The New York herald. [volume], February 19, 1854, Image 2

About The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920

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PAPUA, OR NEW GUINEA. |
Ontoftk* H? l- ?*?7 lutlowtf ?? Paellle j
_Ita t rodnrtkon*, Comm?rfUi Rtfo ifw". |
u? idTaniigti m ? Wealing and rrsdtog
h Cation for Aa>*riran V?**U.
T, im . t,,aUd n? ?h*i"fflted by
Tones strait from thf nortkrrn extremity of Atutra.
ka- by the strait of Gallo*ra from Iks swall Wand of
Balwabtv, which liet fuither we*t, aud by Dampiera
strait from Neir Britain, which it to the aa?t of it.
It extends from 10 d ?arret south laltuds nearly to
the Equator. Caj* Rodney, the moat southern point,
is in 10 deg. 3 mia. south latitude, an4 the moat
northern point, Cape Good Hope, is in 0 deg. 19 min.
?oath latitude. From w*-t to eat>t it extendi be
tween 130 deg. and dl deg. 11 min. eut longitude.
Hie moat northern point, Cape 8*1 u, on Qallowa
strait, is in 132 def. 2 min. east longitude. The
length from southeast to north weat la about 1,300
miles, and its width varies bet ?een 500 and 18 miles.
Between 135 deg. and 133 deg. east longitude, I
Geilwink, or Great Bay, penetrates two hundred
miles southward into the body of the island, and is
about two hundred milea wide at its entrance, in
whioh some islands of considerable extent are situ
ated. The southern extremity of this bay is nepa
rated from the Molucca Sea by an isthmus of only
eighteen miles width. That part of the island whlih
la wert of this isthmus is indented by several deep
Inleta, the largest of which is McCleurte Bay, up
wards of one huLdred miles long.
"She Arab#, in their early voyages, appeir to hare
frequently visited 1'ayua, aiid detcribe the natives
in the most frightful colors, as cannibals. They are
mentioned by the Arab travellers Ibu Wahab and
Ibu Zaid, aiid nesrly the same aconnu Mem to be
rented by Musoudi, Yakuti, ami IbuelWardi.
It was piobably as well kaown to the Arab navi
gators of the tenth century as it is to the Kuropeaa
traders of the piecent day.
I 'aj.ua offer* a very interesting field for gco<ra
phical exploration and commercial eiiterprise. It is
inhabited by two distihct rac?s of people, the Pa
puans and the Horogoros, who sub.siat upon the
sjKintanoous productions of the earth and by !]-h
ing. The interior has never beea explored Th?re
is ml extensive range of lofty motutaira, covtrod
wi^ primitive forests, visible from the soutaw-.t
coast, called tha Owen Stanley Range, tne uicae t
peak of which is ab Hit 13.20") feet high.
It has several large rivers, wm-h ? i
be nayiga^'* ????""?wis or miles into the iate'ior: ?
uuc Of The largest jet dlscorered is fir# aiil0i (rM9 ,
at its embouchure into the Paeiiic, in latitude 3 45
south, and 143 .'15 east longitude.
T*e island abounds in (uaay valuable eoounerclal
products, among which ?rv lie fallowing: ?Amber
ambergris, tripany.eoihle b rd a aers, tortoise she!'! I
pearls, pearl shell, m< itier o' peirl, blaok loories,
urge and red loories, argss phea.*a .its, birds or para
dise and many oth<* kinds of birds, which t*e P*.
puans have a peculiar way of preparing; wd.l nat
megs, rose nialoes, ebony , iron wood, various odor
iferous, medicinal, aud (i;e?oods, camphor, saco
rocf.anut, palm oil, gold just, aod diamonds. One
of tha most imporaut arud*s of export is raasscy
bark, which is uken by the Dut-h trHers to Java
Where the powder niido of it is expensively me j br
toe Javanese for tubb ng the bedy, and fetches $30
per picnl of 133J pounds. Ts? Dutch, Chines v
Bujia, and natives or thr nikhb >ring Wands ol Ce
ram, Ooram, and the Ar/u uroup, uru the principal
traders with 1 apua. This commerce is represented
to be very exteusire and profitable. The Cliiueae
nave found the trade with Papua so lucrative that
'DK *J' tl,e>' c*n ?o monopolize it; atd
witi? this view take every occasion to prejudice the
natives against all otner foreigners, wfiich will ac
count for the hostility thay hare generally shown to
Gae fcngUBh and Americans who have attempted to
?pen intercourse and trad* wiih them. One of the
principal articles ol commerce with Papua consists
In slaves, which are taken on b urd bv the Chioccf
and sold at Borneo and the adjacent islands of the I
Indian Archipelago at a grtat profit To obUiu
these slaves tbe C alnese traders stimulate the Pa
Suan tribes to war with each other, as is done for
le same purpose is Africa. As this traffic is repre
sented to be very considerable, the Western nations,
aad especially the United States, are as much bouud
to put dawn slavery in tb? East as in tbe West, and
open up a legitimate trade with this immetue, popu
lous, and fertile island.
One of the principal objects of the IUaru' u, Sooloo
and other piratical tribe#, in their foray son the north
ern and southeastern coasts of Borneo is to procure
slaves for sale at other perts, on which they realize
enormous profits; aad until those tribes are subdaed
or exterminated tbe commerce ef the Archipelago
most languish and be propottionably checked.
NoBoronean nation except tbe Dutch has an? com
mercial intercourse with tbe island. In 1S28, Capt.
Steenboom.of the Dutch vessel-of. war Triton aicom
panied by the brig Iris, explore j and took nosMmion
ol the west coast, which is estimated to contain a
population of two millions. In about 4 deir. ;!0 min.
aooth latitude they observed a niaje.tij chain of lofty
mountains, running from eai-tto west, at a great dis
tance in the in'erior, several of the mist elevated
mmmita of which were of dazzling whiteaws, and
apjK'iired to be above the limits of periietnal snow,
whioh in thoa? latitndet would give tiiem an elevation
of from 1 ?> ,000 to 20 000 feet. Tbey (lisoverod and '
named Triton's Bay, fa latitude 3 deg. 4". min. south,
and longitude 134 deg. 15 min. east. It Is a very
large bay, surrounded by lofty and picturesque hllU,
the highest of which, Mount Lamautsjeri, is about
2,500 feet high. '
On the 24th August, 1828, Fort Du Bus, on Tri
ton s Bay, was opened with much ceiemony by Lieu
tenant Modera and the officers of tbe Triton, and
possession taken, in the name of the Kin g of the
Netherlands, of the entire west coast ind part of
the north and south coasts, ia presence of many
nsuve chieffe, who swore alleglanoe to the Dutch
government.
The expedition remained in the bay tyree months,
and, after lotirg twenty mei from the eflecti of the
climate with sixty on the sick li*t, including CapHiu
ttteenboom, was ci>mj)elled to return to A mboyna
Where the captain shortly after diei.
They collected much valuable iuf jrmation respect
ing the geography, ethnograjihy. natural history
and hy drography of that part of tbe islaod. Anion*
the animals which they discovered atid described
were various speaies of kangaroo, one of which lives
on iivm, the wild boar, and one hundred and nine
teen kinds of birds.
1? ?on?equrnce of the insalubrity of the climate
Uie Dutch wert compelled to withlraw their troops
from Fort I)u Bus, in 1836, with the intention of
oorstraoting a fort on some healthier point of the
OOlBk
The promontory of Cape Valsche. in 8 deg. 21
min. south latitude, and longitude 137 deg. 40 mil
east, was aonsidered part of Papua till April, 1835
when Lieutenants KjoI and Bause, of ttio Dutch I
Nary, discovered the strait separating it from the
mainland, in about 6 deg. 30 rain, south latitude,
which they named Princess Marianne Strait, and the
island Prince Frederick Henry. The island, about
?whty miles broad, is low, and covered with trees.
