The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-19
EDITORS coRREsPoNDENcE
rron .ur r,xular corsspordeni.l

The Sandwich islaads--T The most inportani Of the
group 0ehyss, or called, Haeaii lss largest
On the Pacific, or among the Poiysssian islands
area, population, &e,- Honolulu is principal port
Haytor, population trade e.---arivai Of vessels tn
five or sir months Of 1886, fifty sir Ia"s'ieaH and
sessniesn EngEsh.---Natrs ships and iO"nNss--Su'
sinsss adratissmsni,-ail going TO shoe NE import
anes ofAss islo.ds ia commercial point Of vsio.--
Their geographical position trade, and commerce, cal
eulaisd TO ereits the jealousy Of foreign governments
against amsyiean influence IN thai quarter as ho'0n
/ bv the diplomatic correspondence previously noticed,
and TO be hereafter referred 10.
If we look At a map of the world we shall find, on
casting our eyes slong the equator, and north and
south Of il 20 degrees across the wide bosom
| of The Pacific, numerous groups OF Islands,
commencing with the Marquesas and Society
islands &c, in the eastern portion OF the Paeinc,
and ending with the Ladrene and Pelew islands in
the western portion not far east Of the Chinese en-
pire. These islands, throughout this vast ocean,
| seem to have resulted from two causes-coral ac-
| cumuation, and volcanic action They all exhibit
evidences Of volcanic origin, If we except few that
are low and fat, which arc based upon coral reefs.
These islands, in the aggregate, are now termed
PoLrsKnA-a term which signifies many, or ptu-
ray Of islands. curious fact has been ascertain
ed with regard 70 the language used by the natives
the Polynesian islands, and that is that evidences
exist Of their common origin. The natives OF the
| remotest islands, who have no intercourse, under
stand each other, succeed in doing 30 after little
practice.
By far the most valuable Of the group are the
Sandwich islands, ten in number, eight Of which are
| inhabited. The largest of the number Is Owhyee,
now better known as Hawaii. IL contains an area
of 300 square miles, being eqsa IN size TO halfthe
group, and the largest in Polynesia. The noun
IL. fha hAtyh nf NgaI
which contain some active volcanoes, the crater Of
the largest, Kiranes, being two miles long by one
broad.
The population Of the Sandwich islands is est.
mated al so, 900, Of which more than half belong
20 Hawaii Honolulu is the capital Of Hawaii,
and contains {, 500 inhabitants Some of the houses
are of stone, but the natives live in huts, which
gives the town a grotesque appearance. The prin-
cipa building is the public school.houss. The har-
Dor is formed by coral reef, with single opening.
| IL is said to afford accommodation for 60 TO 20
sci. of 500 tons each. In 1884, Ia vessels belonged
to the islands. Four briggs and sloops belonged
to natives. In 1886, from LIST July to 18th Dec,
| there were l54 arrivals at the port Of Honolulu, Of
which 80 briggs and schooners belonged IN the coun-
try, Sc were from the United States, and II from
| England.
The position of Hawaii is exceedingly favorable
| for commercial intercourse in the Pacific. The
group to which il belongs are found on about the
| parallel Of 90 N. latitude and 1850 longitude w.
| @. With Panama in about 70 or 800 Longitude, and
go latitude north, and with the mouth Of the Column
bia river il forms a triangle, being about $50 west
from the latter, in due southwest course, and 75O
west Of the isthmus Of Darien, being in the
of about 100 north of West. IL is about 1910 east
| of Canton, which lies in about ll4o E. G., and in
| % N. latitude or $50 east of the Ladrone group,
in latitude about 200 north. II must from its posi-
ton therefore, always remain a commercial entrepot
of great nporra in the trade Of the Pacific. As
II Z. = r. frSaA nf
navigation and intercourse, that II should remain
free and independent, as agreed upon In its CONNER
cisl treaties with France and England
The paper before me, called "The Poynesan, !"
is well printed paper Of four columns to the page
of medium re; besides the correspondence alluded
to in my last letter. contains number of business
! advertisements, among which is the catalogue Of
j bookseller, which contains hst of well known
standard works in English, (sciepce and literature
such as Liebig's Chemistry, McCulloch's Com
mercial Dictionary, Allison's History, in vols,
Farmers Companion, Marshall's Life of Washing
. ton. Life in China, Parley's Library in II volumes,
with an extensive and complete stock Of school
books, maps, &c. The entire catalogue would fill a
fourth of column of the "Union."
One firm ndvertises an extensive stock OF dry
good, among which are bales of prints, sheetlngs,
; &c. They also offer 900 lbs. Of white lead for
: sale. The agent of the Hudson Bay Company Of
fers for sale an extensive assortment Of hard ware
cutlery with a variety of other goods-among which
are "ladies and gentlemens' silk and kid gloves, y
Britannia and ladies' polished steel scissors, coored
silk thread, gentlemens', boys ladies', and girls
\ shoes and slippers; besides q great variety Of
other things. Also, spars, lumber, &c. Thorn
: as o. Larkn announces that he is engaged in the
Monterey Upper California; trade; supplies whale
men, and draws bills on the United States. He
states that tthe commerce Of California is increas-
ing the farmers preparing to furnish provisions in
a more abundance; the port charges but four dollars
for a whale ship that may not want to barter goods
for provisions and thirty dollars for those who may
II wish to do The government by decree flS44 al
lows such vessels to sell goods to sufficient amount
their sppPe' BY paying duties on goods ,a ssn
carpenter and joiner, and has on hand an assorted
. lot of $1,000 or 90, 900 feet of pine lumber beside:
:, door frames, window frames, sashes and blinds
- Another firm announces that they have just re
ccived, by the Hudson Bay Company's barqu'
sCowlitz," As spars, 2l0 bundles Of pine and ceda
shingles, So 900 one-inch boards, 700 barrels -four
y. $50 DO salmon IS half barrels do. for the use o
families Another firm e. Rhodes & Coz offe
q for sale 5000 lbs. California soap. Another firm
advertises 100 casks of Hawaiian Sandwich island
e beef for sale. ......,,
-The editor of the "Polynesan" states, "goot
g compositors can find constant employment at tina
= Office. Extra pay allowed for night work"
!, "Hungwa" has opened tavern which he calf
"Canton House." with "billiard-room and bowling
: saloons attached" The services Of superior Chi
: nese cooks and walters have been secured. Resi-
dents may have their meals sent to their homes, o.
picnic parties provided for at the shortest notice
y A Mr.. J. H. Wright announces himself as ia pain
ter, glider and gazer" J. Picol offers fresh ham,
for sale. ..... ...f...
!, Chancery law notices are printed in the English
!. and native languages
have gone into these details to show the impor
lance of the Sandwich islands, and Of Hawaii, ant
!. . Honolulu in particular, showing the ground OF
: which foreign jealousy to American influence il
those islands rest. This jealousy is more plainly
exhibited in the correspondence between the Eng
= sh CONSUL Mr.. Miller, and Mr.. Wylie, the secreta
ry Of foreign affairs, under the king of the Sandwich
islands, az published in the copy Of the Polync
sian before me, and which it was my purpose Il
: have analysed and laid before your readers to
day, but for the want of space, am compelled t.
J, defer it till tomorrow.
= Lord Cathcart, of Canada, has offered reward
q of two hundred dollars for the apprehension of tn
person who fired at Collector Kirby in January last
/. at Fort Erie.
. By the Tobacco Plant, from New Zealand, ar
rived at this port Sunday, we have news down t.
=. t.. IL =