The Nevada Democrat., 1858-06-30
The Northern NIines--Extracts from Private
Letters.

FoRT LANGLEY, June 18th.
81 leave here tomorrow for Fort Yale, which
is the highest point that can be reached at pres
ent, owing to the high water. There are many
persons on their way to the mines; some by wa
ter, and others by the Bellingham trail, which
is not finished, yet many are determined to
push their way through. There is no longer
any doubt but that there is gold in plenty on
this river, as have seen lots of it in the hands
of miners and traders and all whom we meet
tell the same story. At Victoria, saw three
men who had been up to the mouth Of Thomp-
sons river, where they remained six or seven
weeks and had taken out about $4,000 each,
The country SO far as have seen, is very pleas
ant and beautiful. Frazer river is about the
prettiest river ever saw. 1t is larger than
the Sacramento, and it is said that its banks
are covered with vegetation the year round
Berries of all kinds, wild apples, plums, ETC.,
grow in abundance, while the rivers are full of
fish. l advise you all to come, but come pre-
pared for hard work aud camp life, and bring
firearms for your own safety. We have got a
rocker and four months grub. No man ought
to start from San Francisco with less than $50,
as il will take most of that to get to the mines,
The Hudson's Bay Company, as yet, will not
allow persons TO locate on the river to trade,
yet there are good many establishing trading
points In canoes, and making large profits
You may show this letter to ell my friends, and
tell them to come, as there is sure thing here"
VICTORIA, June 17th.
al have been here few days aud am very
favorably impressed with the country. 1t ap-
pears to me to be the principal place, and the
people, wbe are mainly English, are very agree
able. The town contains about one hundred
and fifty houses, and is the head quarters Of the
Hudson's Bay Co. Board is only $40 per week,
but they feed a person in very rough way
l have slept on the floor ever since / left the
steamer. There is no tax upon property or bu.
siness, or license except for selling liquor at
retail, which is good arrangement. All seem
assured that the gold is here, and If they are
correct, it will he great country, as the ci-
mate is fine and healthy. Tomorrow | COM
mence on the first brick house ever built OH
Vancouver Island. Brick are only SIG per
thousand, and wages a little higher than in Sac
ramento."
WuATcoM, June 18th.
IL arrived here on the 18th. after n pleasant
trip of six days on the Republic. / was sur
prised TO find Wbatcom so much of humbug
after all l had heard of il. The trail to the
mines is not through and will not be for long
time. There are so many conflicting accounts
about the mines and the way TO get to them,
that il is almost impossible TO gain any infor.
nation that is reliable We stopped at Victo.
ria, and | wish | had remained there, as could
have left on the Surprise for Fort Hope, but
from here there is no way to get to the mines
but in canoes, and at present that is dangerous,
as the Indians have already commenced their
work of murder Last Friday they took two
canoes and killed two white men, and it is
thought by two who escaped, that six others
were killed. If you come up. stop at Victoria
aud bring your grub and mining tools from
Sacramento; if you do not, they will cost you
double here. A party of 60 or 10 men start
out to-day on the Sea Bird, together with SO
soldiers, to hunt the Indians who have been
mnrdering Americans. If they find them there
will be a big Gght."