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 680 
 
 CHAMBERS'S J0UR:}TAL. 
 
 ^ 
 
 ness, she answered tremulously : * Why, Kingston 
 
 Fleming.' 
 
 ' Didst love Kingston Fleming then ? ' 
 
 ' Then — now — a^A always ! * And she sank upon 
 
 his breast 
 
 (To 5e concluded next month.) 
 
 SKETCHES IN VANCOUVER ISLAND. 
 
 Vancouver Island, which forms part of British 
 North America, and stretches a length of three 
 htmdred miles along the coast of the Pacific, is 
 still little known, although singularly attractive 
 for its picturesque beauty, its fine climate, and its 
 many interesting objects in natural history. The 
 writer of this happened to be a resident in that 
 beautiful island in 1876, and is able to say some- 
 thing of its scenery and products. 
 
 We were particularly struck with the grandeur 
 of the forests. The huge dimensions of some of 
 the trees fill one with amazement ; nor is there 
 less surprise at the profusion of gem-like berries 
 of many varieties. The moist sSluvial soil pro- 
 duces the delicious !<alnion-berry, in appearance a 
 glowing jewel of gold ; these, with cranberries, 
 bramble-berries, currants, and a small black goose- 
 berry, are very abundant. The most arid and 
 rocky situations are often fairly black with grape- 
 like bunches of the sweet sellal berry, which 
 grows on a low hardy evergreen, and defies frosts 
 until late in the season. Another variety of 
 the gooseberry, larger than the black ones, with 
 a skin covered with a bitter and glutinous secre- 
 tion, grows vevy abundantly on the dryer soils. 
 Its pulp when ripe is similar to cultivated varie- 
 ties. The red huckleberry, strawberry, and rasp- 
 berry, with some others, abound in the gravelly 
 pine-lands. Man's constant need of timber is 
 abundantly met in these forests. The Douglas or 
 red fir, a tough dense wood, attains a great size, and 
 prevails almost universally. The red cedar, hem- 
 lock, spruce, white pine, balsam pine, and other use- 
 ful conifers, are plentiful ; while among deciduous 
 trees may be mentioned maples, boeches, cherries, 
 and oaks, which are more sparsely distributed. 
 
 To the lover of natural scenery few things are 
 more delightful than a canoe cruise along this 
 coast and among the intricate avenue-like chan- 
 nels which surround the adjacent islands. The 
 rocliy shores, mostly of a sandstone formation, are 
 for miles wrought and carved by ocean tides and 
 sands until they resemble fantastic Gothic archi- 
 tecture. The lofty snow-clad peaks of the neigh- 
 bouring continent afford a sublime background to 
 the dear azure sea nnd verdant graces of the nearer 
 coasts, whose inviting bays and tiny coves seem to 
 bid the voyager to land and explore. 
 
 Both Siwixsh and Cloochman, as the males and 
 females of Vancouver Island are respectively 
 styled, ply the paddle and sail with great dex- 
 terity. Canoeing is their forte. Many families 
 spend more than half their lives on the water, 
 travelling immense distances, and boldly crossing 
 ".vide straits in seas that are often boisterous. 
 Most picturesque in its details is an Indian en- 
 campment, as seen every day in the vicinity of i 
 Nanaimo, Comet, and other settlements on the 
 eastern coast. The capacious canoe is hauled 
 beyond reach of tides, and if in sunny weather, 
 carefully shaded, to prevent cracking. Everything 
 needed for use is removed to the camping-ground. 
 
 A few poles and rush-mats form the necessary 
 shelter. In making the mats the squaws (women) 
 are very skilful, and form an ever-present and 
 iprominent adjunct to the Indian household. If the 
 lamily have just returned from a successful hunt, 
 they will probably have four or five deer to skin 
 and dress ; besides a dozen or two of grouse, a few 
 ducks and geese ; and often a seal, or elk, or black 
 bear adds variety to the bill of fare. The skins of 
 the animals are stretched, dried, and sold, together 
 with such superfluous meat as can be disposed of. 
 Two or three small woFsh dogs are generally to 
 be seen tied up and eyeing the butchering opera- 
 tions with keen interest. Towards evening, pre- 
 suming the necessary tasks have been accom- 
 plished, men women and children recline lazily 
 upon their mats, and for hours make the night 
 hideous with their peculiar clucking language. 
 
