Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-08-19

be cdtivutedh here. But hitherto. such has been the
difficulty of procuring labor, and of getting produce
to market-on the backs Of donkics over our steep
ridges, and plains of broken lava, or from one is
land to another ON small schooners-that it has not
been safe for foreigners to attempt agriculture with
out considerable capital. Now some of the coffee
plantations begin to pay, and of the sugar planta-
tions the two or three which have struggled through
the losses and embarrassment of'j0 and u seem like
lyto prove profitable. That at Lihue on Kauai, is pro-
badly the most extensive and best on the islands. 1t
has however required capital to the amount of near
~ 500 900 to put it fairly under way. Among the
vegetable curiositics of the fair, the principal one
which | noticed was IA species of banana from the
Island of Hawaii, with the fruit growing inside of
the trunk. There was no mistake Us to the genuine
ness of the specimens, but rs it only grows in one or
two places, and is very little known. presume it
is only an accidental and morbid variety of the COM
mon banana Some pretty fine wool was exhibited
also some fine horses and cattle. Efforts have been
made recently to improve both our wool and mutton,
by Importation of mcrino and south-down sheep.
Your good Vermont farmers, however, need not APP
prchcnd any competition in their staple in Boston
market, from Hawaii, for some time to come
Some Hawaiian tanned leather was also shown.
From the abundance of bullock, and the excellent
quality of some of our native banks, this must some
time he a profitable Manufacture at present, CAPT
tai finds preferable modes of Investment.
Legislature, societies, and business generally. for
several week, past, have been more or less affected
by the presence of smallpox among us,-supposcd
to have been brought down in old clothes from Cali
fornia. A. yet but one or two foreigners have been
attacked. Among the natives ON this island (Oahu)
it is spreading slowly, but so far quite fatally. A
large portion of the people was vaccinated five or
six years since, and vigorous efforts at vaccination
are making now, but many eases of varioloid have
occurred, and the vaccine matter works in a way
that rather puzzles the physicians frequently run
ming out into bad sores and Icgcncrating rapidly.
The disease now threatens to carry off large NUM-
bcrs OF the natives in spite of all efforts.
In II day or two, the Hawaiian Missionary Society
expects to send ont a new mis>ion-to F%atuhiwa, one
of the southcrn-m"st of the Mnrqucsas. The vessel
will have to run down to Tahiti before landing the
missionaries, and whether the French authorities
there, who have shown such Il disposition to distress
the English Missionaries and cypress the native. of
Tahiti, will allow another establishment at the Mar
quesas, is rather doubtful. The society have thought
however, that their duty was plainly to send, and
have left the rest to Providence.
have written the foregoing gcncralitics in some
haste, hut will try hereafter to give you more at
leisure and in detail. notices Of our country, its pro-
ducts, people, and doingS. There are many things
here that may be interesting to you. and that do not
fall under the observation of those who pav only n
flying visit to Honolulu, Tahaina, or lIilo. 1t !,
with many other things as with our and-shcllS. and
plants. NaturaIist> in the United States, suppose
that both are very thoroughly known.-and vet
every new explorer of our dark vallicS find, new
species in abundance to reward him. !. w. NJ.