of finds of gold along the Kootenay rivers. There was
even a flurry over the discovery of a gold nugget
valued at six hundred dollars in the Queen Char-
lotte Islands, but it was short-lived. It was an isolated
freak; the quartz could not be developed at a profit,
and so the movement petered out. The character of
these finds was such that they did not cause the
government any material anxiety, so Victoria settled
down to its usual routine of business.

Nine years later, Fort Victoria was beginning to
consider itself as a secure fur trading capital; but
something happened! The returning Argonauts,
carrying gold nuggets to prove their discovery, were
excitedly welcomed and the news ‘new placer dig-
gings!" spread like wildfire up and down the Pacific
Coast. The ‘49ers and late comers to California were
clamouring for passage on boats bound for Victoria
to enable them to reach the newly-found diggings.
The accommodation at the Fort was soon exhausted
and the overflow took to rudely pitched tents, await-
ing means of transportation to the Mainland and on
up the Fraser river by boat and trail to Yale. The mad
scramble ashore and on into the practically trackless
country of approximately forty thousand people,
clambering over precipice and scooting up “Jacob's
ladders,"" to reach the rich sand-bars of the Fraser

« PAGE TWENTY-EIGHT »