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    < 3 # Temmen * -to-iaeilit « te the means o £ intercommunication between all ; parts of * h e&laiid ; 'and -there is , unhappily ,- &nev&r ? eeuaitrg supply-of : penal labour tc ^ besfaad from- India , ' unless the' Grttwirfcealtate to employ the subjects of tfc © Company . * Bfct itrather appears to be the policy o ^ the Colonial Office tO'impede the developmetit'of toe-resourceaof the colonies . There is every r iss&oti' to bilieve that jg &a occurs in large quahtities beneath the **¦ ruby 4 iigt * ingh "? &t "Newera EUia , but Sir Gr . Anderson actually refused a few months' subsistence to two Englishmen , who offered on those terms to aseerr tain its existence . The official answer was to the effect that Government declined to interfere with private enterprise ; and yet ; it is inserted inthe title-deeds of every estate that " all precious metals ' belong to the Grown . " Another Crown -monopoly is salt ; the natural consequence being that that necessary of life is both , dear and bad , when it might be cheap and excellent , and that the skins of . bufialoes , elks , rand other animals are thrown aside as a useless encumbrance , instead of being converted into valuable hides .

    % But"we should be doing an injustice to Mr . Baker if we allowed our readers to suppose that his very amusing little work is simply dedicated to the ; abuse of ' the powers that be . He is , indeed , unavoidably compelled to mark with reprehension their strange negligence-and apparent ignorance of the wants , requirements , and capabilities of this charming island . But his main object is to describe its natural productions , whether 'animal or vegetable , and to relate to his less adventurous countrymen the moving accidents { hat befel himself by flood and field . In this he has succeeded admirably , though we are sorely . puzzled to select any particular passages as illustrative of his purpose and style , and therefore prefer recommending the perusal of the entire work to all genial lovers of the most spirit-stirring sport .

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    THE FUR -HUNTERS OF THE FAR WEST . "Tfte' ^ &ir' Ifttiiters ofth 6 Far West ; a Narrative of Adventures in the Oregon and Rocky 3 fountains . ' By Alexander ' Ross , Author of "Adventures of the First Settlers on the Oregon , " &c . Two Tols . Smith , Elder , and Co . Tjhk author of this work has traded and travelled during forty-four years in the Indian territories of N " orth America . A third of this period was spent by him among the wilds and settlements of the Columbia in the extreme Far West . His life has been one of singular vicissitude , hardship , and romance , -He has been engaged in exploring enterprises , in battles , escapes , pursuits , in 'diplomatic negotiations with the most astute of all savages—in every- 'Conceivable variety of strange and perilous adventure . Familiar with the annals of those great trading companies which have laid open the paths of civilisation to the limits of the continent , and experienced in the subtlesties Of the native character ! he embodies in his narrative a mass of practical

    information , which may , by future writers , be incorporated with the-history eof those important regions . ; There is a charm in these relations of trading adventure . A peculiar genius-. belongs to the race of hunters and trappers , forsaking warm cities yand pastoral valleys , to penetrate the frozen recesses of the Far West , to make voyages on dreary lakes and rivers , beaten by hurricanes , dogged by invisible-foes , beset by complex dangers . It is easy to believe Mr-Ross when he-assures us that there-are fascinations in such a life . Otherwise few men would encounter it . What has been his own career ?—forty-five years of wandering isolation , exiled from the New as from the Old World , bargaining' for ' 'fHirs , and annually depositing them in a ship which seems . almost the sole link between the Columbian region and the cultured parts of ( the globe .

    . > Yet > hevand'hia companions learned to prefer the precarious independence of the wuds to'the restraints of artificial society . There 'human life is long , active ; and healthy ; the trader loads hia table with venison , fowl , and fish ; he drinks pure'water , enjoya the excitement of endless voyages , is busied in the river , fbrt , or desert camp , sports with the deer and buffalo , is interested in the politics of his employers and of the Indian tribes , and , in the fixed settlements , is not without the solaces of social and family life . The earlier , adventurers participated in few of these advantages . Their hazardous -enterprises often failed ; ignorant of the native character , they excited perpetual hostilities ; they were sometimes murdered , and more frequently

