The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-22
SANDWICH ISLANDS.

Letter from DIR. John Rae to his frienl, citizen
OF Mootie A. Canada, dated
wAILUKU MANI, Sandwich Islands,
January I, 1903
commenced a reply to your former favor soon ~
ter ia receipt, thinking could put what you re.
gured into a compass small enough TO he crowded
Into the columns of the Ga-afs should you so wish.
found had been so short that was unintelligibe.
! recommended determined to give myself sufficient
scope both as to matter and words but still believ.
ing could accomplish what you wished, and in
tended. IN a series OF letters, for which you might
easily find fitting vehicle. | am now afraid that
our bantling-he grows so fast-will have to step
into the world and take his chance of IT, dressed mp
IN a full octave suit, though had rather he made
his dsJ,d wrapped in the protecting mantle OF some
safe periodical sheet. broad or narrow When he
reaches you, you will do the best for him you can
No doubt there is place for him in the reading
world just now if he have only wit and discretion
enough to Nil it decenty.
In reality the Sandwich Islands, as small rs they
are have from their first discovery been an object Of
curiosity. and at the present moment are turned to
by very many with an eye OF peculiar interest. The
original fact Of our suddenly coming to the know
ledge OF the existence, in the midst of these wide
waters, OF new and partially civilized race of men,
their subsequent conversion 10 Christianity, and
sumption Of the aspect of modern civilization, and
now. more than these, perhaps the position itself of
the islands in this mighty ocean, whose monotonous
quiet for many ages the point Of being broken
in upon by great mercantile navies. bringing into
communication, by reciprocity of benefits the rich
and vast regions that border Its coasts, do all tend
to this effect. They are on the very route to China,
and must be stopping places for those lines of steam
ships which the course OF eventsnd the spirit OF en-
of tho shn
ated there is feeling of indusitiveness as to their
capacities for forwarding those great schemes-that
forward march OF events-of which the present time
is pregnant. You and Others wish to know what are
their inherent resources and what the probabilities
Of these resources being developed by the native
race. Can the aborignes, you ask be left, be trust
ed, to bring out the riches vi their position or, not
being equal to the places they ill., will they like 50
many other races have to yield them up to the every
where energetic Anglo SaXont
will state how | am treating the subject for you.
4 commence by giving YOU an account OF the inhe-
rent capabilities the material structure-that Is, the
SOIL climate, and productiens-of the islands. This
leads to some rather interesting geological views;
but spare you all perhaps <y theory reservng this
for q communication | intend making to my friend
Or. Hall OF Montreal II it shall be decided that
am night, my speculatiOns will make considerable
sweep through geological science.
now come to the natives-to the inquiry what
truly the capabilities aud peculiartes OF the Ha
wsiians ia question it is somewhat difficult for any
one to treat and perhaps rather delicate for resi-
dent TO discuss. The missionaries have cried them
up rather they have cried up the humanizing and
improving influences OF their own missionary eXer
tions. Others have run them down. What il the
fact? To answer is somewhat OF puzzle. You
land say at Honolulu. 1t is Sunday A Scotch
Sabbath stiffness reigns in the little town. You go
to the chief native church, clumsy but large and
massive stone structure. You the natives all
seated orderly in their pews decenty dressed in civ
nized style-a display OF silks among the women,
and of broadcloth on the men BY aud by the King
passes you, a small man Tor a Hawaiian, and quiet
1l~: of fhn nhnrz his rt
follow. You are impressed by the appearance of
John Young, the premier, haiEcaste In any
semby in London or Paris he would be noticed as
handsome, weldressed, and gentlemany looking
man; yet | believe he has never been out Of the
islands. The service proceeds-singing passably
good. You understand nothing, bat see the congre
CATION regarding the preacher with intelligent eyes
Did you know the language, and We're you to ques.
ton them the subject OF discourse, most Of them
could give you good account OF IT, and some might
puzzle you by the extent OF their Scrptural know.
ledge. Service over, you introduced to some of
the natives and find them OF pleasing address, and
making good OF the little English they know.
The evening closes with the same decent proarety.
On Monday it is different, You see the hustle and
some of the disorders OF seaport you conclude,
however that the latter Is nothing more than what
one generally finds in such resorts In day or two
you ride into e country Passing by the impression
made on you by the novel scenery productions, hab-
tations and costumes OF the land, you unayada-
bly, struck by certain air of desolation and wreck
that pervades it. You see large tracts evidently re-
ruins and old foundations OF houses, Wondering
fences and other unequvocal signs OF departing life
and energy. You ask-rather you get friend to ask
why are these places abandoned. Where are the men
that lived ON them? Ameancholy shake of the head,
and make (dead) is the uniform reply. Such is the
aspect OF things wherever have been; and the esti
mate that the population OF these Islands is only one
eighth OF what il was when Cook visited them IL
ufobabsy correct. You inquire of the white resi-
dents. perhaps of some missionary friend, what IS
the reason Of all this. You are told that imported
disease measles, fevers, &c, have repeatedly devas
tated the islands The reply, IN part, accounts for
what you see. You are aware that diseases trans
mtted by the whites to other races have very often
ragged among these with x:essive virulence. Still,
on reflection it only in part accounts for 1t, and -
far from being altogether satisfactory. Plaques, pes
tilences. bloody wars famnes, have often carried
off vast multitudes in Europe and America. But the
blank has been speedily filled up, and life in fresh
strength has sprung out OF the relics OF DEATH why
is it not - here? Why are there no symptoms OF
Jey.,ifyng energies? Why, in the midst OF freshly
vacated and fertile land, with abundant rewards for
labor and with no fatal epidemics for years docs tnc
popu alton not increase Why isit on the contrary,
stationary or diminishing! And, still more extraor'
binary why are the races, by all accounts, them
selves diminishing in size aud vigor. In short,
finally whence the apatnetc liStlessness that sag
mates over all the fair land? When You ask your
friends for solution of your difficulties you get re-
plies numerous and contradictory. You are cast
among the natives themselves, aud now you fancy
you viii speedily see what Is the matter. FOR some
lime you are more and more astray. AT length, as
you begi to understand them, their ways and
tongue, light commences to break IN on you. on
end you are among people OF ditogethera peculiar
character with virtues aud vices OF their own and,
beginning to understand their springs OF action you
begin too TO understand howit Is that those springs
are now relaxed. ! shall not attempt to give you
even . summary Of the conclusions to which nave
come. They are drawn from a wide held; perhaps
YOU will think it too wide. ! may say, however,
that have found the whole subject very interesting.
The language especially so. am quite satisfied
~ il
than has hitherto been besto we'd on it. / hope to
make this plain, and should | succeed in awakening
the attention OF those sufficiently qualified to trace
out all it, bearings, am confident u Will throw con.
siderable light the history Of language and OF
man. TO do full justice to the subject knowledge
ofthe .anscrit and acknowledgements necessary and
in this | am deficient. | may also say here that
wish 70 collect accurate account OF what was the
81 Laca