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Un des symbolos suivants apparaitra sur la derniAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symboie -^ signifie "A SUIVRE". le symbols V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. 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 diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmAs A des taux de rAduction diffArents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, il est filmA A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAceesaire. Les diagrammes suivants iilustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ii» m y ■ w » li ■11 1 — WtHWpww » HISTORY OF I BRITISH COLUMBIA BY O. H. COGSWELL, B. A. ADAPTED FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS. Victoria, B. C, , Thb "Colonist" Prkssbs. rsssBmsswBmB £„ler„l accoy,ling to Act of Parliamml of Canada, In the year 1S93, hj! O. H. COGSWELI,, al the Defarlnunl of Agruulfnre. m \ •' m PREFACE. A DEEP seated conviction that British Col- umbians should have the means of briefly- securing a knowledge of the rise and growth of their own Province, of its government and institutions, has caused the writer to pen the followinor brief sketch in the manner f,hat he has. The hope is entertained that the vork thus produced will meet this openly expressed want. Our country has a history, a glorious history, yet one can scarcely open a conversation, except with the pioneers of our Province, without being convinced of the ignorance that prevails of the country's past. This is unfortunate — especially with school children who are havinjr their minds stored with the history of foreign lands, thou- sands of miles away, to the disregard of their own liome. The children, thereby, reside in one country and live in the world of thought in another. Patriotism must flag under such cir- cumstances. Every work readily availabk, bearing on the subject has been consulted. 136856 4 PREFACE. The work is topical. In the different topics we have an occasional repetition of fact. We trust that this is pardonable, as it seems neces- sary to complete the topic and make clear the connection. The writer would here express his gratitude to his fellow teachers and others who so cheer- fully rendered every possible assistance. He feels especially grateful to Hon. Dr. Helmcken, who rendered much valuable assistance. It is always difficult to find perfect harmony in history. More especially is this true in the midst of living witnesses, as opinions differ. In this work the hope is entertained that the usual correctness of history has been attained. O. H. Cogswell. Victoria, June 25th, 1893. -=>e>K CONTENTS. i CHAP. 1.— EARLY EXPLORATION. Sec. I. — Introduction. page. Rapid Growth 1 1 Sec. 2. — Seeking the Anian Strait. (i) Voyage of Columbus 12 Sec, (2 (3 (4 3 (I (2 (3 Sec. 4 (I (2 (3 (4 (5 Sec. 5 (I (2 Sec. 6 (I (2 (3 (4 Juan de Fuca Strait Discovered 12 Juan de Fuca 14 Drake's Voyage 14 — Spanish Enterprise. Voyage of Juan Perez 15 Voyage of Heceta and Quadra 16 Capture of the Boston . 16 — Early English Fur Traders. Cook's Voyage 17 Expedition of James Strange 18 Portlock and Dixon's Expedition .... 18 Barclay's Expedition 19 Meares' Expedition 20 -The Boston Merchants. Kendric and Grey's Expedition.. ... 21 Attack by the Natives 22 -Spanish Enterprise Resumed. Martinez and Haro's Expedition 22 Nootka Convention 23 Eliza's Expedition .\ . . 24 Nootka Abandoned '■ 2$ CONTENTS. Se(:; y — British Enterprise. page. i) Vancouver's Expedition 26 2) Hudson's Bay Company 28 3) North-west Company 28 4) A Collision 29 5) Union 3° 6) MacKenzie's Voyage 30 7) Alexander MacKenzie 32 8) Capture of the Boston 33 9) Jewett and Thompson 33 o) First Fort Established 34 i) Eraser's Voyage 34 2) Voyage of the Tonquin 35 — The Native Races of British Columbia. { { ( Sec. 8. I 2 3 4 Native Tribes 3^ The Haidahs • 37 The Nootkas • 38 The Shuswaps 39 CHAP. H.— HUDSON'S BAY CO. RULE. Sec. I. — Colonization and Fur Trade. (i) Founding of Fort Langley . 40 (2) Governor Simpson's Visit 41 (3) The Cadboro and the Beaver 42 (4) Founding of Victoria 42 (5) The Old Fort 44 (6) Early Fort Life at the Capital 45 (7) Amusing Incident 45 (8) Treatment of the Indians 46 I contents. 7 Sec. 2. — The Boundary Difficulty. pace. (i) Disputed Territory 47 (2) Fort Astoria restored 48 (3) The London Convention 48 (4) The Bounda»-y Difficulty settled 49 CHAP. III.—COLONIAL RULE. Sec. I. — Vancouver Island under Hudson's Bay Company Rule. i) An Imperative Change 51 2) The Company's Requests 52 3) Charter before Parliament 52 4) The Island granted to the Fur Co. . . 53 5) Early Colonization ^4 6) First Governor appointed 55 7) Governor Blanchard's Difficulties.... 56 8) Blanchard Resigns 57 9) Difficulties at Fort Rupert 58 o) Mr. Douglas appointed Governor.. . . 58 i) Failure to Colonize . . 59 2) Price of Land 60 3) Other Causes of Failure 60 4) The Charter in Danger 61 5) Charter Renewed 62 6) Representative Government 62 7) First Assembly 63 8) Chief Justice Appointed 64 9) Colony of Vancouver Expires 65 mmmmmm 1 8 contents. Sec. 2.— San Juan Difficulty. pace. (i) Double Possession 65 (2) Commissioners Appointed . .' 66 (3) Shooting the Pig 67 (4} Douglas and Harney's Dispute 67 (5) Lord Lyons' Proposition 68 (6) Scott's Visit 68 (7) Washin,3rton Treaty 69 Sec. 3.— The Gold Excitement. (i) Early Discoveries 7° (2) Great Excitement 7° (3) Douglas Assumes Authority 70 (4) Trespassers Prohibited - 71 (5) Douglas' Visit to the Mainland 72 (6) Indian Difficulties 72 Sec. 4. —British Columbia. \ (i) Constitution of British Columbia 73 (2) Bounds 74 (3) New Westminster Founded 75 (4) Colonel Moody 76 (5) Representative Governm't Introduced 76 (6) First Council 7^ (7) Road to Cariboo 76 (8) Successors of Douglas 77 (9) Sir James Douglas 77 1 CONTENTS. CHAP. IV. -CONFEDERATION. Sec. I. — Union Consln fATED. I'AdK. (I {2 (3 (4 Sec. 2 (1 (2 (3 (4 (5 (6 (7 Sec. 3 (I (2 (3 (4 Sec. 4 (I (2 (3 (4 (5 (6 (7 (8 (9 Terms of Union Submitted 79 Terms of nion 79 Constitutional Act 81 Qualificat'in anu Regulation of Voters' A':t 8i -Canadian Pacific RAii^wAV. A Scheme Projected 82 Sir Hugh Allan's Company 84 Edgar's Mission 84 Carnarvon Terms 85 Dufferin's Visit 86 New Syndicate Formed 87 Coal Mine Disaster 88 -Education. Our School System 88 Progress 90 British Columbia University 90 The Senate 91 -Late Administration. Legislative Changes 91 Esquimait jnd Nanaimo Railway.. . . 