I presume labour is dearer on the north-west Pacific coast than anywhere else; referring to some statistical papers, I notice that while for several years past the general rate of increase of population on the coast has been something like 6 per cent. per annum (not 20 per cent., as stated by the editor of the New York Herald), the wages of labour have fallen in the same porportion, so that from year to year the variation in this respect is not remarkable, which to workmen proposing to emigrate is a very important consideration. It will be noticed that, from this schedule, farm servants are omitted; the reasons for this is, that as a class they can scarcely be said to exist. Shepherds, ploughmen, gardeners, ostlers, &c., command the highest rates of skilled labour. The miners seldom turn their attention to these pursuits, for engaging in which, want of early training, wandering habits, and a speculative turn of mind unfit them.

But perhaps the greatest want of all is felt in the absence of female servants. Colonists have ceased to endeavour to remedy the defect, by importing them, as, whether they possess personal attractions or not, they are certain to get married soon after their arrival. It is much to be regretted that as yet none of those princely, benevolent, energetic individuals, who are more frequently met with in England than anywhere else, have taken the matter up, or endeavoured to effect for the surplus female population of England, and for the distant colony, what was done at New South Wales by Mrs. Caroline Chisholm, whose courage, perseverance, and success in conducting a great enterprise of this kind, will be referred to with affection and with pride by future generations of the colony she so signally assisted to plant.

Persons who understand a trade, such as saddlers, shoemakers, tailors, and watchmakers, &c., with capital enough to start a shop, and make themselves known, would be certain to succeed.

Persons desirous to try gold digging will find all the reliable statistical information on the subject, procurable in the Chapter on Minerals, and will there find that to succeed at it, a man must be strong, and capable of encountering fatigue and even hardship with patient endurance. In fact, it is a sort of labour that our "navvies" would succeed in, and have succeeded in, to perfection. For example, "Bendigo" and his companions have, by their excavations near Ballarat, written their names on the sands and in the maps, in a very indelible way.

I am the more particular to mention this, because I have met with many young men, who, not acquainted with the practical processes of gold mining, form romantic ideas about what is in reality very hard work. To such, I should suggest, get Harper's Magazine, of April last*; it contains a practical account of the various processes resorted to, and woodcut illustrations of implements used in mining; construct a "rocker," the materials of which will not cost many shillings. Place the rocker under the pump, and fill the box that is on the top with gravel. Now, recollecting that a few halfpence worth of gold to a (milk) pan of gravel pays the miner 27. a day, file three-pennyworth from a halfsovereign into the box; rock away with one hand and pump with the other, only stopping to shovel gravel into the box, as often as you empty it; in this way you will be able not only to acquire a good idea of the amount of physical exertion required, but also to test

* 1860.

your skill in the art, before you have occasion to practise it many thousand miles from home. By attentively reading the article in question, you will also see that the art of "prospecting," on which so much depends, can be learned quite as well at the duck-pond in the garden, as on the banks of the Fraser or Saskatchewan. And if, after counting the cost, you still determine to try your fortune, I should say the surface diggings of British Columbia, or the gold deposited from disintegration that has been going on for ages past, are as yet unexhausted. Be early in the field, and may success attend your adventure!

The steps that have been taken to facilitate the purchase of lands by aliens will be found in the Appendix.

APPENDIX.

DEAR SIR,

To J. D. Pemberton, Esq.

Port Rupert, July 9th, 1859.

I beg to forward a copy of my rough journal to Nootka, and with it a chart *, unfinished, but pretty correct, of the Koskimo Inlet, Portage, and coast of Vancouver Island, as far as Nimkish River. Regarding the opposite coast (the mainland), I have little to say; grizzly bears are found there as far north as Lynn's Canal (lat. 59°); but I heard of but one instance of their being found on Vancouver Island, namely, one shot last winter up the Nimpkish Lake. He had most probably found his way across from the mainland.

Dear Sir,
Yours truly,

HAMILTON MOFFAT.

Journal of a Tour across Vancouver Island to Nootka Sound viâ Nimkish River, in the year 1852, by Hamilton Moffatt, Hudson's Bay Company's Service.

Thursday, July 1st.-About 10 A.M. left the Fort for the Nimkish village, en route to the Nootka tribe. Having arrived at the Nimkish River at 7 P.M., I procured guides and got everything in readiness for an early start in the morning.

Friday, 2nd.-Left the village at daybreak in a canoe with six Indians; at 9 A.M. reached the Nimkish fishing village, on the borders of the T'sllelth Lake; entered the lake about 10 A.M. The shores on either side at this end rise perpendicular from the water's. edge to the height of some 1500 or 1600 feet, and from 4000 to 5000 feet a little inland, and in many places capped with snow; the width of the lake at the entrance is about half a mile, gradually

* See Map, No. I.

widening to one and a half miles; I endeavoured to ascertain the depth with a forty fathom line, but did not succeed. Our course

through the lake was about south-east, and the length I have since ascertained to be fully twenty-five miles. In the evening we encamped at the River Oakseey, distant about a mile from the head. Discovered a tree resembling the walnut, having a trunk about four and a half feet in circumference, and emitting a fine perfume.

Saturday, 3rd.-After passing a most unpleasant night, on account of the rain which poured down in torrents the whole time and until 10 A.M., we again embarked in our frail craft for the ascent of the River Oakseey; stopped for a short time at the mouth to examine a large beaver's dam, the finest I have yet seen. The whole of this day was spent in working up the rapids, of which the river is one continuation; encamped in the evening at Waakash, the half way house to the second lake, a distance of twelve miles. The banks of the river are rather low, and abounding in splendid red pine and maple of all sizes, but not the slightest vestige of cleared land to be seen. The country a short distance inland from the river is very high.

Sunday, 4th.-Left encampment about 4 A. M. for another of the Nimkish fishing villages, at which we arrived at noon, where we landed to obtain a supply of fresh salmon, but were only able to procure three and a few trout, as it was rather early for the fish to be up the river. The river at this place branches off in two different directions; the distance from Waakash to this place is about seven or eight miles, and the river, as yesterday, nothing but rapids. We remained only a short time here, and started for the Lake Kanus, distant about six miles. The Indians having told me that this part of the river was very shallow, and that the country through which we had to pass to the lake pretty open, I started on foot with a portion of my crew, and arrived at the lake after a very pleasant walk; the country through which I passed was clear, with occasional belts of wood and brush, and abounding in partridges, of which I shot a good many. I also noticed a pond of cold spring water, of great depth, without an outlet, similar to what are at home called blow-wells.

During my walk I was informed of a tribe of Indians living inland, having no canoes or connection with the sea-coast whatever. I have since learned that these people sometimes descend some of the rivers for the purpose of trade with the Indians south of Nootka, and they offered to guide me to the place at any time I should wish; the name of the tribe is Säa Käalituck; they number about fifty or sixty men, and were only discovered a few years back, by one of the Nimkish chiefs while on a trapping expedition. The following is the Indians' story of their discovery: