Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-10-19
A CRUISE N fNB SARAH uEWT0u.
o. the PoeSoe Co0se.
NUMBER III.
AILsrpi-Cgpf. .Stamp's Nal.

at Neeah Bav-wherc my last commu-
nication left US just returned from Quill
lehuyt,-but Us the tide was running
strong ebb and there was light breeze
from the southwest, we concluded to
start for Capt. Stamps mill. at the
head of AIbermi canal, Barclay Sound.
As none of us on board the schooner
had ever been to Barclay Sound, it may
seem we we've rather venturesome in
thus running for strange shore dur
ing thick fog, but we consoled our
selves with the fact that the first dis
coverers had to feel their way as it were
in the dark, although Iquestion wheth-
er they commenced their explorations
in fog. BE that as it may, we stecred
boldly through the mist, and at P. NJ:
the fog lighting upa little, we found
ourselves close in to the Vancouver Is
land shore, and opposite beautiful
water fall, which l'ours directly from
the cliffs above into the waters Of the
ocean, about midway between Bonilla
point and point BeaIe. At 4 +. NJ. an
Indian came along side in a canoe, and
gave us direction how to proceed. We
then doubled the next hea,lland, which
proved to be point Beale, the Southern
cape to the entrance of Barclay Sound,
and ran into the Sound, where we am
clored in three f,thoms of water off
the Ohiet or Oquict village. The lat
ter word being correct and according
to the Indian pronunciation, although
the former il used by the Hudson Bay
Co. Oquiet village is very prettily 10
Gated in crescent shaped cove ut tie
foot Of Il high bluff. and etfectually pro-
tected from the winds and waves by
means of an immense detached boulder,
which form an excellent lee behind
which the natives reside during the
winter months. The village ut the
time was deserted, the Indians having
gone to reside at their summer lodges,
many of which are near by the rrinci-
pal village. They are mere temporary
huts, occupied during the summer
months to etrid of Ae.,s and lice which
infest the winter residences.
A young Scotchman in the employ
of Mr.. Dautield. Indian Agent, came on
board and informed us that Captain
Stamps schooner Meg Merriles was then
lying ut anchor in little buy around
tho next point, and that she was bound
up to the mill the next morning. We
accordingly got under way at l0A NJ:
the next day, and run up the Sound
with the Meg 4Merrites, which was
ahead and served us as pilot.
From point Beale to the head of the
Sound the distance is IL miles. Here
we enter the month Of Albermi canal,
and running up 18 miles further, we
reach Albermi ar Sumas, the mill aud
town site of Capt. Stamps present en-
terprise.
To avoid confusion as to locality, it
should he understood that Barclay
Sound is laid down on all the old charts
as Nittinat Sound. Sumas is the InGi-
nm name for the land whore the mill
stands; but Gov. DOuglas has conclud-
ed to call the place Alberni. and the
narrow strait or river Alberni canal
these names are adopted by Captain
Stamp.
Some great convulsion If nature. at
a ren,ote period, has rent in twain the
mountains Of the coast range, causing
mighty gal' through which the deep
waters of Alberni canal find II ,..s:.sage
and torn . communication direct fr,'m
the ocean into the heart of Vancouver
Island. The scenery, psasing through
the canal is grand, mountains rising
above mountains till lost in clouds. ar
where visible. their snowy leaks giving
evidence If their great altitude. Their
mural aides abnt the watesof the canal,
and the rchy cliffs. of which they are
composed, seem scarce to sfii'rd f~ting
f~ g,~t. AID yet the whole surface.
with bot few exceptions. il c0vered
with . denss gruwth of forest trees.
which have thrust their roOts aad 6bres
into the imtsrstioes at the rDcls and
aud thus gained . rrecsrnSus footing.
The growth 0,nsisas of f.. cedar. pine
aud hsmlock nnt of y siss. however.
suitsbls fbr mill timber; fos no soower
d. the trsss attain- any considerable
magnitude than ttsir own weight
breaks az their feeble fsathold aud .
great land slide. With its wreck Al ahst. |
tered trees below and the bare roc1u
abuve, attest the fact. ia. u
The water Of the canal , very deep,
and in conss9uepce anchorage IS not