IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) A ^ ^ 1.0 I.I [f ilM IIM 1^ 1^ 12.2 I '- IIIIIM ■MUU ill 1.8 1.25 11.4 11.6 vQ <^ n % "m Aa /. 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WE )T MAIN STREET V*BS;ER,N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 L signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmis A des taux de reduction diff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est filmA A partir de Tangle 8up6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants iilustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ^l BBITISH COLUMBIA. A ri:\v years ago Victoria, now tbc capital of Vancouver Island, and the scat of government for that sottlemcnt and British Colnmbin, consisted of a few huts gathered abo\it the stockade of iin old fort of the Iludson Bay Company, erected on the shore of the harljour. In 1858, however, when the mineral wealth nf tho hanki! of the I'raser was discovered, a stream of immigrants poured into tho place from Australia, California, and Europe ; so that it became in the course of a i'ew months i\ largo and populous town of canvas, tho tents of the new comers stretching fo;- some miles along tho shore. In time the canvas towu gave way to one of wooden huts, which, in their turn, are being replaced by good stone houses ; and before long Victoria will be as striking an instance of tho magical jiower of gold to cause a city to spring up where a liLllc while back the savage and the wild beast were uninterrupted, as Jlelbourne and Hun Francisco have been before it. Victoria, however, cannot be said to possess perfectly those natural advantages which would fit it alone to become a prosperous city. Among other drawbacks, its. harbour is shallow, and the entrance intricate, while without there is little if any shelter for ships exposed to heavy winds. But a 111 tic distance from Victoria by sea, and sepnrnlod from it liy a neck of land but three miles wide, lies the noble liar- • It is generally bdicvoa thai llio paPHBKO in rnn'stion wfiH omittpil naor U.n/.-rt ediiicn ol Uic " Moral Seutiincnta ;" Imt wo have lieroro m theMi.J eilition, London. 1767 j nnt' from tlmt tlilivi cdllion Ihc ul)ovr extract litui been tnado. rHE ATONiiMENT. iboxir of Esquimault, Bufficioutly commodiouH to shelter tho largest navy, easy of acceas, and capable of beiiip; endereti impregnablo. This last advantage may ho letter appreciated when it is remembered that tin- ^Americans have posscRsiou of the country ojiposito \m)- 'coiiver Island, and Houtli of British Ctilumbia, ami ■egard our setllement ou tho shores of tho J'acilio with unconcealed inltation and jealousy. Between Victoria and Esquimault, tho relative posi- lion of which places I could scarcely hope to ox- 'lin thout tho aid of a map, lio tho Indian village of tlif ,ribo of yonghces, and the tents of the native visitoi-s to ictoria, wlio come down in their canoes in largo numbei's from tho northern parts of the island and mainland to sell their furs and skins, and see the white men of whom they have heard so much. These Indians ai'o not very agreeable neighbours to Victoria. They are altogether much inferior to the red man of Noitli America in physical strength, intellect, and habits. A^ a rule, they too readily contract tho vices of tlio Euro- ])caus with whom they are brought into contact. Their villages present generally a picture of the most squsilid filth and misery imaginable. .I'i,\cept when he is fishing, hunting, or fighting, tho liuliun rarely works, leaviiiL; the women of his tribe to labour for him, and spending Ilia time in sleeping, drinking whoa he can obtain the moans, and gambling. Steamers viiu now regularly from Victoria to the Eraser, a distance of some H'> miles across tho finlf ol' Georgia; l)ut the time was, a few years back, when the miners made the passagi; as they best could, crossing iii old boats and crazy canoes, and often losing their lives iii tlie venture. The way lies among many islands, between which tho •waters of tiie Strait race at great speed, iiiiakiiig ib it most dang(!rous and trcacherou.s ciirrcni ifor any l)ut the cxiiericnced mariner to navigate. Thci' is not much to be said of these islands, among which in San Juan, which, it may be remembered, tho Americans took forcible posscs^^ion of a few years back whilo tho boundary di.'