected of one treating on (he subject 
 is that a full and candid statement of facts should 
 be given, leaving each one to judge for himself 
 as to the propriety of going or staying. It is 
 the opinion of very many who have visited 
 these northern mines that a hardy and per- 
 severing man, being without a mining claim 
 here, or sufficient means to buy into one, might 
 for the next few years make more money there 
 than in California. This, however, is on the 
 supposition that he is capable of not only doing 
 bard work, but also of subsisting on coarse 
 and scanty fare, and that he can be absent for 
 a length of time without serious inconvenience 
 to himself or others ; and also, perhaps, on the 
 further condition *that cheap and expeditious 
 means of transportation be supplied between 
 the head of steamboat navigation and the 
 mines, since, with the present inadequate 
 means ofcarriage, the inducements for emigrat- 
 ing to that quarter are greatly diminished, the 
 cost of subsistence in these mines being enor- 
 mous ; cot less in the more remote localities 
 than the combined expt-nsc of living and the 
 price usually paid for labor in this State. That 
 additional improvements will shortly bo made 
 for effecting that ol^ject, either by the Colonial 
 governmeht engaging in the work or encourag- 
 ing others to do so, there is every reason for 
 believing, from the pronspt and liberal mannej 
 in which it has hitherto responded to demands 
 of this kind ; not le^is than $150,000 having 
 already been expended from the public treasury 
 in opening new routes, or in endeavors to 
 facilitate the carriage of goods into the mines. 
 From present indications, it may be safely in- 
 ferred that the cost of passage and freight over 
 these routes, heretofore oppressively high, will 
 be reduced one hundred per cent., if not more, 
 daring the coming summer, causing a corres- 
 ponding reduction in the expenses of the miner, 
 and a like increase in the net profits he will be 
 able to realise from bis labor. Should this be 
 done, there is little doubt thtit men of moderate 
 means might, unless going in too great num- 
 bers, do quite as well for the present on Fraser 
 
 riveras on any of the streams in our own State. 
 One advantage in these comparatively fresh 
 mines is that every man can be his own master; 
 he can own his claim and work it himself; 
 nonftnced be hirelings, and none need be idle; 
 whereas, in California it is quite ditforent.^i 
 is not every miner who can be a proprietor 
 here ; nor is it always that a man can get work 
 when he wants it. 
 
 It requires capital to buy into a claim here, 
 or else much time must be spent in prospecting 
 before one is found, and then not always with 
 success. There, no persevering and industri- 
 ous man need have any difficulty on this score; 
 none need hire out their services, or be com- 
 pelled to go for a length of tiiro without em- 
 ployment. In saying this, of course we mean 
 on the upper Eraser and its tributaries, where 
 alone, the real mines are, and to which most 
 new comers must make their way if they ex- 
 pect to be successful. The writer is aware 
 how little short of seditious this sort of 
 language will be regarded by those who fear 
 the transfer of a few thousand men, the mere 
 shiiling the point of consumption from one 
 place on this coast to another, will effect the 
 ruin of California. But still he is of opinipn 
 that a candid statement of facti can never 
 work harm, and that labor, while it should 
 never be diverted into profitless channels, 
 should always bo left to seek its most remu- 
 nerative field. There are sufficient discour- 
 agements to emigration to the Fraser river 
 mines without recourse to misrepresentation 
 or concealment. Their remote and inaccessi- 
 ble position, the exorbitant prices of provis- 
 ions prevailing at present, the cold winters and 
 long continued stage of high water, with many 
 minor difficulties and objections, make up a 
 formidable argument against their claims Ui 
 attention, and will no doubt check any undue 
 diversion of our people that way. Yet in the 
 face of all these discouragements, there is 
 good reason to believe some thousand of the 
 more hardy and adventurous of our popula- 
 tion, with an indefinite number of the idle and 
 unemployed, might repair to these northern 
 mines with profit to themselves and no great 
 detriment to the public. Indeed, whatever of 
 damage certain interests may have suffered 
 from the hegira of last year, it cannot be de- 
 nied that much good resulted to this commu- 
 nity in the happy riddance of a large number 
 of worthless and non-producing members 
 effected througa its agency. 
 
 The cities and towns throughout the State had 
 become sadly infested by a class of lazy, list- 
 less drones, some discouraged through want of 
 success, others broken down by dissipation and 
 vice — some vagabonds from force of circum- 
 stances, and some from force of habit, yet all 
 more or less a burden to their friends and a 
 nuisance to society, and who, bnt for some 
 stimulous like this Fraser river excitement, 
 never would have made another honest effort 
 to earn a livelihood ; but who, aroused by the 
 prospect of easily acquired wealth, again be* 
 
"H 
 
 16 
 
 BRITISH COLUMBIA, 
 
 ii 
 
 took themselvei to labor, And having tbui es-^ hare a tolerable buiine.^i or lituatlon, or even 
 
 e,' a good prospect of luch in California, to leare 
 
 caped from the thraldom of a vicious indolence^ 
 will be likeljr, in most cases, to recover their 
 lost standing, and do something for themselres 
 hereafter. And hence, however much individ- 
 ual injury may have resulted from this Frazer 
 river movement, it was not all a loss to the 
 public at large. Deeply as wa may deplore 
 certain of its effects, it still left traces of good 
 behind it. Like the winds that sweep over our 
 city, it carried away the pestilential effluvia 
 that otherwise stagnating, become the pregnant 
 agents of disease and death. And it would 
 hardly be matter for regret were our large 
 towns more frequently the subjects of these 
 visitations, so effectual in purging the social 
 atmosphere, and relieving community of its 
 vagrant ^nd vicious members. , ,. 
 
 IHPBOVKD PR08PKCT8. 
 
 Notwithstanding the difficulties in the way 
 of reaching the gold fields of British Columbia 
 are still formidable enough, there is no doubt 
 that they have been greatly diminished since 
 last year, and that the chances for success in 
 mining are manifold better this season than 
 they were last. The locality and character of 
 the diggings are now understood ; the peculi- 
 arities of the seasons and climate are known ; 
 the Indian annoyances have ceased ; new routes 
 have been opened, and steamboats placed on 
 the rivers, adding security to life, and cheap- 
 ening transportation and travel ; while com- 
 fortable places of entertainment have been 
 opened at all the central points, and at con- 
 venient distances along the principal thorough- 
 fares. Of provisions, if not over cheap and 
 abundant, there will always bo a sufficient 
 supply to insure the miner from starvation, 
 and at reasonable prices. Lumber, an article 
 so necessary for successful mining, will here- 
 after be procurable, as also will fresh vegeta- 
 bles, on a due supply of which health is so de- 
 pendant ; ditches and reservoirs will be, and to 
 some extent have already been constructed, 
 affording a steady and ample supply of water 
 on bars where otherwise nothing could be 
 done. Men becoming familiar with the periods 
 of high and low water, will be able to take 
 advantage of the same for the purpose of min- 
 ing ; while acquaintance with the eddies and 
 rapids will enable tlem to avoid many of the 
 dangers of river navigation. Trade monopo- 
 lies, so far as any existed, having ceased; and 
 mining licenses having been practically abro- 
 gated ; what with courts and peace ofiicers at 
 all the more populous points, and the prospect 
 of escorts for the transportation, with places of 
 deposit for the safe keeping of the miner's gold 
 dust, we cannot see what ground there can be 
 for complaint as to existing regulations, or the 
 manner in which life and property are protect- 
 ed in these mines. 
 