92 Mortality 92 Governors 93 Crofter Scheme 94 Railway Enterprise 94 Parliament Build'gs Construction Act 95 Behring Sea Difficulty 95 Conclusion 97 Chronology of Noted Events 99 ' HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. CHAPTER I. EARLY EXPLORATION. Sec. 1. — Introduction. Rapid Growth. — Scarcely half a century has passed away, since the entire region, which British Columbians call their home, was one unbroken wilderness, where the savage roamed in his pri- meval simplicity. Here tribe waged war with tribe and the weaker became the slave of the stronger. In this wilderness were found innum- erable animals, unmolested, except by the hand of the savage, and the fur trader. Here and there, perhaps, hundreds of miles apart, might be seen isolated forts of The Hudson's Bay Com- pany, well fortified and securely protected from the Indians. These forts were garrisoned by a number of faithful servants and officers of the company, whose chief business was the gathering of furs from the natives. Behold ! the change. The old stockades have crumbled into decay, and in their stead, towns and villasjes, rapidly grow- ing, mark the course of civilization, and a stable (| 12 HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. government extends a protecting arm, and secures to every British subject entire safety in the most distant quarter. Sec. 2. — Seeking the Anian Strait. Voyage of Columbus, 1492. (1.) Previous to A.D. 1492, the New World, as this continent came to be called, was a land unseen by European eyes.. About that time Christopher Columbus, a native of Genoa, in Italy, believing the earth to be round, but under estimating its size, conceived the bold plan of reaching India by a westerly route, rather than by doubling the Cape of Good Hope and sailing easterly as had hitherto been done. After many difficulties and discourage- ments, he succeeded in securing the patronage of Ferdinand and Isabella, king and queen of Spain, who fitted out an expedition for the great ulider- taking. Sailing from the Port of Palos in Spain, on the 3rd of August, 1492, with three ships and 120 men, Columbus first sighted San Salvador, one of the Bahama group of Islands. On reach- ing land, he thought the much devsired object was attained. J Juan de Fuca Strait Discovered. (2). That he had struck an island, instead of the mainland, was soon ascertained. But in the mind of Columbus, as well as of his contemporaries, this group was an HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. 13 out-lying group on the coast of Asia, and the mainland of America was but one or more large islands barring the way to India. By some means it became deeply ingrafted into the minds of European adventurers, that a passage existed through tliose islands, affording an easy and direct watercourse to India. This passage was the much sought and mythical Anian Strait. The eager and .-seemingly unsuccessful, but truly not fruit- less endeavors to find this strait, from either ex- tremity has been laid down as a primary cause, that led to the discovery and survey, not only of our own coast, but also of the entire coast of America. Many were the expeditions effected, manjr the dangers encountered in attempts to discover this strait. On the western coast of America from the contour of the shore, little probability existed of such a passage till the latitude of Juan de Fuca Strait was reached. Here was found a strait that needed, in the minds of early navigators, only to be surveyed to its limit to afford the much desired passage. Great honor awaited the man who proved its existence. So eager were the ambitious navi- arators of the time to add to their name so important a discovery, that the imagination was freely drawn upon, and a credulous public im- posed upon by a fascinating story of a truly heroic and successful expedition. These stories t H HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. i in the main have gone into oblivion. One re- mains memorable, not for its truthfulness, but from the fact that its author has immortalized his name by having it given to the leading strait that separates Vancouver Island from the main- land. Four years after the circumstance related, Juan de Fuca claimed to have discovered, in 1592, the strait that now bears hia name. Juan de Fuca. (3). Juan de Fuca, whose real name was Apostolos Valerianos, was born in the Island of Cephalonia, off the west coast of Greece. Having engaged in the Spanish ser- vice, he was first sent out as a pilot of three vessels, by the Spanish Viceroy at Acapulco, in Mexico, to discover the Anian Strait. Returning home with the desired object unaccomplish- ed, he was sent again in command of two small vessels to com- plete his voyages of discovery. It was on this occasion that he alleges he discovered the supposed Anian Strait. Whether these expeditions were made is not certainly known. The commonly received opinion is that they were inventions, made on his re- turn to Europe, to deceive a credulous public. OraKe's Voyage. (4. ) Sir Francis Drake visited our Northern Pacific waters in 1579, with ships laden with Sj ^nish plunder. He was desirous of returning home to England by a shorter and less boisterous route than around Cape Horn. This,, coupled with a dread of Spanish retribution, caused him to take a more northerly course in search of the famous Anian Strait. He reached no further north than the 48th parallel of latitude, when the inclemency of the weather caused him to return. With British Columbia's present boundary as settled by the Oregon treaty, this voyage has but little moment in our history ; but it has been a subject of no little discussion between England and the United States, regarding the original discovery of the Oregon Territory nov/ ceded to the latter power. U HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. 