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L O X 1) X : EOBEKT llAKDWICKi; 192, PICCADILLY. 1SG2. |:'! ■ 1j. i ■• i } -X. r ■■ 'i. i .11 ''oC PREFACE. A NUMBER of letters liiro I,^„i *».■,. , '(-"crs nave latelr apneared resDeptmT h .r chn>a to, govcrnn.ent, laud-system, and thefr ches, eontamed in tbe ver, able and reliable le e of the correspondcut of the Tin,., . but the w„lcr of ,l,o f„l|„„i„ 4„. 31." "'.' e™, or „«..,, ,,,.,„,,,,-,J-\'-^^^^^^^^^^ ,f' """»"' ''"Pl-.S »o„, .„,,, ,t^J: '"' - '""■" "■"" "i'l ■« 1.0PC ,hcy mav pr vc i„tc .'.li, >"o tlic.e little-knou-n color ies. Uls account is b,- , ) onreconectioasorat.o.vca..rc.ldeace,r 1^::' rece-Ul, received fVo. parties who have ^eithc,^: nor .nchnatiou to give a false impression • thev t . confir.n the recounts ^iven bv t b " ,' «„,„. '^ " °>^ ^"'' i"ui'c able pen of on oun correspondent," in the Ti.es, to which the oni and Gth of l.bruary, 1SG;3. Manv straii questions are a.ked, and o.nc finds •!'i li amongst the class most desirable as emigrants that many of them jumble together, Victoria in Australia, California, British Columbia, and Vancouver's Island ; thus obtaining rather c i fused ideas. As an example of the prevailing ignorance respecting these countries, the writer of a popular geography, lately published, states that tlic "orange, lemon, fig, and vine, grow- wild in British Columbia." They must be e.xcessively wild, for one never even catches a glimpse of them, and a land of pine forests and severe frosts seems not a con- genial home. Another gentleman says, " the earth of Vancouver's Island is frozen forty feet deep in the winter," whereas sufTicient frost to make firm ro;:Js would be a great boon. VANCOUVER'S ISLAND. This is a separate colony at present, and not "part of British Columbia." It has a governor, a jud-e of supreme court, legislative council, house of as^emhlv, and other accessories to a colonial government. Excepting some modifications to suit local pfcu- l.arit.e«, the huvs of England are those in use, and are firmly and impartially administered. The island is situate on the north-west coast of North America is about three hundred miles in length, and of varial.Ie breadth, seventy miles, perhaps, being the greatest; It runs parallel to the coast of British Columbia, sepa- rated by the Gulf of Georgia, in a course nearly due north-west from its most southerly point; it lies between the parallels of -IS^ and 51^ X. latitude and 123- and 129^ W. longitude; its coa.t is indented with numerous harbours; that of Esquimalt, at tic entrance of I'uget Sound, and near Victoria, being the most vr.luable. The interior of the island is but little known. Approaching it from the sea, we notice a chain of mountain, apparently extending tlirough its centre and covered with dense forests. As far as explored' I '! : 11 ? " ■\ 6 these are tlic prevailing features, varied by rich, open valleys, rocky barrcu extents, ai\tl nunieroui lakes. Away from the settlements, grouse, wilil-fowl, elk, anJ other game arc plentiful. The waters are, in pla.cs, alive with fish, and salmon, equal to any, is so abundant, that its price is nominal. There arc no dangerous wild beasts, nor those pests, musquitocs : rattlesnakes are said to ho found occasionally. Coal is plentiful near the surface; an excellent buildiuj;- stonc is being quarried ; metallic copper, silver ore, and small quantities of gold, have been found at several points. In regard to climate, the Englishman makes, on the whole, a pleasant exchange — the spring vege- tation is nearly a month earlier, the summer and autumn weather more agreeable, and the winters closely resemble those of England, but have more wet and less fog and frosty weather, — every winter, , generally in January, the thermometer falls to I'i" or 15° above zero for a day or two, and frost continues a week or ten days; but after this cold snap v,e can bid severe v.-eather good-bye for twelve months. Snow does not rcniain on the ground, and cattle find food and shelter in the woods. The mildness of its clin\afo maybe thus accounted for: no part of Vancuuei's Island is so northerly as Loudon ; the racillc slopa of the llocky Mountains is cousidcied to be about 20" Ics"; severe during the winter months than in the same parallel on it, eastern, and the mountains in its vicinity, aud the waters whieli surround it, me " rate the heat of its summers. The soil, though rich in places, is generally light. As may be concluded from the similarity of climate, all those grains, vegetables, or roots which flourish at home, will do so there. Good authorities assure us, that they have raised wheat equal to any English, and the size attained by vegetables is extraordinary. Agriculture is in a very backward condition, for there has not been as yet a farming population. It is only within the last two years that orchards of fruit-trees have been planted, although the climate is so especially suitable. The principal greengrocer states that he cannot obtain sufl'icicut vegetables to supply his customers. Butter is sometimes four shillings per pound, and eggs eight shillings per dozen. The woods can be turned to good account by making potash, and large quantities of tur- pentine might be extracted; they abound in wild and good-flavoured berries, strawberries, raspberries, bil- berries, nuts, blackberries, and many other fruits of the forest. The absence of roads has been a great drawback. This evil is now being remedied. Such as have farms near the -coast find the frequent coves and itdets very valuable. Surveyed laud is sold by the colony at 4,9. 2r/. per acre, payable in three yearly instalments. A bachelor is allov,-ed to select luO acres, a married man 200 acres, and for each child an additional 10 acres, providing these blessings re.