-pute bctsvcen their and our government were pending, and which is still held by an o(jual force ol' men Ijclongiiig to eilher country. There are two other islands, Orcas and liopcz, eijual in size to San Juan ; the rest are mere rocky islets, thickly clothed with pine trees to the water's edge. The shores of Briti.Ji (Columbia are, like them, densely wooded, and llie lofty impenetrable timber ajipears from tho sea to stictch in a linn so nnbroken that the entrance to the Eraser is qiiite iindistinguishable. ludeeil, tho navigator Viui- couver, who sailed along them, looldng out keenly lor any inland waters, whicli he had especial instructions to explore, jiassod along this coast in perfect ignorance that lie had gone Ijy a river's mouth at all. Tiicrc is a dangerous bank of shifting sands at the Eraser's mouth, which renders it somewhat ditlicult of access. It is very common for ships to ground on enter- ing; but, foitunalely, it i:; protected from heavy seas by the adjacent shore of N'luicouver Island, and serious eon- se(iuences seldom happen. The Eraser is a, wide, swill river, in tho summer much swollen by tho enow, which melts among the hills. At its entrance the banks are Hat; but the mountains soon close in upon it, and for many nules it winds between them, increasing iurapidily. nnid at one spot it takes the steamer eight hoin-s tc struggle riilcen miles against tho fiorco current. It is too shallow at this spot, and for somo way below, for the steainorw which cross from Victoria to navigate it, and their cargoes ar{\ transferred into flat-bottomed steaniers. drawing no rnoro than twenty or twenty-four inciiea of water, and propelled by a great ungainly wheel, prqjeet- jog over tho gvctttest ditfif sdiTietiines fai iiiu'oinmon fo Hpin hcrroun long speed, i van into tho Sometimes, r kad, and tov [lowor of stec 'file banks foroas, but a I'iiigs up tho distant from navigate, altl miles higher iiiuiintains tl puratively iv over the ro( speed; and over the boi n dh'/y, insc To move by what is I sou-LiUooet iioreafter, ar Fraser some more than a ticulties of 1 veiling by t by fair roac pensive and intervals ah ;o take his and which, luenta he The si vlting idmost inq riuccments nuudi clear of British r.,it!iiiig o ill .'=almnn .iflish; na wild on tl the timber l-dcnty of V is scarce— boing the t odtivato t iiuligenoui by the earl llio mniin' bling the iuid sh(ll food. Th white mai jnterferc A I'rom a idea for B l.'uhimlda West ol ])arall(d ol (d' llie W .Mounhiin )-'tates an A very s Canada; oi I B f to eheltci' lo of Ijoinn KO raiiy 1)0 that tlii^ pnsito Vnii. umhin, luul I'iU'ilio Avith lativo po?i- to OX' 'liii llago of tlio visitors tii ill lavgo island ami the white cso Indians oria. Tliey 1 of North abits. A': tlio Euro- act. Thuir lost sqnuiid c is fishing, ks, Icavini,' III speudiii;^; obtain the iria to thn the finlf of '<:, whon the crossiiiQ^ ill luii' lives iii ids, botwopii :rcut Kpeed. oils curren: ate. TJicif n^ whic'li is Aiiiorioans i while tho nniont wcro lal foi'co of two oflipr •San Juan ; 1 with jiinc of Briti.Ji :l the lofty ) stieteh in ) Fraser is jatoi- Van- keenly for natructions iynorarico nds nt the diflicult of I on entiM'- vy Hoas by ^I'ioUH c'on- wido, awill low, wliieli baiik.s an' il, and for n rapidity, ' hours ((■ ?nt. It is ow, for the te il, and stoamerH. ' inehes of 1, projpct- BRITISH COLUMBIA. 735 ing over tho vessel's stern. These steamers have the gi'catpst difflculty in forcing their way up tho rapids, and ;;(ini('tiines fail altogether to stem tliom. It is not at nil uncommon for the current to catoh tho vessel's bow and i-niii licr round, so that sho flies down tho stream at head- l()ii,£? .speed, until sho is brought tip against n snag, or ran into tho bank, while steam is got up for a fresh effort. Sometimes, after repeated failures, crew and passengers lantJ, and tow her past some obstuclo that has bafHod tho jiowor of steam to master. 'f ho banks of tho river at the.so parts are highly nmi- fiTous, but aro almost deserted now for the richer dig- iriiigs ui) tho country. At Fort Hope, one liuudred miles distant from the Fra.scr's mouth, tho steamer ceases to iiiivigato, although canoes can reach Fort Yalo, sixteen miles higher. At this point tho river races through tho luouiitains that hem it in so closely, that it becomes com- piiralively a, thread of water forcing its way between and over the rocks that impede its course, Avith headlong speed; and tho trail for those who ascend it lies now over the boulders by tho river side, now high above by a dizzy, insecure path round the face of the mountains. To move I'ound to the Cariboo diggings, the way lies liy what is known familiarly in the colony as tho Harri- soa-Lillooett route. Of this way I may have more to say horcatler, and need only mention now that it leaves the I'rnscr some sixty miles from its mouth, meeting it again more than a hundred miles above, thus avoiding the dif- liculties of the rocky pass I have just described. Tra- velling by this route (a chain of small lakes, connected by fair roads) is perfectly easy, although, of course, ex- pensive and rough. Yet welcome inns will bo found at intervals along it. The emigrant, however, will do well to take his own provisions in the pack which ho caiTies, find Avhich, if ho be wise, will contain all the impcdi- liionta ho will travel within British Columbia. The .shores of this country are, as I have said, not in- viting. Itocky, and clothed with dense, in somo places iilmosfc imi)enctrable limber, they oiler few, if any, in- (hicomcnts to the settler. Inland, hov\'cver, there is a much clearer and fertile country. Tho natural resources of British Columbia are many and rich indeed. 