Simpson dated from Fort Vancouver, March
20th, 1844, that the new establishment at
the south end of Vancouver Island had been
named Fort Victoria in accordance with
instructions received.

In regard to the origin of the name “Fort
Camosun,” Governor Simpson informs the
Governor and Committee of the Hudson’s
Bay Company in London, in a letter dated
June 21st, 1843, that Chief Factor James
Douglas had “been successful in finding an
advantageous situation for the new depot in
the Bay of Camosack, near the southeast
extremity of Vancouver’s Island.” There is
also a reference to the Camosack canal.
Camosack evidently was the Indian name
for the bay, which meant “a deep, narrow
gorge” or “swift running water.”

There are subsequent references to the
port and harbour of Camosun or Camosan
in the log of the Cadboro already referred
to and in a letter from the secretary of the
Hudson’s Bay Company in London to Cap-
tain A. C. Mott of the barque Vancouver,
dated September 4th, 1844.

From all this it is fairly evident that the
original intention of the Governor and Com-
mittee in London was to name the new fort
in honour of Queen Victoria, and this name
was adopted within a few months of the
fort’s establishment by James Douglas. Any
other names used were of a more or less
local nature, given merely to signify the new
fort pending official instructions.

ay

THE Macic Worpb “BEAVER”

The word “beaver” is a magic one in the
history of Canada. It was the quest for
beaver skins that caused the rapid opening
up of Western Canada, and so disclosed
our country’s immense potentialities of
wealth. Canada’s first coinage was called
“Made Beaver,” and “Made Beaver” became
the standard of value for trade and barter
in the early days between trader and Indian,

SIDS STORES

Dry Goods, Groceries and
Confectionery
@

Lake Cowichan, B.C.

GORDON
STORES

GENERAL
MERCHANTS

Lake Cowichan, B. C.

WINTER EDITION

although the “Made Beaver” tokens were
much more in use in the East than in the
far West and only actually came into being
about a century and a half after the form-
ation of the Hudson’s Bay Company in
1670.

Other skins were estimated in value in
their relationship to the perfect beaver skin
in prime condition.

This system of valuation shows in records
still in existence, that in 1733, around Fort

FLT

Steamer

Albany, Moose Factory, and the district
then known as East Main, the following
tariff was in vogue:

liBrasse ettlenea eames
114 lbs. Gunpowder
114 lbs. Tobacco
1 Blanket
12 doz. Buttons ..
Dai Combsie
20 Fish-hooks ........
4 Firesteels....
20 Flints ..
1 Gun ....
2 Hatchets ....
8 Knives ........
2 Mirrors
4 Spoons .......

1 Beaver
Te

No very definite authority has been
found for the often repeated statement that
the Hudson’s Bay Company, in the early
history of the fur trade, had long guns
specially manufactured which were stood on
end and against which the Indian had to pile

YOUR
FRIENDS
OVERSEAS

Long-distance Telephone via Duncan

his skins to an equal height before he could
obtain this much-desired prize in exchange,
the Indian taking the gun and the trader
the skins. In fact, the above tariff would
seem to be a refutation of this, although,
after all, the guns were long enough in the
muzzle in those days without any necessity
for having them specially manufactured for
the purpose. Not that the Hudson’s Bay
trader, or any other trader, would not drive
as close a bargain with the Indian as he

“Beaver anchored in Victoria Harbour.

—Photo courtesy Provincial Archives, Victoria, B. C.

could. Besides, the Indian was always a
shrewd trader, too keen for such trickery,
and there was too much trade rivalry to
permit of the practice, for never did the
fur trading remain a monopoly for any
length of time.

The method of trading with the Indian
had to be a simple one, to make it under-
standable to him. When the Indian hunter
arrived at a post with his furs, the trader
separated, sorted and valued them, tallied
up the amounts and handed the Indian little

The RED & WHITE Stores
D. and V. Erickson

Lake Cowichan, B. C.

M. Berti, Proprietor

RIVERSIDE INN

Your distant friends
would appreciate a
copy of
The Shoulder Strap

Licensed Parlour

te Where Personal Services Make

Send 50c (stamps or
M.O.) with the name
and address and
we will mail their
copy direct.

THE
SHOULDER STRAP
VANCOUVER, B.C.

Your Stay Enjoyable
A Good Place to Fish All Year Round

Lake Cowichan, Vancouver Island, B.C.

Page Seventeen