-.ide in the colony. Should this quantity of land be hisufiieient, f he will be allowed to aciid 80 mucli u^iou circunistanees, that it is hardly safe to give them ; but the lowest pay for carpenter, black or wnitc smith, tailor, shoemaker, and other artisans, may be safely reckoned at lOy. per diem, and during ex- citements this would be at least doubled. Indians can be employed at nominally low wages, and with good management their services become valuable. One can scarcely doubt that a steady, industrious, and prudent settler would in a few years render himself comparatively itulepcndcnt, that he might look from the window of his comfortable farmhouse over broad cultivated acres and well-stncked farmyard, be able to call it all his own, and admit tliat his indujliy had been handsomclv rewarded. VICTORIA. This is tlic capital of Vancouver's Island, and its only tow u of any importance. It is doubtless destined to become a large commercial city, being a free port a!id easily accessible from the ocean : it possesj<:s great advantages over any town north of San Francisco. It is a flourishing lively place, and though it contains but about J-,000 inhabitants, the stranger is struck v^ith its active commercial appearance. The harbour is small and its entrance tortuous : by taking adyantagc of the tide, vessels drawing IG feet can lie alongside its wharfs. The tow n should have been located at Esijuimalt, di^itant some three mile?, .vhere the harbour is safely entered in the darkest nig'at, is capacious and perfectly sheltered from gales blowing iu any direction. Here a dry dock could not fail to be remunerative, as vessels refjuiring repairs arc now compelled to seek the ship-yards of San Franci-^co, whose harbour is the nc-;\re=t on a coast of SOO miles in length. There are many brlek buildings in Victoria, but by far the greater number arc of wood. A briek warehouse owned by the HmKon liay Company is a prominent feature from the ■. ..icv, it having a frontage of 120 ft. ami height of five stories. A couplo of cimreh spiicsover the town, an hospital near the har- bour's entrance, an Ind'^.u village, symmetrical canoes, the long white bridge scanning James's ]?ay, and the S^wiss cottages erected fur govi.rnuicut oHices • 'l * •— ;L' t,: il- li r I ! r I'i i; 5 t t • 'i ^ i 1 ,i 10 near its right extremity, will also attract a stranger's eye. The munificence of Miss Bur Jett Coutti, and numerous supporters in EnglaudoftheEstablisIiedChurcbjfoundcd the bishopric of British Columbia, probably uuder the prevailing idea that the two colonics were identical, as are their interests undoubtedly. At present, the best field for the bishop's labours being in ^'ictoria, it forms his principal residence, and under bis guidance much good is being etTected for the rising generation of Indians. The saying that "you cannot teach an old dog new tricks" sccnjs particularly applical)le to adult savages. Xot that endeavours to Christianize them are neglected, and some conversions are supposed to be made ; but these appear to depend much upon attention to their temporal interests, — " Sambo, are you honest?" "How mue'i massa gib me?" Until latclv thev were governed by their own laws in quarrels amongst thcni- Bclvcs. The chief replied, ''■^Vhite man put rope round neck bad man and kee-ooh ! Indian man give him knife; all the san.e, — kloor^h (good)." Tiicro are two episcopal churches, one of iron (a great mistake) and tlic other of wood, in aconimanding position : neither has a . attractive cxteiior. Undi-r tke supcrinti. udenee of Dr. ]',vans, a hani..,omc AVcslovan church has been erected : the spiro is an ornament to tiie toun. 'J'here are al.>u a modest Catholic church, ft I'rcybyterir-i, and a Cougregaliunalist chuieli. All tlin miiiisler- nro zealous in the ''nod cai'-;'; the 11 accommodation for worship is ample, and the Sabbath is as vrell observed as in London. All churches are supported by voluntary contributions, as is also a well-conducted hospital, where, under the skilful treatment of Dr. J. Trimble, much sulTering has been alleviated, and many lives have been saved. The medical men attached to her ^lajcsty's ships are always glad to give their valuable assistance in extreme cases: the complaints have almost invariably been the elTects of such hardships, intemperance, or exposure, as would residt in any climate; for a more invigorating, health- giving atmosphere could not be found than that of Victoria. The schools are excellent and numerous ; thei charges very moderate ; and they teach from the rudimentary to the highest branches of educa- tion. There are an iron-foundry and machine sliops; and gas-works are being erected. The number of the legal and medical fraternities is too great, and there are suflicien. tradesmen for wholesome competition, — so, at least, they generally believe. A library and lecture-room has iaiely been established; then; are a Jockey Club, a periodical race, a riiiihar- luonie Society, an Ilortienltural Society, giving annual exhibitions and pri-.es, two fue companies on the volun- tary system, a ^vell-supporlcd gymnasium, a pretty little theatre, a St. Andrew's Society, and a Freemasons' " lodge." Dancing is a favourite p:istime in the winter. I H ■ I ■ i I . r :i : , I 1 , uits 'I;! I 1 1 : 16 tlicy abandon j but the miner's life leaves mucli room for study, and any such idea as self-debasement, or that digging for gold is " infra dig.," is never entertained ia those parts. To be employed by a master at so much a day in excavating a sewer, breaking stones, &c., is very different to labouring on one's own account amongst the rocks of tiie wilderness. Victoria is very prettily situated on ground which gradually rises from the water for a few hundred yards; it then becomes undulating; but a ravine leading down to the harbour is au excullcut drain. Its streets are mac- adamized, and the side-walks are of wood; several of the shops would not disfigure Regent Street, whilst others would disgrace acountryto\vn,bciug merely largewoodcn boxes. Goods from all parts of the world are displayed ; those from iranclicstor, Birmingham, and Stafford' shire, arc beginning to be prominent, and will doubt- « less be the leading ones ere long. The advantages of a free port arc more and more observable; but the great want of a steam postal service has a tendcncv to blockade the harbour to all mercantile conneetion, except that with the adjacent sections of the United States. This will nut bo the case, however, during 18n2, as the two colonics have granted a subsidy ol" .e:.,00() for the year, and Georg,' H. Gary, tlic Attorney- General, is empowered to make terms with some American steamboat company, for direct cojnmunica- tion witli San Franci.co. Tlie amount will be an acceptable bonus; as the great number of pas::cngers 17 to be carried during the summer would insure frequent steam comraunicatiou without it, though probably not direct ones ; and the carrying of a mail-bag is little additional expense. The