'I'o say r.iiliing of its immense mineral wealth, its iidets abound ill .'lalnion of extraordinary size, and many other varieties offish; native hemp, equal io llns.'-ian, is found growing Mild on tho banks of the Fiaser and other rivers, and tlif tind)er is magniticcnt and inexhaustible. Thoi'o is I'liiity of wild fowl on the shores; !)ut inland animal life is scarce— a few deer, a chance bear or so, and some foxes heing the only attractions to tho .sportsman. The Indians raltivate the potato largeh', which docs not seem to bo iiuligenous to tho country, but was, no doubt, introduced hytlio curliest settlers, or visitors there, and gather from I he nirjiiiitaiii sides quantities of camass, a root rcsem- hliiig the onion. In rries and moss, which, with .salmon lUid shell flsh, they prepare and store for their winter food. They are found generally very friendly to the white man, and show no disposition to molest him, or interfere with his settling in their neighbourhood. From a correspondent we have received the following I ilea foi- Eupert's Land, as the best high-road to Britisli ''oliinibia: — Wist of Ijuke Superior, n lino commencing at the IStli pcnillel of latitude, rising at the west end of tho Lake of the Woods to the ■ll'th, and running to tho Rocky .\!ountains, forms the boundary between the United i-'tates and British Central America, or Rupert's Land. A very small jiortion of this vast territory belongs to ''nnada; over the rest, extending for about I'J'X) miles from east to west, and 700 or 800 from north to south, watered by rivers which, after courses of many hundred miles, find their outlet chiefly in Hudson's Bay, tho Hudson's Bay Fur-trading Company, by virtue of a charter granted in 1070 by Charles ii, claims to be Lord- paramount, and to have tho exclusive right of trading, and of selling or leasing laud. Tho legality of this charter is coTitested. This torritoiy is inhabited by about 40,000 Red Indians, tiOOO half-caste.s, descendants of white fathers, and by about 3000 white men, the greater number of the last two residing in a district stretching for thirty miles along the banks of the Red and Assiniboino rivers, known as the Red River or Selkirk settlements, aiul which are some 000 miles south of Hudson's Bay. Tho Company has about seventy trading posts in Rupert's Laud. At tho principal, Fort Garry on tho Red River, a governor resides, ruling a district of fifty miles on cither side, called Assiuiboia, Tlio vast re- mainder is utterly without law. Great ignorance has prevailed respecting Rupert's Land. It was supposed to be useless, except as produc- ing the fur-bearing animals, and that tho Rocky Moun- tains were almost impassable. The Canadian Govern- ment, however, in 1857-58, sent out two exploring expe- ditions under Professor Hind, and at tho same time the British Government despatched Captain Palliscr, Dr. Hector, and others, who remained till 1860. Tl'cy explored tho whole of the territory, aud report that certain passes of the Rocky Mountains aro pi'acti- cablc at all seasons ; that one exists through which a wagon-road can be formed with slight labour, and that through another a railway may bo formed ; that a fertile belt of land, from 50 to 100 miles wide, extends for 000 miles, from near the Lake of the "Woods to the base of tho Rocky Mountains, having a thickly-wooded country, full of lakes and streams abounding in fish, to tho north, and a broad arid expanse to the south, reaching many hundred miles into the United 8tatcs. This fertile belt is amply watered, and is almost en- circled ))y rivers and lakes in great part navigable, by which timber can be brought to it either from tho ease or west. An arajilo supply is to bo found in tho belt itself, on ranges of mountains, on tho banks of the rivers and streams, and in separate forests. A uniformity of climate, soil, and productions, exists over tho fertile belt, though improving toivarda tbewest, even in a higher latitude, and at a greater elevation. The soil consists of clay, loam, and marl, in various pro- portions, with but little sand, aud overlaid with a rich vegetable mould of from two to five feet thick. The climate is healthy, and perfectly suited to British con- stitutions. The winter lasts five months, spring one, autumn one, and summer five. Although tho winter is very cold, tho heat of summer is great, and rapidly brings all cereals and most fruits to perfection. It is an admirable grazing country, and there is a largo amount of winter pasturage. Cattle and horses remain out all the winter. In some districts it is neces- sary to cut liay, whicli the natural grasses supply in profusion. Sheep thrive and multiply. Pigs, where there aro oak woods, if turned out, require no looking