The "trait is narrow, wl ;h a strong current
Trie Dutch appear to have an incontestable , laim
to that part of Papua which is situated between 141
* ~?8ree8 8*h'1 longitude on the southern coast an.l I
then-* weaterlv. northwesterly and northerly as far
a? the Cape of Good Hope, situated on the no.thera
coast Since the first di-covery of the island, they
have averted Iheir supremacy ov<r the greater part
,?orJ1h7/,'t S'S"1' ai subject to their
."vUf ?'Tldore' 10 whom tha natives ac
knowledge thSr allegiance and regularly pay tri- j
M. D'Urrilie, the celebrated French clrcumnavi
gator, exjJored thw cosst in 1k3<>, at d in the acoount
of his test voyage sp?aks of a great mountoin, re
markable for its conical form, not far from Cape
Bjro, in latitude 4 degrees south, and longitude 135
degrees east He considers It an excellent point of
reoonnoissance for the entrance of a ahannal to ttie
westward of this mountain promontory, and which
?ei supposes must communicate with the vast bay at
(>eilwlnkt on the opposite co?t of the island, that
has t.ever been folly explored.
?/!,2L,"rtUn.,,c Majesty's surveyiig
?hip Bramble, latided April 6, 184t>, on the sontH
coast, near a cai?e which he called Cane Possession
in latitude eight deg. thirtv fonr min. and thirty
eight see. ?outh, and Toneituda 146 deir. 11 min add
27 sec. east, where he hoisted the British X and
took possession of the coast in the name of her Uri
tannio Majesty.
The whuie coaat appeared thickly inha^ted. Their
vUteges consisted of large and respectable lookina
huts, the land near them presenting a very agreeable
?nd fertile appearance. The natives brought off
*"**?? cane, sago, a sort of arrow root, as
? k *Pecin:ien" of ^eir arts and manufactures
till. ?"tow?, "pears, ornaments. As., which
for w,ch triHw ** worc offrr
of the f?iiT^!,e^.!laTe rtnK'e *nd dooh,e ?noei, some
one hii^U * c*P*b,? ?r carrying from fifty to
one^hnndred men.Uf{ the latter two or three tinn
light 'oonner'color7 i^tnPlexion rrom ^ a
ShUfllZr n Urtrl ? w,""h ?r? holes
wretcnea so large as to admit ci*ii? of ? min'.
toumb being passed through them. Th? cartmV^s
dividing the nostrils is perflated in like m
!icapi^hya or whii
AeU, ground to tbe stee and sW . f > nblllla^
?out of these people wore round their he?d* no?t
Ptetted fillets Into which were woven
of the trou. They wore beddes,
reneniM pg ^ otber ortumeuti. Lieut- .
mtn whohada sort of mantle,
\ of which it tu mad* much lesembUng
tiio cloth nWc by th? South sea islanders. Con
fr1^ to the eastern* of the natwes of ijQ?tralu, I
0' tb?-? people ?? Ti^
Most of the adults ?ad small calabashes, contiin
isg liooe or cbunam, which thej chewed with some
vegetable. He aaw no iron or other metal whatever
in their poeseetion. aad the astonishment they maoi
fexted at everything they saw about the English
party clearly proved their former Ignorance of the
existence of such a people.
IJeaUaant Yale completed the survey of the
n,rth part of Torres strait. There is a a:'?fxi
and clear panage of about thirty miles broad,
between the Eastern Fields and Papua, extending
from longitude 148 to 144 east. From the Bramble
reef to the westward, the passage Is more contracted,
jet still in some placee live or six milee wide. At
Bramble Key, wnere we landed, there is a large
quantity of guano; a vegetable resembling spinach,
at d turtle may also be found here at particular sea
sons of the year.
The imssage near the Fapuan coast will be a great
advantage, especially tc vessel* which have fallen to
leeward of the southern entrances of the Harrier
reef, which seme tiroes happens when the wind is
strung'at south, as K onuses a great set to the north
along tbe reefs.
Captain Blackwood, of Q. B. M. ship Fly, and
Lieut. Yule, bavs erected a oonspicuous stone beacon
on an outlying jock, in erder to mark the safe but
narrow channel through the Barrier, called Raine
Islacd cbannrt.
Captain Oven Stanley, R. N., has reeantly com
pleted a hydrographloal survey of Papua and the
Louisiede. From the recent surveys made by
order of tie British government, it appeari that
Endeavor's Strait is navigable for large vessels,
and that Torres Strait, and the paswges along the
t net coart of Australia are perfectly practisabla and
lite frosi dai/ger, while the Barrier reefs of the
eer-tern coast form a natural breakwater, betwten
h Inch and tbe land steamers may pasa in their
eonm. not ouly in safety over a distanee of 1,200
?lilts, but in the enjoyment of some of the most
magnfictnt scenery. This haa opened np a new era
n swam navigation; a line of steamers being about
to bi ewtablii-hed by the British between Singapore
rni> Sydney, by the ronte of the Indiaa Archipelago,
Torres Strait, and the great Barrier reefs, with coal
It^ depots at Batavia, Macassar, and Albany Island,
adjacent to Ca|>e Yoik on that strait.
Tbe |xri< d is rapidly coming when tbe vast chain
cf islands reach ir k from New Caledonia to Papaa,
Ce Malaccas, Celebes, Java, Borneo, Sooloo, the
Pfcillpines, and China, will hereafter supply an im
mense commerce, of which Torres strait moat inevi
tably be the channel. It appears that a constant
in?iTuijf lniriooiJiM; ai?i? Ww^q the natives oi tbe
?trait , of Prince of Wales Island ana otaers adjacent,
Eideavor Strait, Mount Adolpbui Island and those
of the main land about Cape York, which laat, from
its central position, is much frequented, where a free
communication takes place between the Papaa and
Aurtsaliiui races. The presence of a settlemest at
Cape York wonld be of importance to the trading
vessels which would then frequent the northeast por
tion of Torres Strait.
H. B. M. ship limld, Capt via Dunham, left Eng
land in May, lxfj'i, on a vovage of survey among the
islands of tbe Pacilic. He has been instructed to
form a chart f <r tbe best route rrom Panama to Syd
ney. to select a point for the establishment of a coal
depot, aiid an island for a penal rettleruent, tbe Bri
tish government saving decided the ronte to Sydney
by the w ay of Panama, to be the best and least liable
to inteiniption.
The following extract* from Capt Keppel's visit to
tie Indian Archi.ebgo in 1850, confirms the favor
able descriptions (hat we have previously noticed: ?
The interior of this matnitieent lslaad (Papaa) is Isss
known th?n either of toe ledlan Archipelage; bat yet it
Is supposed Dot only tn abound in miMrtla, r u t to posssss
e'en Inly of s >11. ud, from its tiers ef bills rising Into
distant mountain", a ruriaty of o'imate capable of pro
dncixgiTery fialt or vegeable that (tows withla tbe
tropics.
For the naturalist I beli-ve that no country in the
wcrld Is equkJIj rich In beautiful rare birds acd bsuts.
Its little ibet we saw of the natives confirmed what we
had heard - tbat tb?> are a finer race than aay of the
li'asdcrs; hit do I believe that their ferocity aad caanlbal
i*ra are oarr.ed to the extent reported A few eommoai
tise al eg tbe?oa?i may, fom ormer 111 treatment by
the rare civilised pa'e faced maa have been as suspicions
?nc trescbercus. bat I would fain h >pe that a oonntry oa
wbich nature appears to bave be*n io boustifal, is not
marred in it? principal eat ore by posseeslog a race ot in
habitant! such as they ba?e een described.
Tbe oonntry or New Uniosa offsrs an iavitiof aad ex
tended field to tbe pbiUmbi npUt. The well directed
eperatlons ot a few high minded capitalists? nay, of ose
MMIlll it n*e'ly lbe right niattip- might opsa
sacb a ira ket foi European pro.lno .lues as would sjub
r?iara any preliminary outlay "tsa-fo.d into their bo
? m?." New Guiopa iBVilM and ark a for a ja?t gnrirn
a ant, ?nd a ?yaten> of proUclioa to the oppreeaed There
? e materials to work npoo, bat not every day are Indivi
dual* to be foind willlag to aaeriSoe heal t a and fortune
or ibt b'nrflt of atrai gers and tncoeedlDg generations
We rid not aotiae any eenoet off the New Caineaeoast.