 Comparing this year withlast, there is hardly 
 a single view in which the mining interest and 
 the prospect for success has not greatly chang- 
 ed for the better. This is not said with the 
 remotest view to encouraging parties who may 
 
 the same and reptirto those distant gold fields 
 in the hope of bettering their condition. Let 
 no one who bus a living business here, or em- 
 ploy ment at fair wages, or the means of secur- 
 ing either, think for a moment of abandoning 
 the same and resorting to Fraser river. We are 
 not writing for such. Neit her are we writing 
 for speculators and traders, or the non-produc- 
 ing fraternity, who seek to live by their wits 
 rather than hard work. To this class the in- 
 ducements for migrating northward are indeed 
 slender. But to the ill-rewarded hard worker, 
 the unemployed, to all such in fact as come 
 within the category before mentioned, we hare 
 thought fit to say British Columbia opens, per- 
 haps, for you as good a labor-field just now as 
 California ; venturing to indicate, at the same 
 time, the improved condition of things in that 
 quarter as warranting the suggestion. In the 
 opinion that these mines will better reward any 
 class of laborers whatever, than those of our 
 State, we may be mistaken ; but there is little 
 ground for mistake in what has been said as to 
 the increased facilities for travel, and the im- 
 proved chances for success this season as com- 
 pared with the past. If we examine the con- 
 dition and progress of affairs last year a little 
 more in detail, the truth of this remark becomes 
 fully apparent. 
 
 lu the first place, a large proportion of the 
 miners; on reaching Victoria, were delayed at 
 that point a long time ; some waiting for the 
 river to fall, but more because they were una- 
 ble to proceed, either from want of means to 
 go on the steamers, or the inability of .the lat- 
 ter to carry them. Here they idled away their 
 time doing nothing, or engaged in building 
 boats in which, when completed, they embark- 
 ed for the mines. These craft being small and 
 badly constructed, and as a general thing, still 
 more badly navigated, met with many disasters, 
 often of A fatal character, in crossing the gulf 
 or attempting to ascend the rivers, and were 
 no longer ot any value after the owner had 
 reached his point of destination, Taking into 
 the account the original cost of these boats 
 and canoes, varying from fifty to a hundred 
 dollars each, together with the loss of time and 
 property, to say nothing of life, occasioned by 
 this species of navigation, the damage sus- 
 tained by the miner in being forced to resort 
 to it, was incalculable. 
 
 Having reached the mines, or, rather, got as 
 far up the river as practicable, the adventurer 
 found all the bars worth working completely 
 occupied or under water. Thus conditioned, 
 he had either to return, remain an indefinite 
 period doing nothing, or attempt forcing his 
 way further up. A majority chose to come 
 back; many staid until the water went ^own 
 — a part doing well and a part very little, 
 owing to the impossibility of all getting claimi. 
 Of those who pushed on to the Upper Fraser, 
 some going by the Brigade Trail, and others 
 through the cafions, or over the Lilooett roate. 
 
ITS SOIL, CMMATK, RRSOURCKS, *p,. 
 
 17 
 
 All arrived ea utterly Impoverished, or ooni- 
 pletely broken down, (in to he unlit to do i\iiy- 
 lliinK- Hcttini; out with Hcanty Rtorug, thitHO 
 had bouomu exImuHtod l>y the length of time 
 they were on the way, orbnen tiiken from them 
 by the Indian!). Yvt, living; on Ii8h and berrii'H, 
 Huch of th(Ho men aH liiid fortitude to remain 
 and make a trial, nearly all did well, gome 
 taking out largo xums of gold, though having 
 only the moHt rude and imperfect implements 
 to work with. When, Inter in the Heason, 
 proviflionit began to come in, prices ranged 
 from one to two dollarH a pound — yet so good 
 were the diggings that the miiierH were vastly 
 more concerned about the supply than the 
 price. And so these men ou the Upper Francr 
 lingered on through the fall, wailing impa- 
 tiently for the completion of the new Lilooctt 
 trail, when it was expected provisions would 
 be more abundant and cheap. This work, 
 however, not being tinished until too late to 
 get in supplies for the winter, nearly the en- 
 tire population was obliged to vacate this 
 region on the arrival of cold weather. 
 
 And here, again, is another item, which in 
 estimating the value of these mines by the 
 yield of last season should be set down to their 
 credit. In the prosecution of this valuable 
 improvement, over live hundred men were ab- 
 stracted from the mining population and 
 kept on this work throughout the entire 
 season. A good many were, also, in like man- 
 ner engaged opening trails along the Fraser, 
 or elsewhere, or in other pursuits foreign to 
 the business of mining. This, with the extent 
 to which labor was diverted for the {)urpo8e of 
 building boats, digging ditches, chastising the 
 Indians, and various other objects, taken in 
 connection with the fact that much time was 
 foolishly lost in waiting for the falling of the 
 water, and the additional fact that mining 
 operations were mostly confined to the Lower 
 Fraser, the mere entrance to the mines, all 
 goes to show that large allowance should be 
 made when calculating the aggregate yield of 
 these mines the past season. 
 
 As has been said, many of these serious in- 
 terferences with mining industry, as well as 
 much of the heavy expense alluded to, may be 
 avoided the present season. The miner, on 
 reaching Victoria, can proceed at once, and a 
 ■mall cost, directly to the head of steamboat 
 navigation on comfortable steamers, a number 
 of which are already on the route, while one 
 of our first class Sacramento river boats is 
 about leaving to be employed in the same ser- 
 vice. With these accommodations the vex- 
 atious and ruinous delays at Victoria, the dan- 
 gerous passage of the Gulf, with the tedious 
 toilsome, and still more perilous ascent of the 
 , rivers, with the hard work, exposure and ex- 
 pense incident t« travel on this part of the 
 journey in the early day, will be avoided. The 
 portages will also be made the present neason 
 with much greater expedition, Cumfort and 
 economy than before, as a sufficient number of 
 animals will, no doubt, be brought upon them 
 
 I as soon as ri'ipiired. Tlii.-. st'oms probable; 
 
 I from tlio fact that ^>\■^^\■ three liuiiiiii'd pa( k 
 aiiimal.t wore wintered at lloiiapaile river, lor 
 the [lurpose of being placed ou the l/ilonett 
 route this spring, while a consideralile num- 
 ber have been sliippud from Sau I'Vancisrd, 
 and seveial tniiuM have set out from Orea'oii 
 for the NaiMc de>iinati(iM. With thcMO facili- 
 ties, then, for re.ii'hing the centre of the Fraser 
 gold fields, Willi llie Indian tribes paeilicd or 
 overaweil, ninl a liiMinilleMS extent of virgin 
 mines Hlrotelied out in every direction, it 
 would seem iis il'ttood \vii;,'e8 ought to be made 
 there this .uiiiiinior, iiotwillistamlitig provisions 
 may bo high, and other expenses siuuewhat 
 greater tliiin in Ciilitornia. For tlio benelit oC 
 Hiicli as may feel inclined to try their lortiiiie 
 in that i|iiiirier, the best routes to be taken 
 will next be pointed out, to be followed by a 
 notice of the iiiiniiig rnles and regulations in 
 force, and a few practical observations of a 
 general character, 
 
 ROI'TKH TO TIIK INIKIKMl. 
 
 Parties bound to the Upper Fraser, that is to 
 say any point over tliirly or forty miles above 
 Thoni|iNon's Fork, should go by the way of the 
 new MIooet route, as being not only the most 
 safe and expeditious, but also the cheapest. 
 In fact the route by the river, ascending 
 through the caf)ons, is iienrly impracticable 
 expect at a low .stage of water, and even then 
 is attended with much danger and delay, there 
 being several portages where not only the 
 cargo but the boat itself has to be lifted from 
 the water carried over the rocks, mid 
 launched above the rapids. A trail has been 
 commenced l)etween Fort Vale and the Fork.s, 
 which, when completed, as it will be this sum- 
 mer, will alfonl tolerable facilities for travel 
 between these two points. In going to the 
 vicinity of the Forks this trail or the river 
 must necessarily be taken, but in going to the 
 upper country, to which the great moss of the 
 mining population must rejiair to find profi- 
 table employment, the route indicated should 
 be chosen. The diggings below Thompson 
 river, being mostly confined to the bars along 
 the Fraser, have not capacity to employ more 
 than four or five thousand meri, while that 
 portion of them below the cafions, and to which 
 nearly the entire population was restricted last 
 summer, would scarcely oUbrd room for two 
 thirds that number. Hence, in the cent of 
 any large influx of people, a majority would 
 be obliged to betake themselves to the l'|)per 
 Fraser. 
 
