The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-01
Monarch Of all be Surveys.

the Atlantic, Oh MS Way 10 New OrE
for brief visit, is man who enjoys
the unique distinction Of being in his
own way king without crown or court.
He has neither a throne nor a Ministry
in his realm there are neither court
houses nor jails but l;fe and property
are secure, the people are industrious
and contented and enjoy truly envi-
able freedom from the worries Of tariff
acts, silver bills and other civilized
problems which vex the inhabitants OF
older and more pretentious commune
ties.
The name of this MODEST monarch is
James Millar, Scotchman by birth,
and his kingdom consists Of Prince of
Wales Island, which hes about three
miles of the coast Of British Columbia.
The island is about two hundred
miles long and varies III width from
ten to forty-fve miles. Around the
coast line the land is low and marshy
and covered with a growth of under
brush, which makes the island difficult
of access In the interior the ground
rises abruptly into a lofty range of
mountains, many Of them battling all
attempts at ascent and covered with
perpetual snow. The scenery is varied
and picturesque, abounding in deep
gorges, streams and cascades, and beau
tiful little valleys in which the soil il
wonderfullv fertile
This island Is extraordinarily rich in
timber, the varieties of commercial
value including fir, spruce, hemlocE,
yellow cedar and magnificent red
cedar, all of which grows to an enor
nous size and in great profusion. 1t
is not from timber, however, but from
salmon fishing that M Mlllar is max
ing his fortune. He has monopoly
of fishing as of everything else in the
island, and although he has been in
the business only few years he is
already salting and shipping about two
thousand barrels of salmon every sea-
son, and the possibilities for extending
the trade are practically unlimited.
The salmon are there in inexhaustible
supply, waiting to be caught and sent
to market.
NJ. Mlllar and his family are the
only white people on the island. They
rule everything-business, education
and social affairs, such as these are
Large numb bers of the Indians are en-
ployed in the fisheries, and their rela-
tions with their white rulers are of the
most amicable character Mr.. Millar,
in speaking recently of his little king
dom, said -
"The island has never been surveyed
nor explored, and some day it must
prove, / think, a most inviting field for
exploration The Indians. of whom
there are probably some three thous-
and, are scattered around the island
shores in little villages, usually Of about
one hundred inhabitants EACH They
consist of many different tribes Most
of those / come in contact with are
Hydahs There are between three and
four hundred of them at Hunters Bay,
and ,hey are quite indus;i iOus as fish
Prlnen ana Sal,eTS OF the salmon. Inc
Hydah Indians came up from the
Queen Charlotte Islands many years
ago and made conquest, driving the
native tribe out The former are very
superior Indians. They are intelli gent
and pick up anything very quickly
| think they originally came from
Mexico, as they much resemble the
Mexican race Some of them, / have
noticed, have as fine faces as any White
man and as full and fine boards
"Though Priuce of Wales Island has
many resources, l do not think it will
be Of any use for agriculture. The
though, is far better than that
of Alaska. 1t is warmer and more con-
genial, at least where / am located
When I left on December II there was
some snow at Hunters Bay, but still it
was not cold.
"My nearest white neighbors are at