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own benefit any coal mine that may be on his land on payment of a royalty of 2s. 6d. per ton.

It is needless to offer comment on these impolitic and suicidal regulations, when at the same time, in both Oregon and California, where gold was abundant, land was purchasable at 6s. per acre. The fact was, the Hudson's Bay Company wanted to keep back emigration, for the sake of the furs and other petty traffic with the natives; and so far, as anti-civilisers, they succeeded. By right of charter their territory extends from 49 deg. to 70 deg. north latitude, and from 55 deg. to 135 deg. west longitude, and contains more than three millions of square miles, over which they maintain one hundred and sixty distinct establishments where the fur trade is carried on. In 1838, the charter granted by Charles II. was renewed for twentyone years, and will consequently expire in 1859, as also that granted in 1848 for Vancouver's Island, when it is to be hoped there will be a dissolution of that monopoly which has since 1670 kept back civilisation for the mere sake of gratifying the wants of the few.

CHAPTER V.

THE GRAND AREA.

BRITISH COLUMBIA is a rugged but highly diversified tract of country in Oregon, west of the Rocky Mountains, stretching between latitude 48 and 57 deg. north, extending about 500 miles north to south, and nearly 400 miles east to west. It is mountainous, and abounds in lakes and rivers, the largest of the latter being the auriferous Frazer. Agriculture has not been prosecuted with so much zeal or success here as on Vancouver's Island, but the natural advantages of the country are in many parts fully equal, if not superior, to it; potatoes, turnips, wheat, and barley, have been long cultivated at the principal posts or stations

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of the Hudson's Bay Company in the territory, and with much success, especially at Nisqually, where they have fifteen miles of land under tillage, besides large flocks of cattle on pasturage.

The soil varies from a deep black vegetable loam to a light brown loamy earth. The hills are generally basalt, stone, and slate. The surface is generally undulating, well watered, well wooded, and well adapted for agriculture and pasturage. The timber consists principally of pine, fir, spruce, oak (white and red), ash, yew, arbutus, cedar, arborvitæ, poplar, maple, willow, cherry, and tea. All kinds of grain, including wheat, rye, barley, oats, and peas, may be raised in abundance. Fruits, particularly apples and pears, together with every kind of vegetable grown in England, flourish admirably, and produce most abundant crops. The winters are more humid than cold, as from the middle of October to March the rains are almost incessant, and frequently accompanied with heavy thunder and lightning. The winds which prevail at this season are from the south and southeast, and these usually bring rain, while those from the north and north-west bring fair weather and a clear

sky. From the middle of March to the middle of October, the weather is serene and delightful; only a few gentle showers fall, but in the morning the dews and fogs are frequent and heavy. The middle and eastern regions have, from their elevation, a severer climate.

Nearly at the southern extremity of Puget's Sound stands Fort Nisqually, where the Hudson's Bay Company have extensive farms and granaries.* Some of the natives here live in the plains, and others on the banks of the Sound. Each of the tribes observe a marked aversion to mutual incorporation, and confine themselves to their distinct localities, the plain tribes not approaching the Sound, and the

* The anchorage off Nisqually is very contracted, in consequence of the rapid shelving of the bank, that soon drops itself into deep water. The shore rises abruptly to a height of about two hundred feet, and on the top of the ascent is an extended plain covered with pine, oak, and ash trees scattered here and there, so as to form a park-like scene. The hill-side is mounted by a wellconstructed road, easy of ascent. From the summit of the road the view is beautiful, over Puget's Sound and its many islands, with Mount Olympus covered with snow for a back-ground. Fort Nisqually, with its outbuildings and enclosures, stands back about half a mile from the edge of the table land.

tribes bordering on the Sound not extending their rovings into the plains. Their habits and food are in conformity with their condition the one are fishers, the other hunters, living principally on roots dried, pounded, and kneaded into cakes, and on deer's flesh. All this coun

try, both maritime and inland, abounds in all sorts of game, geese, ducks, plovers, partridges, &c. These are not only used by them for food, but are bartered with the Company's servants for articles of use and ornament, such as blankets, tobacco, ammunition, and trinkets.

From this fort, to obviate the necessity of passing up the Sound, then westward up the Fuca Straits, and thence southward to the mouth of the Columbia, and crossing the bar in a vessel, there is a portage-way across the land, the distance being about ninety miles from this to the banks of the Cowlitz River. This river runs from the northern interior into the Columbia, about forty-nine miles below Fort Vancouver, in a south-westerly direction. At the end of this portage, on the river's banks, there is a British settlement, principally composed of retired IIudson's Bay traders.

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