 Supposing this his point of destination, then, 
 the minor takes the steamer at Victoria an(i 
 proceeding to Langly, or such other point as 
 this steamer connects with the lighter draft 
 boats running above, he is there transferred to 
 the latter, which carry him to Port Douglas, at 
 the head of steamboat navigation. The dis- 
 tances on the route thus past over are as fol- 
 lows : From Victoria due north, to the moutu 
 ot Fraser river, passing through the canal 
 de Uarro, 65 miles ; from the month of the 
 
18 
 
 BRITISH COLUMBIA, 
 
 river to Fort Iiiii<|j;li!v, ;!5 niilcH ; tliriii;(> to j 
 lti« moiitli of lliirriioii rivor ^Ifi miles ; up llnr- I 
 rj-^uii river 7, mid iktush lljtrriHoii liike to I'tirt I 
 l'oii)(l»i*, 'i:i iiiik-s : niiikiiiK tliu entire (iJHtancv ' 
 Ml stuauiboiit travel ITfi iiiilui). The time rc- 
 >liiire(I to miiki' ilii^ iJiHtaneo by Htvamer Ik 
 ..l)outtwo (liiy> — ie.ift if lliu (Julf bu oronHeil 
 'luring lliu iil)(lit' Witli tiail buatK or eaiioen I 
 il i?' H vcooil |iiis.sii};e if iiiiiiie ill u week or ten ' 
 u.iy* ; lienee tli<> liml eeoiioiiiy of atteiii|>lili^ it 
 HI ilii-i Kort of craft, to !<iiy notliing of ilaii(;er, ' 
 iihi-it be obvious to tliu inoHt iiioxpcrieuo'd ' 
 iiiiiiinvr. At low water, Hteuiultoiii luivipttiiiii '■ 
 i-t suiiiewliiit iiiiurf-'reii with on tlie llarriMoii [ 
 I'lutr by a Kuriert of sIiohIh, whieli ut xiieii timei< 
 caiiiiinK rapid!!, it is ditlieiilt for even tliu li){ht- 
 t it draft Hteaiiiers to i«,<eeiid. yVt all other rea- 
 sons such boats ^o up with the i^rcatudt facil- 
 iiy, there beinj; plenty of water, and the current 
 >iarcely perceptible. The Government liaN 
 iii:iture(i a plan for obvialinx tliiH dilllculty, 
 w liieh will be carried into ell'eut the coming 
 Kiitnnin. Acro8!i the first |iortn{(e from Port 
 l>ouKlaH to liiike Lilooett, M niilcH, there is a 
 inulc trail. This trail, constructed last year ut 
 X. heavy cost to thet'olonial Government, leads 
 tlirouf^h a dense wildjrncHs, and beinn; k*-''><^' 
 tally in good ci ndition, cau be crossed by p>ick 
 train-i in about two dayn. Over this part of 
 tilt; rciute there is canoe navigation, by means 
 iif the liillooct triver, counccting Harrison and 
 i.illooett lake. Itut it is ditticult and haxard- 
 ous, especially when the stream is high,, and 
 VUJiiy lives were lost, Inst sninroer, in attempts 
 10 ascend it; but there was then no othermode 
 of getting over this portage, there being not 
 even an Indian path across it. Now it is other- 
 wise, and though packing is rather high ai 
 present, it will no doubt be reduced as the sea- 
 son advances, and should in no event tempt 
 parlies to try the dangerous alternative ottered 
 by tlie navigation of this fatal river. The price 
 oi' packing over this portage, last season, was 
 ei;r|it cents a pound ; this year it will probably 
 be less, as the number of animals will be great- 
 ly increased. The cause of these high rates 
 was the scarcity, or rather entire absence of 
 ^rasB in this vicinity, compelling the owners of 
 animals to purchase hay and grain, at heavy 
 expense, for their subsistence. 
 
 Having reached Lilooett Lake, travelers are 
 passed over in small boats, animals and large 
 lots of goods in 8cow.s — passage $2, freight 
 half cent a pound. The modes of conveyance 
 and the prices charged on all the lakes, of 
 which there are i.'iree along this line, are the 
 « ime. From Lake Lilooett to Lake Anderson, 
 25 miles, is another mule trail. Packing, 
 however, on this is much less than ou the 
 other, the distance being shorter, the road 
 easier, and feed more plentiful. At the south 
 end of this portage are the Lilooett Meadows, 
 r.oQsisting of several thousand acres of mag- 
 nilicvnt prarie land covered with a heavy 
 t^rowth of grass, fit alike for haymaking or 
 pasturage. Approaching the other end, the 
 turcst begins to open and bunch grass shows 
 it.self in considerable quantities, affording 
 
 ample feed for stock, and rendering their keep 
 much less costly than on the first portage. 
 This part of tne journey can be made comfort- 
 ably in a day and a half or even a day by 
 footmen, the road, (or the most part, always 
 being in good condition. Having crossed this 
 portage, we arrive at Lake Andeixin, Id miles 
 lung. Over ft, next comes the sliorl portage, 
 one and a fourth niilu long, with a wugoii roud 
 and a team In readiness to convey freight over 
 at the same rate as on thi.> lakes. Having 
 crossed it, the traveller Is brought to the lasi 
 and largcjit lake ot the group, being Lake 
 •Setou, IH miles long, and extending to within 
 four miles of Kraser rivor. From its foot, gooil 
 trails extend in every direction into the minus, 
 and all |)arts of the interior. Here al.so ani- 
 mals can bo ]irocurod at low rates for packing, 
 large bands being constantly kept for that 
 purpose. Though the cost of transporting 
 iroods will vary with distance, it is uniformly 
 12SS here than along the route further south, 
 since at this point auimals coming in from 
 Oregon accumulate, and grass is abundant, 
 growing not only in the bottoms, but also on 
 the prairies, and even against the sides of the 
 mountains. Traveling and packing throiigii 
 this region is not at all diiiicult, the country 
 being open and the trails keeping along on the 
 table lands, often for miles without interrup- 
 tion. 
 
 Hut having piloted the miner thus far, he 
 may safely be left to shift for himself, since he 
 is now over the most ditlicult part of his jour- 
 ney, and pretty well advanced into what may 
 be considered the gold fields, proper of British 
 Columbia. Indeed, when he shall have ar- 
 rived at the terminus of the Lilooett route he 
 will be, longitudinally, at the centre of the 
 Kraser river mines, with, at least, one hundred 
 and fifty miles of auriferous country to the 
 north, and fully as far above the first diggings 
 met with in ascending the river. Here in the 
 enjoyment of a healthful and invigorating cli- 
 mate ; with an atmosphere exempt from sud- 
 den change of temperature and undisturbed 
 by storms ; encouraged by liberal mining re- 
 gulations, and protected by impartial laws ; 
 in the midst of a beautiful open country and 
 wide-spread virgin mines, the adventurer may 
 reasonably anticipate a success commensurate 
 with his efforts, and nay justly consider him- 
 self unfortunate if he fails to reap an ample 
 reward for all his loss of time, his heavy ex- 
 pens and toil. 
 
 LIBRBAL POLICY TO BK PrBHDKD. 
 
 As has been stated, England, no doubt, 
 entertains the purposeof carrying out u variety 
 of grand projects in her British American 
 possessions. The consummation of these 
 plans wilf, from their very nature, involve a 
 necessity for populating as speedily as practi- 
 cable her territories on the North Pacific. As • 
 means of hastening that end, she will be im- 
 pelled to the adoption of a liberal policy in 
 governing the colonies about springing up in 
 that region. This she has signified her inten- 
 tion of doing, in the most open and positive 
 
 ant 
 
 SU( 
 
 avt 
 
 wh 
 
 by 
 
ITS SOIL, CMMATK. UKSOUIICES. Ac. 
 