 Besides the substantial supplies already enu- 
 merated, Ocean furnishes with no niggardly hand 
 his gleaming luxuries, of which the salmon forma 
 the chief. In a fri^ile bark which holds but one, 
 and can be lifted with one hand, Siwash or Clooch- 
 man starts for the salmon- grounds, often a mile or 
 two from the village. Trolling a line of about 
 twenty yards with a spoon bait or natural fish 
 attached, he or she paddles at a moderate pace, 
 carefully avoiding entanglement with sea-weed. 
 The line being held with the paddle, each stroke 
 of the latter gives the bait a spasmodic and life-liko 
 movement, highly conducive to success. Many 
 salmon (of inferior ;iiality) ai-e taken in the rivers 
 by spearing ; and though the river-banks are fre- 
 quently offensive from the number of fish that 
 have died from injuries received in ascending to 
 and returning from the spawning-ground, hungry 
 bears and 8ea-fo\.l innumerable perform the sca- 
 venger's cleanly oftices. 
 
 The natives have a peculiar mode of catching 
 a small fish which resembles a herring, but is 
 inferior to it in size. Taking a lath-like stick of 
 tough wood, the edge of the end not handled being 
 armed for several feet with thin iron spikes, they 
 proceed slowly in search of their prey, using their 
 implement like a paddle, and darting it rapidly 
 through the finny droves. By this manoeuvre a 
 dozen or two are frequently impaled at a stroke, 
 and adroitly transferred to the canoe to be used as 
 bait. Herrl..^ uii.1 herring-«;)au;7i are largely eaten, 
 both fresh and dried, the spawn being obtained by 
 
 f)lacing fir branches in the quiet bays which the 
 lerring frequent. As soon as the branches are 
 covered, the spawn is collected and dried in tlio 
 sun. Halibut and rock-cod are also caught in 
 these waters. Among shell-fish may be mentioned 
 a poor apology for the oyster, which seldom 
 atttiins a diameter exceeding an inch. Its near 
 neighbour the clam atones for this aeficicncy, and 
 is frequently got upwards of a pound in weight. 
 Very dear to the heort of Siwash is this mud-loving 
 crustacean, which plays an active part in rustic 
 repasts. The bivalve is often smoked, dried, and 
 put on long skewei-s ; and together with dried 
 salmon, forms an unfailing adjunct to the Indian 
 cuisine. Besides the oyster aud clam, the mussel, 
 .azor-fish, cockle, and a few others arc found on 
 these coasts. 
 
 The Vancouver Islanders are a broad-shoul- 
 dered, stalwart race, though perhaps a trifle below 
 the medium stature. On their ' reservations ' 
 a few families raise stock, grain, and potatoes. j| 
 
 -.^ 
 
\F- 
 
 SICETCHES IN VANCOUVER ISLAND. 
 
 C81 
 
 =^ 
 
 This result, however, has not been obtained 
 without much official encoumgenient. A few nro 
 employed as occasional day-labourers about the 
 Nanaimo coal-mines, and some are employed more 
 steadily by the miners underground. The store- 
 keepers avail themselves of their service? when 
 they need porters. Many households also employ 
 the women for washing, &c. A language called 
 Chinook is learned both by whites and reds, 
 for mutual convenience in trading and ordinarj 
 intercourse. This mixture of many tongues 
 was introduced by the Hudson Bay Company, 
 but can scarcely be called a classical language, 
 being far more useful than elegant, English, 
 French, and native dialects belr.j^ among its con- 
 stituent parts. Another remaining mark oi Hudson 
 Bay influence is found in the curious currency 
 existing among these people. Probably no race 
 has ever had so bulky a circulating medium as the 
 ordinary blanket, which in the rude lodges of the 
 richer chiefs is stored up by hundreds, and is 
 everywhere acknowledged to be the token of 
 wealth. 
 
