SPYING OUT THE LAND. 39 



been asked why I did not try to see more of British 

 Columbia before making my selection. The answer 

 is simple. From the inquiries which I had made at 

 a distance before coming out I was pretty certain that 

 there was a good opening at Nelson for the special 

 line of business which I proposed to embark in. 

 When I reached Nelson I found that my impression 

 was correct. In other words, I knew precisely what 

 I wanted, and, having found the thing that appeared 

 to me to fulfil the essential requirements of the case, 

 I did not see what object was to be gained by further 

 search, especially as by making further search I 

 should have lost that season, and with it practically 

 a twelvemonth's work. 