 Ill 
 
 niaiiiicM', and not Rntiiiflcd that lliv wnrM .^lioulil , 
 D'lnuin ill doubt •■ to thcne liur litMD'liccnt dc- 
 «i)(iiN, ur be Ud't to Infur tlifin from iiiiv vn^ciip 
 mid iipotr^plial HUtliority, thv Colonial Si'ci'it- 
 tiiry, HpuiikiiiK tlic HontinicntHof tlic Iioiiih t(*>v- 
 rrnmi-nt, huit riijoiiii'd on the ri-prcHentiitivt! ut 
 the crown in that qiiarttT u Mtrict couipliitnuf 
 with thego view* in all hii ofUcial condiivtand 
 iriiiiHuctioMH. And not on ii HinKic occiiiion 
 oiiiy, hiivu the InHtruciionM of thin fiinctionury 
 hi!t<n iiiiulc to embody theHO the dcairco of the 
 liiipi-riul I'arliitnient on tliis nutiject. The 
 entire diHpatchefi itiHUcd from bia ofliee breathe 
 the Kiiine iipirit, rcvcalinK the earncgt winh ot 
 the Koveninicnt iu the preniiavs, and Kiviii^ 
 utiMuranee that a broad and {rcncroux policy if 
 to be iiiipreBKed on the adniiniHtration of pub- 
 lic aifairs in thexo provincvH. Tlie nyAtein of 
 lucaHures already initiated for the reKuhition 
 of traiio, the manaf^enient of the mineii, the 
 dinpOMition of the public landR, and the protec- 
 tion of the viiriouH leading intereHta, are Htich 
 us will be likely to invite capital, t'oMter iiidub- 
 try, Htiiniilate enterprise, eneoura^e imiiii^rii- 
 tioii, nnd lead to a speedy develupmonX of the 
 rcHourceM, and a rrpid and permanent settle- 
 ment of the country. In all their public act.*, 
 it inuHt be conceded the home government ha.s 
 thus far evinced an earnest desire and a linn 
 determination to advance the prosperily of; 
 ihesc colonies, securing to their inhiibitunlH I 
 all those civil rights which the English so mil- ; 
 iiently enjoy, and conceding to them the | 
 largest political liberty compatible with their | 
 position as a dependency of the empire. N'or is 
 this liberal policy to be confined in its opera I 
 tion to her own people. England welcomes i 
 to these colonies every class of foreigners, ' 
 guaranteeing them the same social, commercial ! 
 and industrial privileges as secured to her own i 
 citi/.ens, and that whether they come as mere j 
 adventurers, or with a view to permanent set- I 
 tluraent. Especially has this kind and concili- { 
 alory disposition been evinced towards Amer- 
 icans, who have been particularized as a de- 
 sirable population, on account of their experi- 
 ence in mining, and their usually industrious, 
 and energetic habits. So solicitous has the 
 f^overnment seemed for the maintenance of a 
 good understanding with this class, that the 
 authorities, more particularly the naval forces, 
 have been cautioned against indulging in any 
 undue display of power, or the wanton com- 
 mission of any act calculated to awaken oppo- 
 sition, or lead to a contlict between themselves 
 and those of a diiferent nationality. It is also 
 suggested in this connection that the Governor, 
 availing himself of bis influence and popularity 
 with the Americans, might readily induce 
 them to cooperate with him at all times in 
 enforcing the law and preserving order ; and 
 furthermore, that since the adoption of a more 
 popular mode of governing may soon be ren- 
 dered expedient, it would be well for that offi- 
 cial to provide for the election of a legislative 
 assembiy, and call to bis aid a council, part of 
 which should be composed of miners, chosen 
 by themselves. These declarations of the 
 
 mother country, so oft re|i''iitrd iiml po«iliM\ 
 siidlciontly forrsluidow her pinpoHCH in ri'/aiil 
 to Ihexe roloiiies, nnd niii.\ l)c tiiken lis 'iti 
 earnext of the policy to be observed in the 
 future coniliict of their alVairti. Certiiln it ii-. 
 reposing in these asHiiraiices. the enilgniiit iiiiiv 
 repair thither conlldent that ho will be nin- 
 plied protect'id and fiilrly ileult wilh,»liili' 
 every facility will lie afforded hitii to engii(»e In 
 mining, or acijiiire a portion of liie publit 
 lands, with a proHpect of piiitiiipatlng to h( ine 
 extent in framing the laws and regulation." b,< 
 whici) he shall be governeil. 
 
 MCKNHKH, OlfTIK.H, HI' KK'KII AM'K.S, AC. 
 
 This entire class of iinpot'tNiinil permit.-' were 
 levied or allowed by (iov, Doiiglan, in his two- 
 fold capacity as Agent of the lludsonV 11. ly 
 t'oinpany, nnd representative of the CroHii. 
 Thus, the licen.^e to mine, the perniiN^ion lo 
 import goods, and the HiiO'crHiice to niivi^'Mii- 
 the inland waters ot Mrilish Coliimbiii, were 
 granted by virtue of his viceroyal chariK In, 
 and the funds accruing formed a ]iart ot I lie 
 l)ublic ri'Venue. This fact is iiiiiioiinceil in bin 
 proclainution on the subject, wherein hestMl( - 
 that these duties are imposed by virtue ornn- 
 thority duly conferred upon liim, and for tln' 
 purpose of providing meiins to iletriiy the piili- 
 lic expenses of the ("oloiiy. llead-iiion(',\ , 
 licen es to trade, kv.. are pre-umed t" liiiv.- 
 been exacted by the (Jovernor in his cnpiicit.v 
 ns thee.xecutive of the (.,'()nipiiii\ , under varriin; 
 of their claim to the exclu.sive right to trade in 
 the territory, and of tieir being in the lepil 
 possession of the siime. It is true, the validilv 
 of this claim has constituted the subject of 
 much popular discussion, speculation unit 
 csmplaint, but the fact that its exercise lia- 
 been acquiesced in by tlie (iovernment tor sn 
 many years, seems a virtual ucknowledgmeni 
 of its genuineness, a conclusion at which thii.^c 
 adversely interested in the question would 
 seem to have arrived, since no legal meii^iire.j 
 have ever been taken for testing its soundiu'S!-, 
 not even the law officers of the thrown being 
 willing to institute proceedings for tlnit ptir- 
 pose, on Government account. 
 
 The Company argue that the clause in ll'cir 
 charter, conferring upon them the exclu^ivi 
 right of trade with the Indians, extemls by 
 implication also to the whites, the latter not 
 being mentioned, though intended, for tin- 
 reason that there were at the time no white,* in 
 the territory thus subjected to their jiirisilli:- 
 tion ; and, that at all events, the exercise of 
 this righ(t carries with it the force of law (rom 
 long and uninterrupted usage. Be that ns it 
 may, it is now too late to call in question the 
 legality Qf these acts, or to insist that they 
 were in their nature usurpations or exactions, 
 since whatever there may have been in them 
 illegitimate and informal, has been cured and 
 legalised by subsequent pro(;lamations of the 
 Executive, sanctioned by the Home Govern- 
 ment. 
 
 The amonnt of head money charged by the 
 Company was $2, for every person entering' 
 the mines. This, however, with all tntde licen- 
 
10 
 
 BIMI'ISil (M)lilJMHIA, 
 
 ncK, cxi'f|tl until itH .^piiiiR I'lHiii tiiimii i|(iil ri'({- 
 iiliituitm, boiiiK now ilint oiilliMirH, rciiuirct no 
 lurlliiT ntilii'i'. 'I'liii |i>lli>\, iiiK In tlic Hclu'diilo 
 1)1 (luticH |< lyikbli' III! )(i)i>iIn itii|iiirti'tl iiitu lirit- 
 itli Culiimlim. All kiniU ol licxli iiiciit, tUli, 
 IriiitN mill vcxiliihlrH, liiriiliti', liii>, ii'iirk»il»fr, 
 poiillry iinil live mot k ; nil xorts i.l' riirniinn 
 iiii|>U-iii<>iilH. M'vtU, iiliinN, ft\\\. biiokH itiui |m- 
 |i(in, rlidli^, l)i>K'|{iiKi', |>liil«'.t-i(iniil i!ii|iU'liu-iitM, 
 
 All'., lire iidniiiliii I'n i iliilii-:*. On nil otlicr 
 
 iiiliiit'H II l<ii |ifr fiMit. ml riilnrrm duly in 
 chnrufl, Willi llii' follow iii>; i x.fiilioiiH ; Kloiir 
 Ml clH. oil (.'vorv l!Mi IIh. ; lii'iiii.i iiml jh'iih l'i.\ 
 i-tM, on tiViTV loo lli-i.. iiii>l even kiinl of (.'riiiii 
 Id III' UHcil ni* liioil, oiio-lmir lliiit niiioiiiit. 
 Lli|iii'r8 ikrr reipiinMl to pay ii 'Inly ol' $1 piT 
 >f illoii ; '.I'M fill clH.: nil', Immt, porUT, ntiil 
 
 I'iilcr I'J^ rlH. Virlorlu niul I'sipiiiiinll briii^ 
 tici! poiiM, nil (.'(loili liiiiiliil iIhtc iin- I'xi'iiipt 
 tioin duly, vi'.-ni'Ih simply pnyiiij; tlio ordiiinry 
 port cliii'rKi's. Vi':<;*(l.-i ili'.-tiiu'd for UritiHli 
 iiolumliiainii pny tlic diitii-* yl filliiT of tlu'sc 
 poii.<, or pioinil (llroc t to Qnii'iilioioiipli, on 
 Kriispr riviT, wliiili ix now ii port ol «)iilr), 
 and niiiki- paymciil tliiTc. 
 