Tn'r may be accr anted lor by its opee and expoeed piet
tioi>. Oa tbe suntbern side, which is protected by a ooral
ree', tfce natives appear to live aa mash oa the water as
la the jungle Toe smoke rUing la various directions
o? the big er grounds was proof 10 as that the popala
t. m ext*n<l'd some dUtauee into the laterlor. Vol. 1L
pp .'j 7-201.
Hame wcrk, page 220-231, extracts from the Joar
lial of Capt Owen Stanley, H. B. M. surveying ship
Uaule-cake:?
Kxrept the ia.'acd nnder the shelter of whieh we bad
an.-borfd, no Ling wbaterer oonld be seen bat mass** of
l'.r?vj ;1 nCn above, and volumea of rolliog mist below,
wbl!e, to make it more tantaliiiof, to seaward all was
as citaras poaoble
About an boor before rnmet a charge came ovsr the
?ore far more lusgloal, far mi re sadden, than anything
aiUmptrd cn the stage, when the dark |reen curtain is
drawn up to sxow the opmleg scce ef s me aew panto
mime. Ail at r no the ciou a began te lift, the mlat dis
per>ed. and the coast ol New Guinea atood before as,
clearly d> float* against the sky, tinged with the rajs of the
setting eun.
The moootairs seemed plltd oae above another to aa
ef ormoas height, aad were of a deeper blue than I have
ever Mea before, even io tbe Htralte of Mage Ilea. They
ar? intemcted by tremeadoaa g>rges; and from the foot
of the Joiresl rang.s a oon.id?rable tract of low and ap
parently alluvial soil tiached the beaah
Tu g.re an lc!ea of this ?c?ne by description would be
utterly )m|.je?iol* Tr einUnre blue of the moantaias
con rs.'ed >traui,ely wi.h n a?fes of white flaacy clouds
drirt n raticly pa.t them by the gale ? the bright glare
of the setting aun on the rear mils, covered wUh meat
luxuri, u? vegetation, from wr.ieh most mystertoaa little
jets cf very white amoke from line te time burat oat,
and the two su> vrjicg iJkips q-v te In the foreground, sar
rounded by ?. a lv? ea. . as complete] tbe |>toture, which
we dill not enjoy very long, for in tho*e latltadei, an y u
very well kuoe. there is no tei lgbt; ani in lees the* aa
hoar from ihe time the cloud* bt-gsn to rie* all was dark;
aid Lbou{h we ,aw many of tne p'aks again, we never
had another cbaite< of teeirg tbe whole range so claariy.
* * * From aubseqai-nt nbaervetions I find that some
of the kill' cm hare be?n fony elgnt miles ill, and
ware at Uaet aa hi|b as thaPeak of Teaertffe If fioo so
gt? at a oi>taa-e i he effect would be eo grand, what most
it lo amorgst thoee mountain*?
An American whaling station somewhere about
the north end of Papua, or on one of the neighboring
islands, would contribute very mueh to the interest
of oar trade. A harbor where vessels could re fit and
refresh would be very acceptable to the whaling
fhips which frequent the adjacent eeas, and whi jh at
present find but a vfrj cool reception in the Datch
Gustations, sacb as Gernate and the Molucca Islands.
At present those vessels, when they require repairs
or stores, proceed to Hong Kong or Singapore, which
takes them a long way from the scene of their opera
tions. aud mutt, of couree, contribute materially te
their di-bar>enunta. Such a station would, no doubt,
become the tocua of a very nourishing trade, if made
attractive t? the natives by being condusted on the
same principles as at the free (>orts at Papaa. Tbe
trade of Pspua alone would form a very important
con'ribution to the resources of snch a station. The
articles which this island furnishes are of a very va
luable description, and while some are suited for tbe
Huri'i?an and American markets, otaers are of pecu
liar value for the China trade. The Dutch sannot
as-ert tleir exclusive right of property te countries
which they do not choose or have not tbe means to
crctipy, snd the resources of which they have hither
to failed te develope to any extent by commercial
intercourse.
Raw Hrnnawlrlt UgiiUtiTt Council.
Th* laglrlatlr* coon el I of the Provtaoa of New Rrgm
wink m oj>r ed kt Krade -taktoo on the 9th taat , by t?e
I i?at*nart (ieveraor W* fir# below a few extraata from
tha apeach whlih the Lieut Qjvara >r d*Uv*r*d oa the
ocoialto. He ?*y? ? N*w R'ltmviok hu b*ea exempt
from Ik* vUltatloa of thaw din mm which hm prtTiil
?4 *o<l we ma? be thmkTil that tha itora of
war which wii IcipeodlB* *r?r Karop* (low not threat
en oar peaceful thorw I koow wall, however, thkt If
th* honor of th* mother o oantry iihoald (avoir* bar la
hoidlitia*. year loyalty to oar Qawa aad yoar ayrapathy
with onr fallow ?abj*?ts, woald itlr every toiom and
aroaa* every fwllaf la fhver of tha Brltlah lief.
With reg?rd to loaaaara* of tataraal latereat, I balleva
tba* U>e railroad from th* On If of St Lawroaea t? St.
John, will advaaw ta aeoortfaooa with yoar wlrhaa. I
have MmHM la th* boaor Ml MMI of thiaa
who have atdertakea tti emetraatua.
1 rwi it my dotr to r*?omm*ad yoa to pa m aorae Ml)
for e*earlac It****!1" tod m*rebaadt<* >|Uhi wllfal
rerelaemw* or ealpabl* aefleat la tha ooaitraetioa aad
matagemeat af ? learner*.
It afford* m* tliim plaaearw to aoafatalala yoa oa
the pnwpevoae atata af oar fioannw. Toe ravanua of
?8M wa* freatiy la a4raaaa of that raaalrad ta th* pro
rl'-M yaar, hat th* laa aan of *or raaoarw* ta tha
t waive moatba jut *aM, abowa atill mora *vM*at mirti
of a floorlabtp| trade, aad provaa aad laoraaaad awjoy
anaat of *omf< rta aw th* par: of oar labor! *f popalattoa
I tratt yoa will aaaetloa t> a (tap take a by tha jo vera
? art la WTlag tff by aaHelpatioa tk* kalaaw af th*
(?M ItoW la IM1, aad da* la Loadoa la tfcla aad th*
Uira* follow!* | year* Afar dtrcharftaf tha dnatlaf
balaaew t aa at the *ad af 1M2, aa offer aa th* part of
th* |0>*ramaat to taka ap thaw dabvataia* waa mad*
and ao**pt?d, *o that th* Provtaaa may aaw h* oowetder
ad aa virtually frw from debt. At tha earn* Mm* th*
balaaaa aow ta haad. aad tha prohahia amqaat of tha
rrvaaa* for 1M4, wtIL I truet, Mara at year dltaoaal
fnada amply eafli*4*at Iter th* ordtaary a*rvta*a W tha
rrovta**.
Cur Califoi nit Corn eaponci anca.
San FaaKCiaoo, Jan. 12, 1W4.
CalifomiaG ossip? Latter from on* of the Sin Fran
cisco JUut 7V n- Sooty m Omhfor->**?Tk? Pre
sent Slut* of Erectxvn of Elegant &*
-Extravmganc* ?/ the Laiits ? Mu s>tal
and Theatrical Chit - Chat ? Log of m New Year's
Crust, 4-c.
We have been very dtatipated here late'y, though
It rn?y seem strange 5o people at bume that we
j should so boob have caught up the elegancies, fop
I perles and frivolities of the " be?t society" ia older
j cltiea But you don't know anything of Sao Fran
j oIaco; no, nor naver will, uutU you ootne and 861 for
! yourself, mingle in its society, gs?e"hpon its elegant
! buildings that lift tbem?elve< so proudly to the hkiat
: ?presto! what a chauge from its little tents and
I hut*. The drees circles of our thea'res are now no
longer filled with long bearded men with slouched
, thapemus and red and blue flannel shirt*, with face
I and bands that nevei, since crossing the Isthmus,
bad seen soap and water? no. sir! I wish it distinctly
understood that we are not now a dirty or a dowdy
people.
