Ganges Harbour, or Ganges, is a coastal community located on the eastern coast of
Saltspring Island in British Columbia. Ganges is on the traditional territory of the Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group (Stz'uminus
(Chemainus), Halalt, Lyackson, Ts'uubaa-asatx, and Penelakut). Ganges was first settled
by African Americans who developed the land and built the town and harbour.1 In 1858, James Douglas distributed land on Saltspring Island to the Black settlers fleeing the United States.2 Much of these lands were in the Ganges and Vesuvius areas.3
In the correspondences, Ganges Harbour is typically mentioned as a service center
in the area. According to a letter attached to this correspondence, Spencer stopped at Ganges Harbor because his ship, the Grappler gunboat, required some slight repair to her boilers before endeavouring to capture Indians who had committed outrages on White Men.4 Today, Ganges remains the primary service center for Saltspring Island.5