15 Sec. 3. — Spanish Enterprise. Voyage of Juan Perez, 1774. (1.) Spain's interest in the New World, for a time, seemed to have flagged ; but now, in 1774, an energetic vice- roy represented the Spanish sovereignty in this newly acquired teriitor}^ by whom the old motives for colonization and exploration were revived. As late as 1774 Spanish exploration had extended no farther north than California ; but now a new incentive to activity had arisen, when the report reachel Spain that the Russians were making exploring expeditions in the north. On the 24th of January, of that year, an expedi- tion, planned and placed under the command of Juan Perez, sailed from San Bias on a mission of exploration and discovery. The captain's in- structions were to make the land at least as far north as G0° of latitude and take possession of the country in the name of his sovereign. Ap- proaching Queen Charlotte Islands, in latitude 55°, on the 19th of 3\\\y, he held friendly inter- course with the natives, who came in their canoes to meet him. At one time no fewer than twenty-one canoes, with over two hundred natives on board, surrounded his vessel. They were endeavoring to barter their dried fish, furs, and various articles of native manufacture for articles made of iron or copper. Perez, how- ever, did not land. After lingering for three mmmmitm i6 HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. i days, the difficulty of finding a suitable anchor- age, coupled with rough weather, brought his explorations to a speedy termination. Sailing southerly, he approached the coast in latitude 49° 30', and called the anchorage San Lorenzo. This place has since been identified as Nootka Sound. The Indians there were anxious to trade. A storm arising, the Santiago weighed anchor and arrived at San Bias on the 3rd of November. This is considered the first expedi- tion that really visited our coast. Voyage of 4he Heceta and Quadra. (2 ) In the fol- lowing year, 1775, two vessels were made ready for continuing the explorations, and placed under the command of Heceta and Quadra. Perez, of the previous voyage, acted as sailing master. They left San Bias on March 16th, and, with varying vicissitudes on the way, took possession of the North-west coast as far north as Alaska, in the name of the King of Spain. They have the honor of being the first Europeans to set foot on our chores, and these expeditions should be remembered, for (^n them Spain rested her claim to the entire North-west coast. Massacre. (3.) A terrible massacre occurred in connection with the latter expedition. On his return, off Cape P'lattery, Quadra sent a boat's crew ashore for wocd and water. No sooner had the men landed, than Indians, who had been lurk- ing in ambush, sprang upon the crew whom they immediately killed. The boat was then broken up for the nails. The HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. 17 savages afterwards attempted to surround the vessel ; but one of the canoes, approaching too near, had six men killed in it by the guns of the Spaniards. Quadra was strongly inclined to avenge the massacre, but a council having been summoned^ such an act was considered unwise. Sec. 4. — Early English Fur-traders. / Cook's Voyage, 1778-9. (1). England was anxious to discover the famous Anian Str&,it, and offered a reward of twenty thousand pounds to the par- ties discovering such a passage north of the 52nd parallel. Captain Jamies Qook leaving the Sand- wich Islands on the 7th of March, 1778, in his last famous voyage around the world, hoped to reach home by the much-desired route. Direct- ing his course accordingly, he first sighted land off the coast of Oregon. Sailing northerly, he sighted Cape Flattery, so called by himself, but failed to note Juan de Fuca Strait He next sighted land near Nootka. Entering a port which he called Friendly Cove, on account of the hospitality of the natives, he called the entire sheet of water King Georges Sound. This water, which afterwards retained the native name of_ Nootka, is probably identical with the Spanish San Lorenzo, discovered by Perez four years previously, as articles found in the poses- si on of the savages quite conclusively proved that the Spaniards had been there before him. IIM 18 HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. Cook made a somewhat extended survey of the locality, but took no formal possession in the name of his sovereign. His reports, having been widely circulated, gained iorhim and his country much honor, that belongs, it is thought, to earlier explorers. Buying up a small collection of furs, which proved of great value, he established the famous fur trade, which became the real incen- tive to all future discovery. Cook soon after- wards returned to the Sandwich Islands, where, in 1779^ h e was killed by the savages. Expedition of James Strange, 1786. (2). Two fur- trading expeditions of importance to our shores, mark the year 1786. The first consisted of two vessels under the supervision of James Strange. Sailing from Bombay, Strange arrived in Nootka in June, 1786. After securing a limited supply of sea-otter skins, he visited Prince William Sound, and thence returned to Macao. Queen Charlotte Sound, as w^ell as Cape Scott and Cape Fox were probably named on the occasion of this visit. On board this expedition was one John McKey, who, believing a rustic life would improve his health, wished to be left with the Indians. Here he remained for over a year, endur- ing all the hardships incident to a savage life. During his stay, he engaged in trade, and wrote a journal of Indian life. Portleok and Dixon's Expedition. (3). The next ex- pedition of the 3'ear of importance, was that of HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. '9 two vessels under Portlock and Dixon. This expedition was fitted out by a company of Eng- lish merchants, known as King Georges Sound Company, and sailed from England in the fall of 1785. Rounding Cape Horn our shores