TEs

50 The Fraser River Mines.

except for the women and children of the men coming out, who will of
course be kept from their husbands as short a time as possible.

There was a complaint by some newly arrived Yankees at Langley
that the Indians had stolen their goods and one boat coming up.
I thought it very odd, but thought there might be something in it,
because it is so unusual: and as there must be a robbery some time
or other, of course every day’s delay makes it more likely to occur. It
did not come before me officially, but 1 suggested that a good many
more inquiries shod. be made before it met with implicit credence.
There was some mystery about it; and at last the fellows intimated,
I believe, their willingness to accept a reasonable compensation from
the Government, etc. So then it was clear at once; it was a case of
the “ Mayflower ” in little. You may perhaps hear more of it; perhaps
you may not.

Colonel Moody has not got copies of the recent proclamations.
Might I suggest that you shod. direct Mr. Young to enclose him the
boats proclamn. and that concerning the tariff of licenses, etc.7* It
seems to me that the 30s. per month for the use of Crown lands and
all licenses under that head fall more properly within his department
than under the Customs or Excise departments, the payment being
not for the license to trade as in England—e.g., tobacco and spirit and
auctioneer’s licenses—but for the use of Crown land. And it seems
useful, if anything is to be permitted of the sort, that all the documents
ought to be in the Land Office, to know what land is occupied and what
not. Perhaps a public notification that all applications respecting lands
ought to be sent through Col. Moody wod. be desirable.

Sunday, 13th. I return to Fort Langley to-night and to-morrow
morning start for Fort Hope and Fort Yale with Mr. Ogilvy, Mr.
McColl,"7 and Mr. Bushby. Really, unless the weather is lighter, I
shall not attempt Lytton, but return at once from Fort Yale.

Believe me,
Yours very truly,

Matt. B. Becstr.

Fort YAtg,
19th March, 1859.
Dear Str,—We arrived here this afternoon, having luckily had a
few hours’ tolerably fine weather and a much more pleasant passage
up than we expected. There appear to be fewer persons from Fort

(76) The Proclamation of February 7, 1859, relating to licenses, etc., and that of March
5, 1859, relating to Customs, ete.

(77) Sergeant McColl, one of the Royal Engineers, belonging to Captain Parsons’s survey
party.