A number of our cWsens are crowning oar kllU
tope with perfect bijoux of cottages, suggestive oP
warm hearths and w|rmer hearts, babies, kittens,
well behaved cats; fine and substantial brick churahr
es are and have been built, which look as if tbey
were "not for a day but for all time," An 3 ho* the
old time comes o'er ma aa the bells Heir out on the
Sabbath' morn the call to prayer? how it recalls the
past. 1 know of nothing that brings to my mind so
vividly the days " laug syne," as the sound of the
churcli bells on the pleasant Sunday mornings.
lhe dry goods stores are beginulig to 1<mk very
beautiful, and each tries hard *o oatihine the other.
I never saw in the States, (and I hive bat) some ex
perience in the shopping Hue,) su h ma/rnificent
goods of every description as are nere displayed; fou
can obtain anything heart cau wUb f >r looaay -?-out
it takes a great deal of it though. Drees is carriel to
an extent tbat w juld astonish dime of your sober,
quiet readers, and at bime <ronld be considered ia
very bad taste. Calicoes aud all common stuff* are
I totally discarded from a lady's wardrobe.
I In our muhical circ es we have tbe Pa '.iflc Musictl
tioupe, Madame Anna Tbillon and her party, a
French opera, Miss Julia Gould and Hits Pel by. We
are told we are soon to have Ann* BLnop. Kve
Ilaye?. and Ole Bull. What are we to do with them
all/ W'evhall run mode mad; it will ba almost an
impossibility to meet with a friend on 'he street that
will not be bumming, in most delightful falsetto, and 1
truly operatic *tyle, airs from me ui*>^t celebrated I
wpcraii or tbe day. I have -oightly caught the iafeo
tion myself, but "'Tis vain to tell install 1 fael "
Imagine my surprise aid astoni-Jimetif. a few days '
since, when a gentleman of my acq laiatao e, not
weighing lets than one hundred and ninety, w tlked
up to me, and with the most fisctnuting manner in
the world, presented me with an l,ntneo*e ring of
C'a iforiiia golo, (it was a ?peciueu,iu regard to slis
I do assure you,) and after the aui.ro red ?t?l? oi tne
day, commences singinir, ia the mutt terrific ha*
"Take now Uiis ring, tis thine, love " I hadn't a
word to say, but ' vamohed"? found myself at ho<ne?
how I got there I havn't tr<e rem >t-st idea. To ap
preciate this you should have the ring.
The Pasific Musical troupe have sung to ?erv good
houses, aud at firht were en nuBitstica ly re
ceived; bot th?-y have tired us, an J wo think it a bore '
to be obliged to Ibten. M>&* Julia Pu'by and Miss
Gould have won the publio by tbfir street bilud
singing? tbe former particularly . from tbs facttbat
she appears often and to tone advaoW<e ia aule
attire, at lea?ta)l the gentlemen say so, but ( dso't
see what they flua attractive in * wo nau's wearing
toe . Mrs. Sinc'air tried tliem on the other
iiijzht; some naid tbey didn't fit. o'.^r* ;hat they
were particularly becoming h?r peonliai style.
Mrs. Sinclair ih doin^ all , the .-cnuoieiita1 hero*
inee? the Ophelias, Desdeuiona*. Paulines, and Mari
tanas. The public in general #ouid orefer a young
and pretty act ess in the-* oh inters, but wjuld
stay away rather than see them doue by an indiffer
enJt_actre8S- MfS- SmcUtf is not s.> popular aa at
Madame Anna r billon appear* for tbe fir4 time on
Monday, when I suppose ths same f*roe of b miuets
and benefits will be ena:'ed, rings and diamood pins
and thing?. Heads, hesrts, an<l nab will bo thrown
"ne /jet of the dear creature, <*ho li-ips nuat <e- I
lightful English with sucn a sw. et accent, and siugs
beautiful French songs so charmingly. Well vtvt
ia bmgattJU ! vive lajote !
James Kt ndali has made his appear dice in public
ence. on the occasion of Mrs Judah's iwneflt. The
greeting was heartfelt, and the applause watch fol
Iowed his efforte immense. He it the leader of tue
Union Band, and has become in the shoit time he
kaa been here an immense favorite.
New Year's Day ? the first of January. 1S64? was a
great day here, I may say a very greU day? a day
when many people saw the star* and stripes don Mk?
when every man carried home hnoirn turkey, and a
good fourteen pounder at that? when every female
waa in doors, and every he male out of doom. Kn
closed is a line left on my table during tbe day :
New Year'* lJ?y, 18(4 ? The Mmui-nvi wits iirht
br??*e? aari pltaiaot waathvr. A" 3 M P 4 madeakll
h-.Te op tha ('arbotrii anobor aa-1 hov? nhort oi th? port
?ea At 3 P M If tt u <l?r aalgh no t>i? acarb .ard Uck.
Md lodk bfuioii of Port Oiasta'faaw mtral atraaro
sail and ator.d offabnra. At 4 hor? a^ou; aed at 4 10
aastatcbor. wlih tba oolora flytnir , off Kort RMlla- ?x.
ebaogad ?alotaa atth the Kort, and ?aat tha eraw a?h?r?
on libarty bor? away agais. Twalr/, .uMal*h? nqaUlr
weather and dirty appaaraaaa to wla war.1 ; aaw ? ?
I have plenty of gossip for yon? balls and parties,
public and private; but I will let it lay over till my
next, till when I trust yon may have your full
Bhltfe of Spnsui*.,
8a* Francisco, Jan. 10, 1854.
Charges tn San Frannsco-The New Theatre
Mrs. S nr lair? Anna Tinllon~RUsh for the He
rald Here? Mr. Murdoch? Mr i. Wndward?
Miss Julia Gould? Swresi of Gjttrnor Purdy?
Great Gold News, $?<?.
The Pacific Mail Steamship Company's magnifi
cent steamer Joha L. Stepaens leaves this port to
day for Paaama, ana by it I send a few j ittlngs down
from this wonderful city ?for city indeed it U Teste
ard frame houses have long since departed, and
street after street of elegaiit hrick and stoae b iiid
ings greets tbe eye, while all the luxnresaad dUtaa
ciesofthe season are here to be had in as great a
profusion as at home. The hoteli are all crowded,
the last steamer bringing over one thousand passen
gers.
Theatricals are in a flourishing condition. Mrs.
Catharine N. Sloclair U tbe mauager of the uew Me
tropolitan theatre, which, by tbe way, is a magnifi
cent structure, built by Mr. Freucii, well known ai
aa architect ii New Y rk. There are four tiers of
*5 will bold as many ai tbe Broadway
It is fitted up in he m *t ele?ant m tuner, and is
nightly crowded. Mr Murd *h has inst completed a
bnlliaijt engagement, hit. benefit yielding over |'J, 000.;
Mra Hinclair has been performing with him, and I
as bu re you is rapidly udv?nring in her profession ,
reapirg a golden harvest Madame inna Thllton
commences tonight Every seat has been taken for
a month peat, and expectation is on the tip toe to see
and hear her.
Our gentlemanly Postmaster is universally esteem
ediiere; your correspondent has t> thank him fer
many civilites and for the earliest copy of the
HskALO upoh the arrival of every steamer. Uv the
way, it is curious to see tbe rush f>r this pet journal
here; fifty cents is eagerly paid tor it, and tbe young
urchlns of news boys' pocket their half dollar with
a- much nonchalance as at home tbey take their two
cento.
Mlt* Heron hM taken the town fairly by utorrn ;
ti e American is cr>wded to auffbcatiou on each night
ot her performance, and her acting i? really full of
grtiina. She is miserably mi pported- indeed ,tftis is the
great drawback here; there ate no n'ook companies
UunphMrs. Sinclair, who hat d >re mire tnan any
one else in thia country for (be drima, ) understand
tm? sent to New York fur tbe p'ck of the market.
"Macbeth" was lately prodated at Mn>.^iiclair'a thea
tre. Mr. Murdoch was the hrr > of the night and
placed it to the satisfaction at least of the audience.