American boats carried the mail gratuitously for many montiis; but finding there was little probability of recompense, the courtesy was discontinued. There are delightful walks and rides in every direction fiom town : a day can be spent very pleasantly in rambling over Blount Douglas, wliich is about eight miles off; to obtain a view from its summit is well worth a little fatigue. The lakes, at four and seven miles' distance, are pretty and- interesting; an arm of the harbour extending to Esquimalt, divided only b}" au istlimus of trifling width, is a favourite resort for boating pic-nic parties, which are popular during the summer niontlis, and when the berries are ripe. This arm, narrowing at one point to a feu- yards, causing rapids, widening at others into lake-like shci ts, with its numerous islands and banks covered with woods, and its shoals with oysters, is very at- tractive. T!ie Californians are verv loval to tiie '\Vaslun;itou C;ibinet. Of this tlicir magnauimity of protfctii\g eastern manufaeUiri r.> through the Morril tariff, and suljuiitting to enormous taxation that tlie star-spangled banner shall remain entire, is proof suHicient. Tliough our vessels cannot coast, and her market is closed to our coal, lumber, and otiier productions, Victoria is bei' fitiuf; bv her lovaltv. ' j I ; I ' ■ 18 Oa tie southern coast, two miles from toivii, there is a natural park of trees, chiefly oak and pine, sur- rouiidinr.', on three sides, a turf-cuvorcd elevatiou of some two hundred feet, called Beacon Hill: around its base is an excellent race-course and cricket-ground. The view from this mound is truly cliarniing; across the strait of San Juan dc Fuca, which is here about twenty miles wide, rise the snow-capped mountains of the Olympian rang.; ; on our left is the cloud-like summit of Mount Baker, eighteen tlujusuu! feet abo\e the sea; canoes full of picturesque Indians, white sails • of vessels; a steam-boat, or a majestic man-of-war, dotting the water, is all we uisli as a mid-distance; and the lawn-Iikc foot of the liill, witli dusters of tree^ grazing cattle aiul bold pi-omontorics, furui a plcasinj; foregroiir.d. Turning towards Victoria, the chcfrfiil verandah-fronted cottL-.gcs, on rising ground to the right, glimpses of v. liiie buildings througli tlic trees, and the tapering churcli spire, give another agreeable picture to the eye. I'.ut the great and particular attraction to this part of tlie world is tlic gold-ficlds of the colony of Briti>li Columbia, the Caiiboo seclion of wliich, in a letter, dated D^-Cci.-.ber 3;d, ISGl, is thus S[iokeii of: — " Wliitl^iT vou liriv.' iv;ul ai:;. tlii;i,;,- .iLout tlsfm or not, i: i-, a pk-asmc to nic to iiit'jii.i vou of the I'aet tl.:it from the woik ol'kss lliaii ifili'O luca liuiiiic; tlm'i; to four muni lis oniv, tlie 8aa I'rar.ci^co bteanicrs liavc Ikji-u ta'.ing ;;\v:ij- butHiU'ji two aii.l si\ hunii-'id thour^aiul i!(.IIai-s [ici- u.oiiih (ov tin; Insi tlirijc uioiitlis, wiu'ck is f:a ali'ja'.l of aiiv otiior gijIJ Hiincs tvtr discuvcicJ." II i^i r«»«niiii Ami^ 19 ■ / From the British Colonist of November ISth i Departure op tut. Pacipic. — Tho atcamskip Pacijii: went to sea jcsterday nioniing, froci Esquimalt, at 9 o'clock. She had oa board noarlv 200 niinerb and oMiers as pasicnjjcrs from this place, and 120 United States soldiers from the Sound. Wells, Fargo, a.'id Co. shipped 205, 90S dollars in gold dust. The total shipment, includins; the amounts in private bands, will reach -100,000 dollars (£S0,0OO). The gross amount of i31, 500,000 is estimated to have been abstracted from the various mines in the country by 5,000 or C,000 men during ISCl; thus giving an average of .J'2,"0 for each miner's summer work. Let us take a general view of this remarkable colony of British Columbia. It has the same Governor and Commander-in-Chief, .Tames Douglas, C.l>., who pays it lengthy visits each year; aiul the Chief Commissioner of Lauds and Works, Colonel Richard C. Moody, R.E., resides in it constantly ; each inhabited district has a gold comn'.issiouer and police magi>trate, and New AVcstuiiu-ter litis a town council. But little crime is committed, and the popidatlon, which has very fev,- l)rili>li subjects at present, is generally well satisfied with the form of government. On the west, of this couulry, whose area ks about 200,OUO square miles, is the Cascade range of moun- tains; on its east arc the liocky Mounttdns, of^^hich the Bald and Peak mnunttiins ajipear to be a spur ; besides these great chains, huge nuju!:tains nve scat- c3 20 tcred nljout, as thoiij^li the surface of tlic country had been in a state of gi^jautic ebullition and sudlonly its stupendous bubbles had become fixtures; nevertheless, there are extensive plains, and the Frazer Hiver runs in au almost direct line touarJs the south, receiving numerous tributaries, until it reaches }Ioi)C, where its course is turned to the west ; and, a little above the bouudarj-linc, it discharj,'es irito the Gulf of Georgia. Getting on to a steamboat at Victoria and paying £1 passage, we glide by Discovery Island, and, leaving the disputed Sau Juau on our right, pass several well- wooded but rocuy islets, observe the wood-cleaiing fires of Vancouver's Island settlers, and sudih ■ ly enierg:\ig from I'luMiper's Pass, whose waters are ever as smooth as a mill-pond, we are ploughing the rough water of the Gulf of Georgia, which is subject to very sudden squalls, and many lives were lost, by early adventurers risking a passage in small open boats. In about an hour we are on the constimtlv chau''';-'^ sands at the mouth of dirty Frazer Hiver, annually contributing thou- sands of tons to form au island, the fuuudiitionr. of which are tlic pre-eiit shallows. Thus, the land on each side niipcar.^ t(j hnv'^^-'ceu dejujiited ; being subjeel to annual ovcrfluw, it is almost as level as a floor, a!