94 EXPLORATION TO THE PEACE RIVER 



Island, must have a milder climate, and hence they may be set 

 down as of equal value. A careful examination of a map of the 

 world will show the close relationship existing between Europe 

 and western America in the same parallels. A warm current of 

 water flows down the coast of the latter, while the shores of the 

 former are bathed in the tepid waters of the Gulf Stream. Both 

 regions have their shores deeply indented by inlets, "Fiords," in 

 the one case and "Canals" in the other. The oak and pine forests 

 of the British Isles and of Norway are simulated by the oak and 

 fir forests of British Columbia. In both, the moist climate is 

 caused in the same way — the vapor, rising from the warm sea 

 water, is blown inland and, being condensed by the cooler air over 

 the land, falls in rain or fog upon the slopes and valleys. The 

 old forests of Great Britain and Ireland, including those of Nor- 

 way, are a product of the Gulf Stream, while the mighty forests 

 of our western province, including the Queen Charlotte Islands, 

 are certainly a product of the "Kuro Siwa" (Japan Current). It 

 only remains for me to add that as years roll on and our posses- 

 sions become developed, the value of this second Britain will 

 come so vividly before our people that men will ask with astonish- 

 ment how such ignorance prevailed in the past! Today, there are 

 four hundred miles of coast line in our western possessions north, 

 with a forest growth superior to anything else in the world at 

 present. Its shore is indented with multitudes of harbours, bays, 

 and inlets, teeming with myriads of fish. Its rocks and sands 

 contain gold, iron, silver, coral, and other minerals. And besides 

 all this, a climate superior to England in every respect, both as 

 regards heat and moisture, and yet, men ask me what it is ail 

 worth? I answer: "Worth more than Quebec, and all the Mari- 

 time Provinces thrown in, and skeptics may rest assured that the 

 day is not far distant when my words will be found to be true." 

 (1875). 



The boat reached Yale at noon and, after resting for a short 

 time, I went out to examine the neighborhood. Tempted by the 

 close vicinity of the mountains, I climbed the nearest and found it 

 by aneroid to be about 1,000 feet above the river. At the base, 

 many plants were in flower which, as I neared the summit, ceased 



