The southern press., 1851-05-21

DEscRIPTIoN OF THE SANDWICH lsLANDs-
Our readers becoming interested by these adj
vices, in Hawaii, will be curious to read some
account of the islands, We annex a short des-
cription
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, aud between Ion.
1904 and 1924 W. They are eleven in num-
Der, and were discovered by Capt. Cook, in
l77s, who gave them their name in honor Of
the earl of Sandwich. They are called by the
natives Hawaii Cor Owhyhee) Mowee, Ranai,
Meroto Tahoorowa, Woahoo, Atooi, Neehe".
hou, Oneehoua, Morotinnee, and Tahoora, al!
inhabited except the last two.
Haw iii is much the largest being 81 miles in
length by 10 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 salubrons, 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
POLYNESIA. 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
peneral mountainous, and the scenery highly
novel and picturesque Of the mountains of
Hawaii is 10000 feet in height.
The missionaries say that the population is
about so 900, of which $4,000 inhabit Hawai-.
The inhabitants are hardy and industrious, OF
darker complexion than those OF Otaheite. lacy
are civil and friendly to strangers ard ingenious
in the construction Of their canoes, weapons OF
war, &C. The similarity of their features, nab
its, traditions and language, to those or 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 ofthese islands were
gross idolaters The Taboo ystem had been in
operation, and n ost rigidly observed for thous.
ands of years. By this, everything was prohib.
tied which was contrary to the will of the king
1t perpetualy 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
the idols were presented expensive sacrlflces
and in some instances human victims were sac
riiced 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 new king to the government
of Hawaii in the same year, had caused revo
luton in the islands, by which idolatry was abol
ished by order of the king, with the consent o
tiIo people, to follow the example of the inhabi
tants of the Society Islands. This prepared thu
way for the conversion of the people to Christi
anity, and on the arrival of the missionaries il
1920, they were well received. Since that pc
Rod various missions have been sent 10 th'
Sandwich Islands, by societies in America ant
England, and the people have made great ad
vances in religion, morality, and the arts of civil
cation.