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| Esquimalt Harbour 1862 |
The town of Victoria is four miles away, so we will have to walk.
My friends and I have just crossed the wooden bridge across an inlet from Esquimalt to reach Victoria.
We have been such a long way but we are finally here!"
"Welcome to Victoria, if you haven't been here before. This small sleepy town became a boom town over night because of miners like us.
Governor James Douglas lives here, and look he is coming over to talk to us."
"We have just arrived in the Esquimalt Harbour, on Vancouver's Island.
We see many blackberry plants along the way that remind us of home.
Victoria
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"Good day to you Sir.
Yes, I am Governor Douglas and you friend look as if you are heading towards the Cariboo gold-fields. Well let me take this moment to warn you that you MUST purchase a Miners Certificate before you leave Victoria! One must do this here, for Victoria is the only place that mining licences are issued. They did cost ten shillings a month but I have had to raise the fee to five dollars and again to five pounds yearly because miners like you need governing and you should have to pay for it. I have people stationed at the mouth of the Fraser and on patrol in the Cariboo region to enforce this tax. Further more, it is illegal for anyone to mine in this country without a license, but having a license gives you the exclusive right to your claim for the time covered." |
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Last updated November 30, 1998. Produced by Industrial Art Internet Group Ltd. © 1998-1999 |