"Bute Inlet Surveying Party"

The British Colonist, December 21, 1861

We briefly noticed yesterday the return of Mr. Homfray and six others, who left here two months since to survey the route from the head of Bute Inlet to the interior. It appears that the party had to endure the greatest suffering and privation on their return, and that their lives were in jeopardy for more than a fortnight, owing to the loss of their canoe, with nearly everything it contained, in one of the rapids of Price River. They were reduced to the necessity of making rafts to get down the river, and spent ten days at the head of the inlet, in attempting to make a canoe with the only tools that had been saved--two axes and a spade. The latter was cut into three and made into adzes to hollow out the trunk of a tree. Finally, when reduced to their last meal, they were rescued from what seemed certain death, by the Indians of Desolation Sound. These Indians Mr. Waddington had made the acquaintance of, some two months before, while on the steamer Henrietta, and on learning that the party had been sent by the "old tyhee from Victoria" (as they called him) showed every kindness, took the party to their lodges on Desolation Sound, fed and kept them, and finally brought them in canoes to Victoria.

With respect to the object for which the party was organized, the information furnished us is satisfactory. Price River is found to be navigable for forty miles with light-draught steamboats, and boats and canoes can ascend twelve miles higher, at which point an easy portage is required to avoid a canon, of about 350 yards in length. The valley then reassumes its former level surface. The distance, in all, from the head of steam navigation to the Big Lake, is about sixty miles. The lake itself is thirty-five miles long, and is drained by Price River. The distance from the lake, according to Indian report, is five days to Alexandria. The natives say that there is not a single mountain or swamp between the canon and Fraser River, and claim to make trading trips to Alexandria twice a year and back by this route. The expedition, from all that we can learn, appears to have been undertaken at too late a period of the year, though the subscribers say they feel perfectly satisfied with the results.