\d coveied with euar,se grass. About t'.urty mih s up the river, on its left bank, on the steep side of a hill, is situati' the tiAui of Xcu Wu-tmiuster, Capi!;d and port of entry for the colony; here we airivc in eight houis from Victoria, distance about eighty miles. As 81 to the navigation, it is said to be perfectly safe for steamers drawing twenty feet, but the insurance on large sailing vessels attempting it would be worth as much as that from London to Esquimalt, and the kngth of passage from Victoria from a few days to a month ; this may be remedied by the use of tugs wheu entire cargoes are consigned to New Westminster. At the back of the two or three streets running parallel with the river, gigantic pine-trees crown the hill ; its aide is thickly enamelled with the stumps whose heads have been burnt or chopped ofT. The extraction of these Stumps costs from £1 to JC3 each, and there are about fifty of them to au acre; this causes cleared lar.d to be very valuable just about the town. Its site is not one which merchants would have selected, neither is the Assay OlVice in its right place; consequently, neither of theni is in a very healthy condition. Whilst these twin colonics remain separate ones, it appears only natural that the Mint should be situated in that from whose soil the precious metals are obtained ; as it is here, in this village of 300 or -100 inhabitants, and eighty miles away from the merchants of Victoria, the cxiun-es even of its establishment are not paid by its business; but if at the scat of commerce, there would be considerable profit, as those who require its furni'ces coidd use them conveniently. Such questions as this make palpable the advantages of Victoria, and create some jealousy against her by the peoi • whose i' 'crests arc centered here. : I - oo There arc but one or two business streets in tlic town, and tlierc are twu or three wooden whrirfs. The shops are nearly all of wood, tacl.ed to-ctlicr: these first erections will soon be supiiliuitcd by superior ones, aa tbc town prospers. Tliero are an asaay ofilec, a custom- house, n treasury, and a pretty church, all wooden : a mint 13 about being cstablislied. The town is very lively during the mining season, and when its mer- chants have sunieieat capital, they will probably cut off a portion of tbc direct trade with tbc mines, which Victoria at present almost monopolizes, causing New Westminster to be merely a forwardiiig-poiut; but the great advantages possessed by Victoria, uhieh make lu.r the principal seat of commerce in thr>c parts, can never be overcome. About two miles from the tuwu is a pretty wooden village, called tlic " Camp," where, under command of CoU)nel :\roody, is a corps of sappers and miners, whose services luive been vury useful in survey- ing, making roads, 5Lc. Leaving this embryo city on a little high -pressure boat, we steam against a four-ki t current between low wooded banks, and pass the descried vilhige of Fort Langley on the riglit. This location seems especially adapted feu- a town site; but for strategic reasons, the port of entry and cu-tom-house being located at New AVe^tnu'iister, its busim^s i,, no more. A few miles further and we arrive at the mouth of Harrison river, the clear bright blue of its water slowly mingling with the n;uddy stream of the I'riizer. Here commences " an entire cbangic of s:enery : " pre- cipitous mountains from 1,000 to 1,000 feet high, wlio-e :ads arc capped with snow far ii.lo the suuinicr, are on cither siile ; the river winds amou'jst their ba-cs with many sudden turns and greatly incn.'ased velocity, for fifty miles further, to the rapids above Fort Yale, where may be said to terminate the Lower Frazer division of the colony. Fifteen miles below Fort Yale is the town of Hope: both these towns arc built of wool, and consist each of one busine.-,s street parallel with the river ; they have their buNV season, when money is rapidly made, and even in their dull season the shopkeepers would by English tradesmen be considered prospero\is. Fort Langl(\v, Fort IIopi-, and Fort Yale, are olil posts of the IluJson-lVay Company, who seem to have been very happy in selecting the most favourable sites. Hopetown has probably the best of them, and for a great part of the year is the bead of navigation. The , level ground here is in the form of a triangle, the base of which, about a mile an.l a half in hm^'tb, extends along the bank of the river, and lofty pyramidieal mountains, covered as usual with trees, form its sides. At the lower cad of the town a well-stocked, fine tront stream tumbles into the Fraz^n-, and a v.aguori-road leading to the Similkanieen district has been cut, blasted, and bridged along the side of the mountain. During the early spring n\onfhs, before melted snow swells the river, large canoes, manned by Indi'ins, under a white cai^tain, convey many tons of mer- '». !■ 1j i .1 I ! I ,. I I I \ 1 i 1 t 1 i m n nt;r.i, wheri the boat took a sheer, ran partially across tlie river and went under. The entire crew were washed from th.e deek by the re^iiatless force of the swift -rolling current, and swept into eternity in an instant's time The boat then struck a rock, and breaking in two, floated rapi lly down stream, and portions of her v.-ere picked up at Yale before the news of the cakiniity reached there. The goods which she was freiyliting up were not lo~t, a portage having been made previous to the accident. The iie\\3 spreid mueli constetnation amoiu- tlie boatiiHii along the river, and Hustan's twenty-ton be:,!, which had reached the ioot r^f the Tails in the //'.'.'.'- Cn ':<>'■, was compelled to return to Yak', the crew, fearing to share a like fate, positively refusing to go further. The Harrison river and lake roule, with many portages, is another way of reaching the Upper Tray-cr, !-f s w 2G and is tlie one most used Juring liigli water. The scenery on this route is still grander than that of the Frazer. From descriptions of tlie lake, one can imagine it equal to Como. The following distances will be found tolerably correct : — trom Victoria to New Westminster . New TTestmiustcr to Doughs, by steam From Douglas to Cayoo^h, iteam on lakes . On the portages between tin; tv.o places, slago From Cayooah to Fort Alexanilria, 0:1 mule Alexandria to Swit'l llivur, by boat Swift Eiver to Antler Creek (Cariboo) 80 miles. 