 Toucliinc I'll' HUlt'criUH'i' fxiimdi'd to fori'iKn 
 lioltoiiH, ulloH inn till-Ill to <"t''<' ''"rnscr river, 
 (iovi'rnor l)oii|{liii* in tlii' I'M'n'iHcof tliiMliHcre- 
 lionary powiTH confcrri'd upon liiiii. m) fur in- 
 tiTfrred with tlie niivij{atii)ii lawn ol Kiif^liind 
 ns to pcriiiil sti'iiUHT-i imd liirfc vrnHid;), ivliat- 
 I'Vcr their ttmt, to i-lrur for Korl l,aii(;ley on 
 piiyinunl of $11! enrli trip, fiiiall lioalsi $•>, h 
 rourHfi in wliiidi ho was nniply jiistilicd by the 
 pressure of cireumstani e»i niid tliu exineneies 
 of tlio times. As ii eoudiiioii, slenniers were 
 re(|uired to pny the Conipiiny .'^'J heiui-inoiiey, 
 for eaeh passenger they should eatry ; to stip- 
 ulate that they would eonvey noni^ wlio had 
 not taken out u uiiiunj; liieiiKO mid paid ^fi, 
 being one month's lulvanee thereon, and ulso 
 that they would carry no jfooda exeept thoso of 
 the Company or sueh as they niiKht permit. 
 
 For the privilej^e of entering the mines every 
 purson was reijuircd to pay a royalty of $.'» a 
 month, liut this, as wis also the ease with 
 head-money, was not very rigidly enforced. 
 I'asdcugurs proceeding to Kraser river on the 
 .steamers were obliged to pay these dues, the 
 vessel being held accountable therefor, but in 
 most other cases they were evaded, and in very 
 few instances was more than one month's 11- 
 eenso ever paid. Uercatler, it is probable, this 
 impost will be entirely dispensed with, an ex- 
 |iort duty being substituted in accordance with 
 the popular desire, and in compliance with n 
 suggestion of the Home (joverment to that ef- 
 feit 
 
 MININO RULKH AND UliUULAT10N8. 
 
 For the purpose of making temporary rules 
 and regulations, and carrying out such per- 
 manent ones as government may determine 
 upon, a Crown Commissioner for the gold- 
 lields has been appointed, having a requisite 
 number of assistants. The si/.o of mining 
 claims was in the first instance fixed by gov- 
 ernment, being limited to 144 square feet to 
 
 each perm. II I'lie object of rpslrlrllnir the 
 miners to so Niiinll an area was that (hr,> miifhl 
 lie kept in an loiiipact bodies a* iiimsilile, ■iiice 
 lliey could thus more easily be supplied wlh 
 prtivisions, and the bettor protect themNelvcH 
 against the Indians. HubHVi|iienlly these 
 limits were enlnrgeil, and the <i/.e of elnimN 
 hxed at l!fi feet froiitnge In rivers, anil 2f> feet 
 of the bed of a creek or ravine, and 20 feet 
 sijiiare of a table land or Hats, to each person. 
 These regulations, however, have been tint 
 I little regnnleil, the miners going on and fixing 
 I the si/.e of lli(-ir claims, and estublishiiig such 
 ] rules fiir holding mid working them as they 
 I deemed expeilient, a prnctiee with which the 
 (,'oiiiiiiis>ioner and his nssistnnts hare not in- 
 terfered to any great ixteiit. It is probablo 
 however, that the authorities will assume a 
 greater control when allnirs shall become a 
 little more hctllcd, introdiicingai'omprehensive 
 and well digested system, based upon a general 
 survey of the gold IliMils, and made to conform 
 I to llint now in force in Aiistrilia, with such 
 I inoililicnlioiis as rxpei leiice may suggest or 
 I circumstances require. 
 
 j Indeed, the (Jovernor has been instructed by 
 the t'olonial .Secretary to sei' that a proper 
 I system for managing and working the mines 
 ! be devined and brought into force to the end 
 j that this branch of industry be controlled by 
 1 uniform mill well-known rules, rnther than by 
 |a variety of local regulati'ins, dejiendent on 
 I usage and chance. In maturing this system 
 ' he has been advised to avail hi-nselfof thn 
 I services of (Jhief Justice Itighie, and to call to 
 I his aid a number oi' miners, to the end that ho 
 i may have the benefit of the legnl learning of 
 'the one and the pracliciil experience of the 
 'other, and thus conitriict a mining code which, 
 ; while it shall duly guard the rights of the 
 Crown, 'vill secure to the miner every possible 
 advantage. In this manner a plan would, no 
 doubt, be instituted, which, from its uniform- 
 ity and stability, would prove alike satisfactory 
 ^to labor and capital. On the whole it mny 
 fairly be concluded that a liberal policy will 
 be adopted, and that government interference, 
 so fir as exerted, will be for the convenience 
 and protection of the miner. 
 
 NATURAL IIIHTORY AND PROnUOTH. 
 
 ■"Although British Columbia atforda a grand 
 field for tho exjilorations of the traveler and 
 the study of tho artist, it holds out little induc- 
 ment to the slndent of Natural History, the 
 absence of nearly every kind of animal life be- 
 ing strikingly apparent. One may travel for 
 days through the woods, or over the plains 
 and lakes and scarcely see a living thing, 
 except, perhaps, fish, which only at certain 
 seasons are abundant. These remarks, how- 
 ever, only apply to the interior, since along 
 the sea shore animated nature is more prolific, 
 the waters being in every species cf marine 
 production especially abundant. Amongst the 
 land animals the principal kinds met with are 
 deer, of several varities, the elk, bear — both 
 black and griizly — panther, lynx, wild-cat, 
 
ITS SOIL, CFilMATK, KKSOUUCKS, Ac. 
 
 21 
 
 grand 
 lor and 
 
 indiic- 
 ory, the 
 
 life be- 
 
 avel for 
 
 plains 
 
 thing, 
 
 certain 
 
 , how- 
 e along 
 prolific, 
 
 marine 
 mgst the 
 with are 
 ir — both 
 irild-cat, 
 
 woir, and mnnntiiin ulicrp. Tlio luttrr In » 
 lurK« anirnikl WPlKliin((, when full Riown, iirv- 
 nral liuiiilrnl piiiiniU. It in covrDMl with long 
 Iniir, rPNi'iiljlitift ronrNO wool, niul Hii|)|ilii<il 
 with onurniiniii crooitrd hornn, upon wliicli it 
 in *Mi(l to Ntril<o when throwing itMrIf from 
 prcciplcca in Meriting In i'Krnpc purMnit. 
 
 Tlio Hi-nIi id pitvonird ri|iii)l to tliitt of the 
 domeitlcatrd nlu'cp, but It Ih riiroiy tliu Iniiitor 
 luakei a prize ot oiip, or rvrn \iutH li nIkIiI oI 
 thfin, tlicy Ix'inK nxt'ci'dln^iy Rolititry in tlioir 
 lialiitv, Itfcpini; iiiwityH on tlir topH of lii)> niont 
 wild and riiK^ril niountiiinii. Kvcn when tlio 
 Hnowa I'lill dcpp, tlioy do not coniit down iih do 
 otiior anlniiilM, Hr(>kin|{ llie inijilrr clitiiiktc and 
 inure abundant (VimI of ilio valli'VH. Tlicrit arp 
 also foxtH, niiirniotK, riililiits, niinkH iind mar- 
 tins, and hIou); tlio Hlrrainx lirarcr and ottrr, 
 thouKb tlioHp iininiaU arn now vi>ry Hc-urcv, as 
 well^ns Nl>y, havin)f iiecn no niiicli hunted fur 
 their pcltrioH and t'lirti. AnionifHt the inlVrior 
 animalM are HkunkH, g(|uirr('li), mice and a Hin- 
 Kular spci-ios of l)iit<h-tailoil rat, said to be 
 naturally iniHclii( vous, a reputation it irems 
 Ambitious to dfisiTVP, nioildliii^r with ev«>rytliin)( 
 about tlin travflnr'o camp at niKlit, and run- 
 ning over IiIh pcrnon with tlio ftruatoot famili- 
 arity. These raHy liabitH am proliably owing 
 to the immunity trom harm guaranteed it liy 
 tl>e Indian, who scruples not to feed upon every 
 other form of animated matter, save only the 
 rat and tlie raven. These, owing to a natural 
 repugnance, or more likely in his ea.se, to some 
 superstitious notion, the Indian never cats, 
 oven in his extremest need. 
 
