204 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



preparation which our surgeon thoughtfully 

 provided me with on all such occasions. 



To any one fond of yachting Vancouver 

 presents unusual attractions. There are many 

 excellent harbours on the east coast ; the water 

 is always smooth, and the scenery cannot be 

 surpassed ; game is abundant, and easy to pro- 

 cure. To my mind there is nothing to equal 

 the intense enjoyment of wandering, gun in 

 hand, in those glorious woods, unfettered by 

 the presence of an over-fed, velveteen-coated 

 gamekeeper ; there is a freedom about it which 

 cannot be obtained in the old country. 



As regards settling down, I should hardly 

 consider Vancouver to be the best place to 

 choose. Land is difficult to procure, except at 

 a great distance from Victoria, and labour is 

 not to be had, unless it be an occasional China- 

 man, or a rascally Indian ; so that unless a man 

 be prepared to work with his own hands he had 

 better go elsewhere. 



Our colonies are all more or less thronged 

 with broken-down gentlemen, who go out with 



