No. 77

My Predecessor and myself have had on many occasions
to report respecting the great injury inflicted upon the
Indians by the traffic in whisky carried on by some traders
in Victoria on the North West Coast of this Colony. It is
not long ago since I informed you of the killing of one
native Constable and the wounding of others by Whisky
smugglers at Metlakahtla. With the deepest regret I
now report the murder, under somewhat similar circumstances,
 of Mr Ogilvy, the Collector of Customs at Bella Coola,
North Bentinck Arm. I enclose Copy of the depositions taken
before Mr Brew, the Police Magistrate of New Westminister.
They will give you a correct idea of the manner in which
the Whisky trade is carried on and show that the deceased
gave no provocation which could palliate in any way the
attack which was made on him.

2. Mr Ogilvy was an excellent and valuable public
Officer. I refer to the testimony borne to his merits in
my despatches No. 69 of 23rd Novr 1864, and No. 10
of 25th February 1865, where I announce his appointment
to the Office he held so short a time.

3. It is at least gratifying to me when reporting one
more fatal episode in this demoralizing trade to mention that
the Bella Coola Indians behaved on this, as on every other
occasion, since the Bute Inlet massacres caused us to rely
on their assistance, in the most admirable manner. These
Indians who formerly bore an execrable character on the Coast,
and whose Chief settlement still stands as "Rascals' Village"
on all the old maps, have proved within the last year most
jealous and efficient friends to the white men.

4. Antoine, the murderer, escaped late on a dark night,
in a small boat by himself. Four shots were fired after him,
and a gale of wind came on shortly after his departure.
Nothing has been heard of him since and it is not unlikely
that he may have perished. At the villages below the spot
where he left the "Langley" no trace of him could be procured.
We know that the Bella Coola Indians would capture him should
he venture to return to them, so we presume that, if Antoine
be alive, he has taken refuge among the Comsquit Indians
at the head of Deans' Canal, rarely visited by White men. If
so, he would probably endeavour to make his way across the
country to Cariboo, I have therefore caused timely notice
to be given to the Magistrates of that district, and have
furnished them with copies of a Proclamation by which I offer
two hundred pounds reward for the apprehension of the murderer.