VANCOUVER ISLAND (or Quadra and Vancouver Island) lies off the western coast of North America in the North Pacific. It is long and narrow, extending in a direction from south-east 43* 24' to 50° 3' N. lat., and between 122° and 129° W. long., the length being about 250 miles, the average width 50 miles. It is over lapped at its southern end by the continental headland of Capo Flattery, and between is the strait of Juan de Fuca, five leagues wide at its entrance, and running in an east-south-east direction for about 100 miles, widening in several parts, extending southward into Puget's Sound, and forming several bays on the continental shore, then, sud denly narrowing, turning northward through an archipelago of small islands, called the Arro Archipelago, thence widening into the Gulf of Georgia, and re-entering the ocean amidst another archipelago, through Johnstone's Strait into Queen Charlotte's Sound. Vancouver first discovered this passage In 1792. There are many bays and harbours all round the island. Three blonde of the Arro group are separated from the coast of Vancouver Mond by a passage called the Arro Canal, which is narrow at both extremities, but expands to a consi derable width in the middle. At Wentuhuysen Inlet, which is at tho north end of the Arro Canal, several extensive beds of coal have been recently discovered, the site of which has been named Newcastle. Coal exists also in the northern part of Vancouver Island. At the southern end the settlement of Victoria has been formed, on a harbour earnoesek, safe and easily accessible for vessels, but having the drawback of being scantily supplied with water. The other principal
harbours are, Nootka Sound. Clsvquot, Nitinet, all on the western The shores of the Island pees -ut an alternation of rocky cliffs awl sandy beaches. At no great distance from the sea is a compact mass of Tuned mountains, whose summits are covered with snow. The bland contains a considerable quantity of fertile land, covered with good natural grass. There are numerous small tribes of Indiana on the Wand, of whom some have been found of a friendly disposition.
The possession of Nootka Sound bad nearly given rise to a war with Spain, who claimed it, and had expelled some English settlers from Nootka, but it was at length resigned to England, and has since continued in their hands. Vancouver Island was made over in 1848 to the Hudson's Bay Company by a charter, on condition that they should colonise it. To some extent this has been done.
North of Queen Charlotte's Sound lie Qatar Charlotte's Islands, between 52' and 54• N. lat. The group consists of three islands, ex• tending about 150 miles in length, by about 00 miles In breadth. In thew island, are several excellent harbours. At Mitchell Harbour, on the middle island, and at other spots, gold has been found, embedded In quartz rock. Traces of silver have been found in the rocks. The interior of the Wands is hilly and well wooded, the climate is healthy, and the soil remarkably fertile. The islands contain some beds a coal, and several fine specimens of lead and copper have been obtained. VANDALIA. [Itaaeots.1