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- 250 REMINISCENCES OF OLD VICTORIA
I, if no one else in the party, was astonished at conduct so different from that of birds in civilized countries. Whether it was the proper time for grouse-shooting I know not, for I have no record of the date, nor, indeed, of the occurrence. Perhaps the Natural History Society might be able to explain why the second bird behaved as it did. I think it was in the same ride that another halt was called, it being reported that a bear was in a thicket near the trail. All listened and looked, and when I remarked to the Governor that I thought I heard the creature roar, His Excellency said, " Bears do not roar !" I believe he was right, for though we read in both versions of the Bible, " We all roar like bears," I have reason to believe that the translation is incorrect, besides believing also that the man whose life is largely spent in the wilds is more likely to be right on such a point than the scholar in his study. Perhaps the Natural History Society may throw some light on this question also : " Do bears roar?"
In those early days there were frequently several men-of-war in Esquimalt harbor at once. Being the only Protestant clergyman then in the Island, I often visited them and had much pleasant intercourse with the officers. But my memory serves me little as to particulars. I find the following entries:
"Aug. 28, '55.?Attended a prayer meeting on board H. M. S. Trincomalee."
" Sept. 9, '55.-Trincomalee sailed and President arrived."
" Oct. 28, '55.-The Reverend Holme, Chaplain of H. M. S. President, preached for me in the afternoon at the Fort."
"Aug. 11, '55.?H. M. S. Monarch arrived."
" Sept. 14, '56.?Mr. Green, Chaplain of the Mon-arch, preached for me in the afternoon ;" also " on Sept.
BISHOP CRIDGE'S CHRISTMAS STORY 251
21." These last two sermons were preached in the district church (called " Christ Church," after my church in London), it having been opened and divine service held therein the month before.
"Aug. 30, '56.-The Governor went in the Trincomalee to Cowichan to demand the Indian who had lately shot a white man." The wounded man was brought to the Fort, where I visited him. He recovered and was sent away to be safe from the Indians' vengeance. The Indian who shot him was delivered up by his tribe, was tried and executed in their presence.
"Aug. 21, '56.-Held a prayer meeting at the Parsonage, with Mr. Cook, the gunner, and Mr. Price, midshipman, both of the Trincomalee,
"Aug. 24, '56.-Held a prayer meeting with Mr. Cook, of the Trincomalee, in the Craigflower school-room."
From the above records it would appear that the Trincomalee was in these waters over a year at this period. I think her presence had to do with the Russian war. It was after Admiral Price shot himself on account of some error he had committed in the war. I remember the Governor saying to me one day, that he had received instructions from the Home Government to build a hospital at Esquimalt for some wounded sailors expected down from Petrapolowski, but had not been told where the money was to come from. The hospital was built, however, but I do not remember that any wounded were brought ; but I remember visiting afterwards a sick Victorian, who died there. The present naval hospital is, I believe, the one I refer to.
About this time I remember an American ship-of-war coming with a United States Commissioner on board to settle with Governor Douglas the boundary between the
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