Lady Macbeth wa? performed by Mrs. Woodward,
one of the beat actreese* on the stage. I clip bnlow
from a daily oaper here, a well merited notios of
ttiis estimable lady:?
W* auold not bat adra!re th? anlng of thli lady, on the
ocowioa of tha prod nation ot ?' W.ch th " ?t tha K?trop?
II t an Lady Maabath ia a pa t raq-lrlog no or l<i?rr o?
paxlty, either or totallMt or k >o*mh?* of tha bnriaaaa
?i tha ata(*. to (Ira It afloat, toroa an vigor. I* the k??
a''?r tha fnun ar, aba waa aron<i?r'aUv la tea ? aad
a> oaaxi to lafaaa by bar ?> ut-rly aatlnt . oe * tarn mwI
r?M*ntiea to tha Maabath of tha light Her faoa i< lat?l
k'taal aad ??pre*?l?a, bar ecnneiatkra tflatloct aod
e'aar, aad iha w ??! J at tbta bo aa aiqiMttw aa
a leading aatrrai at aay of tha principal thaatraa ia tha
Vnloa.
She la a (Treat favorite with a California andlence.
and haa realized a fort an? by her labor and industry.
John Brougham. we hear, is earning, and ererbody
here ia anxious to greet him.
MiaaJalia Gould la a great favori'e here, *he
arrived her* about t menth siuie, having left W il
li ck 'a theatre for a very tempting offer made by Mra.
Finclair. She has made quite a hit bore in her hall*)*.
Last week, ina" Tbe ladder of Lore," ii? Intro
duced a very pretty song written for her hy Btephea
C. Mamtt, called '' Come, ting that song again,"
and it waa enthoaiaetioaJly enored. a* it ia evary
sight ahe ainga it Horace Water* la publlahln { it
ii. New York.
Tbe wkaJera' aneeaaa the last aeaaon haa be> a be
j >nd description grett I hare for you sora ? ? xtm
ordinary aiititg item*, by whish it w>uld seem that
the gold ia more abaudant than ever. Indeed, a gen
Himm calling Into my office this Terr day, tells me
that from the bar he naa jaM left cm the Yob* rlvar,
10 000 me* might work for one hundred yean, and
yet not half take oat the preeioai metal, do hurrah
to the new cowers; be not disheartened, nor think
the " good time" pawed; U has barely oemmeaaed.
Come on? tbere is roam for thousands mora. There
is a company at the junction of the Yaba and Fea
ther rivers, where the* an running eight double en
ginee, and have in their employ sixty man who**
waves are (8 a day. Their claim is five hundred
feet lo?g aad one hundred wide. The oempany eon
sisw of eeven members, and this is the fifth season
they have worked the cla'm, and $1,600 is the shaia
of each man a weak. At another baron Feather rivtr
there is a company of thirty-three members, and last
week thev divided $i6,W6 among them, or $785
per man, for one week's work; and they aay that
this reason has been the rioheat in the yield of the
precious **U1 yet known. In one of the
southern mines, one bank claim took oat Inst
week foar pound i of gold a day. Foor or five ef
three rlaims an owned by Englishmen, who have
made their pilee and gone nome, having aold their
claims for three thousand dollar* and four thousand
apiece.
A magnificent ball came off her* OB WedneediT
last. It waa given by tb? "California! Pioneers. :
Price of tickets $10. More than fifteen thousand
kVere pretent, and over five hundred ladies, and I
prill venture to say a greater galaxy of beauty never
graced a ball room tn any oity in the world. I waa
particularly pleaaed with the easy, quiet aad graceful
manner of the flaeeiaating Mrs. . Her drees of rich
ly Igured white satin was in exquisite taste; the lively
aad vivaeious Mia* ,was greatly admired, and cre
ated <ntte a sensation; but it ia idle to particnlariae.
The room waa brilliantly lighted aad meet elegantly
decorated. The ball used belongs to Henry
Meigs, Esq., once of the Maaical Institute of New
York. It waa remarked by many of the new
corner* from your gay city, that it would be diffi
cult in any ball room to see more female beaaty than
?a* there assembled. There was the soft ha**l
eye, a look from which goes at once to
the heart; Hps that lay like roeee r eating upr>n each
oilier: bair so bright and soft that the richeat silk
wmdd be coarne ia comparison, though saun by the
worm* that fed on tbe mulberry trees of Eden. Ever
and anon forms swam by m* mora graceful than
?wast, beaatiful as silver cloud* tailing aide by aide
over the noiaeleea bine heaven. Here one aoqnattad
with her fan. tbere another playing with her bouquet,
a third tat with her tin v hand half burled am'd a dark
eliuter of flowing ringleta, while a fourth beat her
little foot to some well remembered tune. And when
I escaped from this scene of enchantment I acaioely
ktew whether I stood on my head or my heels, so
entangled were my senses in rich dromes, bright
eyes, long ringlets, and a thousand other tempta
tion*, from which I prayed earnestly to be delivered.
The dsaeere kept it up " till day light did appear,"
and all went merry as a marriage bell. By the
ateamer to-day many old Californians leave us for a
homeward visit.
Bamcia, Jan. 14, 1854.
California Lt%;' , tun? Capital of the Stat* ? Tht
Proposition of VtiUjo? Swindling Transac
tion $, 4 c.
Thin place is the temporary sett of government of
Galifereia. It la aituated on Siisan bay, forty- three
B'ilM from San Francis to. It ia actually a v*ry
a nail place, both as regards numbers aa well as tbe
characters of the residents. It is said that this is the
prettiest season of the year here. If it is, God de
liver (pe from the ordinary season. Now we have
fogs that one can almost cut with a knife; water
rut a down the gutters of the honses as If it was rain
ing, and we hive the most changeable weather I
ever saw anywhere ? the fonr seasons ha the twenty
foui hours. The town is situated on a promontory of
the bay, open and exposed to eve^ wind. A city
could Lever be bailt here unless at an immense out
lay in cutting down the hills and filling up the |
sloughs and frog pends that intersect the place in
every direction. We have bridges and eaoseways to
get from the steamboat landings to the capitol: but
as one half of the place is under water and bat few
bridge*, one has to travel a iu ie or two to get around
the bead of a slough to a place \y t w o hundred
yards distant.
As many of your readers may not be aoqualntei
with trie situation of affairs here, I will endeavor to
give them a few items, though twenty writers, in ten
years, could not expose all the rascality and frauds
practised on the people of the State and United
States by old broken down politicians from other
States.
The capital of the State was formerly at San Joee,
one of the finest locations in the State, having a
mild and temperate climate, wher> Invalid, particu
larly thoee suffering from pulmonary diseases, fioeked
to, and in most instances obtained relief. The place
ha# equal advantages with any oUmt to wn in the State ,
and the seat of government would have remained
there had it not been for reckless, penniless poli
ticians, who " took the desperate chance of mskiag
a raise."
Maiisno G. Vallejo, pronounced Valyaha, an hon
est and unsophisticated otd native Callfernten, is a
large land owner in this, Solano county. A certain
oliune found they could use him, and they did so
with a vengeance.
They laid off a large city on Vallsjo's land, six
miles from this place, christened it Vallejo, went to
San Joee, an! in VallejVs name made the most ex
travagant ofiers to the State to remove the capital.
Vallejo made donations to the State amointing to
near V*00,000, for State library, State ooUege, State
House, and other public buildings; but you most bear
in mind that the above donations were only on paper.
Both houses were besieged and bribed, er brow
beaten, into voting for removal. Vallejo bound him
self to have the buildings ready by the assembling of
the next tession afrer the bill for removal was passed.
The archives and library of the State were removed
at an expense of many thoasands of do Jara, which
accrued to the benefit of the favored ones. All
kinds of means and appliances were used to
make the city of Vallejo a place: members of the
previous session wet* the principal property holders
in the town, but theyJiad no money to improve, aud
monied reen could n it be got to take hold; conse
quently the money could not be raised to build a
capital, and tae whole affair fell threugh.
The Legislature assembled at Vallejo, but had no
S>) ace to hide thei* heads in, and found themselves
epeudatit on the charity of any town that would 1
offer them hospitality. Sacramento offered them the ,
town hall, which was accepted, aud the archives
removed at another outlay to the State.