 While inni .lai.'t are scarce in this region, of 
 birds it may b<i said there are almost none, 
 since, with the exception of water-fowl, you 
 may not gee one in a day's travel. Oeesc, ducks, 
 swans and brant, however, gather in clouds 
 about the lakes, and inlets, in the proper sea- 
 son. Pelicans, cranes and loons are also to be 
 found about these places at all times. Of the teath- 
 ured tribe, are occasionally seen the eagle, hawk, 
 cormorant and raven. t)wls arc lU times heard, 
 but not often. There are, also, a few wood- 
 jieckers, bluejays, larks and a small dusky 
 ground-bird, with a few quail, and a good 
 many grouse, the latter always fat and tender. 
 The raven resembles that of California, being 
 large, and uttering the game harsh crouk. 
 Near the sea, gulls and several other kinds of 
 aquatic animals hover about in great numbers, 
 ailbrding the natives much acceptable food by 
 means of their flesh and eggs. The pelican 
 being a ciumscy bird, also falls an easy prey to 
 the Indian. 
 
 Fish, small and of an inferior kiud, are plen- 
 tiful in the lakes and streams at ail seasons, 
 but salmon, the onl} really voluable fish, is 
 abundant only from June till September, 
 being best and most numerous in August. 
 This is a most delicious fish, being large, rich 
 and oily, easily caught and readily cured, 
 and hence most valuable both for the white 
 and Indian. An inferior kind of salmon is 
 taken during the fail months, called the hook- 
 bill, from its having a beak like % parrot. 
 
 It has i>mall, sharp teeth, \n covered with llviil 
 KpotH, and its fleHJi in soft and llitlihy. Tlitt 
 whites d(> not ■ are to rat it, nor i,i it niiirh rel- 
 iHlied by the natives. Kinu trout Is eauKht in 
 the streaniH during winter. The Indians 
 adopt various plans for taking the larger lisli, 
 spearing, the wier iinil basket being the most 
 common. A small species of smelt, hut little 
 worth, HwariiiM In Home plares ; sturgeon o( 
 largo si/.e and excellent (|uallly are freipieiitly 
 caught ill the Kraser. In l.i'.ko Oklnagan, and 
 In all the streams along tlin Oregon trail, 
 trout weighing from one to two pounds and of 
 tine flavor, are caiiKht with the greatest, 
 ease, men taking them out with nets by the 
 wagon load, and by wading into llio water, 
 catching them with their hands wiihout dilll- 
 culty. In the inlets and all tldi> walem, fish 
 of every variety abound In in<Te(lili|(' (luiin- 
 titles; nor nro oysters, <^linnS| mussels, or any 
 other kind of NJiell fish wanting. Of reptiles 
 and insects, except mosi|uitoes, conlined to the 
 Lower Kraser, and a few other localities, llrlt- 
 Ish (Columbia has but few. There nro soinn 
 rattle snakes, with a few others of a more 
 harmless kind. The li//,ard seen in Califor- 
 nia, is not common, nor is thi! tarrantula, or 
 centipede mel wiili. Indeed, the whole coun- 
 try is renia.kal)ly cxenijit from both arimals 
 and reptiles of a hurtful or obnoxious kind, 
 being in this respect. If no other, a very de- 
 sirable abode for man. 
 
 TIIKKS, PI.ANTH, KntIIT.H, ««. 
 
 The Southern, which may also be called the 
 rainy portion of lirillsh Columbia, is a densely 
 wooded country, both the mountains and plains, 
 with the excei)tloii of a few inconsiderable 
 prairies, being covered with thick end stately 
 forests. Ho cloxly do the trees si 'nd, and 
 withal so tall and straight, that the united 
 navy yards of tho world might draw thenco 
 their supplies for years, without more than 
 partially exhausting those spacious and mojrs- 
 tic forests. To the north and cast there is less 
 timber, the country being open and the only 
 wood met with, except in the bottoms, being a 
 species of pitch pine scattered sparsely over its 
 surface. It never grows large, being not over 
 a foot or two in diameter, anil is not much es- 
 teemed for making lunibor, though being 
 straight and of suitable size, it is very conve- 
 nient for building log cabins and for similar 
 uses. Many of the prairies in these sections 
 are entirely destitute of trees, although the 
 growth along tho strmims is in most j)lnces 
 abundant and varied. The prevailing timber 
 everywhere is pine, fir and spruce, of dillcrent 
 varieties, with liemlock and cedar, und a small 
 sprinkling of birch, oak, ash, yew and maple. 
 In the swamps ond along the water courses 
 willow, alder, cotton-wood and balm of Qilcad 
 are found ; the latter always attracting notice, 
 its unctuous buds glittering with healing gum 
 and filling tho air with balmy fragrance. To 
 this tree the native tribes, as have the whites 
 from the earliest ages, ascribe many medicinal 
 virtues, assigning it an important place in their 
 pharmacy. It here grows to a majestic size. 
 
22 
 
 BRITISH COLUMBIA, 
 
 The nlder also grows up into a tali slender 
 tree, tree from limbs, and henue uscfui for 
 fencing purposes and eaHily cut into fire-wood. 
 The yew, very scarce, is a hard, tough wood, 
 resembling hickory. The Indian uses it for bis 
 bow, and the white man for pick and axe helves, 
 it being about the only stuff found in the coun- 
 try suitable for these and similar purposes. 
 The maple and ash are both of the soft varie- 
 ties and fit for little else than fence and fire- 
 wood. The bark of the birch is full of a re- 
 sinous substance, which readily igniting and 
 burning with a bright blaze, is used by the In- 
 dians for kindling fire^ and for torches. From 
 ' the cedar rails, shingles, and even clapbon'-fs, 
 are easilysplit; while the spruce and fir, the lat- 
 ter also called Oregon fir and Douglas pine, af- 
 ford the best material for piles, spars and every 
 species of lumber. The oak being the same as 
 that found in California, is mostly confined to 
 the country east of the Cascades, and even there 
 it is not abundant. The redwood, or anything 
 resembling it nearer than cedar, docs not grow 
 in British Columbia. Everywhere the size of 
 the timber varies with altitnde ; that in the 
 lower valleys being of gigantic dimensions, 
 Hud dwindling, as we ascend the mountains, 
 into mere shrubbery, until, at a height of five 
 or six thousand feet, we reach the limit of re- 
 ;?etation — the line of eternal snow. 
 
 Although British Columbia shows great pov> 
 erty in the animal kingdom, the vegetable 
 world is sufficiently varied and prolific. In- 
 < ^d, it is not often, except in tropical cli- 
 mates, that a rich jr botany is presented to the 
 student of nature. Flowering shrubs, escu- 
 lent roots, medicinal plants, wild fruits and 
 berriee; are everywhere abundant. In its 
 Flora it strongly resembles California, the 
 prairies being covered and the woods filled in 
 the spring with the same superfluity of gor- 
 geous flowers, though there, owing lo the 
 more timely rains, they are not so short lived 
 as with us. Nearly everywhere in the forests, 
 the wild lilac and the snow-drop, and on the 
 plains, the wormwood and cactus are seen as 
 in the southern portions of this State. For 
 curative and like purposes, the natives make 
 use of a great variety of plants, though the 
 uiedicine-roen rely much on their powers of 
 exorcising — being simply the mesmeric influ- 
 ence they are able to exert for driving away 
 the tkookunu, or evil spirits, that are supposed 
 to be the cause of disease and death. There 
 are a variety of shrubs from which they make 
 tea to be used as a beverage, and some of 
 which, to the taste, is not unlike the drink 
 made from the Chinese leaf. In the bark of 
 the tender hemlock they find a remedy for 
 diarrhoea, while the young sprouts of the 
 raspberry, is eaten in the spring, for the pur- 
 pose of correcting disorders of the blood. 
 The leaf of the bear-berry is dried, either in 
 the sun or over a fire, and then smoked in a 
 pip?, being mixed with tobacco, when they 
 have any. The effect produced, though very 
 slight, is similar to that of tobacco, yet it does 
 not taste at all like that substancu, being in 
 
 fact quite insipid and nearly tasteless. Of 
 roots, the Indians have the potato, introduced 
 amongst them by the Knglish, and a variety 
 indigenous to the country, the most valuable 
 of which is the carumass, resembling a small 
 white o".ion. Their potatoes, of which nearly 
 every tribe raises some, are excellent, being of 
 the species kuown as lady-fingers, that never 
 fail to be dry and solid when grown in u 
 proper soil. The wappatoo, the root of the 
 fern, and of certain flags, some of which are 
 not only palatable, but highly nutricious, are 
 also baked and eaten. 
 
