Chapter XIX

William’s Creek, Cariboo--The Discoverers--The Position
and Nature of the Gold Country--Geological Features--
The Cariboo District--Hunting the Gold up the Fraser to
Cariboo--Conjectured Position of the Auriferous Quartz
Veins--Various kinds of Gold--Drawbacks to Mining in
Cariboo--The Cause of its Uncertainty--Extraordinary
Richness of the Diggings--“The Way the Money Goes”--
Miners’ Eccentricities--Our Quarters at Cusheon’s--
Price of Provisions--The Circulating Medium--Down
in the Mines--Profits and Expenses--The “Judge”--
Our Farewell Dinner--The Company--Dr. B----l waxes
Eloquent--Dr. B----k’s Noble Sentiments--The Evening’s
Entertainment--Dr. B----l retires, but is heard of again--
General Confusion--The Party breaks up--Leave Cariboo--
Boating down the Fraser--Camping Out--William’s Lake--
Catastrophe on the River--The Express Wagon--Difficulties
on the Way--The Express-man Prophesies his own Fate--The
Road beyond Lytton--A Break-down--Furious Drive into
Yale--Victoria once more 364