 The squaws are cunning in the manufac- 
 ture of water-tight baskets, which are used for 
 many household purposes. Their bark canoe- 
 balers are also unique though simple in construc- 
 tion. Not only in canoe-building do the Siwashes 
 display their handicraft, but many of the villages 
 are ornamented with grotesque carvings, apparently 
 of heathen deities. At Comox and Nanaimo might 
 be seen a short time ago poles two or three feet in 
 diameter with fantastic figures carved one over the 
 other nearly to the top. At the latter place a 
 colossal painting of a fish resembling a salmon, 
 though perhaps intended for a whale, confronted 
 us as we approached the village from the water. 
 
 Weird and ghostly in appearance is the Indian 
 burial-ground hard by this spot. Steering up 
 towards the head of the broad Nanaimo Bay 
 until the rising grormd with its heavy forests casts 
 darkling shadows over the waters, one sees two 
 strange goblin-like figures, hideous with pahit and 
 ghastly protruding eyeballs, apparently keeping 
 guard over this 'city of the dead.' By the side 
 of each of these wooden figures are poles supporting 
 white flags, which may be intended as emblems of 
 that truce to evil thoughts which all humanity 
 observes towards the dead. These simple children 
 of Nature, like some who claim more refinement, 
 seem sadly loath to be placed underground, many 
 of the Indian corpses uuing laid upon beds and 
 covered with blankets, while a rude wooden hut is 
 erected around. Within reach of the dead Indian's 
 hand is often placed a piece of tobacco ; and food 
 and water are added by loving survivors. The 
 Methodists have laboured devotedly here, together 
 with Episcopalians and Roman Catholics. 
 
 The aboriginal tribes of the island, now that 
 the^ are being brought face to face with modern 
 civilisation, are rapidly disappearing. Small-pox 
 has reaped its thousands, and vice and intem- 
 perance their tens of thousands, among these and 
 neighbouring races. In Victoria and other of the 
 towns and settlements, one remarks the comfort- 
 able European attire of many of the Indians, 
 particularly the younger ones, who seem to prize 
 such appare! more than most of the Pacific tribes 
 do. During the long winter evenings, men, women, 
 and children will gather together in one of their 
 capacious halls and hold their sports far into the 
 
 night. The hall, often more than one hundred feet 
 in length and fifty broad, is brilliantly lighted and 
 warmed by huge fires of bark or pitcli pine ; 
 the fires being built on the earthen floor, three in 
 a row on each side of the interior, and having au 
 attendant specially detailed to look after them. 
 Seldom more than one person dances at once. 
 If a Siwash is performing, he is often decorated 
 with a garland o^' featheri, with perhaps a panther 
 or bear skin loosely thrown across the shoulders, 
 and bells fastened around the ankles. His move- 
 ments are agile rather than graceful, a succession 
 of high leaps and bounds being often accompanied 
 with dumb-show and singing, in which latter the 
 audience join strenuously. When the broad-t'aced, 
 good-humoured Cloochman (the literal meaning in 
 Chinook of the last word is goodmau !) appears in 
 the arena, her dress is often of the usual cotton 
 fabric, her features are daubed with paint, and her 
 thick raven locks absurdly smothered in white 
 downy feathers. She sometimes jingles an instru- 
 ment like a tambourine, and from her movements 
 appears deeply impressed with the motto ' Excel- 
 sior ;' but alas ! her vast superfluity of adipose 
 tissue and the forces of gravity combine to extin- 
 guish her lofty aspirations. If mortal eyes could 
 behold a well-fed duck striving earnestly for 
 gymnastic fame, its performances would probably 
 resemble those of our lady-friend. No conventional 
 ideas bid her to use the toe more than the heel 
 in dancing. Upon making careful inquiries, the 
 spectator will discover that the performers in these 
 dances are generally in a ' ind of delirium, the 
 result of severe fasting extended over many days. 
 Their utterances are regarded as the inspirations 
 of the Great Spirit, and the dancers doubtless 
 obtain a tribute of reverence from their comrades 
 in return for their privations. 
 