after. Agricultural operations have lieeii carried on for many years at tho Red Biver, and round tho trading posts and mission stations, with great success. Wheat is tho staple produce. Tho ordinary yield is thirty bushels to tho acre, and oftentimes forty buslicls. It is cut three months from the date of sowing. Indian corn is very fine, and never fails on tho dry lands. Root crops, c.ipccially potatoes, turnips, .ind beet, yield very oli L1UT18H COLUMBiA. nbundautly, and attain krgo dimousiona. The potato disease has never been known. Garden vegetables grow luxuriantly, and equal those of Canada. Barley and oats, vfhcn cultivated with care, yield as abundantly as wheat. Of hay the quantity is unlimited, and quality excellent, from native grasses. Tobacco is successfully cultivated. Hops grow wild in great luxuriance. Alo is brewed from them at Red River. Flax and hemp have been cultivated with the greatest success. A variety of fruits grow wild, such as strawberries, raspberries, cun'ants, gooseberries, wild rice, etc. Melons arc very fine, grow- ing in the open air. Sugar is manufactured from tho maple tree. Tho numerous lakes and rivers abound with delicious fish, and game is abundant. Coal and lignite are found in various directions, and salt springs yielding abundantly, also exist. Late and early frosts, wolves and locusts, are tho farmer's chief enemies. Ex- clusive of the fur-trade, with which it is not desired to interfere, the exports, on which settlers may at once depend, are cattle, horses, wool, hides, tallow, llax, hemp. The Indians show n friendly disposition -when pro- perly treated. The Hudson's Bay Company keep them hunters, and prevent their settlement. Rival trader* have appeared, who tempt them to trade, with ardent spirits. The Company's officers, to compete with .,hese, everywhere sell spirits, bestow spirits as bribes, and advance spirits to get the hunters in their debt. The drinking of spirits, the hard life of a hunter, and scarcity of food consequent on the neglect of agriculture, are rapidly dimiuisliing their numbers. "When hunting, they are removed from missionary influences. AVhen visiting the trading posts, intoxication indisposes them to listen. The Company's system therefore destroys tho Indians and prevents their settling and becoming Christians. The Company demands one million and a half pounds for abandoning its claims over Rajjci-t's Land. However, as the fertile belt it is proposed to colonize, i'urnishes but a small proportion of buflalo robes, and a very few other skins, they being found chiefly on tho lakes and rivers to the north, and tho buffalo to the soutli, it will bo more than compensated, when the territory is colonized, by the cheaper rate at which its posts will obtain provisions, and the advantageous channels opened up for the em- ployment of its capital, free from tho grave objections urged against its fur-trading system. The lied River, now navigated by a steamer, runs from the United States, and sixty miles from the boundary is the commencement of the Selkirk settlement ; and com- merce flowing naturally in that direction, England is losing all trade with the settlements. Tho first step towards colonizing this territory is to open up a direct communication through Lake Superior with Ctinada. A steamer leaving Liverpool tnay, with a ftea voyage of eleven days, and five days through rivers and lakes, roach Thunder Bay, tho west side of Lake Superior. Hence there is a broken navigation, with forty miles of land, and three hundred and sixty of water, to the west side of the Lake of the Woods. This can, it is estimated, be opened up for traffic byroads, tramways, steamers and boats, for Jtoi^.ooO, so as to be traversed in three days by jjasseugers, and with goods in six. Westward, ninety miles to Red River, and onwards eight hundred miles to tho Rocky Mountains, it is pro- posed to establish a series of posts, or small settlements, through the centre of the fertile belt (on a surveyed line suited ultimately for a railway), about twenty-five miles apiu-t, at each of which about thirty people of different callings will at once be settled. The first care of these settlers will be to establish inns and post-houses, ferries or bridges, to level steep banks, and to throw plank or corduroy roads over marshes. Begular roads and moans of rapid transit will soon follow. Before, however, a fii-si step can bo taken, tho territory must bo erected into a crown colony ; and to cU'ect that object, all, both in Eml,' land and Canada, who desire their country's welfare, w iin wish to\)cnefit the long-neglected Indians, are urged in employ their united efl'orts. Ultimately a railway ni;n bo formed from tho Atlantic to tho Pacific. TilB aoi.D-nm.DS ov diiitihu com'miiu. iPPPPPiimni T^i '*"■ i" roads and means 0, however, a firsi bo erected into a , all, both in Eni,' itry's welfare, wlm aiis, are urged tn uly a railway ii);iy Ritic. a •s ;i 4 C