w^ere reached in July of the following year; but on account of bad weather, a landing was not effected, and the expedition sailed for the Sandwich Islands to winter. In the follow- ing spring the expedition sailed again, but the vessels soon parted company, Portlock remained on the Alaskan coast, and Dixon, sailing south- erly, on the 1st of July, passed the strait that now bears his name. He, on this occasion, named Queen Charlotte Islands, which he partly cir- cumnavigated, after the name of his vessel. This expedition was exceedingly profitable, as over 2,500 sea-otter skins were obtained, which netted in China nearly fifty- five thousand dollars. Captain James Hanna, also, made an expedition the same year, which had a net profit of twenty thousand dollars. Of Hanna's second expedi- tion little is known. Barclay's Expedition, 1787. (4). Captain Bar- clays expedition took place the following year. It was not considered a financial success. The captain discovered Barclay Sound, which has since borne his name, and relieved McKey of his burdensome life among the Indians. On 20 HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. board this expedition was Mrs. Barclay, who, pro- bably was the first European lady to visit our coast. Colnett and Duncan's expedition took place the same year. They were the first to pass be- tween Queen Charlotte Islands and the main- land. Princess Royal Islands were named, on this occasion, for one of the vessels. Meares' Expedition, 1787-89. (5.) Among the mer- cantile explorations of the years 1787-89 was one fitted out by a company of English merchants in India. Captain John Meares, a lieutenant of the British navy, who was in com- mand, sailed from Macoa in January, 1788, bound for Nootka. On board were fifty men besides articles for trade. On reaching Nootka he raised the British standard and proceeded at once to erect dwellings and to laj'^ the keel of a vessel, which was the first launched on the North-west coast. Leaving a number of men to work on his vessel, Meares sailed to the south on a trip of ex- ploration. On this occasion Juan de Fuca Strait was named after its original discoverer. Mount Olympus and other places to the south were also named. On the 20th of September, the new vessel, named the North-west AnieHca, was launched amid much festivity. This vessel was afterwards seized by the Spaniards, her name changed to Gerrrudis, and taken to San Bias as a trading schooner. T HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. Sec. 5. — The Boston Merchants. 21 Kendricand Grey's Expedition, 1787-93. (1.) A com- pany of Boston niereliants fitted out a trading expedition for the North Pacific waters. Two vessels, secured and provided with articles for trade, were placed under the command of Caj)tain John Kenclric with Gdptain Robert Grey second in command. The expedition left Boston Oct. 1st, 1787, bound for Nootka.»/ After a tedious voyage around Cape Horn and a bloody encoun- ter with the natives off the coast of Oregon, the expedition reached Nootka about the middle of September of the following year. Here it re- mained during the winter, engaged in fishing and hunting and preparing for the spring trade... After a hasty survey of the coast to the south, as far as Juan de Fuca Strait, Captain Grey started on the 3rd of Mav to the North, with his sloop Lady Washington, for exploration and trade. Penetratino- the labvrinth of islands in his course, he discovered Queen Charlotte Islands to be separated from the mainland, and gave them the name of Washington, believing himself to be the first to make the discovery. Commerci- ally, Grey was successful. It is stated that he received at one place, two hundred sea-otter skins, worth about eight thousand dollars, for an iron chi.sel. Returning, he arrived at Nootka in June. Here Captain Kendric transferred the 22 HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. cargo to his own vessel, the Columbia, and re- tained the Lady Washington to survey the coast, while Grey sailed for China, where he exchanged his furs for tea. Continuing his voyage wester- ly, Grey arrived at Boston in August, 1790, being the first man to make a >yage around the globe under the American flj. Of Captain Kendric's explorations little is known. Obtain- ing a valuable cargo somewhere on the coast, he sailed for China and did not return till 1791. He lost his life on the Sandwich Islands by the accidental discharge of a cannon in I7y3. Attack by the Natives. (2.) Grey landing off* the coast of what is now Oregon, first found the Indians friendly. Furs were exchanged for iron and copper implements. Berries given by the natives came very acceptable to the scurvy- stricken crew. This state of affairs did not long continue. An Indian seized a sword, that one of the crew had left stick- ing in the sand, and ran off with it. The owner, following in pursuit, captured the thief but was himself made prisoner by the natives and soon after killed. Three others of the crew, going in search of their lost companion, were themselves at- tacked by the natives, and barely succeeded in reaching their boat after several of the savages had been shot and themselves severely wounded. Sec. 6. — Spanish Enterprise Resumed. Martinez and Haro's Expedition, 1789. (1.) Fear- ing English and Russian encroachments on what they considered their territory, the Spanish au- thorities in Mexico despatched an expedition, on HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. 