When Victoria was established by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1843 all
that tract of land between Cadboro Bay and The Willows was a park, being
studded here and there with beautiful oak trees and plentifully supplied
with grass in which the elk loved to scamper about.
_Farm Required to Support Post_
At all Hudson's Bay Company's forts, the self-supporting feature was
always given first consideration. At Victoria it was not only necessary
to raise sufficient grain, butter and beef to support the Fort, but also
sufficient to supply Russian America, or Alaska as we now know it.
Uplands was one of the first farms established to gain those ends.
The farm buildings were always just where they now are, but the road
leading to them was different, in that where it now takes a bend where
the golf links association put up their sign, it continued straight
through the cultivated fields to the farm buildings. An examination will
show the trees and rocks still marking this road.
_Riding to Uplands for the View_
The officers at the Fort had saddle horses and it was to the uplands
they went when desiring a ride on horseback. Many officers of Her
Majesty's ships immediately on landing made arrangements for a horseback
ride to this wonderful piece of country.
It has an elevation--without seeming to climb--sufficient to present
perhaps the finest marine view to be found anywhere. The view was
obtainable from almost any part of the thousand acres contained in the
farm.
The handsome oak and maple trees were just sufficiently scattered not to
obstruct the view of the Olympic Mountains to the south; San Juan and
other islands to the east and southeast, which were overlooked by
glorious Mount Baker, always standing out as if a sentinel clothed in
white, guarding a country so rich in minerals, lumber and fish that its
equal has yet to be discovered.
Looking north, towards James and Salt Spring Islands, one is almost
speechless with admiration of the beauty that is stretched before the
eye.
_Indian Villages Are at Strategic Points_
Indian villages were in earlier times established only at points where
the food supply was abundant, but in this particular instance the
village was established for strategic reasons. There were two points
occupied by Indians; one toward the northern side of the bay, where the
present Cadboro Bay Hotel is to-day located, and the other just inside
the point, east of the present Yacht Clubhouse. Those living on the
north side of the bay were the custodians of a portage from Telegraph
Bay to Cadboro Bay, while the Indians on the south side of the bay were
the real defenders of the tribe as a portage from there to Rock Bay had
to be blocked to all enemies as it was to this point that retreats were
made and where also was stored their winter supply of food.
_The Songhees Had a Magic Spring_
The Songhees on the southeast end of Vancouver Island had, I believe,
the most strategic situation of any tribe on the coast. From their
central village at Concordance Arm the all-important route was by
Cadboro Bay, principally because the great spring that was regarded by
them as possessing certain medicinal qualities was located at that
point.
This spring was surrounded by willows and was so carefully camouflaged
that one could hardly find it, excepting that the ground from the spring
to the waterfront was more or less wet. In the improving of Uplands,
this spring was drained in some way and, I am told, does not show on the
surface now, but probably is diverted to the sea beach.
Hoot Mon! Th' Roarin' Game is on Wi' Lads o' the H.B.C.
_Land, Retail and Wholesale Departments at Winnipeg Get Away to Fast
Start--Some Already Displaying Mid Season Form_