The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-07-19
Wonderful Land

Probably no other group in the wide
world carry more curiosities, natural
and artificial. than Queen Charlotte
Island: few, I think, have as many in
the same extent of country. The geol.
ogist, the mineralogist, the botanist,
the artist. and the agriculturist may
each of them find here a wide field for
research. while the antiquarian, the
theologist and others of the ilk would
be highly interested.
In their strange and wonderful sea
margins, in their not less wonderful
caverns, in which natures works in long
ages are written as plainly as on the
pages of a book; in their rocks, whose
volcanic contortions smite the beholder
with mute amazement; in their shells,
which as fossils are found deep down
in the seams of its anthracite coal, while
e Cape Ball the same sort are found
alive in the sands of the sea shore-of
these a geologist could write volumes.
In their quartz lodges, which have
been traced from shore to shore, in
which gold is plainly visible, in coal
measures and other minerals, a wide
field may yet be found for the mineral
ologist.
The various kinds of plants belong
ing to these islands, the tiny flowers in
their natural beauty peeping out from
behind the melting snowdrift on the
lonely mountains: the modest lupins
and the luscious Strawberries. natures
gift to man, and even the broad-leaved
bush grass-all these. as they follow in
the wake of the receding waters of
Queen Charlotte's stormy SEAS, would
yield an ample store for the botanist.
Among their snow-clad mountains,
by the wild torrent and the gentle
river, by the lights and shades, reflected
by their sunset hills, in autumn's
shortening days. a boundless range Is
offered for the pencils magic skill,
while the broad acres of rich alluvial
bottoms and the unlimited extent of
lands whose nutritious grasses waving
in the breeze would lead the farmer to
say, ooh! if these lands were mine,
and my fiocks and herds ranged wei
the luxuriant plenty they atford;" to
the antiquarian, the ethnologist, and
other scientists, the rich carvings on
the columns and the quaint old legends
they depict, and the legendary lore of
the people, would afford a vast untrod-
den field. Even the conchologist
would feel at home on the abalone
shell-covered shores of Pillon Bay, and
the rocks of North Island.
To the piscatorial disciples of Izaak
Walton al unlimited amount of sport
is furnished by / streams. In them
they can find the 81. er salmon and the
little trout of he mountain rill.
If tired of these, an wishing larger
sport. let him go to greater depths
of ocean, down to ere the stormy
winds of winter ;1o never felt. to
deep in ocrl cave, he will
find a myriad throns It these denizens
of the deep, the black to,.
On these islands even the moralist
will find something in his line. Let
him seek the deserted villages, and
in their ruined halls, and study
the works now c%rumbliug to ruin left
the tail carved columns pointing
with their mystical hero
glyphics from bottom to top. Here is
one whose elaborate carvings bear the
of a MAJ on top wearing a storied
head-dress. 1t is three circles in height:
and each circle is twelve inches above
the other; these circles show the ruins
to have been the dwelling Of a chief.
Let him force his way to the door OF
the house through the grass and alder
which hide the ancient pathways.
II 49,, ~, ,,c.l,I Al, k,-,, Lot l1ro ID
scend the half-rotton stair. down to the
body Of the house, among the intrusive
alder bushes. and there note what he
secs. Piled in one corner is a heap OF
iron remains of some unfortunate ship.
What are these boxes, mildewed and
moss-covered, piled i'll yonder corner?
are the family boxes. Some held
the oil and other food they used, while
held their clothes. These things
he will find, but where are the people!
Where are the women Capt. Dixon
of as lair, when washed, as En-
glisl. milkmails? Where are they or
their descendants? Call them, and
echo. through their ruined halls, in
wailing, wonderful numbers, replies,
"All are gone" Ask the Indians, who
may be along with you. and their All
swer is, "All are dead" Look among
the empty bottles in large numbers,
scattered all over the floors Of the de-
serted houses, among the long grass,
and to the boxes ON posts among the
green bushes, and YOU will find the
lnumitied remains of all that is left OF
these people. -Tctorin (B. o. Col