    compelled to abandon their . schemes . As the 'trade prospered the great country between the- Rocky . Mountains and the Pacific -was laid out for ¦ regular operations : paths were traced , forts were erected in central positions , ; the Indians were conciliated . An immense chain of communications was ostablished , between , tuo Atlantic and Pacific , and as far as the Frozen Ocean . Men of talent and education were allured into the trade by the magnitude of \ its , profits and the temptations of a half-military , halfmercantile life . . A pleasant : and even polished society sprang up among ( the wilds— -tho -adventurers , married and -wore . given-in maruiage to the ¦ daughters of aborigines—« nd now in many a i young Columbian town may be' heard the . comfortable ruatle of silks . River And lake life is picturesquely described by Mr . Ross : —

    The bourgeois is carried on board hia catxoo upon tho back of Borne sturdy fellow ¦ ganerally appointed > for this i'purpose . He seats himself on a convenient mattreas , aome what low . in the centre M > f hla canoe ; his gun by his aide , hia little cherubs fondling around him « nd hia faithful spaniel lying , at hia feet . No sooner is ho at his caae than his pipe is presented by his attendant , and he then begins smoking , while Jus ailken banner undulates ovor the atern of hia painted vessel . Then tho bonding paddles are plied , and the fragile craft apeods through the currents with . a degrco of neatness not to be surpassed—yell upon , yell from the hearty crew proclaiming their prowess and akIH . \ A httndred miles ' performed , night arrives ; the hands jump out quickly into tho irtter , « nd their'nabob and his companions are supported to terra Jirma . A roaring 4 br »< is kindled and supper is served ; his honour then' retires to enjoy his repose . At 4 * wnof day they set out again ; the men now and then relax their arms , and light their pip ««{ but . no aooner does tho headway ¦ of the canoe dio away than they renew their

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    labour&and their chorus , < a particular voice being' ever selected tolead the ^ ng-. The guide conducts the march . At the hour of breakfast they put ashore on some green plot . The tea-kettle is boiling ; a variegated . mat is spread , and a cold collation set out . Twenty minutes- ^ -and : they < start- * uew . The- dinner hour arrives . -They . put > aground again . The liquorcan accompanies the provision-basket ; the contents-are quickly '' set ibrth in simple style ; and , after a refreshment of -twenty minutes more , off they set again , until ' -the twilight cheeks their progress . . " When it is . practicable to make way in the-dark , four hours is the voyageura ' i allowance of rest ; " and at times , on boisterous lakes and bold shores , they keep for days and nights together on the -water , -without intermission , and without repose . ! They sing to keep time to their paddles ; 'they sing to keep off drowsiness , caused by their fatigue ; and they sing because the bourgeois likes it . ¦

    Through-hardships and dangers , -wherever he leads , they are sure to follow -with alacrity and cheerfulness— ' -over mountains and hills , along valleys and dales , through woods and creeks , across lakes and rivers . They look not to the right , nor to the left ; they make no halt in foul or fair weather . Such is their skill , that they venture to sail in the midst of waters like oceans , and , with amazing aptitude , they shoot down the most frightful rapids ; aad they" generally come off safely . When about to arrive at the place of their destination , they dress with neatness , put on their plumes , and a « hosen song is raised . They push up against the beach , as if they meant to dash the canoe into splinters ; but most adroitly back their paddles at the right moment , whilst the foreman springs on shore and , seizing the prow , arrest 3 the vessel in its course . On this joyful occasion every person advances to the waterside , and great guns are fired : to announce the'bourgeois' arrival . A general shaking of hands takes place , as it of ten happens that people have-not-met-for years : even the bourgeois goes through this mode of salutation with the meanest . There is , perhaps , no country where the ties of affection are more binding than here . The Pacific , North West , and Hudson ' s Bay Companies , directing , in

    succession , the trade of these regions , have largely developed their capabilities . In the more accessible territories , the agriculturist has followed the hunter , and has partially superseded him . The woodman ' s axe has opened a way for the plough—towns and villages are springing to life , and the barbarian horizon recedes— -the shadows of the Indian race receding with it . The interior wilds still compose the natural realm of -adventure . Mr . Hoss , who seems to possess the instincts of a traveller , fell frequently into dangers from which he was only extricated by his untiring patience and caution . He was engaged in the first grand movement of the North-West Company on the Columbia , and started with a hundred and ten men , embarked in fourteen boats . Advancing up the stream three or four hundred ^ miles into the interior , the traders dispersed for the wintering stations , widely scattered over the immense valley . Mr . Ross himself proceeded with a small party to the vale of Eyakema , two hundred miles distant , to buy horses of the Indians , who assembled there in the spring to hold their Parliament . From this vast concourse of tribes horses would be easily procured ; but the perils of a hostile collision were enhanced proportionately .

