Frazer's River rises in the Rocky Mountains, between latitudes 55 and 56 deg. north, near the source of Canoe River (which is the first large tributary of the latter issues from its source), and at first runs about north-west for a distance of about eighty miles. It then takes a southerly direction, receiving the waters of Stuart's River, which rises in one of the chains of lakes that abound in all Columbia. It continues its southern course by west, receiving the waters of the Chilcotin, Pinklitsa, and several other minor rivers flowing from the lakes or hills of the west, and also the waters of Thompson's River, Quisnell's River, and others which flow into it from the east. In parallel 49 deg. it breaks through the cascade range of mountains, a continuation of the Sierra Nevada, in a succession of falls and rapids, and running westward is emptied into the Gulf of Georgia in 49 deg. 7 min. north. During this latter part of its course, as far up as Fort Yale, it is navigable for vessels, after passing its bar, that draw not more than twelve feet of water. Its direct length across country is about four hundred miles. But taking its irregular winding course into consideration it is nearly nine hundred miles long. The country along its lower section is hilly, and covered with forests of white pine, cedar, and other evergreens, while the soil is generally well fitted for pasturage, and in many places for tillage. But along the other and more southern sections the country is more ungenial and unproductive, being cut up by mountains, ravines, torrents, lakes, and marshes. it is well wooded, yielding all the varieties of trees growing in that region, fir, spruce, willow, cedar, cypress, birch, and alder. The climate is very variable, and the transitions, though periodically regular, are remarkably sudden, if not violent. Yet During the spring, which lasts from April till June, the weather and the face of the country are delightful. In June there are occasional rains, drifted along by a strong south wind; and in July and August the heat is intense, while the ground, previously saturated with moisture, produces myriads of flies and other insects. This heat and glaring sunshine are sometimes succeeded in September by fogs of such palpable darkness, that until noon it is seldom possible to distinguish objects at a longer distance than one hundred yards. In November the winter sets in, mildly freezing the lakes and smaller rivers. The cold, however, is not so intense as might be imagined in such a country and climate, being far less severe than that of any part of Canada. The country is easy of access from Nisqually to the Chetreels River, when the soil changes from gravelly loam to a stiff clay; and numerous little rivers which overflow their banks and flood the country for an immense distance during the winter and spring freshets, render the land journey to the Cowlitz River difficult; and during that season, to all, save gold diggers, who are undauntable, almost impracticable. A few settlers have lately been located on this route, and the Americans had formed a village as far north as Puget's Sound ten years ago. Simultaneously with the latter, a settlement of Canadians was formed on the Cowlitz River, where the Puget's Sound Company had about one thousand acres of land under cultivation. The course of the Cowlitz is irregular and rapid, and at high-water dangerous, but the obstacles are such as the Canadian boatmen can guard against and overcome. An establishment has been formed by the Hudson's Bay Company at the mouth of this river, in which wheat and other produce is stored and shipped in large quantities to the Russian settlement at Sitka, and to the Sandwich Islands. Coal abounds over the whole of the northeastern territory; that is to say, from Cheslaker's, latitude 50 deg. 36 min., to Cape Scott at its southern extremity. On the borders of M'Neil's Harbour the coal juts out above the surface. The beds are divided by intermediate layers of sandstone, and are seen most distinctly on the open beach, extending over about a mile in length, generally within the line of high water; the mineral having evidently been laid bare by the wash of the sea, which has frittered and worn away the incumbent mould and sandstone. A fresh-water rivulet which runs across the bed, in a direction perpendicular to the beach, has also laid bare a transverse section of the coal to the distance of nearly a mile from the sea; shewing that the bed runs in a nearly horizontal direction as far as that point, beyond which the depth of the strata has not been reliably ascertained. The coal can be worked at a comparatively small expense over a field of such extent. Some of it has been brought to England, and answered exceedingly well in forges. Externally it is hard and brittle, interspersed with sulphuret of iron, and it contains but little earthy or incombustible matter; it, however, burns better in furnaces than elsewhere, and in small quantities. In the upper and consequently colder regions of British Columbia, the most fertile spots flank the rivers, the thermometer sometimes falls 22 deg. below zero; but the seasons are milder than in the same parallel east of the Rocky Mountains. The summer is there never very hot, although fires can be dispensed with from the end of May till the beginning of September. Snow covers the ground from December to April, and at an average depth of two feet. This elevated part of the North American continent is inhabited by the two great Indian nations of the north-the Takali or Carrier Indians, and the Atnalis or Shouswaps. |