The Legislature remained during the session at
Sacramento, but upon the reoresentations of the
Vallejo party, it was determined to assemble the next
eefSK n at Vallejo ( which was 1853). Accordingly the
n embers met there in Jannaiy 1853, and found nei
ther capitol or any other accommodations; so they
were adrift again until Benlcla offered them its to mi
hall- so there was another removal aud another
item of ex|*ense. Vallejo & Ce. oaved in, and applied
to the Legislstnre to releaxe them, which wai grant
ed, and all idea of Vallqjo being the seat of govern
ment abandoned. The Legislature assembled here
on the 2d iustant, but found the capitol building
rather small, the accommodations in the way of ho
tels bad, no good liquor, and none of the accom
paniments in the way of necessaries to be had; con
sequently there is a *reat deal of interest taksn, all
sorts of " log rolling/' poiag on to <et the Legisla
tore to lemove to Sacramento, which holds out many
i' diiceaents to go there. A committee has been ap
pointed from b >th houses, and they will make a re
port in a day or twe. 1 have no doubt that it will be
removed, so there will be another outlay.
This State owes upwards of $3,000,000, and we
have r.o public buildings of any kind. The money
lias Veen waited and squandered among a few in
tii uer*. The people are worse tix ridden th*n any
other pfople in America, or, I might s*v, on earth.
To give jon some id?>n of the baretased frands com
mined I will cite one among many, via.:? the con
trtct for building a Stite pr.sen. A bill was Intro
ducd and passed at the session of 1852, providing
for the building of a State prison; an amendneut
w.?s attachso to the bill, "provided that the cost of
t> e same shall not exceed $100 000," whtch ivas
P'tseeri ai d became iliv; but, lo! when the com
missioners came to let out the eontract, no such
smendment ?u to be fonod iu the bill, and they
proceeded to let out the contract at $1,000,000, when
they knew that the constitution of the 8 'ate posi
tively forbids any omtlay off more than $300 000 for
ai.y specified purpose. One million was not the
lowest bid, as bids were made as low as one hundred
thousand dollars; but the commissioners "learned
that the lower bida were pu: in as feelers.'' fhe
whole transaction was se bare Weed that one or two
ot the members, at the next session, were compelled
to notice it, and a committee was appointed to ex
amine into the matter. They made a report; bnt
i ot one- halt oftbe facts of the case were arrive 1 at.
l"he committee belonged to the same party, and a
lsrge portion of the witoesses, it is said, were iutor
e ted in the oontraet So yon can neraeive that the
[ "best showing waa made'' that could be. Caro.
Superior Csart
Bsi r> J >i |? -lo** a.
WARKtKG to THdsn who Lsavi Tsaroooaa opbn.
Kis 17 ? SaLerie n Wvlfr. Browms IMn* -A??i
t<- IM vr ??m?*a? fur p?>?aval lajurtaa is?md from
V .Tisg a trspioor OS** >t No. IT 4 true* ?tr?*v Waifs
c?d?'.i tbs h dm, aad oa th* 27th of Norsmbsr th*
t hrr tw,, rtrWaaW, ttn w?r? (u-fl tarn <r?.t into It 1 1
? for ga? Whtls dilag so tb* op?o*d a
t- ?pOn< r ra ibe flrtt fl.w ?bleh M to th* baaimaat, aoi
its pMatifT wbtls vaUiaf tbroagh tb* prualm, fall
t) r 'o|!i tb* trapdoor a*.' br> bs his tag Oa tb* e*f*iss
s motli a was ssads for a n natal I oa th* fart of Wolfs, as
1 t * parvots wbe Isft th* trapd <*r op*a war* a >t Is h'l
? :pl< jm?nt Holloa graawd Oa bahalf of tbs o b*r
lio da^adaats It was *oatsai'*d that tb* *?ri -aot o?
? irrsd throagb ftaiatUTs asgbgasss. Vsrdlot for slain
t.lf. I1M.
Omr WaibiNgtaa Trnltory Corre ?p >n-len??
BrnucMi, WaAhimston Tsueitoar, )
Dec. 12, 1853. (
9tm. Sttwms at Olympim ? Particulars ?fkis lUcrp
(ton ? AbMriut of kit 8p?ck to th* PupU?MU
Riport of thi Explvrntio* ? ?? First Prtclama
tio* ? Organization qf thi Territory ? Mtwtpaftrt
ami Trad*? Duoovwu* on V caccMccr's Itland?
Th India**, #??.
Got. Isaac B. Stevens arrived >1 Olympla en the
21th November, and vu received with a national
anlute. He was welcomed to the Territory aa ear
fatare Governor by J. W. Wiley, Esq., whe delivered
a abort address adapted to the occasion.
The Governor then reeponded, and spoke for half
an honr. I give yon an abstract ef the speech
Fellow Cittaene? I have been mingling freely wilh
Sou since my arrival here half an hour since, aid can,
i reply to your warm expressions of welcome, do
little else than repeat what I have state! in conver
sation. After a six months experience of |]}? pialai
and the mountains I that I have now reaehed
home? a hone ^<jn to be cheered by the presence or
mv wife and ohildren, and to be the scene of the
I labors of my future life. It is my pleasant duty to
be able to report the complete suocess ef the explo
ration, and that a railroad is eminently practicable
from the head of navigation on the Mississippi to
yoar magnificent Sound. The exploration has cov
ered a wide range of territory, and has developed at
least two payees la eaoh of the three mountain ranges
? the Rocky Mountains, the Bitter Root Moantains,
tad the Cascade Mountains. Good routes cennect
these passes; a small expense will open excellent
roads, and the ooantry Is well watered, and abounds
In grass. The mountains abound in granite and
maihle, and are covered with a luxuriant forest
growth. Gentlemen, I have now seen much ot oar
Territory, and am convinced that it is to play no
secondary part in the fuwre progress of our country,
la posit on on the Northern Pacific is august, and
makes it the great outpost of the Weetern c iast, its
flcfcerlee of cod yet to he developed, aud its fisheries
of salmon, will be annrsery ef the leaven of its future
commerce; its reeouroce in lumber are i?exbaastlbl?
Much of the soil of the Territory on both side* of the
Cascades is rich, aad well adapted to cultivation. I
ean speak advisedly ef the beautiful 8t. Mary's val
ley, just wcet ef the Rocky Mountains, and stretch
ing aoreca the whele breadth of the Territory; of the
plain, fifty miles wide, bordering on the sou'.U bank
of the Bpohane river to Colville; of the valley ex
tending from the Bpohane river te Colville; of the
Coeuri'Etleoe prairie of six hundred cauare miles,
and the Wallah- Wallah valley. The Naz Perccs
country is said to he rich, as well aa the country bor
dering on the Yakima river.
Fellow- Citizen*- We have everything to enoenrage
us to do our part in establishing tne solid foundation
of the foture prosperity of our Territory. Ours is the
great roadstead, where the veesels eegaged in the
commerce, and the protection ef the commerce ef
the world, caa ride at anchcr. This great roads tsad
is on the route of Asiatic commerce, and with the
known practicability ot the railroad route thenoe to
the St. Lawrence valley and the Upper Mississippi,
it must become a great em port am of trade.
1 have come here, not as aa official for mere sta
tion, but as a citizen, as well as yonr chief magis
trate, to do my part towards the developement of the
resources of tain Territory and combining the ele
mentc of national organic it ion and atrength on tae
Weetern coast A great le d opens to our view, and
we can labor with the eonviction that from our
hands a? the pioneers on the Northern Pacito, an
imperial domain will descend to our children, and an
accession of power iesnltto our country, all, too, in
tiie cause or freedom and humanity.
Jndgee Lander, Monroe, and otaers, addressed the
audience at xome length, and to their evident satia
faction. The meeting paseed off in the moot cordial
manner.