 Another peculiar custom is to hold a potlatch, 
 or free distribution of gifts, at the principal 
 villages every summer. Potlatch in Chinook sig- 
 nifies 'to give,' or 'a gift.' These meetings of 
 many tribes are the scenes of much festivity. Clad 
 in the skins of the bear, panther, wolf, beaver, eagle, 
 or elk, Indians represent the respective animals, 
 imitating their peculiar cries and other charac- 
 teristics with wonderful fidelity to nature. When 
 the time arrives, the chief and principal men 
 among the hosts proceed to distribute large sup- 
 plies of blankets and muskets, tbj latter being 
 often thrown into the sea and dived for. Much 
 honour is accorded to the greatest giver, and the 
 chiefs need to be large-hearted as well as wealthy 
 to retain their dignity. 
 
 When the writer of this sketch left the island, 
 its mineral wealth was very considerable, and 
 still continues co be so. Many thousand tons of 
 the best coal on the Pacific coast were exported 
 every month from Nanaimo and vicinity. Other 
 large veins known to exist, were not worked, 
 from a lack of capital and for other reasons 
 best known to the proprietors. The Texada iron 
 mountain, in the Straits of Georgia, together 
 with other metallic deposits, may in the future 
 claim the attention they deserve. When finished, 
 the Canadian Pacific Railway will bring the right 
 kind of emigrants to these shores, and doubtless 
 more extensive quantities of arable land than 
 are now cultivated will be found in the interior, 
 when the demand for it is increased. The present 
 race of settlers are a hardy, hospitable class of 
 
 l(i37;>3 
 
^t «»l A 
 
 p: 
 
 662 
 
 CHAMBEES'S JOURNAL. 
 
 1 
 
 men, expert with the axe, daring and dexterous 
 canoeists, and very ingenious in meeting the 
 continual difficulties and vicissitudes of back- 
 woods life. Keen hunters are often to be met 
 among them, men who are so f> '.ccossful with the 
 rifle that their families keep a lull larder without 
 the aid of butcher or poulterer. 
 
 An enlightened system of free schools enables 
 the widely scattered children of this island and 
 of the other portions of British Columbia to 
 obtain a substantial education at the public ex- 
 pense ; and much credit is due to tne energy 
 and ability of the school superintendent, whose 
 task it hns been to organise and perfect the pre- 
 sent patisfactoiT educational arrangements. We 
 shall be glud if thctse sketches help to stir up an 
 interest concerning this beautiful and productive 
 island. 
 
 THE ADMIRAL'S SECOND WIFE. 
 
 CHAiTER IX. — TANGLED THREAJJS. 
 
 TherT! is another listener to the song, and every 
 word of it falls on his heart with intense meaning. 
 It seems to him a lamenting wail of despair 
 wrung out from aching hearts. The Admiral hns 
 returned from an officinl dinner-party, and when 
 he reaches the drawing-room door, the duet is just 
 begun. Bather surprised, and a good deal vexed 
 at seeing Walter Kceves so soon installed as a 
 familiar guest at Government House, ii^ pauses, 
 and the words of the song fall distinctly on his ear. 
 
 In bygone days. Captain Reeves was the only 
 one amongst all Katie s admirers who really gave 
 him uneasiness ; and if truth must be confessed, 
 he had often felt a pang of jealousy at the great 
 attention Walter paid her, and by his unconcealed 
 admiration of the young lady. He had made up 
 his mind there was an end to all that now. His 
 wife would henceforth be far removed from such 
 influence ; and when she and Walter should chance 
 io meet, their acquaintanceship would be strictly 
 ceremonious. 
 
 Yet now, they have taken up the old strain, 
 and are already deploring in doleful song the haid 
 fortune that has divided their lives. Sir Herbert 
 has no idea of pretence or mere acting or of 
 tiinging for effect. He is true to the ' heart's core' 
 himself, and would not deign to seem other than 
 he is. The words come to him with terrible 
 meaning, and rouse him to sudden awakening. 
 Hns he spoiled their lives? AVhile he would 
 shield his wife from every rough wind and from 
 al' that could vex and annoy, has he only been 
 diiving her' to despair? Tiie guests are all so 
 occupied that they do not notice t)ie Admiral at 
 the door, nor do they see him turn awuy with 
 bowed head and a weight like an added ten years 
 pressing on his heart. 
 
