No. 24

Having for some months past been engaged in important
investigations respecting the aboriginal population of Vancouvers
Island, I have succeeded in completing a census of the Native Tribes,
and in ascertaining with something like accuracy their relative numbers
and places of habitation, which I do myself the honor of transmitting
herewith for the information of Her Majesty's Government.

2. The Census gives a total population of 25,873 souls within the
limits of this Colony without including the inhabitants of the
continental coast of America, immediately opposite Vancouver's Island,
who are connected by intermarriages with the Insular Tribes, and whose
numbers may be estimated at 8,000 souls; we have therefore a total
aboriginal population equal to 33,873 souls in the Colony, and its
immediate vicinity.

3. There is a remarkable uniformity in the domestic habits of
those Tribes, they have each a fixed place of residence, marked by large
dwelling houses, rudely though strongly constructed, of rough plank,
where they reside for the greater part of the year, and only leave for
the purpose of paying temporary visits to other parts of the coast,
where fish, game, and wild fruits are at particular seasons found in
greater abundance than at their usual places of abode.

4. They are hospitable, and exceedingly punctilious in their
mutual intercourse, grateful for acts of kindess, and never fail to
revenge an injury. Though generally dishonest, they are seldom known to
violate a trust. They have all some rude idea of a Great first cause,
and an intuitive sense of moral good and evil, yet not having been
trained in the fear of God, their minds have no ruling principle except
the impulse of the moment.

5. Some of those Tribes are yet in a very rude state, but those
inhabiting Nanaimo, Victoria and Cowegin Districts who have frequent
intercourse with the whites, are becoming domesticated and have turned
their attention to the cultivation of the potatoe, and other
agricultural products, which has the effect of softening their
character, and giving them more settled habits.

6. As the safety and prosperity of the Colony depends more than
upon any other cause, on our maintaining a good understanding with the
native Tribes, I have used every possible means to command their respect
and conciliate their friendship by protecting their rights and giving
them redress, in all cases where they have suffered wrong, and with
equal handed justice severely, punishing their own delinquencies.

7. The management of the Natives is an object which must always
have strong claims upon the attention of the Government of this Colony,
as no probable event can ever prove more disastrous to the settlements
than collisions with the natives. Fortunately for the whites the powerful Tribes of Vancouver's Island so formidable alike for their
numbers and resolute bearing, have no bond of common interest, they are
divided in their views and regard each other with jealousy and distrust.
By retaining their confidence and taking advantage of their mutual
animosities we may therefore always manage to prevent extensive
combinations of the Tribes for the purpose of assailing the settlements.

8. They have been remarkably quiet and well conducted in every
part of the Colony since my general report of last year. A vast number
of roving Indians from almost every part of the coast, between
Vancouvers Island and the 60th degree of north latitude, have at
various times during the season visited the Colony, and their presence
produced a not unreasonable degree of alarm among the white inhabitants,
but we got rid of those dangerous visitors without any actual breach of
the peace.

9. The only overt acts of hostility by the natives which occurred
this year were promptly avenged. The sufferer in one instance was Peter
Cornelius, a European, but I rather think not a British subject, living
singly among the native Tribes of the west coast of the Island, who was
treacherously murdered last winter, through the act or agency of the
Chief man of the village where he resided and who had promised to aid
his pursuits and protect him from danger. Retribution soon overtook the
perfidious Chief, who was shortly afterwards captured and put to death,
by the people of a neighbouring Tribe.

10. The only other case was the attempt to shoot Thomas Williams
at Cowegin, which the opportune presence of Her Majesty's ships enabled
me to punish almost immediately after the offense was committed.

11. I trust those striking examples will have the effect of
deterring other parties from the commission of crime.

I will not venture upon any further remarks at present.