On the 28th November Governor Stevens issued
his proclamation directing that the election ?'or mem
bers ef the Legislature for (he Territory, aad of the
first ielrgate to OongNM, shall be li' Id on the 30th
day of J unnar> 1 4, and that the members of the
Legislature sliail i t-mble at Olympic on the 27th
day of February, 18, M
( ?ur Territ' ry is at I tut organized, her rick reaour
ees will be tie felopcd, and her interests promoted;
we liavt a m? favorable report for a railroad
>m the Atlantic t>*atea to our magnificent Sonnd.
it U expected that Congress will deliberately and
impartially weigh all the claim* and advantages of
the ronte embodied in the report of Governor Stevens,
and a?t according to the evidence before it la the
premises.
The Columbian has died, and frnm its ashei has
ariaen the Washington Pionetr, edited by J. W.
Wiley. It is a radical democratic journal, and its
first number presents a fiae appearance.
Baslneae of all kinds coatinaes goed, and Sieila
coom continnes to improve rapidly.
Every day developes new points of interest, not
only in the interior of oar Territory, bat along tbe
coast of the Pacific. Through the kindness of a mead
1 am able to give yea some information regarding
Vancouver's Island.
At Fort Bnpert, situated in the extreme northern
part of tbe island, coal has been discovered of a supe
rior quality. This fort is a tradi?g poet or the Hud
son Bay Company, on a smalljbay called Heaver Har
bor. It ia formed by a cluster or small isiauds lying
between the Dorthem point of Vancouver'* I s,arid
and the main land. The entranse to tbe harbor is
erer a bar, upon which there are five fatnoms or water
at low tide ; the channel is narrow, tbe banks on
either side are almost uerpendicnlar, and the sound
ings so deep that it in almost impossible to reach the
bottom with an ordinary cable. The establishment
at Fort Rupert Is nnder the charge of three effioers
in the service of the Hudson Bay Company, and
about ten men. The poet was established for the
purpose of fending in fare with the Indians, abeat
five years since, daring which time it has been al
most entirely cut off from all intercourse with the
world, It never having been visited by more than two
or three vesee!?. A number of the Indiana are en
gaged by the company tn making shingles, digging
coal, hewing logs, and producing a scanty supply of
vegetables. Besides trapping, these are the only oo
eupations. The country is rockv and unproductive,
; although abounding in gigantlo trees. The vege
tables are raised upon the ground from which t&e
! trees are cleared, there being no arable land
in the vicinity. The coal mat*) a good article
of fuel, although in this section it does not
abound in great qqantities.
tbe Indians are represented as being a very war
like race, and the difl'erent tribes are engaged ia
incest-ant hostilities with each other. They keep up
? regular military organizations, and their battles are
waf ed with fiercemss, and often wirh very faUl re
raits. Tbev retard tbe neighboring Indians of
Queen Charlotte's Island as taeir natural enemies,
and are constantly on tbe lookout for aa Invasion
from that quarter. They ape the English in Military
matters, wid tafo great pride ia being vigilant aud
soldierlike. The only currency used among the
natives is blankets. Honey la of no value, and of
course unknown. The value of a canoe is four blan
kets. For small change, shirts, handkerchiefs, and
tobacco are used- Although generally willing to
work, their chief delight is lu war.
The island contains a population of over nix hun
dred white persons ? one-third of this number, or
nearly so, are servants of the Hudson Bay Com
pany. I cannot write more at present, and remain
C. W. B.
Chinook Cirr, Washington Territory,)
Jan. 9, 1854. f
Daily Developement of the Nnc Territory ? Northern
Remit to the Pacifle- Post Offize D Jtcult.es and
Delays ? Lost e/ a Peruvian Bark ? First Derni
er at ic Congressional Nomination? First Term of
a Cwrl Held ? Arrival of the U. 8. Mads .
The new Territory of Washington is becoming an
interesting portion of our country, not only to the
Pacific coast, bat, it see ma. b> intelligence from the
Capitol siae, also to every part of oar country east ef
the Rocky Mountains.
The survey of Governor Stevens, some of the pre
liminary r*[H>tt? of which you have probably seen,
will show a b oxidant ly that in* b*t. saorte?t, cheap
est, a>-d mo*t prec doable route for a railroad from
the Mis*istupi river to tbe Pacific ocean is the north
ern route, of which be has had charge of the sarvey,
and which will strike tbe Pacific through Paget
Bound.
Governor Stevens has in this survey showed din
ting ui?hed ability and energy, and in the discharge
of the very important duty confided to him bv the
government has lone hanor to himaHf and csnferred
a benefit upon oar country that will remain on the
last pages o( her history Captain McClellea it niw
on his way to examine one or more parses la the
Cascade moon tales, at abont tbe 4?th parallel,
and to make serveys thenee to tbe tionad. if a roa<
ever should be built over tnis proposed nortnera
ronte, it will probably cross tbe Cascades at or near
that psrallsl, rather thaa pa*s down the Colurnb a
river. Ia either eventit will terminate at tbe Souad,
and thereby avoid tae almost insurmountable difficul
ties of the dangerms coast [a tbe region of them >utb
of that river. Before the entire undertaking of Gov.
Stevens sha'l be completed, and bis full reports
made, which will not be earlier than the latter part
of next summer, be will make a survey from (be
southern point of Puget Sound into and up the Wil
lamette Valley which will conclusively prove that
this will be tbe route over which tbe commerce
frvm tbe Pacific of that part of Oregon will be ear
ned. Tbe country between the-e p note is admira
bly adapted to the building o'a railroad, and itsrioh
abundance will of itnlf always yield to it ample bu
siness and support
Immediately upon tbe arrival of the Governor he
lamed bis proclamatim for the election, on January
30, lh54, of a delegate to Con great, and for members
of tbe Legislature, who are to assemble on the fourth
Monday of February, after wbich onr Territorial
government will get nnder fall way; and, with
our energetic and intelligent population, oar mfd
?nd aalnarious climate. rich sou and ether great nM
oral advaatagee, we will aeon beeome a growing and
preaperooa Territory. A tew jean jrili auffloe foe
aa to throw aaide oar ewaddling elotkes, to dieeard
the condition of pupilage, and elaim gur sovereignty
aa a INate.
At prweat we laber under many of the dlaadraa
tagss and much of the laoonvenience pertaining to %
new country, among whleh stands pre emineatly oar
want ef nail facilittoe. In tae drat plaoo,
there la not a aiagle distributing offiier
of poet In either this or Oregon Territory, aad
the duty ef distributing all the petty office*
In the two Terrltoiiee devolves apon the Poetmaatei
at Baa Franoiaco? a duty which be oaanot poast.Uj
perforin, and which in, therefore, alwaya bnt nrtMj
done. Onr natter ia frequently carried back to SM
Francisco, and aometimes to New York, and thea re
torna to ua, when we are thankful to get it Tin
?tenner Colombia bringa the mail twice per montt
from ban r rancUco, but ii aa ret ardleta of the term
of her contract aa the to of our intereat and want*
The company who hare the caatract to earry M
tea 1 from Ban Franoiaco to Aitoria has alio IS
aecond the contract from Aateria to Portland aac
makes both contract? uubeerrient te it# interest an<
ftourenlence. i2St trip down the steamai
Colombia refused to stop at Rani as and take 01
the Washington Territory mail, notwithataadlng i
to her abaeluto duty to ao so; and the mails whiot
left Olympia, Abe capital of our Territory, tkre<
weeks since, are still lying at Ranier, on the Colum
bia river, Any miles above Aitoria. They have now
re-let the oontraet from Astoria to Portland from tin
first of this month till the expiration of their contract
Can you not aid us la bringing these outrages te th<
notice of the Poet Office Department? The steama
Pev tona has commenced running in opposition to tin
Columbia, and joy and suceeas be with her fttlu
wish of the people of our new country.
The Peruvian bark, Joseph Warren, that aailet
from Ban Fraaoiico In balast 13th November foi
Vancouver's Island, on the 36th of November, in
let. forty-two deg. thirty mia, and Ion. 131 deg. 2(
min, had her decks swept in a violent storm; th<
inaata had to be cat away, after whiah she remain*
la a sinking condition till the 8th of December, whsi
she waa run ashore under a jury mast, about sixtj
milee south of Astoria, in order to save the Uvea o
those on board. The second mate and thiee seamei
were lost? the vessel a total loss.