33 the 17th of February, 1789, under the command of Martinez and Haro, to take possession of Noot- ka. Here they found Captain Douglas, who had accompanied Meares i)i his expedition, and took him prisoner. He was subsequently liberated for a certain consideration. Martinez, becoming dissatisfied with liie fultillinfj of this considera- tion, seized Meares' new vessel, the North-west America, which had just ariived in port, as well as the Argonaut, a British ship under Captain Colnett, which arrived a month later. Both ships, with their crews as prisoners, were sent to San Bias. On the 10th of February, 1790, Spain reported the affair to the British Government, and requested that all trespassers upon Spanish territories be punished. An answer very differ- ent from what was expected was returned, England demanded that all vessels seized should be returned, and adequate compensation made for all losses sustained by her subjects. Thus began the Nootka Controversy. flootka Convention, 1790. (2.) In this dispute Spain enlivsted the sympathy of France, and war seemed imminent. However, on the 28th of October, the matter was brought to a tempor- ary rest by an agreement known as the Nootka Convention. By the terms of this treaty Eng- land secured and Spain reclaimed the right of commerce, navigation, and settlement on the un- 24 HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. occupied part of the entire North-west coast of America. It was agreed that due compensation should be made for all individaal losses sustained, and that England should not approach for settle- ment within thirty miles of any portion already settled by Spain. Don Manuel de las Heres, and Rudolph Woodman were the commissioners afterwards appointed to determine the amount of loss sustained by British subjects in this seizure. Of a claim of six hundred and fifty tliousand dollars, the commissioners, on the 12th of Februar3% 1793, agreed upon the sum of two hundred and ten thousand dollars, to be paid Meares, Colnett, and Douglas. Eliza's Expedition, 1790-92. (3.) Soon after the ootka Convention treaty, Martinez seems to have abandoned Nootka. Why, is not certainly known, but, by order from Spain, Revilla Gigedo, the newly appointed Viceroy of Mexico, resolved to renew the occupation. For this purpose an expedition was despatched from San Bias, on the 3rd of February, 1790, under the command of Lieutenant Eliza. Arriving at Nootka, formal possession was take^i on the lOtli of July, by raising the standard and giving a general salute from the newly mounted guns. Then was made a general survey of the coast. Quimper, who accompanied this expedition, named the Haro Strait after his sailing master, but most of the HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. names given on this occasion have gone into oblivion. • In the followingr year Eliza explored the Juan d.^ Fuca Strait and the Gulf of Georcria which he named, Rosario. This name was after- wards limited in its application to the water, that separates Lopez Island from the mainland. Such modern names as San Juan, Guemes, Tex- ada Island, and Port Los Angelos, were given by- Eliza in 1791. The expedition returned to San Bias in the following year. (lootka Abandoned, 1794. (4.) In consequence of a subsequent transfer of Spanish power on the West coast of America to the United States, the terms of ^the^Convention treaty have been a sub- ject of consideration between the United States and Canada in- the adjustment of the boundary difficulty, in 1846. Though the claims of Meares and his associates were satisfactorily settled, Britain had much difficulty in reclaiming her possessions at Nootka. Vancouver labored and reasoned in vain. Finally; by a convention signed at Madrid, in 1794, by the respective ministers of the two nations, the matter was brought to a close. By the terms of this final treaty, the respective commissioners were to meet at Noot- ka, when the British were to take formal pos- session of their captured territory. Then both nations were to take formal leave of the port, hencer.>rth to make no permanent settlement to •■■■I 26 HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. the exclusion of the other. Spain seems to have made no further attempt at settlement, and Spanish power was lost, probably for ever. Sec. 7. — Bkitish Enterprise. n] Vancouver's Expedition, 1791-95. (1.) Captain George Vancouver sailed from Falmouth, Eng- land, on the 1st day of April, 1791. His instruc- tions were to survey tho Sandwich Islands on his way, and then proceed to explore the West coast of America between 30° and 60° of North latitude. The chief objects of this expedition were to find. 11 possible, the much-desired Anian Strait, supposed to exist between the two oceans ; to learn what establishments had been founded on these coasts by foreign powers, and to take possession of certain property at Nootka in ac- cordance with the convention of 1790. Directing his course by the way of Cape Good Hope, Vancouver first sighted the Ameri- can coast oflf California. Thence northerly and along the south shore of Juan de Fuca Strait, the coast was carefully surveyed. Admiralty Inlet, now known as Puget Sound, was also carefully surveyed. " Puget Sound " was a term first applied to the southern extremity of this inlet in honor of one of Vancouver's generals. Mount Baker was likewise named after Lieuten- HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. 27 ant Baker of this expedition, who first sighted this noted promontory. On the 4 th of June, 11 92, Vancouver took formal possession, in the name of his Sovereign, of all the lands thus far explored. Our largest inland water was called " The Gulf of Georgia," in honor of the King, and Rosario Strait was a term confined in its appli- cation to its present limits. Much of this region was explored in company with Eliza in h'3 expedition ; Vancouver, however, preceded the Spaniards and passed through Johnston Strait, which he named after one of his oflScers, and reached Nootka in August. The relations be- tween the representatives of the two nations were extremely friendly throughout, and the region, first proved to be an island by the united survey, was named " The Island of Quadra and Vancouver," in honor of the English commander and the Spanish commissioner. The first term subsequently having been dropped, our Island is now known by the single term. Vancouver, in all, made four voyages to our coast. On every occasion strenuous efforts were made to secure Nootka to the British Crown by what he con- sidered the terms of the treaty of 1790. Fail- ing in this, on the 2nd of December, 1794, he sailed for home by the way of