The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-11 00:00:00

BRITISH COLUMBIA.

...a.....,....

'The news from Fraser's River and other places
in that vicinity, by the City of Washington, reports
the miners still waiting for the waters to fall. The
river was falling slowly, and in the course of the
next four weeks it was probable that the submerged
bars in the vicinity of Forts Hope and Yale could

be worked.
The San Francisco Bulletin of Aug. 4 thus re-
ports on the general situation of affairs
"The news received on Sunday from. the Fraser
River mining region is, in our opinion, more favour-
able than any that has reached us for some time
past. In the first place, it now is certain that there
is no actual suffering from the want of provisions
among those waiting on the streams for the waters
to fell, as was supposed to be the case a week or two
ago. Though many articles of comfort were lacking,
the prime necessaries of life—meat, bread, and coffee
—were possessed in sufficient quantities bythe miners
to prevent suffering from famine. And though the
Hudson's Bay Company have not formally opened the
country to free trade, they permit persons going up
the rivers to take an unrestricted quantity of pro-
visions, ostensibly for their own use, but really, in

many instances, to sell to the miners encamped on
the banks, who may need them. Thus all fears of
a serious famine are dispelled. There seems to be
no doubt, also, about the fact that Fraser River is
now: falling for the season. The banks of snow in
the mountains which supplied the streams, and
kept them full, seem now pretty nigh exhausted.
This certainly was the conviction of the persons
waiting on the river bank. The consequence was,
that all seemed to be in good spirits, and very san-
guine of bein§ able to get to work, on the now sub-
merged bars, in the course of five or six weeks at
furthest. When this should take place, none there
appeared to doubt that large amounts of treasure
would be obtain.ed--enough to pay for the toil
and patience that have been expended. We
add our hopes to their expectations. It will
require many an ounce of the precious metal to
square the account which •is now heavily against
Fraser River. Six weeks' time will give us some
insight into the probability- of the " solvency" of
.
the new mining region. The most favourable fea-
ture of the news, however, we have not yet alluded
to., We mean the discovery of -a practicable :route
to the head waters of Frasees River, (Wei. -which
supplies of proviskalS can be easily eonv eyed as soon
as a trail has been opened. All the Nets about that
region prove the existence of ri,411 gold fields in
New Caledonia. The obstacle heretofore present-
ing itself, and which to many appeared insurmount-
able, was the transportation over the rugged and
precipitous mountain ra7ages of supplies of provi-
sions to maintain the miners while engaged in
prospecting or wrsiking the mines. The Middle
Fraser, owing to Tails and rapids, is perfectly un-
navigable, and no pack animals can crawl up the
precipitous sites of the mountains, or through the
dense forests, that obstructed every known route.
The most hardy hunters and mountaineers could
snccecd in carrying only a very light pabk over
this rugged road, and thus could provide them-
selves against the attacks of famine but for a
few days. It then seemed impossible that any
important mining or prospecting operations could
be carried on m that region, and the belief
became general that the crowd of adventurers would
have to limit themselves to the narrow confines of
the river bars between the principal rapids, and
wait patiently for the waters to fall. Just at this
time the important discovery is made of a new and
practicable route to the region above, by way of
Harrison and Lillooet rivers and lakes, and easy
trails. This discovery, therefore, would seem to re-
move the chief difficulty in the way of the success
of this mining country, and its importance cannot
be overstated. We gave yesterday a full account of
this route, together with a map, by which the reader
could comprehend at a glance the nature of the
country it passed through. A steamer, the Umatilla,
had made the pioneer trip to the mouth of the
Lillooet River, and Governor Douglas had expressed
his belief that a good waggon road could easily be
constructed from thence to a point on the head-
waters of Fraser's River, about 70 miles above the
junction of Thompson River. The Hudson's Bay
Company have deelP.red their intention of opening
this trail st once, and, it was stated, were prepared
to spend, at present, 6,000 dols. on it. The Governor
had said publicly that this would-soon be the only
way travellePA to reach the Upper Fraser, and ad-
vised all geAng to take it. About the existence of
gold in tVAis region all the credible accounts agree.
Some -people declare that the whole thing is a
hu-dibug; it is true ; but they are not those who
ha-ie had opportunities to become well acquainted
with the country. This fact constantly appears,
that the better a man seems acquainted with that
-region, the more sanguine he is in regard to the
existence of gold there. Hear what Governor
Douglas says, who is- in possession of more facilities
of information than any other man in the country.
In a recent speech to the people at Victoria he said
This I will tell you, as my own settled opinion,
that I think the country is full of gold, and that
east, and north, and south of Fraser River there
is a gold field of incalculable value and ex-
tent. I have told our glorious Queen so, and
I now tell you so.' Nobody can now doubt as to
Governor Douglas's opinion of the mines ; and
it would certainly seem that no other person in
the country is as well able to form a correct
idea as he. The next three months will, however,
tell the true story. Analysing the evidence
by any rules known or practised, we must come to
the conclusion that there are rich gold fields in New
Caledonia. We have to wait for the practical con-
firmation or overthrow of this conclusion."
- The Alta California, which has a special corres-
pondent at Fraser River, publishes a letter contain-
ing much information of a character likely to be
useful to intending emigrants. The correspondent
writes :