    Arrived at the EyakemaJValley , the travellers saw in front an Indian camp , covering more than six miles in every direction , with at least three thousand men and ten thousand horses congregated within , exclusive ^ of women and children . Here the traders purchased eightyr-five horses , which in due course were stolen from them by the vendors- However , a friendly chief assisted in their recovery , and , under his protection , Mr . Hoss explored the vast camp : — We visited every , street , alley , hole and corner of the camp , which we traversed lengthways crossway , east ,-west , south , and north , going from group to group , and the call was " Deliver up the horses . " Here was gambling , there scalp-dancing ; laughter in one place , mourning in another . Crowds were passing to and fro , whooping , yelling , dancing , drumming , singing . Men , women , and children were huddled together ; flags f lying , horses neighing , dogs howling , chained bears , tied wolves , grunting and growling , all pell-mell among the tents ; and , to complete the confusion , the night was dark .

    This is a specimen of the intercourse which then took place between the native tribes and the traders . To illustrate the nature of the region thus explored , we will quote a description of the Grand Coule ^ -a chasm eighty or a hundred miles in length , in the midst of a dreary plain : — The sides , or banks , of the Grand Coute are for the most part formed of basalt rocks , in some places as high aa 150 feet , with shelving steps , formed like stairs , to ascend and descend , and not unfrequently vaults , or excavated tombs , aa if cut through the solid rocks , like the dark and porous catacombs of Keif . The bottom , or bed , deep and broad , consists of a conglomerate of sand and clay , hard and smooth where not interrupted by rocks . The whole presents in every respect the appearance of tho deep bed of a great river or lake , now dry , scooped out of the level and barren

    plain . The sight in many places is truly magnificent : while in ono place the solemn gloom forbids tho wanderer to advance , in another the prospect is lively and inviting , the ground being thickly studded with ranges of columns , pillars , battlements , turrets , and steps above steps , in every variety of shade and colour . Here , and tlierc endless vistas and subterraneous labyrinths add to the beauty of the ecene ; and what is still more singular in this arid and sandy region , cold springs are frequent ; yet there is never any water in tho chasm , unless after recent rains . Thunder and lightning are known to be-more frequent here than in other parts ; and a rumbling in tho earth is sometimes heard . According to Indian tradition , it is the abode of evil spirits . In the neighbourhood there is neither hill nor dale , lake nor mountain , creok nor rivulet , to give variety to the surrounding aspect . Altogether it is a charming assemblage of picturesque objects for the admirer of nature . It . is the wonder of the Oregon .

    In other directions tracts of rugged and broken country intervened with banks of snow and forests , haunted by wolves , the most terrible of tho wild beasts in the Columbian territory . The bear and the buffalo , unless wounded , fly from man ; the wolf will not . It is ono of tho few brutea that food upon their kind . Tho trader ' s chief peril , however , lav in tho hostility of tho wandering , warlike tribes , moving in great multitudes between one station and another to surprise thesettlers . Tho Fur Companies no doubt stimulated their fury by many lawless and wanton acts . Mr . Ross , in the course of his own experience , discovered moans to ¦ establish considerable sympathy between tho fur hunters and the aboriginal lords of the fur forests . Tho praotice of tho traders is to disperse , near tho ftill of winter , to tho interior porta , scattered over tho bleak countries of Columbia and the Oregon . There they remain , during the cold season , occasionally visited by the agents of tho Company , who direct their plans , gain information or their proceedings , and supply them with neceaaurios . JNo eoonor does the

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    33 ^ 3 ' TKHElE & 3 E A T > EiR . pSTo . i 293 y jSattobix&y ,

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 27, 1855, page 1038, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2112/page/18/