322 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GKEAT BRITAIN. 



couver's Island below. It is also found ou the Kenaiau Peniusula, 

 Alaska, the Islaud of Unga, belonging to the Shnmagiu group, Ouna- 

 laska, and far to the north at Beaufort. At the latter place it is " slaty, 

 buruing with a pure flame and rapid consumption," and it is supposed 

 that there are extensive beds in the neighbourhood better in quality. 

 For au account of this coal I refer to the scientific illustrations of 

 Beechey's '^ S^oyage." The natives also report coal in the interior ou 

 the Kwichpak. The coal of Ounalaska, and probably of Alaska, is 

 tertiary, and not adapted for steamers. With regard to that of Unga 

 scientific authorities are divided. That of the Kenaian Peninsula is 

 the best and the most extensive. It is found on the eastern side of 

 Cook's Inlet, half-way between Cape Anchor and the Eussiau Settle- 

 ment of St. Nicholas, in veins three-quarters of a yard or more in 

 thickness, and ranging in quality from mere carboniferous wood to 

 anthracite. According to one authority these coal veins extend and 

 spread themselves far iu the interior. It appears that this coal has 

 been more than once sent to California for trial, and that it was there 

 pronounced a good article. Since then it has been mined by the Com- 

 pany, not only for their own uses, but also for export to California. 

 In making these statements I rely particularly upon Golowin in the 

 '^Archiv'' of Erman, and also ui^on the elaborate Avork of Grewingk, 

 in the " Transactions of the Mineralogical Society of Petersburgh " for 

 1848 and 1819 (p. 112), where will be found a special map of the Kenaian 

 Peninsula. 



Gold is less important than coal, but its discovery produces more 

 excitement. The report of gold in any quarter stimulates the emigrant 

 or the adventurer who hopes to obtain riches swiftly. Nor is this dis- 

 tant region without such experience. Only a few years ago the British 

 Colony of Victoria was aroused by a rumour of gold in the mountains 

 of the Stikine Eiver, not far in the interior from Sitka. At once there 

 was a race that way, and the solitudes of this river were penetrated by 

 hunters in quest of the glittering ore. Discomfiture ensued. Gold had 

 been found, but not in any sufficient quantities reasonably accessible. 

 Nature for the present set up obstacles. But failure in one place will 

 be no discouragement in another, especially as there is reason to believe 

 that the mountains here contain a continuation of those auriferous 

 deposits which havebecome so famous further south. The SierraNevada 

 chain of California reaches here. 



Traces of gold have been observed at other points. One report places 

 a deposit not far from Sitka. The same writer, who reports irou there, 

 also reports that during the last year he saw a piece of gold as large 

 as a marble, which was shown by an Indian. But the Eussiau engineer, 

 Doroschin, furnishes testimony more precise. He reports gold in at 

 least three different localities, each of considerable extent. The first is 

 the mountain range on the north of Cook's Inlet and extending into 

 Alaska, consisting principally of clay slate with permeating veins of 

 diorite, the latter being known as a gold-bearing rock. He observed 

 this in the summer of 1851. About the same time certain Indians from 

 the Bay of Jakutat, not far from Mount St. Elias, brought him speci- 

 mens of diorite found in their neighbourhood, making, therefore, a second 

 deposit. Iu the summer of 1855 the same engineer found gold on the 

 southern side of Cook's Inlet, in the mountains of the Kenay Peninsula. 

 Satisfying himself, first, that the bank occupied by the redoubt of St. 

 Nicholas, at the mouth of the Kaknu River, is gold-bearing, he was 

 induced to follow the development of diorite in the upper valley of the 

 river, and as he ascendedfound a gold-bearing alluvion gradually increas- 



