18 ANCIENT WARRIORS

is intersected by streams, rivers, and several small inlets,
the largest of these being Kiokathli. The entrance to
this inlet is narrow owing to numerous rocks and reefs,
but it is a safe anchorage for small boats and schooners.
Twenty-five miles from Kiokathli is Rennell’s Sound.
The entrance is three miles wide and eight miles up
at the head only half a mile. It is the best harbour on
the West coast and affords safe anchorage for large
vessels, and can be easily recognized by a high hill on
the South side of the entrance.

There are three small islands on the West coast,
namely, Frederick, Hippa and Marble Islands. The
two latter have indentations on their East sides where
small boats can find shelter.

From the Northern end of Langara Island to Marble
Island the West coast is about eighty miles in length,
and unless there is a Northerly wind the sea is always
rough and dangerous for small craft.

At Marble Island the channel commences that
divides Graham from Moresby Island. It is very
rocky with numerous reefs, and in some places at low
water is dry and fishing craft can only pass at high
water.

On one occasion the C.P.N. Company’s steamer,
Maude (a small vessel of about two hundred tons),
steamed through from Skidegate to the West coast, but
the voyage took two days, for at the ebb of the tide the
vessel grounded and could only resume its passage at
the next high tide.

Skidegate harbour is well sheltered and suitable for
vessels of all sizes. On the North side the township
grandiloquently ‘called Queen Charlotte City is located,
and two miles West the Dog-fish Oil Refinery, owned
by the Lipton Company. Two miles farther is situated
the Skidegate Indian Reservation. From Queen