Photograph of a dirt road, following the contours of the side of a mountain above the Thompson River in British Columbia. On the road is a covered freight waggon, pulled by 10 horses with a single man riding the horse at the front of the waggon.
The photograph shows the Cariboo Road which was built during the 1860s to provide a safe and fast transport link for the transportation of gold from the Cariboo mines. The road was initiated by James Douglas (1803-77) who was Governor of British Columbia from 1851 to 1864. Douglas wanted to protect British power in the area which became a pressing issue during the gold rush in the Fraser Canyon area.