70 „ oi „ 50 ., ISO „ 43 „ _10 „ 517 The surface of the Upper Frazer laud is generally rough and brokcL. with oeeasiuiial plains, and has many thousand acres suitable for stock-raising and farming ; but when we get in the mining region of Cariboo, about oOO miles north of Xew 'West- minster, it is a perfect chaos,— rocks, swamp-;, lakes, mountains, streams, and felled trees, piled eonfa>edly together; the air contains myriads of niusquitoes, and is cold ciu)ush to frce>;e mercery in winter, and gales of wind, with Inil, sleet, r:,iii, and snow during; the summer; nevertheless man eumes down after spending a .season there, with ruddy complexion, increased rotundity, and contented face. The indneements to settle in this region must be great indeed, and we find only 200 out of its 2,000 visitors during ISOI remaining through t ic wiiiter,--their I'erisuUs for doing so being simply to avoid losing any time next season ; but ^c must consider that they have been acc>-stomcd to a warm climate, and Canadians do not find this an intolerable one. The following is a reliable account of the gold dig- gings at Cariboo, in the latter part of October, ISGl, from the British Columbian : — The next day, in company with a friend, I travelled some distance Tip and down .\nller Creek, visiting several claims, and it struck me that if a few New "U'estminster croakers could witness for them- selves what I saw, they would dry up on that old tune they have been harping at for the last two years. The best-paying clar^i on Antler Creek is that of Dud IMorelan and Co, which has paid as hish as -10 ounces to the hand per day. One day's work, the best thev did, was IGl ounces. The next is that of ilazeltuie and Co., which has paid very well ; and judging from the pleasant faces of the miners, I should say that t!ie majority of them on the creek have no reason to regi-ct their trip to Cariboo, dlaving heard so much said about ■Williams' Creek, I shouldered my blankets ue.vt moru- in- and started for the locality, distant 12 miles, over a very rough i "'1 « * • • • * * * trail. * • » There are probably 350 miners on this creek, some of whom are doin- exceedingly well ; but out of the whole number I do not think there are one hundred washing piy dirt. Steele and Co, while I was lookin- on, iu three days' wasl.ir.g, obtained the follovnr.g result •.—Fi'r.'^t riav, 27S minces; second day, S25I) ounces; third dav 2'^j ounces.' This, I believe, is the best-paying claim now wo'r'kiiig in Cariboo'. Next comes Abbott and Co., who claim^ to have done the biggest day's work during the season, having taken out upwards of 29G ounces. Tlie next is Fairbaitn's claim ; and these three claims, I believe, yield more gold tbau any other three in th.e country, allliou.-'h there arc many ethers open which pay very veil. On Lowhec Crl-ek there arc probably 70 men at work, most of them doing well. On Grouse Creek there are but four com- panies working with average success. On Last Chur.^.:, liurns, njul :>. i • •• ■ : ! I tf ' i ■w Mm i 28 Chisholm Creeks, there arc about iOO men dobg very v>ell Oa L.ghtu>„g Creek there are probabK-00 men pro^ecti .. L the wTJ '^ Ca-pbeU and Co. is the on!, one. I thn.k, tL. n ^ WiU be taken out of th>s season. There are some 250 or 300 more mcii prospeetmg in the neighbourhood of those creeks, ^^■ho J\ likely obtain good claims for next season. Since irr. Scott left Cariboo, the nuners have left, and are nearly all on the way down. •' This letter also, taken from the Brllis^i Colonist, is interestiii^r : — "Brnv.-^ " ON- CAitiBoo. Editor Britis!! Colo.vist :-Iu the letter taken fro.u the Jl!a. «hich you published in vour edition of yesterday morning, the followiug par^igraph occurs :— "lu fact it is as much as a person's life is worth to be there Un Cariboo] without money or friends to bring one back." Now, Sir, it is very evident that tlie person v.ho concjctcd the above sentence has ac-iuired but a very imperfect kiiov.-IeJ-e of the Cariboo country and the manners and customs of its inirdjitauts It is the simplest thing in the ^^orld for a broken man to travel down from the mines to Lillooot or New Westminster xwthout a cent m his pockets, and to live on the fat of the land on the road I know one or two persons who kft Cariboo in the aliove predica- ment, and who turned up as fat and heartv at Victoria as tho'^e v.ho were troubled with a heavy snag of gold. The fact is, there was not a single house of accommodation in the upper couutrv last year where a man would be refused a good meal on his iufo?u,in- the parties who kept the house that he was destitute of meui-T Cariboo men do not allow any one to go hungry if thev h ive ti-.e means to relieve bin, ; and from my experience th.re, 1 shuiihl <.av a more liberal and better disposed crowd has seldom or t\er beJu' seen in a new mining disdiet. The traders, cspceiallv, were, nith few cvcci.tions, very liberal in supplying goods on cieclit, to men, sor.c of xyhom, just up from California, were entirely uuknov, u to tliem. These facts ought to convince .Mr. ]3rowu,"lhat his vtduable life would not be endangered by his being left without cash in Caril.oo. 29 With regard to his sufTerings in the snow, if he cannot rough it, and stand a considerable amount of exposure, ho certainly is not the man to go to a'jy new mines. The climate of Cariboo, although acTcre and unpleasant, is, nevertheless, a very healthy one, and, with the exception of a little rheumatism, there was scarcely a single case of sickness last season. Owing to the want of roads, and the difficult nature of tlie ground. Cariboo undoubtedly proved a hard mining country ; but during the comlr.g year things will go^ on much smoother. Even should the hardships be multiplied threefold, the/uct that th" gold is th^re will prove sutncient inducement for miners to go through. In this (the 19th) century riches do not suddenly cleave to men, unless they exert themselves, and dare a little to obtain thcia. A Cock:>-ey who was at Cariboo. Victoria, December Ith, ISOl. The miniiig-grouTul of the colony commences a few miles hclow Hope, where from As. to 30.5'. ct\n be ob- tained per dav. There have been large amonnts taken out of hanks, bars, and gulehcs, between this town and Yale. Above the rapid.s the gold-surface spreads to the right and bft, up the large tributary of Thompson River from the east, and the smaller ones from the west; and it is coutinnoiisly found on the main stream as far as its source through the Cariboo district has been prospected. .\s it is known to exist on the east slope of the Ilocky ;Mouiit;\ins, we can only conjecture what space the gold region covers, Tlie following is from the British ColuuibUin, pablishod at New Westminste; : — Cariuoo SfurAssr.n.