The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-06-14
A VICTORIA LETTER.
The Correspondent Sees Many
Interesting Things.

1t has been some time since |
have taken occasion to add my bit
of news contribution to your valu-
able paper. Have been very busy
enjoying the scenes which my trip
has brought about. Among the
places visited, Victoria offered
quite a pleasant diversity. We
took the Rosalie, very nicely
equipped little steamer run
ming from Seattle. Were on the
water about eight hours thorough
ly enjoying the places of interest
along the route.
We passed three American forts.
FITS. Wilson and Cacy, both of
which have disappearing guns.
They hold splendid positions for
purposes of defense, situated on OPP
posite points commanding the en-
trance to the Sound. Mt. Baker
did nov deign to show his snow
covered crest, but on our return
trip we had splendid view, the
captain OF the Utopia furnishing
US good field glass, which was
great aid in our sightseeing.
After reaching Victoria l was at
once attracted by the mammoth
oak trees; the huge gray rocks,
many vine-covsred, and the native
Scotch bloom, a shrub which seems
to take the place of our sage brush,
growing even higher and covered
with beautiful golden or yellow
bloom. Almost all OF the best pub
lie buildings are Dnilt of stone. The
government building just COM
pleted is grand structure, costing
about one million dollars. The
museum, embracing one great wing
of tho building, proved the greatest
interest to me. At the entrance is
little room filled with old curios,
many old Indian relics. There
were four large totem poles, gro.
tesqusly carved, showing the saw
age skill of the Bella Bella Indians.
Also many l,ideons dance masks,
worn by them. They are natives
of the northwest coast of British
Columbia.
We saw the coat.of-arms OF the
Hudson Bay company; table
about three feet in diameter com.
posed of 1910 pieces-of polished
wood. There we're many old and
curios things but the animal de-
partmsnt appeared of the most in
tsrest to me. On entering we were
confronted by the greatest piano.
ramic display Of the animal king
dom 1 had ever seen. Almost all
of the animals were natives of tho
Dominion. One large elk stands
six feet high and is about twelve
feet in length. We saw one horn
that weighed fifty pounds
before being dressed. There were
three woodland caribous; big horn
mountain sheep-one that is en-
tirely new to science. 1t is called
Fannius Mountain sheep. 1t stands
three feet three inches from shout
der to hoof, is of a silver grey color
and has a beautiful symmetry.
There was huge grizzly bear
and a tiny cub by its side. The
claws of the largest were two and
three fourths inches long. Then a
black bear; many small animals,
such as fox, raccoon, otter, mink,
wolverine, etc. A pretty spotted
hair seal, a fur seal and = man.
moth Odokoenus Obosus, or Pacific
Walrus, the turks of which are two
feet long, the body is between
eight and nine feet long. The skin
is in deep fabby folds, marked
with dark vsinous lines. The eyes
are small but very prominent, they
bulge from the sockets like those
of lobster, giving the animal great
power of observation. The ami
NAL lives on dubious roots and in
digging these roots the services rem
dered by the enormous tusks be-
comes apparent. There were two
!, so1,