Handbook to the new Gold-fields | Page 8

and fifty dollars a day. The freshet, however drove him off for
the time being. Mr E.R. Collins, who has spent some time in the Fraser
River gold region, and who brought down last week a quantity of dust,
has communicated the following intelligence to the Alta California. Mr
Collins is a trustworthy gentleman. He left San Francisco in March last,
and was at Olympia when the excitement first broke out. He then, in
company with three others, proceeded to Point Roberts, from whence
they proceeded up Fraser River to the mouth of Harrison River, about
twenty-five miles above Fort Langley. This portion of the journey they

performed without guides or assistance from the natives. The current
was moderate, and occasionally beautiful islands were discovered with
heavy timber, which presented a beautiful appearance. From Fort Hope
to Fort Yale, a distance of fifteen miles, the river runs narrow, and the
current running about seven miles per hour, though, in some places, it
might be set down at ten or twelve. At Fort Yale, the first mining bar
was reached. It extended out from the left bank a distance of some
thirty yards, and was about half a mile long. Twenty or thirty squaws
were at work with baskets and wooden trays, while, near by, large
numbers of male Indians stood listlessly looking on. Here some of Mr
Collins' companions, who had now increased to twenty, proposed to
stop and try their luck, but the majority resolved to go on, having
informed themselves satisfactorily that further up the "big chunks"
were in abundance. After resting a while, therefore, the party went
ahead. Two miles from Fort Yale they entered upon the commencement
of the real difficulties and dangers of navigation on Fraser River, the
water for a distance of thirty-five or forty miles passing through deep
gloomy canons, and over high masses of rock. At this time the river
had attained only a few feet above its usual height, so that by
perseverance and the skill of the native boatman they were enabled to
make slow progress. Numerous portages were made--one of them, the
last, being four miles long. These portages could not be avoided, the
cliffs rising perpendicularly on either side of the river, sometimes to a
height of fifty or sixty feet, affording not the slightest footpath on
which to tow. At other places the whirls, and rocks partly submerged,
rendered a water passage utterly impracticable. At every bar and
shallow spot prospected in these wild localities gold was obtained in
paying quantities, all of very fine quality--rather difficult to save
without the use of quicksilver. From the head of the canons to the forks
of Thompson's River, thirty-five miles more, the current and general
appearance of the river seemed about the same as from Fort Hope to
Fort Yale, gold also being found where there was an opportunity for a
fair "prospect". At the Forks the party were told by Travill, a French
trader, whom they met by accident, that the richest and best diggings
were up Thompson's; but that river being navigable but a few miles up,
it was thought best to keep on up Fraser, which they did for a distance
of forty miles, encountering no serious obstacles beyond a few rapids,

and they were passed by towing. Five miles above the Forks some
twenty white men were at work, making with common rockers from ten
to sixteen dollars per day. Arriving at a bar about ten miles below,
where white men were congregating in numbers considered sufficient
for mutual protection, they took up a claim and commenced digging.
They worked here steady twenty-four days, averaging fifteen dollars
per day to each man. The greatest day's work of one man was thirty-one
dollars. These figures, it is thought, would apply to all the miners.
Our latest news from the new mines reach to the beginning of July. At
that time there were immense numbers of miners on the banks of Fraser
River, waiting for the stream to fall and enable them to go to work on
the bars, which are said to be fabulously rich. Some dry diggings had
also been discovered in the neighbourhood of the river; but owing to
the presence of a large number of Indians, not of the most friendly
disposition, the miners dared not then extend their researches far from
the stream, where the bulk of the whites were congregated. The town of
Victoria, on Vancouver's Island, has sprung rapidly into importance.
Great advances have been made on real estate there. Lots, which a few
months ago were sold by the Hudson's Bay Company at twelve pounds
ten shillings, are now selling at over 250 pounds. A newspaper, called
the Victoria Gazette has been started there; and an American steamer,
The Surprise, is