Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-01-27
STORIES TOLD THE PRINCESS.

Among the grain and stock farmers IN
the interior OF British Columbia have
found very well represented not few
rood families OF the old country and Cam
ada on the Atlantic slope. Young men
Of education and culture representing
these, in some instances more active or
more ambitious than the rest. in others
halt driven by that stern but best OF
mothers. necessity. crossed the ocean and
the continental divide, like Balboa and
all the rest of US, in quest OF empire. The
rongh AMI tumble democracy, or arlstoc-
racy, as the case might be, born OF the
gold mines, used them according to their
kind. One met ten years ago on the
steamer Prince Alfred He was going 10
Okansgan, he informed me, 10 enter into
the stock business, having good oppor-
tuuity opened to him through the instru-
mentality OF friend That he was well
connected, and well advised, is evident to
ME, for it would have been impossible for
any one to tail of wealth in carrying out
that program during these ten years past
But he had no sooner landed in Victoria
than he found multiplicity Of friends
with whom saw him drinking and sing
ing merry songs too eftep. He had been
spoiled at home; and though | never saw
him nor heard of him again, am sure,
from what saw, that he never got TO
Okanagau; or il he did, that be failed to
ct himself into the conditions Of his bril-
liant opportunity.
In contrast with this denoxcment l will
picture to you Pcnticten, To any one
who has seen the place it is neither a
town nor farm, nor store, nor hotel,
nor a ranch, nor barony. but little of
all; presided over by young Irishman OF
good family, more English than Irish
in short "Penticten," and the only PEN
ticten. Midway between the Cascades
and Rocky Mountains, there is continu-
Gus longitudinal vslley, trending north
and south, at one time possibly the outlet
of the Shuswsp Lakes, or even the ancient
Columbia, carrying between its banks
considerable river. 1t was flooded in the
course of tune for distance Of seventy
five miles by what is now Okanagan Lake,
beautiful sheet of water lanked on both
sides by terraced country and moun>
tains, in most places open and covered by
luxuriant growth of bunch grass, in
others diversified by clean and park
like grsss-csrpeted forest of scattering
pine trees; as pretty wild country as
can anywhere he found in the world.
Where Okanagan Lake ceases, at the
south, the river flows through level
country of meadows and benches, cover
lpg eight or ten squire miles, still begirt
with mountainous country right and
left; and then there is another lake called
Du Chen, of equal beauty, but smaller
dimensions. On the level portion of the
valley described, between the two lakes,
at place where rafting stream comes
hurrying down to join the river, ia the
the burg. dResidenz OF Penticten, com.
mandlng the country including all the
picturesque mountains and lovely valleys,
for twenty miles around. At first view OF
it, approaching it from the northeast,
Penticten looks like fortified village.
Walls made of logs LAID horizontally, as in
log house, arc seen to enclose large
area of ground. These walls are rooted
and housed inside OF the enclosed area,
though not continuously housed, the
room not needed for housing being shed
ded toward the interior You enter the
gate, and walking throngh the larger
outer court, or area, pass into second,
which is nearly continuously housed, and
If not more substantially is a little more
EXTENSIVELY improved. Another gateway
farther on discloses group OF separate
buildings, one of which, the largest and
best 10 the mansion of the lord of Pentlc-
ten; nico old fashioned weatherboarded
farm house, snngly and comfortably fitted
up. On your left hand, and 6rst reache d
is the retainers' hall This is large log
house containing single great room,
with large open hearth fireplace at one
end. There is capacious table in the
centre, and on it are some newspapers.
Around the outside are beds and hunks
galore. Upon the walls are deer horns,
and few implements: of warfare, chiefly
ascd agaiust the beasts of the field and
forest. Here the way.arer and stranger
is welcomed and dried out. and told to
stay until he is ready to 60, of his own
accord. Indians are appointed, and wait
in the hall, around the open fireplace,
minglipg and chatting Chinook with the
white occupants, sometimes rescrvedly,
sometimes in perfect freedom. while re.
ceivipg the behests of the lords deputy,
who is the roustabout, principal hench-
man, aud clerk of the store.
On the morning after my stay over
night at Penticten there were summoned
10 the hall q number OF Indians who were
TO proceed on an expedition with horses
and pack animals toa place called YER
million Forks of the Semilkameen River.
Man wemeu and maidens OF modest mien,