VICTORIA, B. C.—THE HARBOR.VICTORIA, B. C.—THE HARBOR.
Tuesday we reached Vancouver. Wednesday we consumed seeing the lusty little city.
Yesterday we spent the morning in picking up the few extra things needed for the Yukon—among others a bottle of tar and carbolic—a mixture to rub on to offend the yet active mosquito.
Vancouver is a city of some 30,000 people, full of solid buildings, asphalted streets, electric car lines, bustle and activity. Much of the outfitting for the Canadian Yukon is done there, though Seattle gets the bulk of even this trade.
To-day we are in Victoria, a town of twelve or fifteen thousand, a fine harbor, and near it the British naval and military station of Esquimault, the seat of its North Pacific war power. The town is sleepy, the buildings low and solid, the air of the whole place very English. The capitol building is an imposing structure of granite, surmounted by a successful dome.
FOURTH LETTER.
VANCOUVER AND SKAGWAY; FJORDS AND FORESTS.
First and Second Day Out,
August 23, 1903. }
We arrived in Vancouver by the steamer “Charmer” from Victoria about ten o’clock A. M.—two hours late—a small boat, packed with passengers. We could not get a state-room to ourselves, so were glad of berths, while many people lay on mattresses in the cabin and many sat up. Tourist travel surprises the slow-going Canadian, and he does not catch up with it.