Cape Horn, thus effecting a voyage around the globe .and finishing a cruise of four years and three ml 28 HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. J mon^ns. He arrived at his destination in Octo- ber, 1795. Hudson's Bay Company. (2.) As early as May 2nd, 1670, Charles IL granted to Prince Rupert and a company of associates, known as The Hud- son's Bay Company, a large tract of land to the south of Hudson's Bay, which included all lands drained by rivers flowing into that sea. Al- though this magnificent grant was never perma- nently ratified by Parliament, its validity seems never to have been seriously questioned, and The Hudson's Bay Company for nearly two hundred years continued, not only to have control of the trade, but to exercise the power of life and death over subjects found in this territory. nI North-west Company. (3.) Prior to 1763, while the country was still in the hands of the French, colonists from Quebec had penetrated the west- ern wilderness for the purpose of hunting and trading in furs, and, skirting the shores of the great lakes, had established posts beyond the liake of the Woods. Wluin the country passed into the hands of the English, these early French colonists became British subjects, and to a limited extent continued the fur trade. Mean- while, during the winter of 1783-4 a company, called the North-west Company, composed of the most wealthy and influential citizens of HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. 29 Montreal, was organized for the purpose of en- gaging in the North-west fur trade. Availing itself of the experience of the early French- Canadians, who became engaged in the service, the company began rapidly to extend its posts in its new territory beyond the lakes, feeling assured that this vast region did not come within the jurisdiction of The Hudson's Bay Company. So vigilant were the officers and agents of this new company that their line of posts soon reached the Rocky Mountains, and one of the agents, Alexander MacKenzie, penetrating the mountains in 1793, by way of the Peace River Pass, reached the Pacific. Unparalled success attended the enterprise. ^Z A Collision. (4.) The Hudson's Bay Company, with its leading posts on the shores of Hudson Bay, looked with a jealous eye upon the success of this new and enterprising company, and af- firmed that its own territory embraced all lands drained, not only by streams flowing into Hud- son's Bay, but also by all streams flowing into lakes drained by rivers flowing into that bay. This, of course, included lands in the immediate possession of the North-west Company, and thus the two companies came into collision. Lord Selkirk's attempt at colonization and the numerous bloody feuds, in which the North- west Company was usually successful, need not 3<5 HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. J^ be described here. Fights and lawsuits were of no avail. Union. (5.) Finally the dispute between the two companies came before the British Parlia- ment, by which negotiation was effected, and on the 2nd of July, 1821, the v^o companies were merged into one. At the time of the union British Columbia had no fewer than fourteen trading posts, all in the hands of the North- west Company, which, in accordance with the act of union, became the property of the united companies, designated after the older of the two, " Tiie Hudson's Bay Company." J MacKenzie's Voyage, 1792. (6.) In the interest of fur trade, strenuous efforts were now being put forth to reach our coast from another quarter. In the autumn of 1792, Alexander MacKenzie, of the North-west company, made his second attempt to discover the Pacitic Ocean. His first expedition, following the course of the river that now bears his name, resulted in the dis- covery of the Arctic, and frozen seas of the north, instead of the Pacific, which he had hoped to reach. This time, to counteract the mistake of the first unsuccessful expedition, he took a more southerly course and ascended the Peace River, hoping to effect a junction with some of the great rivers of the west and thus reach the I' HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. 31 Pacific. In company with eight or ten men who had pledged loyalty to their leader and his cause on the 2nd of October MacKenzie kft Fori Chipewyan, a trading post on the western end of Lake Athabaska. By the 20th, New Estab- lishment, one of the North-west Company's forts and the most western one east of the Rocky Mountains, was reached. This fort, at the time, was in charge of James Finlay. Never was a meeting more joyful, especially as the advent of visitors foretokened a new sup- ply of provisions as well as tobacco and rum. Reaching, by the 2nd of November, a spot near the junction with the Peac e Riv er of a small stream flowing in from tITe south, a fort, called Fort York, was built and winter quarters pre- pared. The winter passed pleasantly away. A large canoe was launched ; MacKenzie brought into requisition his healing art, and many sick and wounded, not only of the natives but of his own men, were brought to him for treatment. By the month of May following, all were ready for departure. Many were the difficulties by the way, and many times was the loyalty of his followers severely shaken. Many times, having their canoes wrecked upon dangerous bars, they narrowly escaped with their lives ; but, inspired by the courage of their noble leader, they pressed on. Finally, by the I7th of June, MacKenzies' 32 HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. : heart was gladdened by the disco\ . y of a river, whose waters flowing westerly must lead to the desired ocean. This river, called by the natives Tacootche Tesse, he supposed to be the Colum- bia, but it proved to be what was afterwards named the Eraser, MacKenzie proceeded down this river but a short distance, when adverse re- ports from the natives concerning the dangers to be encountered in its navigation, caused him to conceal his boat'< and to proceed overland in a westerly direction for the distant shore. After encountering