" Fraser River, Monday, July 10, 1858.
" Mr. Walker, the factor, at this post, gives me
many interesting items concerning the Indians,
climate, river, &c. He is by birth a Scotchman,
but has been many years in the employ of the com-
pany, and is one of their most trusted employes.
He is married to an Indian woman, by whom he
has two children, and from his position and rela-
tionship to them, exercises great control over them.
" From the mouth of Fraser River to the forks of
Thompson, there is a population of 10,000, known
as the Langley or Tump-si-en Indians, who lead a
careless life, andEsubsist upon salmon, game, and
berries. The men are intelligent smart-looking
fellows, walking about among, white men with an
air of equality, curiously examining all the new in-
ventions, often seizing upon a thing that pleases
them, and declaring their right to it. They are
said to be brave but very vindictive. Among them
are many good hunters, and some good traders, but
they are naturally dishonest. The company do not
depend upon them, though they buy all the furs
they bring in. The market for their skins has
always been a great resource for them. The com-
pany, however, show them little favour, often
punishing delinquents with great severity. An In-
dian trader has seldom proved faithful for more
than one season. It is not in their nature to be
honest. When Mr. W. came here, the company
told him to be very cautious, and not to take notice
of slight offences ; for in a long series of years they
have been unable to reform the Indian character.
There were many times when their insolence
made him fearful, but as he learned the lan-
guage he became more daring • and, at last, upon
the commission of a grave offence, he seized the
delinquent and gave him such a flogging, that he
carried the marks of it for a year. Some base fel-
lows, more brave than wise, took up the quarrel,
and dared the factor to punish them, at the same
time flourishing their weapons and talking grandly
—but they were much astonished and humiliated
at being instantly seized and most unmercifully
beaten, their cries and yells only increasing the
punishment. Since this summary punishment they
have held the factor in peculiar awe, and have been
very obedient. Now, whenever punishment is in-
flicted, it is done in presence of the family and
friends of the criminal, and the mortification made
as severe as possible. The Indians are Catholics, by
profession, but their faith is very weak. They know
there is a God, and they worship the Cross. They
never have religious service, except when the priest
comes, which is seldom, none having appeared
among them since 1856. They are married in early
childhood ; but before arriving at majority the mar-
riages are sometimesT_ho bjvkeesn
areoff exemplary,
m pla
anda
be-
tweens families. ,
true as the average of
otner women. Some
of the
young women are sprightly and very pretty, but
are not all celebrated for chastity.
al-
ways jealous ; they The men are
do not their
hv
ce swto o_
speak to a man except in their presence .
men do all the drudgery as in
other
" There is no chief among them. The
savageoldnesattimonsen.
having the largest family, are the ch
in iefest,brutstphoeoyt
have no authority. They are heldhigh
respect
for their age and family, and are applied to when
difficulties arise. The Hudson Bay Company is
chief, and they obey no other. They have but one
law, and that is blood for blood. Should one Indian
kill another, and fly, the friends of the dead do not
follow--the friend of the murderer suffers, where-
ever they meet him. They never forgive injuries.
They lead a very senseless life, and have no know-
ledge of the years nor of their own ages. 'When one
dies he is instantly rolled up in his mat, and car-
ried out of the house. After spending a night in
weeping 411(1110171ingi Hated exouud the corpse, the