— -Erom a letter written by >rr. ^fcT-^an, of Kamlooiis, we obtain the full'.v 'vij; inlerrstiuginfonnatiou :— A num- ber of ni'jii base boon ciig.,;i-d in mining upon Certain streams •t i! t! It 111 is nil CO ni X- 30 emptjing into tLe hcaJ.c-afei-3 of tl,n Ti out 1,100 ouace, or sa, IS I.) 1 , I^"fr- f '■- -„ took h .IX men ia seveu . oc4, a^J 1 1 'dollar ^i ^'•'^'^° ''°"^^ of ground 12 feet squ.rc. Tuo Ll La t'^' ^'^'''' °"' "^^^ ?'•■■« «0"so gold, in ^L.-ch v-crc r nil '"' °"^ ^-^"^'^ '^•'""s ia I5i cz.. one llj 0... one . t "■';;: '''"^f'~°'^'= ' »>-. on^ cents. Tho greater port-on n','; I '""""' P'^^'^ being 25 tl'ebanJ. of. Mr. ilcl," f,; 'r' f'^-T ^^'^ ^-J been placed a Perrectljr relia!,Ie. Thi; '' « far I '^""=' ,'"^ ""= ^'^"^'"^^"t is opuuon held bj gentlo.neu in Lv t ^ P-- 'Lo corrcc.no.s of the J^ge regi,,, of counrrv ^vatered b h 'l, ? ' ? "''''' "''-" ^" "-at « well as their nun.er'ons tn^ , .'e ^l "'^^^ ' ""' '"""'''=^''' famous Car:boo.-i?.,v,V. O ^ £ ^ "^'^''' " ^^' ^"^i-^-^ the miner's niiud being iiu ipaiiioiis, so along the l:uik of t lie btix-ai. -■y ai C Cull, ■f Illllf.S 31 gravel contaiuing gold, have smooth, rounded, beach- like outlines, and are covered with grass. Their peculiar appearance has given rise to a theory that the river has, at three or four iutervals, washed away impediments in its mountain course, and thus left these, its supposed former banks, exposed. Good pay dirt has been found on them in places. The climate of British Columbia is as variable as its dificrent elevations; in the soiitlierly portion it is about 10" colder than that of the Victoria district, and the further north and more elevated, of course the more and more severe it becomes; the snow remaining in Cariboo until June, whilst on the lower laud of the Frazcr its spring is not much behind that of Victoria. ^lusquitocs are a great preventive of bodily comfort; but however thickly wc may be sprinkled with their venom, it is merely superficial, and after tliiec mouths' constant exposure, if not compelled to leave the country, like one in about three thousand, we bear their attacks with more or less stoicism, but never cca^e to bo annoyed by tlicir beautifully coiutructcd daggers, and the sound of tlieir gradually appruiiching trumpets, which "oft in the stilly night" cIui.-ls away " tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep." Tlic Indians, ov.ing to the ju--t and hunianc treatment of the lludson-lJriy Company, and their iiii[i!ieit con- fidence in and sulijcetion to Governor Douglas, are a harmloss and very useful population ; they are in constant contact wit!ithev.liitcs,a!;d nuieh amalgamation is taking 1 ! I! i I 33 place: the law severely puni.hcs suppUing them with liqtiors, as it converts thciu into wild boasts. They arc be- comiug self-conscious of thi.s, ai,d throngh theexertiou, of Catholic missionaries, mainly, great numbers have lately taken the temperance pledge, a paper certificate of which, pasted on to canvas, they carry about them and prize hi^'hly. "Lo, the poor Indian," is not pe- cuniarily applicable here, as they earn a great deal of money by their skilful management of canoes, by fishing, packing, carving curiosities, chopping wood, &c.; and being almost the only settled population' "umbering six to ten thousand souls, and spendin- all their earnings in the colony, they may be cui.MdcTcd, whilst ably managed, a very valuable body. From some historical cause they have a g.eat rcapcet for "King George men," though Americans and other foreigners are always well treated, providing thev do not abuse them; the Pike-county man, therefore.'who thinks no more of shooting a r.d-skin than if he were a deer, has to restrain this "• proclivity " whil.i iu the colony. As the bulk of the population will naturally be m the uiyer country, the farmer can see at onee ^vhat an excellent market is here olFered ; the land is equally chcaj, as in \'ancouver's l.jand, and many un- occupied valuable farming-lauds nuiy be found. The freight alone on produce from Xc^v Westinin.ter to even LilooeU and Lytton is aboiil one shillin- pn pound: this ilseli; (or pota(,ns, cats, ^c., i. I^.^hlv remunerative. Th,.y who have been cn-a-ed^ in 83 farming since 1859 are now wealthy. Though there is much good agricultural and grazing land, British Columbia is essentially a vast mineral region ; silver veins have been tapped on the Lower Frazer and on Harrison River ; thci'C arc hills of plumbago on the coast; rich copper ore is found on Queen Charlotte's Island, and platina shows itself in some of its streams; but the number of its minerals and quantities arc ob- scured and little noticed, whilst its gold is so abundant. The extent of even this is, as before stated, merely conjectured. Quartz, mica-slate, clay-slate, and other metamorphic rocks, arc exposed, and granite mountains are common ; limestone, coal, and sandstone, lie more frequently on Vancouver's Island. TliC rivers heini swift and in places narrow, steamboats of peculiar con- struction arc ncecasary : suitable ones v.ill reap golden harvests for years to come, iu all probability ; they arc required to be ]3rlti.sli bottoms. Setting aside the boats of the Iludson-lJay Company they have been built at Victoria, and with one exception San Francisco has supplied their uiacliiucry : three out of the six or eight have burst tluir boilers during the last two years. The ncecssary qualities f(jr them to possess arc ability to ascend an eight-knot current ; not to drav,-, when lo:'dcd, more tlian tweuly-four inches water, or exceed one hundred and twenty feet in leng'.h ; be of narrow beam, that they may run near to shore in eddies; and c;irry, if possible, seventy-five tons. High pressure, tested 150 lbs. to the inch, and stoiu wheels i f r. ' I- 3i are the kind most in use. A.-* there arc but four or five at present in whicli to carry to and from the uiiiic.i twenty to forty thousand passengers, at about ten shillings per bead, besides the provisions, mining tools, •tc, to supply this army of Cariboo— the price uf freiglit being, at least, one pound per ton for one hundred and fifty miles— it is likely some tucnty thousand pounds will be received by them during the present year. Allowance should be made for great numbers of the crowd passing through Oregon, by the " Dalles," a route far from being ccjnal to that lid Victoria; but these SM.arms of travellers scatter so much money on their road, tliat newspapers, traders, and others, more or less interested, u>c every art to divert it into their own section. In connection with steam- boats, the price of fuel is of groat importance; coal-, though so near the surface, and easily extracted, being worth about thirty shillings per ton, owing to high wages. The little mining town of Nanaimo, called the " Newcastle " of this coa^t, is on Vancouver's Island, nearly opposite th<^ mouth of Frazer Kivcr. The river steamboats mostly burn wood, which is cut into four- ffct lengths, and st;iel;ed in curds atdifiercnt points on the river- bank : it is sold at about sixt.. ■hilling.