Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-07-16
HST RHO AL.
For the Green Mountain Freeman.
The Sandwich Islands,
BY REV. DIR. LAFON:
For sir gears q Missionary on the Islands.

For sir gears yNisSionmyOn the Islands.
These beautiful and interesting Islands are located
in the Pacific Ocean about the Goth degree of north
latitude, and about $500 miles west of Mexico Eight
of the group are nhabited-some five or six more be-
ing very small and little else than barren rocks. There
are missionary stations upon five of the larger Islands
The largest of these is about 1870 miles long and 70
broad the smallest, 30 miles long and 10 broad.
The channels Of the sea between these Islands aver
age about so miles wide which are navigated by the
natives in small schooners and canoes.
The Islands being situated in the midst of an ocean
ten thousand miles wide and between the great east
en and western continents, and afordng, as they d.
safe and commodious harbos for shipping of any bur
den, and to Il vast amount--tmber for ship building
and soil for the production of all the fresh stores in
dlspensabe for the sea, are of immense Importance in
military and mercantile point of view, while to the
whale fishery, now 50 extensive they are the shad-
ow of a great rock in a weary land.
CLIMATE, SOIL, AND PRODUCTIONS.
The climate of the Islands is pleasant and healthu
The heat which otherwise would be great, is mtgat-
ed by the brisk fresh radewinds that sweep over the
Islands, and the land and sea breezes which alternate
with each other, when the trades are at rest To these
winds, ALSO in great degree, may be ascribed the
healthness of the Islands, for, though the heat is
considerably high, and continuing through the year,
and ponds and marshes in many places abound, yet,
the unhealthy efluva which they may be supposed to
produce, is so instantly caught up, and so largely d.
uted by the pure and ever active wind from the sea,
that no miasmatic ievers exist at the Islands.
The soil Of the Islands is nothing more nor less than
decomposed lava, and lava is composed of the sub
stances which form the crust of the earth--rocks,
minerals and earthly matter--which, after passing
through the crucible Of volcano, comes out, with all
these elements duly mixed together. The productive
ness of the soil compares very well with that of Yer
month ton Of sugal cane to the acre being easily
produced.
The productions are such as are common to the
tropics and extreme southern Attitudes so far as they
have been introduced. And what may seem some
what remarkable, articles which generally of nor
thern growth flourish well there's both wheat and Irish
potatoes being produced in great pcrlection-the lat
ter, IN great abundance suitable climate for them
is obtained by ascending the elevated table lands sev-
era hundred feet above the surface of the sea. Vines
Of every kind and almost every namcaDe garden veg
etable that has been introduced ourishcs well at the
Islands, Oranges, lemons, pne-appes, guayers, grapes
Strawberries bananas, figs, rose apples, bread fruit
mangos and custard apples are some of the fruits now
found there; some of them sufficiently abundant for
the demand, and all of them might be increased to an
indefinite extent
ORIGIN OF THE ISLANDS AND THEIR INHABITANTS.
The origin ofthe Islands is evidently volcanic. On
the large Islands great numbers of extinct cruters are
visible, while those of the most recent formation
some Of them arc sending up the last expiring columns
of smokes and others to be at the very noontide
fiery strength. Perhaps no objects in nature cx-
hibit in striking light than do these Islands,
the woodworking power of the great laboratory of
nature. Such immense masses of matter upheaved,
not only from the bottom of the ocean, but from the
nmost bowels Of the EARTH and thrown up not only to
the surface, but many thousand feet above, giving
stable and convenient abiding place for great numbers
of human beings, accords only with the power of Him
who had only to say, Let it be, and it was done.
The people bear evident marks of being derived
from the Malay stock To this origin they traced,
principally by their language and features 1t may be
matter of curiosity to know how the first inhabitants
found their way to these Islands, since the nearest
continental coast and the nearest Islands of impor-
lance, distant about three thousand niles Impro-
babe as it may at first sight appear, there is little
doubt that they drhod upon the Islands by the
winds and waves, upon such wacr-cratt as balbarous
nations are found now to possess. Quite number of
japanese have been drted upon the Islands in small
unks, and also picked up in the ocean in the vicinity,
by whalemen, since the mission was established. No
reason be given why the ancestors of the present
inhabitants might not have found their way there in a
similar manner.
The bodily stature Of the Sandwich islanders is
about equal to that of our They may be little
less in height with corresponding increase in width
Their color is "copper" which is perhaps the very best
hue for the skin, while it is of the most agreeable
coors for the eye to rest upon as soon as we become
Invested of national prejudice.
Mentally there is this popularity if itmay be called
so of the Sandwich Islanders. AS general rule, in
childhood and early youth, they bright and intel
lectua and in adult life and old age, they are dull and
stupid
Morally, they debascd and degraded to almost
the level with the present of Egyptians, the lower
castles of India and the slaves of South Carolina.
The chiefs differ widely from the common people
in mental and bodily stature. They are almost twice
as large owing - their superior living, and much
more intellectual because of the freedom they enjoy.
The amusements of the people are principally in the
sea- swimming bathing, and riding upon the surfboard
ed They are not unfrequenty upset in passing from
one Island to another in their canoes, which costs
those who escape from u to "a hours swimming, in a
rough sea; while on one occasion, few years ago,