OF GOLD AT QUEEN CHARLOTTE’S ISLAND. 7

depredations on their neighbours; they have had less intercourse with the
whites, and are not to be trusted, but ought to be strictly guarded against.
When I went there with the canoe, they were very friendly, showed me all
about the mine, and gave me every information in their power; in fact, gave
me their country; but when they saw that our blasting and quarrying the
rocks did not produce gold as they expected, they felt much disappointed, and
manifested a less friendly spirit; so much so, that I was glad to get away from
them my small inefficient party.

“They were very friendly afterwards, both when the steamer and “ Una”
went to their country. Should a fort be established at the gold mine, not only
these two tribes, but several others on the island would frequent, and probably
reside at it.

* All the way from near North Island, Point North, to Cape St. James, along
the west shore of the island, it is very rugged and mountainous, particularly so
near Cape Henry, both north and south, about where the gold is found. From
Cape St. James, along the east shore to near Skiddigat, east entrance of Cart-
wright’s Sound, continuing along the shore to Point Invisible, Point Rose, the
country is level, wooded, with clay and sandy cliffs in many places along the
shore. I was ashore here at different places, and examined the soil, which
appeared excellent ; it is composed of black vegetable mould on the surface,
succeeded by a considerable depth of marly clay ; the timber is of considerable
size. When the Indians resided on this part of the island, they raised plenty
of very fine potatoes: so they report. From Point Invisible, along the north
end of the island to North Island, the country, viewed from the sea, has the
same appearance as that between Skiddigats and Point Invisible; and the
Indians report the soil equally as good for producing potatoes, the only crops
they grow.

“There is no harbour for a vessel or even for a boat, except to beach her, all
the way from Skiddigats to Point Invisible; but there is anchorage some dis-
tance from the shore all along the way to North Island.

«The appearance of many inlets and bays along the west shore from North
Island to Cape St. James, and from thence along the east shore to Skiddigats,
as viewed from the sea, indicates that harbours may be found in different

laces.
< When I went with the canoe I intended to have gone all round the island,
but the rough weather rendered it too dangerous to make the attempt.

“From the description the Indians gave of the place where they found the
gold, I was under the impression that, even with the slender means we possessed,
we could blast the rock, and quarry out the stones containing gold, to at least
ballast, if not load a vessel. In this hope I was disappointed.

“T am, &c.
«James Douglas, Esq.” (signed) John Work.

On the 6th October Mr. Douglas dispatched the “ Una,” Captain Mitchell,
with Chief Trader M‘Neill and 11 men, who were to pass the winter in Queen
Charlotte’s Island, and explore the interior. Mr. M‘Neill made the following
report of his operations at Mitcheil’s Harbour, Queen Charlotte’s Island :—

“ Sir, “Fort Simpson, 20 November 1851.

Arter leaving Victoria I proceeded with the “ Una” to fulfil your instruc-
tions of the 4th October 1851. We had a fine run to Queen Charlotte’s Island
of four days, after which a gale of wind came on which detained us off the
place, Cape Henry, eight days, consequently we did not anchor in Mitchell’s
Harbour until the 20th October.

“ On the second day after our arrival we commenced blasting the rock at the
old place. We commenced in a vein of quartz, and were very successful ; the
rock proved to be rich with gold, as you will see by the specimens now forwarded
by Dr. Kennedy. We followed the vein, and found it deeply impregnated with
gold. The vein seems to take the direction up the mountain ; in fact, our men
were half way to the top, say 300 feet above the water, and found quartz rock,
@ specimen of which 1 now send you. In my opinion gold will be found in
many places hereafter on the west side of the island, as quartz rock is to be
found in every direction. We found it in four different places in Mitchell’s

788—I, A 4 Harbour,