 But of all the comestibles in the vegetable 
 world, the most valuable to the Indian are the 
 wild fruits and berries. On these, next to fish, 
 he is morally dependant for subsistence, and 
 fortunate for him it is, that they grow so plen- 
 tiful, and last for so great a portion of the year. 
 Of fruits, he has the wild plum and cherry^ the 
 crab-apple, the prickly-pear, and several 
 other kinds ; while of berries, there is an al- 
 most endless variety, including the strawberry 
 and raspberry — coming earliest in the Spring — 
 the blackberry, whortleberry, blueberry, scar- 
 let currant, the gooseberry, bearberry, the sal- 
 lal and many others ; these being the kinds 
 most common and abundant. Cranberries, 
 also, abound in tb j marshy places. Of all these 
 the sallal is r erhiips the most acceptable 
 and serviceable to the Indian, as it is 
 easily gathered, very nourishing, readily 
 preserved by means of drying, and lasts 
 the latest in the season — hanging on the 
 biirhcs until December. The leaves of the 
 bearoerry are dried, us above mentioned, and 
 used as tobacco, being th«:n called qutr-lo-t- 
 ehintl. Tliere is also a singular fruit called the 
 Oregon grape, growing on a low bush, having 
 serrated prickly leaves. It is worthy of men- 
 tion only as a curiosity, being so sour, even 
 when ripe, that nothing can eat it. The fore- 
 going, by no means fill the catalogue of fruits, 
 and berries growing wild iu British Columbia, 
 yet they serve to show that nature has been 
 generous in this department, and prove that 
 the Indian, thus supplied, but for his indolent 
 and improvident habits never need want, much 
 sess perish, as he sometimes does, through 
 Iheer starvation, during the season of winter. 
 
 OKAtSKS. 
 
 The indij^enous grasses of British Columbia 
 are very similar to those found native in Cali- 
 fornia. Wild timothy or prairie grass, some- 
 times mixed with clover, covers the rich bot- 
 toms and prairies to the south, bunch grass 
 growing with the greatest luxuriance, even to 
 thr tops of the mountains, '' roughout all the 
 open country. Swamp grass of different kinds, 
 some being fine and nutricious, others almost 
 as coarse as tales, abounds along the borders 
 of the lakes and in other marshy places. On 
 the Smass prairies about 30 miles southeast 
 of Fort Langley, are many thousand acres 
 covered with wild timothy and other nourish- 
 ing grasses, from which hay 6f excellent qaal- 
 ity could be made with the greatest facility, 
 the growth being very thick and standing four 
 
ITS SOIL, CLIMATE, RESOURCES, Ac. 
 
 23 
 
 or five feet high. Along the Chilliwhaock, a 
 HW»ii fiver entering thu Fraacr five miles tiu- 
 low the mouth of tho Harrison, are also fine 
 opportunities for cutting hay, the grasa being 
 equally as good, though not so much of it as on 
 the Smass. lliiy cut hen^ could easily be got 
 to market — the Chilliwhiiock being navigable 
 tor light draft boats for .-iomo distance. The 
 best place, however, for making hay, markut 
 and facilities for cutting being considered, iri 
 the Lilooett meadows, at the head of the Lil- 
 ooett lake. Here the gniHs is equally as good, 
 and nearly as abundant as at the Smass, while 
 the great number of pack animals employed 
 will always crvute a demand for it at remuner- 
 ative prices. The soil on all the.se prairies 
 ■lonsists of a rich sandy loom, rendering tlieni 
 the most valuable districts for agricultural 
 purposes of any in the Colony, except, ]>erhap8, 
 fome of the valleys in country of the iJiniilk- 
 araeen and the Okinagan, a region that has 
 advanced much in importance since the recent 
 ascent of the|Columbia to Priest's Rapids by 
 the steamer Col. Wriffhl on her late trial trip, 
 an event of consequence to the entire country 
 east of the Palls, and particularly to that un- 
 der consideration, the head of steamboat navi- 
 gation having thus been brought within a 
 sQort distance of Fort Ukinagan. All these 
 fine tracts of land offer great inducements to 
 settlers, they being equally adapted to the 
 raising of grain and s ock, governmcntjallow- 
 ing them to be occupied until such time as 
 they can be surveye>J and brought into mar- 
 ket. Cattle require no feed here during the 
 winter, except such as they can themselves 
 pick, while grains and fruits of every der'crip- 
 tion grow with as much thrift and as little cul- 
 ture as in any other part of the world. 
 
 MINEHAI.8. 
 
 Although gold at present forms the most at- 
 tractive, as well as the most ready source of 
 wealth in British Columbia, it by no means 
 constitutes the only valuable mineral in the 
 country. A great variety of other metuls, 
 though as yet but little sought for, have been 
 met with, some in quantities indicating large 
 deposits. Silver ore of the richest quality, has 
 been found at several localities, portions of 
 which, on being anuly/.cd have shown ninety 
 per cent, of pure silver. At two points on the 
 Lilooett river, and also at a place near Kani- 
 loops, ore of this description has been taken 
 from veins cropping out at the surface. On 
 the east bank of the Lilooett river, at the outlet 
 of the Little lake, is a silver vein of large size, 
 well known to the Indians in the vicinity, and 
 from which a Mexican, a man of scientilic at- 
 tainments, and well versed in the working of 
 silver mines, took several specimens last fall, 
 pronouncing them unusually rich. Specimens 
 of copper, nearly virgin, have been obtained on 
 the Fraser, above the Fountain, and on the 
 river opposite that place,lignite, or bituminous 
 wood, of the earthy variety, exists in such quan- 
 tities as to have been used by the miners for 
 fuel. li, is found in detached pieces, worn 
 round like pebbles; is of a brownish-black 
 
 color, nearly as light as water, very friable, 
 and burns freily ; when blown it sends forth a 
 light bla/,e, whence it would probably be use- 
 ful for blacksraithing purposes. Iron, coal, 
 and truces of cinnabar are frequently met 
 with. 
 
 Platinum, agates, cornelians, and quart/., 
 both crystali/.cd and massive, occur, in all 
 parts of the interior. Excellent lime-stone, 
 marble of tlio purest variety and very accessi- 
 ble, granite and many other varieti«s of build- 
 ing stone an! common. Hut since this class of 
 productions cannot bo rendered immediately 
 available, as agents ot wealth, it will hardly 
 be necessary to enumerate them more fuHy at 
 present. 
 
 Mineral and warm springs are features of 
 the country. One of the latter, on the trail, 22 
 miles from I'ort Douglass, on the Lilooett trail, 
 has been found highly beneficial, in cases of 
 disp(Bptia and rheumatism. The water, in a 
 volume of about four square inches, issues 
 from a conglomerate rock, at a temperature of 
 U>0°, with a gurgling sound, coming at inter- 
 vals from the interior of the rock. The water 
 smells of sulphur, and is slightly impregnated 
 with magnesia, lime, salt, etc. The Indians 
 resort to this spring at all times, bathing in, 
 and drinking freely of the water, having, to all 
 appearance, great faith in its remedial proper- 
 ties. 
 
 THE MINKS ANt) MININ» I'ROSrKCTS. 
 
