The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-26

DESCRIPTION OF THE SANDWICH IsLANDs-
Our readers becoming interested by these ad-
vices, in Hawaii, will be curious to read some
account Of the islands. We annex short des
eription:
Sandwich Islands, an interesting group of
islands in the Pacific ocean, forming part Of
Polynesia, and lying in the northern hemisphere
between lat. 1854 and 1915, and between lon.
1904 and 1904 W. They are eleven in num-
Der, and were discovered by Capt. Cock, in
l778, who gave them their name in honor Of
the earl Of Sandwich They are called by the
natives Hawaii, Cor OwhyheeD Mowee, Ranai,
Merotoi, Tahoorowa, Woahoo, Atooi, Neehes-
hou, Oneehona, Morotinnee, and Tahoora, all
inhabited except the last two
Hawaii IL much the largest, being 81 miles in
length by 70 in breadth, and containing 1000
square miles. All the other islands united con-
tain but little over 1000 square miles. The
climate of these islands is salubri0us. and differs
but little from that of the West Indies in the
to the violent hurricanes 30 prevalent at the lat
ter, and there 10 more rain at the Sandwich H.
lands. The soil 10 fertile, and the vegetable
productions similar to those o. other parts of
Polynes q. 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 pioturesque--One of the mountains Of
Hawaii is 10000 feet in height.
The missionaries say that the population is
about 10000, of which $4,000 inhabit Hawaii
The inhabitants are hardy and Industrious, of
darker complexion than those Of Qtaheite. + icy
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 aid other
islands of Polynesia, affords proof that they
were originally one nation, or emigrated from
the same country.
Until recently the people ofthese islands were
gross idolaters. The Taboo ystem had been in
operation, and r. ost rigidly observed, for thous-
ands Of years. BY this. everything was pr0hib-
tied which WAS contrary to the will of the king.
1t perpetualiy interdcted certain kinds of food.
Women were forbidden t. 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 d, lnquent to the punishment of DEATH TO
the idols were presented expensive sacrifices
and in some ms ances human victims were sac
riicrd by the priests.
The honor Of efectually 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 new king to the government
of Hawaii in the same year, had caused revo-
luton 10 the islands, by which idolatry was abol-
ished by order of the king, with the consent of
the people, to follow the example of the inhabi-
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 were we'll received. Since that pc
rod various missions have been sent to the
Sandwich Islands, by societies in America and
England, and the people have made great ad.
vances in religion, morality, and the arts Of civili-
zatiOn.