The democratic party, in their convention held oi
the 3d iast., nominated far our tint delegate to Con
?rate the Hon. Columbia Lancaster, of Clarke county
Jadge L. is about fifty years of age, a gentleman ol
fine capacities and gTeat moral worth. He will, nc
doubt, be elected.
The Territorial officers of the federal governmenl
have long since arrived and entered upon the dutiei
oi their reepeetive offices, except Judge Hoagtand, ol
whom we have heard nothing ainoe hto appointment
If he to eoaoung, why don't ha eome along.
Tha first tens of court in onr Territorr was held
last week, in Lewis eounty, by the Hon. Victor Mod
ree who is in every respect a jadge that would dc
eredit to any bench in tne United States. He oom
?encss to hold the court at Chinook, opposite Aato
ria.in Pacific county, to-day.
The mail steamer Columbia and the Peytona hav<
arrived, bnt breught no mail from the States, so
are without advicee for a month. 0.
Ih* ClUkM bludi la lk? Pulflh
[Prom th? WMhUgtaa Union J
Amosg the ialasdaof the East Indian Archipelago
this sae, by its astonishing fertility, the abundant
of its natural productions, and aa apparently contain
ing within ita ? >il the richest placers or gold thi
world ever saw, la deserving or particular die tine
tin.
Celebes occupies the centre of the tropical zone
and lien in the Molucca tea.* Ita length and bread H
It la difficult to estimate, belqg comported of four pen
insuias, with an area of about 3,678 miles. Ita coas
presents a great auniber of bays, gulfs, and capes o
eccentric outline. Three deep arms of the sea pens
trate it from cast to west, and the four giginti<
tongues of land, united at the q^Bre by an incon
siderabls mass of land, gin thelaland its peculiai
shape.
Though a mountainous iiland, Celebes present
along the borders of the sea wide plains covere<
with verdure, aid beautiful valleys, some of whiol
enclose lakes mote or less extensive. Nothing en
bailees the grace of a landscape more than a lake
and those or Celebes are distinguished by the*
beauty. Magnificent basins of limpid water, raise*
on a smooth plateau, encircled by a rim of low hills
tufted with palm groves, or overlaid with s ?ft sward
glitter under the sun of the east, and glow like vas
sheets of silver. Waterf?wl of many species, sow
with crimson and purple crests, inhabit the lakea
ai<d birds construct their nests on the floating fit Mi
of vegetation, similar to those floating isleta on Lata
Chalco, in Mexico. The scenery or the island be
comes wilder ?a you leave the sea. It wean a man
Americas aspect than any other island of the Arohl
pelago. Shallow but beautiful streams intersect thi
Log sloping plains, springs of sweet water trick!
between the rocks, which are scattered, confuse*
with green knolls or thlekets of flowering Bhrubs.
Celt bee is less papulous in proportion to iU exten
baa maty other islands of the Archlpeltgo. I
may be true that since the accession of the Dutch fa
dominion over a portion of it it has declined from it
original condition. It is cempoaed of toe origins
alfuras, and of nomade or comsMrcial Malays, pro
bably from their seat of empire in Sumatra, whi
have in Celebes, as in other islands, established
themselves on the sea border, and driven the ol<
tenants of the soil ints the oentral wilderness.
The Bugis, originally from the same stock as the
Malays, are the rmliog race of Celebes, an(
superior to all other natives of the Arehipe'ago ii
their spirit of adventure. They are a brave, active
haughty, and vigorous race. They love justioe and
are raitttfal to their bonds, but seldom forgve iujuriea
Bsastful, indeed, they are, and bullies; but theai
qualities are far more admirable than the humility
and meekness of slaves. The Alfuras, described by
Uevlyn, in his " Cosmography," as a tall, comely
race, of brown color, much given to piiaoy, form,
perhaps, the most amiable, if not the most civiliaed,
part or the population. They poesesa all the ooor
age and few or the vices prevailing among the Bo
gis and Malaya. Some of these tribe* are among the
most singular communities in thMworld. Ibe in
genuity of the savage and the adWmtv of the civi
Died man are united in them. Ttiey have re
caived the Koran, bnt not abjored the prac'ioee
e f their anaient faith ? the dark old Idolatry oaoe
universal in the Archipelago. Stones and trees
painted ied still ahare their devotions with the in
visible god of Islam. But their ohief singularity con
sists in the honor ant\ distinction which are resderat
by them to women. They manifest a decided pr4*
ference to ferrale rule. In the Sultanate of Boni es
pecially, the female line always takes presedence ol
the mwe on the demise of a sovereign. The mildaeai
and prosnerity attending the reign of their Sultana
Rajas had rendered the people or the archipelago fa
votable to it. On one occasion, savs Marsdeu, the so
borolnate chiefs, who flourished better nnder a master
(having greater license to plunder ?) than ami stress,
opposed the elevation of a prineeea to the throne.
Civil war ensued ; two armies met? one the hireling*
of tbe patrician order, the other the people armed to
assert their natural right of choosing their own
rulers. The btllUerenta encamped on each bank of a
river. The termination of the contest la remarkable
in Asiatic, or indeed, in any history. The nooles, the
Pai>yorangs, tbe Demangs, tbe Mantris, theT imung
gnngs, and flulubalangs saw the folly of resistance :
tbe people's wishee were gianted, and it was passed
into law that their governor should be a queeo, mi*
on her accession to the throne to be a maiden, not
yuur ger than seventeen, nor older than twenty-flva.
This beautiful and chivalrous homage to woman and
virginity is concurred in by the bravest, most pros
perous. most independent, and most Caucasian races
of the archipelago. They have found the sex to ba
spirited as wall as gentle rulers, more spirited than
tbtir slavish saltans and rajahs, who so often sold
their rights to the European for a few gewgaw* of
ornsmeut. When the English sent an embatsy from
Madras to Achin to solicit leave to erect a factory,
the Queen of that country peremptorily refused,
saying that if the English filled her palaces with
wee gee of pure gold they should not build one small
cabin of brick within her dominions, aa the oountry
might be enslaved by fusther encroachment*. Achin
remains to this day one of the Csw independent
States of ihe Archipelago '
The natural wealth of Celebae is diversified and
abundant, liesides all ibe valuable timber* found in
tlie forests of the Arehlpelago, palm* of various spe
cies, ebony, odoriferous sandal, aye woods, areca, ban
jan, and bamboos, olten forty feet high and three la
diameter, are found ; with ?ago, as in the Moluooaa,
which is In many proviLces tbe chief food of the peo,
pie. Pepper, the flavor of which was f rsierly in
creased b> that of ginger, which is a tavorite article
of consumption with tbe natives ; wild nutmeg* and
cloves of a iH-culiar species ; the almond whence the
ti ne oil of Macassar is extracted ; ooflfee ; rioe of
three species j maize, indigo, tobacco, *'i gar-cans;
n anioc from whence tapioca is extracted ; pal na -so
lar, and cotton, are among tbe productions. Bee*
w i>x, tortoise-shell, and rattans furnish also materials
cf c turner**. Fruits of (he richest kind^, from the
gnava to the wild raspberry and the grape, there are
I' Celebes. Its flora Is magnificent, but 1-n perfectly
known; and lt? ornithology , soology, am), la ftpt,
n I the hl-tory of nature in Celebes is still little mors
t .an a collection o' fragments.
But Celebes is destiued to outlive California and
Austialta in ita placets if gold, fbis precious metal
1 as been lately found in lar?e flakes within the sul
t mate of Meoado. These flakes or sheet* of pure on
- -some presenting a surface of nlae and ten inohss
i'iuaie, though not more than an eighth ot an inch
t filck? have been picked out Tom the fissures of vol
canic strata of rosk. Here the molten gold hasevi
(>ntly been thrown up from the bowels of the earth
ty plutAiii : action, and in ductile sheet* and threads
i ow lines tbe Interstices of the ma'swn of crystal aad
<,naits that eomoosee the Oeiebrean bills. The wrttsr
? o?aks frr.m occular evidence, and trusta at no late
ay -|o verify to bis fellow citizens the transcendent
marvels of the hitherto bidden auriferous rsglca*
Celebes. i