 Before concluding the present series of arti- 
 cles, it may perhaps be well to make soniC fur- 
 ther mention of the gold deposits in British 
 Columbia, and to inquire after the mining 
 prospects the ensuing summer, as based on the 
 latest and most reliable intelligence from that 
 quarter. Space will notpurmitof any detailed 
 statements or lengthened investigation of this 
 subject at present; yet, as the shipments of 
 gold dust out of the country, may be consider- 
 ed a very fair index of mining prosperity, let 
 the sums transmitted through the tv/o Express 
 companies doing business in Victoria, for the 
 month of April, being the latest statistics we 
 have on the subject, be taken as evidence on 
 that point. Between the 11th day of April, 
 then, and the 10th day of May, these two 
 houses brought down $195,000, on account of 
 shippers. During the same period, it is esti- 
 mated that $75,000 additional, came in private 
 hands, making $270,000, exported from Victo- 
 ria to this port, in these 30 days. Meantime, at 
 least, $30,000 more was carried away, by the 
 steamer Constitution, and by sailing vessels run- 
 ning to different points on the Sound, in pay- 
 ment of cattle, lumber, vegetables, And other 
 conimodities, largely imported into Victoria 
 and British Columbia, from Oregon and Wash- 
 ington Territory, giving a total of $300,000 ex- 
 ported during the month of April, and which 
 may be supposed to represent the product of 
 the mines for the preceding month of March. 
 If we further suppose there were $3,000 men — 
 rather a high estimate — at work in the mines 
 digging out this amount, and that they labored 
 twenty out of the thirty-one days in that 
 
 / 
 
24 
 
 BRITISH COLUMBIA, 
 
 
 month — another high estimate, Sundays and 
 Htormy weather buing dediicled, this would 
 give an average of $5 a day, to the man, a re- 
 turn comparing favorably with the wages real- 
 ized in our own mines ; whi'e it will not be 
 pretended, whatever other ••iirdships men may 
 liave to endure, that the iabor of mining is as 
 severe in British Coli-..iibia as here, operations 
 there being mostly confiued to a foot or two of 
 the top dirt. 
 
 Thai a few should have returned from the 
 Upper Eraser, dissatisfied, as is represented to 
 have been the case, is not surprising, consider- 
 ing that over two thousand hurried to that 
 section in advance of supplies, and many of 
 them L-'fore the winter was fairly over. It is 
 obvious tuuse who hfld already returned to 
 Victoria, must have done most of their pros- 
 pecting in the month of March, or early in the 
 month of April, at a time when provisions were 
 yet scarce and the cold weather had hardly 
 abated. 
 
 The following letter, one of several recently 
 received from the Upper Fraser, will seive to 
 illustrate the character of the diggings in that 
 quarter, and to show in what estimation they 
 are held by a practical miner, who has now 
 been in that country ov^r a year. The purport 
 bf the other letters is very similar to that of 
 the one presented. Rocker Rouge, near which 
 place the writer was encamped, is about 150 
 miles above the Fountain, and IGO above Do 
 Kous' ranch, the place mentioned in this letter : 
 Upper Fraskr River, April, 1859. 
 
 As you wished me to write if I wont above 
 muuutain I send you a fuw linos by a man going 
 down to Port Douglas after goods, I don't knniv 
 tbo day of the month, but it is tho last of April. V/e 
 left Ju DuUushe's ranch about four woeks ago, and 
 came up on the cast side of the river, packed three 
 horses, and were about a vroek coming np. Found 
 ico on the trail coming down the steep bills and had 
 to unload a number of times. We came by the 
 tilde, and found trouble getting by that place, and 
 
 I would adviFB parties coming to go round, as there 
 is an easier road by going a little further to the 
 east I have heard of a shorter route being found, 
 keeping on the: west side of the river and leaving 
 
 II near Bridge river, an 1 taking a cut off back of 
 the mountains, but I don't know how it is. We 
 prospected some coming up and found a good show 
 all along, but concluded not to stop, as we heard it 
 was better up here. It is not much use to prospect, 
 for the gold is ton fino to save with a pan, and you 
 cannot lell unless you 'xorV some with a rocker, and 
 we did not want to stop and make one then. In 
 •ome places we found coarse ^old,butthoughtwehad 
 better come on to this place. This bar has no name; 
 it is a little below what they call Rooher Rouge. 
 While one of my partners and a Frenchman went 
 above prol^ecting I stopped here with the other 
 and cut down a tree and made a rocker, and we 
 have worked eight or nine days, making eleven 
 dollars a day to the band, but the gold is fine, and 
 we loose a great deal ; with qaicksilver, I think we 
 eould make an ounce. But the diggings are not 
 deep, and I do not think will last long ; we only 
 wash about a foot on the top, then the dirt grows 
 poorer, but we have not tried it very deep yet, and 
 there may be a layer of pay dirt below. With 
 sluices big wages eould be made here, for a while at 
 
 least, but (here are no saws, and the timber is rery 
 poor hero, nothing rauoh but poplar and cotton wood 
 near the river. Tiiero is some scrubby pine back, 
 but it is not munh worth. The country here is not 
 mountainous as on tho Lower Frasor; it is sandy 
 and knolls and hills, and plenty of grass and some 
 good spots for farming. It is a very pleasant 
 country, but hard to bo reached, and I would not 
 advise those in California who are duing well to 
 luave to oome hero, for it is a long journey to come 
 and costs a groat deal, and then the seasons here 
 are short, nothing tu be done fur four or live months 
 in the winter. 
 
 The cost of living, too, is great, nothing to be 
 bought fur 1*88 than a dollar a pound, and most 
 things costing a dollar and a Iialf, and in this cli- 
 mate men oat a great deal. If wo had to buy onr 
 provisions, I think It would cost us foui or five 
 dollars a day. We have enough to last six weeks, 
 by which time we are in hopes good's will be 
 cheaper. The high prices are now owing to paok- 
 ing animals being soarco, though there will be 
 several hundred horses .>n this route in a few days, 
 wheii packing will bo hwer. There is plenty of 
 grass hero, and animals can be kept cheap. The 
 Indians have a good many horses, but they ride 
 them to death, and they are not fit for anything. 
 
 My partner, who has been 25 or 30 miles above, 
 found good prospects and larger gold, and we think 
 it washes down, and that a better gold country 
 must lay north of this. He says it is a beautiful 
 country and more timber up there. We shall stop 
 here and try to get in sluices, when I think we uan 
 double our present wages, though it may not pay to 
 go to that expense unless the diggings prove 
 deeper. There are a ^ood many coming up this 
 way, though but few have got thus far as yet. 
 Some have gone above us, and are it work, and 
 some have gone back not able to stand the press- 
 ure of tho hard work and high prices of goods. I 
 think we shall make a good summer's work here, if 
 we can get provisions, of which there is no doabt. 
 AVe have brought along twine for making fish nets, 
 and expect to catch plenty of salmon this summer, 
 with these and some wild fruits we shall get along 
 well if tho mines do not disappoint us. The In- 
 dians are not at all troublesome ; they are a better 
 race than those further south, but we have seen but 
 little of them as yet. They r;cem a little shy, 
 especially the women. I have saen some of them 
 have pieces of gold, but nnt to amount to anything. 
 It is not wash gold, and must have oome from dry 
 diggings, or high on the banks. 
 
 We found snow on our way up, about five or six 
 inches deep at places on tho trail, but it soon dis- 
 appeared. There has been thick ice in the river, 
 but it has now left and the weather is mild and 
 pleasant; no stormy weather of any account since 
 we left. The Indians say this has been a hard 
 winter. From what I can learn, the summers hero 
 are very warm and have seasonable rains. If so, 
 I think plenty of vegetables could be raised, as the 
 ground looks good. 
 
 My advice to those in your State is, to -.emain 
 where they are until this country is more explored 
 and better roads are built to ^get into it. J. M. D. 
 
 The roroKoing letter, us has \}teii statod, Is one of a 
 numlHT Utrly recei cd from the Upper Frnsur, tlie tone 
 of Bomo or whidi is more oiicoiiraning, nnd of ethers less 
 ao. th^n thnt of the one here pretenrrd. this hiiTinK been 
 ■elected for publicatinn bccauu It. fairly repments the 
 avcraae opinion of the whole, and because tlia writer is a 
 candid man and an expurienced miner, whose opinioos 
 are entitled to respect and credence. 
 
 a ' , '*