Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-10-09

heat for tho remainder. ns "eght months of win
ter and fuur VI hell" Some Gne timber, chiefly
Hr red cedar, white maple and small varieties Of
tho oak, grows On the island. There Il one very
important feature exactly suited 70 the present
times and to steam navigation, namely, that very
good coal yeins have been discovered in four pla-
ces. all near the inland sea or straight. Victoria,
the chief town, is situated At the cx.
trcmity Of the islnnd with en,alI hsrbur dhscuIt
of entrance. but all that will be improved "A
year ag, this village, ior tlen it was really moth.
ing more, consisted of seventy log-huts. The
Governor Of he island, the missionaries and other
digniaries, dwelt here in very pastoral and un-
pretending style. more eomn'~iious havbor 10
at Esquimnult about six miles to tho west of VIC
toria, which would afford shelter to the men Of
war Bechcr and ST. ke Bays also afford good
harborage: and Port st. Juan some 20 miles To the
westward has excellent anchorage Of from three
to five fathoms. aud Barclay Sound, which has .
breadth ot IL miles, and runs inland for II miles
studded with -mal! islands, Clnyoquet Sound and
Nootka Sound are among the finest natural har-
bors in the wnrld. On the northern sids oe the
island Beaver Buy, Valdez Inlet Tutuis harbor,
aud Naniam" In lar, are the most important pla-
ces- Thrrenrc 1I,ol0 oi the widest Indians on
thc i'll nd. | copeiu u, we will no ice briefly,
a'nther gli res'on. vlnh has hitherto been
scarcely known, yet which may, p2radventure,
turn out to he even risi or than any which has vet
explored Shar"te 1snnds. north Of Vancouvers.
These arc three in number, divided by narrow
channels and occupying area Of about $50
miles in length by 60 miles in breadth. Gold
has been found in the centre island imbeddsd
in quartz, and beds Of coal and veins Of
copper and lend are known TO exist
That they are metallicaly rich is certain, and il
in not probable that an investigation by expert
enced gld-hunters may reveal exhsustless miues
Of wcnlth. Indeed. we called attention TO this
subject in the Inquirer two months ago. and xtn.
ted that two vessels from California, about fur
years since. visited these Islands. where they
nude the discovery cf very prolific bed. Of the
precious metal The miners were repulsed hy the
natives. not, however, before they had supplied
themselves with sufficient to repay them for their
adventure We derived this information person
ally, from gentleman who was one Of the party.
md who. having hccn u fnvorite Of tho Chief was
presented with two small sacks Of gold 90 proof
Of his good will. Ii WAS the opinion Of our fnfOr-
mant, however. thnt the sayages guarded their
precious subterrnncan treasure with scrupulous
care nni vcncration. cstccming il NJ great and
mysterious medicine" And II il not s1 Il may
also be mentioned IN II singular fact, that the gen.
tlcman referred To Informed us that on the even
ing that hc and bis landed, tclcgraphic or signal
fires were lighted upon the hill-tops. extending
far into the interior. doubtless TO announce the
arrival. and to c'llcct tho warrior tribes. SO that
during the next day, thousands of armed natives
cnmc to the const 10 enforce the orders Of their
Chief, which were that the vessel should immedi-
ntely depart. The expedition consequently re-
turned to California. Thus il will be seen that
the hre'telegrnph that announced the fall Of Troy
to tho murdcrous clytennestra, has probably from
the earliest ngcs been used ns the most natural
and fncle communication between points, even by
the rod barbarians.