 Are Laura's words proving true? Has Katie 
 only married him for wealth and position, while 
 her heart has been given to Walter Reeves ? Is 
 eho growing weaiy already, tnd pining in her 
 gilded chains ? lerrible thoughts these ! They 
 eat into his very soul, and crush him down as he 
 has never been crushed before. He is only thank- 
 ful no one sees the storm of agony that sweeps 
 over him, while the merry music still goes on 
 up-stairs. 
 
 Why did he not tell Katie ih.m. "i She would 
 
 ^ 
 
 have flown to his arms, and assured him, truth- 
 fully enough, that she has grown to love him 
 better than any one else in the world. Pleasure- 
 loving, thoughtless, she may be, but no thought 
 of disloyalty to her husband has ever entered her 
 heart. But the Admiral asks no question, gives 
 no sign, only shrouds himself up with a proud 
 man's reticence and reserve. Though deeply hurt 
 and wounded, he goes on his way silently, and 
 Katie never for a moment suspects that she is 
 making him wretched. 
 
 The next morning Walter arrives, and all the 
 others who are to take part in the entertainment 
 arrive also ; so the rooms are again crowded, and 
 the rehearsal goes on with spirit. There is a 
 sound of music and talk, of song aid discussion. 
 Peals of silvery laughter burst forth ; snatches of 
 various airs are heard ; Major Dillon's voice loud 
 and prompt ; Liddy Delmere's, clear and ringing. 
 All are excited ; and Walter Reeves, from his ex- 
 perience on the subject, is voted by all, chief 
 authority and general manager. 
 
 Nothing loath to bear the honour, he makes 
 even the consequential Major play second-fiddle to 
 him. He flirts with Lidily, while she purposely 
 goes wrong, to be set right by him ; and Katie 
 smiles more than ever at the rapid friendship 
 springing up between the two. It is on this scene 
 of distractijig confusion that Sir Herbert looks, as 
 he returns home an hour earlier than usual. He 
 glances gravely round on th^ busy groupa, who 
 are all ttUking and laughing together, and cannot 
 understand what they are about iu the broad day- 
 light, turning the quiet matter-of-fact noonday 
 into the revelry of night. His greeting to the 
 guests is rather formal ; there is a faint compres- 
 sion on his lips, a slight furrow on his brow, as he 
 listens to the allusions and v.'atches the proceed- 
 ings. In fact the guests, his wife, and all seem to 
 him to have gone a little out of their senses. At 
 last the visitors docide it is time to depart, and 
 they go oft" \u high spirits, promising to meet again 
 th«re in the evening. 
 
 Sir HerV>ert has all that morning been taking 
 himself to task lor ins nurd thoughts about Katie ; 
 but resolves to atone by paying her more devoted 
 attention. What would he not do to win her 
 back! No sacrifice can be too great, he thinks; 
 so he begins by coming home an hour earlier than 
 usual, only to find fresh annoyance and disappoint- 
 ment. When the gue'^'s are gone, he turns his 
 grave inflexible face t 'Catie, and says : ' 1 came 
 back early, my darling, on purpose to drive you to 
 Belton Park.' 
 
 Lady Dillworth is gathering up the pen-and-ink 
 sketches of costumes, glancing at each, and men- 
 tally considering what jewels she will use to adorn 
 the highly ornamented stomacher of Lucy Ashton's 
 blue drees, so she replies quickly : ' I 'm sorry you 
 fixed on this morning for a drive, Herbert, for I 
 cannot possibly get away ; I 've no end of music to 
 try over.' 
 
 ' Perhaps there will be time in the afternoon 
 then. Lady Ribson leaves Beltou Park in a few 
 days, and I promised to introduce you to her.' 
 
 ' Does she return to Scotland ? ' 
 
 ' Yea. Had she not been so old and feeble, she 
 would have come here to call for you.' 
 
 ' Oh, I am so sorry about it, Herbert ; but every 
 minute of to-day is portioned out : I 've a hundred 
 tilings to ao.' 
 
 -■^