-, per cord. This quantity is a stack four feet high, four feel wide, and eight feet long. Several exploring parties hnvc attempted to find a route to the new " ]'.! dorado" from the eoa>(, and Captain Cavendisli \'cu;'')les appears to have dis- 35 covered one from the south arm of the Bcntinck, and a still better one leading from Bute Inlet has been made known. An old California pioneer, a Scotchman, named Downie, has been untiring in his cfTorts to n\ake dis- coveries, which the Governor, particularly desirous they should be made, has assisted. Under the Major's (his California title) superintendence, a company at- tempted to prospect Queen Charlotte's Island; but its rigorous climate led to nothing further than the con- firmation of the existence of gold-bcnring quartz, which would require ei[iensive machinery to work advantageously. Mr. Uounie also took a party through from the coast, returning by Frazer River; thus esta- blishing its practicability. He is snpptjscd to have made a valuable discovery during the past year, whilst on a cruise in a vessel Iniilt for him by an enterprising merchant naaicd liurnaby. Competition amongst packers will settle whether either of them is better than the established route of the F-a;'.or; aud the Government is contracting for a good road between the points where the [ireseut termi- nate and the Cariboo district. Instead of as at pre.-eut occupvlng aljuut three weeks to reach this section horn Victoila, in another year it may probably be rcaohci!, without fatigue. In seven or ten days. Tiie Govciutuent of J'iriiish Columbia has now anlhori:;ed a loan of .ll;)0,UUO fur twenty years, bear- d2 r^ /^ >' 3G jug interest at C per cent, per aiinura, which will doubtless be readily iK'ijd'' iicd. A duty of 10 per cent, ou merchiiudise, levied at New Westiuiiister, a few tolls, and a miner's tax of £\ per annum, con>ti- stutu the revenue of the colony. During the spring and sunmior mouths of 1S58 from 20,000 to 30,(J00 people, nearly all of theui men in the prime of life, emigrated chiefly from California to British Columbia, via Victoria. This town was until their arrival a quiet English vilh^^c, with a large picketed fort. It ccjutaincd about three hujdred whites, a few coloured people; and an Indian village across the harbour sheltered a varying population of the aborigines. Pr'jvious to tlic gold excitenicnt, e\cluilve legiilation in California caused a number of well-to-do and more iutcliigcat of its coloured popuh'.tion to seek a home on this British soil ; some of them purchased buiWmg bts for ^'20, which, in a few weeks afterwards, uere worth jCCOO to XSOO. These people are sometimes openly insulted by rowdies, which causes trouble, and their great desire to be on a perfect social equality with the whites, against the hitter's inclination, pro- duces an uniilc;' -.',nt feeling. Thev are an industrious and well-behaved class, and the outskirts of the town are ornamented with their neat liumesteads. A great majority of the I'razer River prospectors remaineil on the bank- of the lower pa?t of its bwift yilhiw stream, waiting f^u' its sub-jideuec. After risking their lives in 87 old tubs of steamships on the Pacific, and again in crossing the gulf, developing their muscles by pulling wearily miles after miles against the stream, stung intolerably by musquitoes, and half-baked by a fiery sun, or drenched with rains, these men, living on coarse ship fare, had their pat'ence buoyed up by imagining the glittering mines of gold before them, but not get- at-able just then ; they planted sticks at the water's edge, to denote any change, and many hopes at a slight fall were blighted by siulden and vigorous rises : at length frost set iu above, the banks and bars became bare, and their eyes were opened, for, excepting at a few places, all they could earn was barely sunieicnt to find them fooad very nearly succeeded." If t!\o r .!-■ \.hieh no'iN give 89 easy access had then traversed it, instead of the G,000 whites and Chinese in the colony during 18G1, it is not unreasonable to suppose there would have been a population of 100,000. Political feeling is tolerably strong in Victoria, con- sidering its number of British subjects is but about 2,000; and a possibility of the interests of its residents, or their rights and privileges, suffering from neglect of thN watchful community is very slight. There is the Government party, which the "Opposition Rcforui" party considers too "slow and sure;" the "Inde- pendent" party, whose only aim appears to be the public good ; the " Anti-colour-.d " and the " Coloured " party, which latter is likely to be in a majority by its members becoming British subjects, and\\hite ones not arriviug. }5esides these, there are one or t^\■o parties founded on personal feelings. In "New "Westminster" and " Hope " the community seems to be divided into two parties, the one adopting the maxim of "Let well enough alone," and the other being desirous of a radical cha'ige. As the present form v.as understood 'o be merely ;«'o Um., it is likely tome change will be nado as it hecomes inuvc settled. That the general legislation has been wise and the wants of the colonici> carefully stiulied, is suflicieutly proved by the prosperity of both, and the good cstinia- l:on in which they are held abiord, a country v. here one's life and property is safe, and where civilized people find themselves at home, I. l 40 Many of tlie scenes of '58 are about to re-occur daring '62. The Cariboo fever is raging in the neigl,. bouring countries even more fiercely than that of the Frazer River; but the count ly is now better prepared to receive the estimated thirty thousand so affected, and the "on to Cariboo" will terminate Tcry differently to that of " on to Frazer River." We may expect to Lear of suffering from rasiuicss, but nothing to the extent of the former "rus'.;" and during a year from this date be able to ru::J that some ^0,000,000 have been abstracted, two-tliirJs of which Lave enriched the neighbouring states, one-third of it sent to England, and the balance remains in the colonies. It appears inconsistent, but it is a fact that money is considered cheap at 12 percent, per annum, and they who make a business of loaning sui^ill amounts obtain 2 per cent, to 3 per cent, per mouth on security quito satisfactory. The bankers' rate in San IVancisco, whieli is the commercial capital of a gold country fourteen years eld, is 2 per cent, per month for short time loans. Rv?I esaitc in good localities o" Victoria is consi- dc •' f\ci.