Robert Brown and the Vancouver Island Exploring Expedition

By John Hayman and Frederick Bowers

Book Overview

Robert Brown, a twenty-one-year-old Scotsman, arrived on VancouverIsland in 1863 for the purpose of collecting seeds, roots, and plantsfor the Botanical Association of Edinburgh. Relations with his employerquickly deteriorated, however, and when the opportunity arose in 1864to head the Vancouver Island Exploring Expedition, Brown eagerlyaccepted the position as its commander. During the four and a halfmonths of the expedition, Brown kept a journal which is published herefor the first time. It is remarkable for its record of life onVancouver Island over a century ago and its description of theisland's pristine wilderness as well as for its proposals forfuture economic development. The accounts of agricultural settlementsat Cowichan, Chemainus, and Comox and of the coal-mining town ofNanaimo are among the earliest available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0774803223
• ISBN13: 9780774803229
• Release Date: February 2002
• Publisher: UBC Press
• Length: 228 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.