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108 British Columbia Women’s Institutes

In the manner of Western tradition, men worked for him for several years
and then moved out to “spreads” of their own.

It was inevitable that with so much land available its value should be
low, but we are startled to hear of John Evans of Matsqui who, despairing
over continued floods, sold thirty acres of Fraser Valley land for a cow
and calf.

Walking, in those days, was not considered a feat but a natural method
of propulsion and Institutes in the Lower Fraser tell of their early settlers
leaving the steamboat on the Fraser to walk into the country with their
meagre possessions on their backs. Abbotsford, Langley Prairie, Peardon-
ville, Port Kells and Ryder Lake all had sturdy pioneers who just “walked
in.” Hazelmere tells of its early days as “Hall’s Prairie” when wolves men-
aced the flocks. Self-supporting as they were, with a custom mill to grind
wheat fine for flour and coarse for porridge, there were still the desired
sugar, tea, coffee and spices to buy. A delightful cash crop was discovered
in the growing of peas which were sold to a “coffee” company, where they
were roasted and with other unlikely ingredients, ground into “coffee”!

It was natural that lively times should spark the Border. ‘he Interna-
tional Border Survey had not defined lines too clearly and we sympathize
with the Widow Griffin who found half her farm in Canada and half in the
United States. The Law often had its difficulties culminating in a great
scandal at Sumas in which Americans rode across the Border and “strung-
up” an Indian who was awaiting trial for murder. Grand Forks reports an
exciting gun battle south of the Border in which two Canadians—villain
and innocent victim—took part. ‘The villain was brought back to Canada
at gun point and legally tried and punished. ‘This was termed Cabin Law.
Hazelmere reports the smuggling of opium in the false bottom of boats.
Osoyoos gazed ruefully across at a U.S. town with nine saloons in three
blocks. Huntingdon knew plenty of excitement. Oddly enough we hear
no mention from any district of Confederation with Canada in 1871. ‘The
forces of law and order appear to have been so firmly entrenched in British
Columbia by James Douglas and his well-chosen administrators that the
change from status of crown colony to province seems to have made little
difference.

Victoria was developing fast and many beautiful estates were spreading
to the outskirts. A beautiful hotel with a row of maple, chestnut and acacia
trees became the landmark of Cobble Hill. Settlement was increasing along
the Coast,—generally by the dependence of rowboats.

Ladysmith, in 1883 with its balmy “banana belt’? soon drew its
quota of settlers. Lively times were not lacking here, for Heriot Bay on
Quadra Island reports the opening of its hotel with great eclat—which
included throwing away the key to the bar room. Bowser had as a special
attraction to its beverage room a marvellous dog, Mike, who served cus-
tomers and collected payment in a basket, with never an error. Campbell
River and Gibson’s settlers arrived in the dignity of a sailboat. Whalers
stopping at the splendid bay on Cortes Island to render down their catch
of whales bequeathed its name of Whaletown. We hear of the dramatic