Friday 24 August 2007

Slumach, a band of Katzie

Slumach. A band of the Katsey (q.v.) in British Columbia; pop. 69 in 1896, when last separately enumerated.
Slumach. - Can. Ind. Aff., 276, 1894. Slumagh. - Ibid. 313, 1888
The Smithsonian Institution, Bureau of American Ethnology Handbook of American Indians. 1912 edition. Volume 3 N-S.

Sunday 12 August 2007

Pitt River Gold in 1869?

The following little story from the Mainland Guardian, New Westminster, 10 November 1869 gives us an idea where the legend of the bonanza north of Pitt Lake and the "Indian" connection came from.

Discovery of Diggings at Pitt River-- An Indian brought in a good prospect of gold a few days ago which he states he found in a little stream on the north side of Pitt Lake. He has volunteered to lead a party to the place and arrangements are being made for their immediate departure. The event has created considerable excitement in this city.
Source: Donald E. Waite

Don Waite's Accounts

A few months ago Don decided to retire The Lost Gold Mine of Pitt Lake from the Internet. Don was among the first to write about Slumach and his legendary bonanza in a book he published in 1972. His Web site contained the stories of his adventures and encounters with numerous people during his many years following the trail to Slumach's gold and what he learned from them. He generouslys shared his findings with anyone interested. I regretted the site's demise and I am sure that I am not the only one who missed it.

Fortunately Don has allowed me to post the eight chapters of The Lost Gold Mine of Pitt Lake on slumach.ca. Look out for a pdf file containing these chapters in the Miscellania section.