much of the experience incidental to a savage life, MacKenzie finally reached the Pacific at a point afterwards called Benetinct North Arm, on the morning of July 20th, and the Broad Pacific tvvo days later, having thus in a little over nine months accomplished one of the raost notable voyages in the annals of Canadian history. In commemoration of this event Mac- Kenzie marked, in large letters, on a rock these words : ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, FROM CANADA BY LAND, THE TWENTY-SECOND OF JULY, ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND NINETY-THREE. (7.) In Alex. MacfCenzie, we find a man possessing many of the qualities of a noble mind. In him we behold a man with a bravery and a fortitude, equalled only by the greatest heroes of the age, with a perseverance and determination that suffer no defeat ; and withal a kindness and humanity by which he allowed no man to suffer without putting forth every possible exertion, and enduring almost any hardship for his relief. Surely, in the HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. 33 face of his notable voyages with all their attendant difficiilties, we must concede the wisdom of George III in bestowing upon him the honor of knighthood, in commemoration of his services. ^Capture of the Boston, 1802-03. -~(8.) The ship Boston, owned by Boston merchants, left England in September, 1802, for Vancouver Island, on a trading cruise. Captain John Smith was in command. The expedition reached Noolka about the middle of March of the following year. Here was found an Indian village, whose Chief was called Maquinna. The Chief, being very friendly, was given a double-barrelled gun. Having broken the gun, he returned it to the Captain for repairs, and be- came greatly offended at the Captain's censure for breaking it. In the issue, we find a revelation of true savage character, ven- geance must be had, not only for the offence, but for insults of an earlier date. With the accustomed native cunning, he in- duced the Captain to send nine men on a fishing expedition. All the rest, save two, concealed in the vessel, were mas- sacred by the savages. Those in the fishing expedition were soon overtaken, and met the fate of their comrades. Jewett and Thompson. (9.) John R. Jeweit, one of the two survivors of the Boston massacre, was a native of Hull, England. At the time of the onslaught, by the savages, he was in the armory repairing muskets, while Thompson, the other survivor, was con- cealed in the hold of the ship. After Jewett had been nearly killed, his life was saved on account of his superior skill in repair- ing weapons. He in turn by his intercession, saved the life of Thompson. Their escape was crafty and marvellous. After enduring the toils of about three years, repairing fire-arms and forging daggers for the savages, and undergoing ail the hardships and inconveniences of a savage life, they were delighted by the arrival of a ship in port, called the Lydia. The Chief, Maquinna, wished to go on board, and solicited a letter of introduction from Jewett. A happy thought struck the slave — a letter he would write, the true contents of which should not be revealed to the Indian Chief, till he found himself in chains, and held as a hostage for the liberation of his slaves. Jewett and Thomp- son were accordingly set free. 34 HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. First Fort Established. (10.) The Peace River was first ascended to its source by James Finlay, in 1797. Eight years later, in 1805, James McDougall ascended the stream, and by follow- ing the course of t^e Parsnip branch, reached Lake McLeod, where a trading post was erected the following year. This establishment, called La Malice Fort, and later, Fort McLeod, was the first of the kind erected by British-American fur-traders, west of the Rocky Mountains. rbitant piice. Soon the work of butchery began. ^ 11 were murdered except the interpieter, a nativ , of Grey's Harbor, who alone was left to tell the tale, and the Tonquin became the prize of the savages. J Sec. 8. — Thf Native Races of British Columbia. flative Tribes. (1.) The native races of British Columbia, known as the Columbian group, may, for convenience, be divided into three families, viz. : — The Haidah, the Nootka, and the Shu- swap, or inland tribes. The Haidahs occupy Queen Charlotte Islands and the adjacent coast region north of latitude 52°, extending along the coast for about 300 miles and 100 miles in- land. The chief tribes are the Hailtzas and Bella Coolas, around Bentinck Arm ; the Sebas- HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. 37 sas, on Pitt Archipelago and tlie adjacent shores ; the Naas and the Skeenas, on rivers of the same name; the Chimsyans, on Chatham Sound; the Kaiganies, on Prince of Wales Archipelago ; the Massets, the Skidegates and the Cumshawas, on Queen Charlotte Island. The Nootka Indians inhahit ilie shore to the south of the Haidahs, including Vancouver Island. These include the Kwantlums and Teets, near the mouth of the Fraser River; the Clallums, the Sookes, and the Patcheenas, on the south end of Vancouv(n- Island ; the Cowichans, the Ucletas, and the Comox, on the east coast of the Island and on the Mainland opposite ; the Quocholds and Newittees to the north ; and the Nootka, the Clayo([uets and the Nitinats, on the west of the Island on Sounds of the same name. The Shuswaps include three tribes. The At- nahs, found along the upper course of the Frasei- ; the Okanagans, occupying the valley of the same name; and the Kootenays, occupying the territory between the Upper Columbia and the Rocky Mountains. The Haidahs. (2.) The Haidahs are d. tall and well f ined race. Their ej'es are small, usually black. Their faces are broad with high cheek bones. Their hair, always of a dark color, is sometimes shorn close to the head. The Hai- dahs are a maritime people, and among them Ml 38 HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. I* -: m if! 1* t deep-sea fishermen and whale hunters take high- est rank. Though I 'rave and courageous, the