, 1859-01-21


vancOuver's enthusiasm grew as he proceeded.
He was simply recording bis impressions; there
was no thought in his mind of the swarm of
industrious Englshmen that hereafter might set.
tie in those places. On the day following, fine
weather and q smooth sea again enhanced the
beauty Of the scenery. As be could not conceive
that the land had been adorned by the hand Of
man, the Captain "could not possibly believe
that any nncultivated country fqd ever been dis
covered exhibiting so rich q picture" "a pic
turc so pleasing" he adds, presently, "could not
fail to call to our remembrance certain situations
in Old England" He found, in luxuriant growth,
strawberries, roses, sweetbriar, goosebcrres,
raspberries, and curants. They pursued their
way, exploring inlets, and discovering more
ports. OF man, they saw trace in two poles on
a sandy spit, about fifteen feet high and rudely
carved. On the top Of each was stuck human
head, recently placed there.
Having explored carefully this part of the coast
Of the mainland, Vancouver kept the kings
birthday, the fourth of June, by taking formal
possession Of the soil and of the islands in the
strait, giving to the region the name Of New
Georgia Resuming, then, their scarch, the
English explorers ran up several blind channels
until they found way into the gulf named by
them the Gulf Of Georgia, which parts Van
couver's Island from the continent, and there
met with two Spanish schooners, under Lieuten-
ants Galiano and Valdes, which, departing from
Nootka, had advanced thus far along the north.
ern shore Of the strait and had lost no time in
exact definition Of the coast line. Neither Eng.
lishmen nor Spaniards, therefore, could claim
the sole honor Of determining the insular char
acter Of the great district two hundred and sew
enty-six miles long, by Hty or sixty broad, to
which, after they had finished the exploration
together in most friendly concert they gave the
Spanish-English name of Quardra and vancou-
yer Island. Signor Quardra was the rcpresen-
tative Of Spain at Nootka with whom Captain
Vancouver was to treat upon the subject Of the
restitution and surrender
1t is not on Vancouver's Island that gold has
been found; but, except little on Charlotte's
Island, to the north Of it. the yield is beside the
rivers Of the mainland opposite The formation
Of the mountain chains is probably throughout
similar to that Of the gold-producing rocks Of
California. The new diggings are, in fact, only
on more northern part Of the same grand range
on which the Californians depend for treasure.
The ports Of the new gold country, and the
homes Of those miners who settle on the spot
and invest earnings in trade and agriculture, will
be on Vancouver's Island. The shore of the
mainland in the Gulf Of Georgia is rugged and
dangerous, and Of The country in the interior
not much is known. 1t was first approached BY
the British fur-traders over the Rocky Noun.
tains, when Mr.. Simon Frazer, partner in the
northwest company, established trading-iort
on Fraser Lake, and gave his name to Fraser
River. This is the gold-bearing river now
sought by adyenturers. 1t falls into the sea
opposite the southern or colonised end Of Van.
couvers Island, and only a few miles short OF
the boundary Of our American possessions.
The Thompson River, flowing from the Rocky
Mountains, joins the Fraser about hundred
aud fifty miles before it reaches the coast
Along the course of this river also gold is to be
found, and Il is said to be most abundant on each
river above the point Of confluence. The dis
triet on the Thompson River is said to be one Of
tho finest countries in the world.
Vancouyer's Island was granted to the Hud-
sons Bay Co in ls49. and certain conditions Of
colonization were laid down. The grant was re-
vocable at the end Of eleven years, now soon to
expire and it is already officially announced that
it will be revoked. Under the present constitu-
ton the governor of the island is appointed by
the Crown. He has a council Of seven members,
and is authorised to call assemblies, and to form
electoral districts for the securing to tho island
Of representative government upon the Eng
lish system. The governor, Mr.. Douglas, who is
also the chief factor of the Hudsons Bay Co,
and in honor Of whom a great coal-seam has
been named, is declared by every report from the
new gold district to discharge his duty with a
wise discretion, and the Hudson's Bay Co. is
also reported to be making to itself friends Of
Mammon by accepting literally, and with good
grace, the now situation in which il is placed
But it is not to be forgotten that alier nine years
possession Of colony. that apart from its newly
discovered source Of wealth, full Of promise to
the settler, the whole settlement consisted, till a
few months since, Of palisaded inclosure for
the stores within which tn. chief clerks and ira
dcrs live fifty or sixty log huts, and few farms
in their vicinity scattered across seven square
miles Of open land and ten Of woodland. The
trade hitherto has been with San Francisco in
coal, timber and the produce Of the fisheries
On the west coast there is little to invite the set
tier, and the mountainous interior is almost un-
known, but on tho west and south coast there is