-. as safe an investment as in the Strand, Lc' -a . \ shop 20 feet wide by 50 feet,, in a brick I'll!' :■-, '■ readily let at a rental of .CM to .CoO per Month, . uJ f ic in a wooden shell of .€J to £\o per month. It is dilTicult to refiaiu from speculating on the future of tlu.-c colonics; l' .aineral wealth of Dritiah 41 Columbia is incalculable, .ind there is agricultural land enough in various parts, especially from the Thompsoa River to the 49th parallel, to support millions of people ; and the probability of acquiring wealth rapidly is greater than iu any part of the world. A line of telegraphic wires connecting Halifax in Nova Scotia with Victoria, and a railroad, or at least a good waggon-road, between British Columbia and Canada, have many advocates, and it does not seem improbable that Victoria will become the principal distributor of European manufactures throughout the North racific. Americans and Canadians will flock to it, and ships from all parts of the world will discharge their cargoes and passengers at Victoria and Esquimalt; large towns will spring up on land now covered with forest, and many thousands of men now poor will be made wealthy in a feu- years. It is the " land of promise " for the labourer, but unfortunately very far remo. d from home : hence this class is to a great extent debarred by the expense of reaching it-, and no assistance is ren- dered. As tlic gold district is so extensive and can only be worked during a few mouths each year, there is no danger of even the surface being exhausted for years to come. Much alteration may t-ake place in the rates of Mages, nnd labourers may bccoun; too numerous by large emigration; on the other hand, a great increase of their populations, and the vast extent of mining ground, ii I •; 1 ! ■ . r ( ' 42 appear far more likely to cause a long-continucd pre- valence of the same rate of remunerutioa for physical labour. The emigrant should carefully weigh these chances, and must use his judgment in concluding whether or not to adopt these colonies as his future home. His best time to arrive would evidently be during the spring months at Victoria, as then numbers leave it for British Columbia. There are three routes by which to reach these colonies, and the prices of passage are as fol- lows : — Southampton to San Francisco, by steam, via Panama — First CInss Second Class Third Class ... £i'5 and up-.varJs. ... 49 ... 33 Liverpool to Sau Francisco, by steam, vid New York aud Panama — • First Class Sccoiul Class Third Class ... £?9 ... CO ... 30 I' London direct to Victoria, Vancouver's Lli^ad, direct, by sailing vessel — First Class Si'coiid C! s Third Chios ... £li ... 30 ]r, ... 20 5 43 • San Francisco to Victoria, by steam — First Class Second Class .. £10 .. 5 San Francisco to Victoria, by coasting vessel, £2. It is thus seen that the lowest fare from England to Victoria by steamship is £o7) ; and as the casual expenses cannot be estimated safely at less than jClO, the entire cobt by this method would be X'15, of which j£3 might be saved by taking a sailing vessel at San Francisco. The length of this steam passage is about forty days, which may be considered its only advantage as the comfort and food of a third-class passenger are more than equalled by those of a sailing ves.sel. Steamship travelling has a great drawb;ick in its high price of freight, all baggage weighing more than 50 lbs. is charged at the rate of X30 per ton, w ith an additional ad. per 11). for crossing the Isthmus. By taking a passage, therefore, in a sailing vessel, and no casual expenses being necessarily incurred, the pas- senger arrives in Victoria for about one-half the cost, of a trip by sfeani, with ecpial, if i-.ot superior, comfort; but the time occupied is about l.'O d:iys instead of the foi'ty by steamships. In travelling by either nicii .ul, it is a mistake to cncuii'ber oiiCj.jlf with much luggage; the emigrant will liud in Victoria every kind of clothing, furniture, or other necessary, and it will prove more to his advan- tage to purchase as required at the extra price, than to 11 \ \ V ' ■ ; I! i| 44 expend his caali at home by laying in a superfluous stock, either on speculation or for future use. The steamboat's charge for passage to Fort Yale cr Douglas is about £1. 10.>\, and the passenger finds his own food, or pays -is. a meal at the table of the boat. The cost of a trip to " Cariboo" is at least £o ; but it would be barely prudent to attempt it with less than £10 at starting. Steady mer. willing to work will quickly find employment at good wages ; they who go vrith the inten- tion of settling for years in the colony, not expecting to make their fortunes at once, are the most likely to ■succeed, iu the mines particularly. This feeling, of " contented with little," assists a man matcrip.lly, and the '■' run abouts," when they hear the amount of his " pile," at the end of the season, ca';l him " lucky." 8 m.Q2 EOBERI H.'.I>.1j'.VIC;;E, rF.I.NIEK, 152, PlCC.ltlLI.T, lOM)':': .:>> c< I t GriDE DOOK BRTTlSi } COLr:.l BIA THE T.~\' T ft jT \i\ ^"'■'i ■ : '■^"l^^ ■''^1 ^" '^'i "^ '"'-?-■ i i '^ »'• J ;. . T ■ .^ '. r. ■ ■'-• \\ \^ '«^' ^'.1 _>' i:^' jj. ^tM "O L. i -j V J )J J . ■! ^ O ^i VL/ v.- - v.. J.,- BV A «-!(-< — s "r 7 ~ — > T f~\ r-t •r-i O b 1' J .-1 .J" J. wV VV ^ WHO HAS }:.tDK iii< roiyrvx:. iii::i:L. am Anrisns oriiEiisi to go jsd mak:: tjiI n-^. cc;;T.">riS: PA....- tKA.ifc- I—.: r.-:;! ivo;;;)S '.y i.niiis:: C'ji:'::!;:.^.^ V!AP-....' r.-Ti-f: r.i'in n:.":: c.'.:.iF',i.:::A.. ...i: e!,AP.-».r. nr.-r.RTS I'o/: gc-lu />:(-'7iT« •>, (.11 \iT,.i IV.- i.;ri^ Ar T.'iK /i.".'.;i'.V'.i M. iMAPic; \.-Ai:7:cLr> i.\i'!Si >::..-m:l}: :', u;;:: yMi'rr: i^s ■.- Lti\!-:ir. 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