Kaidahs rarely engage in open warfare, but by stealth and by night attacks aim to defeat the foe. Captives in war are regarded as slaves, and are sometimes treated with great cruelty. Polygamy is practised, the number of wives to a great extent being regulated by the wealth of the husband. Yet withal, the Haidahs are an intelligent race, readily influenced by proper training to manifest much nobleness of char- acter. The flootkas. (3.) Like the Haidahs, the Noot- kas live by fishing, and are rapidly diminishing in numbers since the coming of the whites. They are of medium size but strong, with vary plump bodies and usually large feet and ankles. The face is broad, with a low, retreating fore- head, a flat nose and wide nostrilc, and some- what darker in complexion than the Haidahs. Their hair, which is usually warn long as a mark of honor, is very dark. Unlike the Haidahs, the Chief's rank is hereditary in the male line. Below the Chief is a nobili^^V. a rank obtained by liberality or deeds of valor. A season of mirth lasts fr^.n about the middle of November to the middle of Januarj\ This is occupied principally in conversation, gambl- ing-, feasting and dancing. The old and infirm HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. 39 are frequently left to die in the forest. The Nootkas are usually quiet and well behaved, but when once aroused they are exceedinsjly irri- table and revenoreful, and rarely forget a grudge. The Shuswaps, (4.) The Shuswaps are con- sidered of a higher order and more cleanly than either of the coast tribes. They live mainly by the chase and undergo remarkable feats of cour- age and horsemanship. Most of their time is spent on horseback, and both men and women are considered expert riders. Unlike the coast Indians, their hands and feet are small, their limbs straight, their bodies light and symmetri- cal. Children from their infancy ai-e taught to undergo great hardships. These tribes are healthy but short-lived. Human sacrifice was at one time practiced. The bodies of the dead were buried in the ground without a coffin, others were suspended from a tree. The Okanagans sometimes bound the body upright to the trunk of a tree. Theft was not uncommon, especially from a foreign tribe. Whatever the cause, crime was exceedinsflv rare in their own tribe. f i CHAPTER II. HUDSON'S BAY RULE. Sec. 1. — Colonization and Fur Trade. Founding of Fort Langley, 1827. (1.) The lower waters of the Eraser were as yet virtually unex- plored. In the fall of 1824, by direction of George Simpson, Governor-in-Chief of The Hud- son's Bay Company, an expedition under the command of James McMillan, left Fort Vai.^ou- ver, on the Columbia, for the purpose of explor- ing the Lower Fraser. This expedition, the first to enter the Fraser by its inouth, made the necessary explorations for the time and returned. Nothing further, however, was done towards establishing a fort in that locality for three years. In June, 1827, an expedition of twenty- five men left Foit Vancouver under the same commander and marched overland to Puijet Sound. Here they embarked in the schooner Cadl)oro, which they found in readiness. An- choring, on the 12th, at Point Roberi>-i bay, a party o^' twelve went ashore to seek n sj. j for a fort. Not satisfied with thv3 locality, they weighed anchor. On account of opposing cur- rents much difficultv was expericiiced in enter- HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. 41 ing the Fraser ; finally, on July 26tb, a spot was reached, some sixteen miles above where New Westminster now stands, which was con- sidered a suitable situation for a fort. Here, accordingly, was erected, by the inid^ I •mDmm mm-mumtmi CHAPTER III. COLONIAL RULE. Sec. 1. — Vancouver Island under Hudson's Bay Company Rule. An Imperative Change, 1849. (L) A change was soon to come. The boundar}- line had been settled by the Oregon Treaty in 1846. A tide of immigration to the west had set in. The Hudson's Bay Company, as well as England, knew that the 49th parallel and Juan de Fuca Strait would form no barrier to the onward march of colonization and settlement. One thing remained to be secured, which was in direct antagonism to the interest of the fur-trader, and that was proper legislation for the well being of the settler. This coast was too fine a territory to be held in its native wilds under the control of a fur Company. But how was the change to be secured ? The Hudson's Bay Com- pany's charter to exclusive trade did not terminate till 1859, and their claim must be duly considered. Earl Grey, the premier of England, at the time, saw the difficulty, and placed before himself the task of seeking a remedy. 52 HISTORY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. The Company's Requests. (2.) If a change was to come, the Company had, at least, two reasons for desiring to have the control of the Island. Fii'st, should it secure the Government for itself, it would be able to regulate the colonization to its own pecuniary advantage ; and second, it would secure the power to regulate and control the sale of liquor to the natives, which injured comiiieree, and otherwise to protect their trade. Scarcely was the boundary line settled when the Company applied to Earl Grey for protection in Vancouver Island. Not receiving a satisfactory reply, another request w?.s made in September of the same year, . king a grant of the Island, by which its government and colonization might be entirely in the hands of the Compan3^ The plea far this presumptuous request was the rapid growth of Fort Victoria, its establishment in the south part of the Island. Uharter before Parliamant, (3.) Ai'ter prolonged negotiations, in which the Company even expressed its willingness to undertake the colo- nization and government of all the territories of the Crown in North America, a grant of the Island alone became a serious question for the consideration of the Imperial Government. To grant more than the Island was not deemed advisable for many reasons. It was Ihouijht that the difficulties attendingf its colonization inam)OT*Nii