The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-28

DsscRurlos OF THE SANDWICH ISLANDS
Our realess becoming interested by these ad-
vices, in hawaii, will be curious to read some
account Of Tue islands. We annex short des
criplIon:
Sniwi ID Islands, an interesting group of
islands il the Pacific ocean, forming a part OF
Polynesia aud lying in the northern hemisphere,
between Int. 10 81 and l3l5, and between lon.
l5054 AMI $50 "a w They are eleven in mum
Der, and we're discovered by Capt. Cook, in
l778, who gave them their name in honor OF
the earl OF Sandwich. They are called by the
natives Envaii, (or OwhyheeD Mowee, Ranai,
Merotoi, Tahoorowa, Woahoo, Atooi, Neehes.
hou, Oneal Qua, Morotinnee, and Tuhoora, all
inhabited except the last two.
Haw ii is much the largest, being 81 miles in
length b. 10 in breadth, and containing 1000
square miles. All the other islands united con-
tam but little ever 1000 square miles. The
climate of these islands is saubrious, and differs
but little from that Of the West Indies in the
same latitude, except that they are not subject
to the violent hurricanes so prevalent at the lat
ter, and there is more rain at the Sandwich Is
lands. The soil is fertile, and the vegetable
productions similar to those OF other parts Of
PoIynes a. The bread fruit, varo root, sugar
cane, and fruits Of various kinds, flourish here
in abundance. Sandal wood furnishes an i'm
portant article of export. These islands are in
general mountainous, and the scenery highly
novel and picturesque--one of the mountains of
Hawaii Is $1,000 feet in height.
The missionaries say that the population is
about 100000, of which $4,000 inhabit Hawaii.
The inhabitants are hardy and Industrious, of a
darker complexion than those of Otahete They
are civil and friendly to strangers, and ingenious
in the construction of their canoes, weapons of
war, &c. The similarity Of their features, hab-
It's, traditions, and language, to those OF the ma
tives of New Zealand, the Marquesas, and other
islands of Polynesia, affords proof that they
were originally one nation, or emigrated from
the same country.
Until recently the people of these islands were
gross idolaters The Taboo ystem had been in
operation, and e ost rigdy observed, for thous-
ands of years. BY this, everything was prohib-
tied which was contrary to the will of the king
1t perpetually interdicted certain kinds of food
Women were forbidden to eat pork and plain
tains, two very important articles of food there
or to eat with the men, and even to have food
cooked BY the same fire. There were various
other prohibitions under the system, exposing
the delinquent to the punishment of death. To
4 the idols were presented expensive sacrifices
and in some ms ances human victims were sac
ri6ced by the priests.
The honor of effectually introducing the
Christian religion into this region, is in part due
to the American missionaries, who were des-
patched from Boston, Massachusetts,, in 1919
BY the American board of foreign missions
The accession OF a new king to the government
of Hawaii in the same year, had caused a revo-
luton in the islands, by which idolatry was abol-
ished by ,rder of the king, with the consent OF
the people, to follow the example of the nhabi-
tants of the Society Islands. This PREPARED the
way for the conversion of the people to Christi
anity, and on The arrival of the missionaries in
1920, they wrro well received. Since that pc
rod various missions have been sent 10 the
Sandwich Islands, by societies in America and
England and tho psaPls have made great I'd
vances in religion, morality and the arts OF cvi'
cation.