1^6 Jour7ial of Travel and Natural History 



Indian Mission, to whom I am indebted for several interesting 

 specimens, also pursues a like laudable course, though on a smaller 

 scale. The Hon. Mr Hines is always ready at Olympia to climb 

 a mountain with any one, and Mr Victor of Portland, to note all 

 about it. Dr David Walker, F.L.S., formerly well known as surgeon 

 and naturalist of M'Clintock's Fox Expedition, is also in the 

 Territory, engaged as a medical officer of the army; and when I last 

 heard from him was at Fort Steilacoom busily looking after Crus- 

 tacea and shells. There may be more observers, but if there are 

 Messrs Edward Geddings, and Jerard S. Hurd, of the Surveyor- 

 General's Office at Olympia (whom not to know in that coun- 

 try is to proclaim yourself unknown), can and will supply the 

 information. 



(3.) Vancouver Island^ British Columbia, and north to the Arctic 



Sea. 



Though Vancouver Island and British Columbia are now 

 united in one political division under the latter name, yet nothing 

 has been done to explore the interior of the former large island 

 since the expedition entrusted to my direction, ("Vancouver Island 

 Explorations — Colonial Blue Book, 1864,""*) by order of the 

 Colonial Government and Board of Explorations. Since the 

 Alberni saw-mills have been stopped on the outer or western coast 

 of the island, that extensive stretch of coast is only tenanted by wild 

 Indians ; and the removal of Mr Hamilton Moftatt, and Mr Pym 

 Nevins Compton, from Forts Simpson and Rupert of the Hudson's 

 Bay Company, has left the northern coast without any resident 

 naturalist. In Victoria, however, a town not very prosperous 

 commercially (just at present), there are several gentlemen who, 

 though not publishing naturalists, are yet very intelligent collectors 

 when opportunity offers, such as Messrs John Gastineau, C.E., 

 Robert Homfray, C.E. Bushell, E. T. Coleman, F. Dally, and F. M. 

 Spence. Dr Comrie and Commander Porcher of H.M.S. Sparrow- 

 hawk were proposing to do something towards the natural history 

 of the country ; and as they are resident for some years on the coast 

 might add to our knowledge. Sir James Douglas, ex-governor, 

 is a good horticulturist, and gives great assistance to natural- 



* Vide, also, Proceedings R.G.S., 1865; Pctermann's Miltheilungcn ; "Le 

 Globe;" Trans. Bot. Soc. ; Edinlnirgh New Phil. Journal ; the "Farmer," &c. 



