The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-05-19
From the Cleveland RI
The Sandwich Islands.

/ As the Sandwich islands seem destined to become at
no distant day part OF this republic the following acs
which we have gathered from various sources may
prove interesting TO our readers
Ihe Sandwich Islands are len IN number. Eight OF
lhem only are inhabited They called Hawaii, Oahu.
Mooka, Maui, Lanai. kahoolawe, Kivai, Niihau Ths
area OF these eight is estimated six thousand square
miles lbe arta Of the largest island Owybee, Tor moro
properly Hawa) is four thousand three hundred square
miles being more than halt that OF the entire group, and
| by lar The largest island in Polynesia.
Honolulu, N Oahu, The capital of the islands, has
distant from Shanghai (China) A. l7o miles Panama,
47o0 miles; Sidney, 4,3so miles, and vessels bound
from San francisco 10 either OF these places touch at
Honolulu The haIbor is safe and large tits of easy
access, and vessels subjected but little delay in enter
ing Almost every wreck upon that coast for many years,
has been OF ships bound of and which did wish to
come inside Wood. water, and ballast Of the best de-
scnptioa can be readily had in any quantity. Homo
ulu, in Short possesses all the advantages OF aarge
neicial depot Tor The North Pacific. and especially for
California and Oregon,
The population OF the Sandwich islands in 1850 was
so64 Ot lhese l,7s7 were foreigners the larger por
non OF whom Americans. The natives have dark
complexion, and are gloomy and reserved but are ye
remarkable Tor lher attention TO The arts OF industry and
have distinguished themselves above all others by their
efforts TO introduce European civilization.
The commerce OF the country is extensive. In 1850
the imports amounted to ~ ,O53,o5s 10 Of this sum
$305 Dl3 2S were from California $3.50, ,O37 40 from
the States GIea Brlaia. $s639s7 69 British colonies.
$ll47o2 IL France, ~ .633 49, The principal exports
Tor The same year were as follows Sugar, 750.23S lbs
moasses SO S53 gallons; coee 20s 2S lbs gsat SKINS
"a 9S3 pine apples, Ia 300 The gross receipts at the
house Honolulu for 1850 were $I Jig, 100 66.
being Increase OF 6 3s7 O3 those of 1Sl9 The
amount OF spIu0us liquors, which paid rs gallon
duty at the cusiom-house in Honoluu, for 1850
6252 gallons Of which 6,4S0t gallons were brandy.
The whole number OF vessels that visited the islands
in 1850 merchant ships 469 whalers 237. vessels
of war 13. The supplies furnished to them amounted
in the year $4,000 Almost the whsle OF these
supplies raised from The soil and consequently their
value much added TO the ability OF the people to
purchase the imports of the merchants and to increase
their own comfort.
The schools upon the islands in fourishing con-
don The amount expended for educational purposes
in 1850 $i3 lA6 80, about 2 0s to each Of the
taxable male population. The number OF schools in
1850, reported by missionaries 3SS; number of
scholars 1872, OF whom 42l studied Englsh Tho
average annual cost OF each school has been $47 66.
Average yearly wages of each teacher $37 90 Average
yearly cost OF each scholar 81 60 Besides the public
schools there five semnaries, in which, 1850 there
220 students La ls49 80 of those graduated
sent forth teachers
Religious progress upon the islands has been indeed
wonderful. Christianity introduced by the Ameri-
missionaries in lS20 and it is the religion Of the
State The following facts gather from the report
for 1850. The number of stations is 20. Members in
regular standing, % s3l children baptized during the
year, 462 on examination at the tme .594 mar
lages. 1854 The largest number added t6ons church
was 3s9-to the first church in Honolulu The whc3s
amount of contributions benevolent purposes from f
teen churches, for 1850, was S7.2l3 Ia
The climate is mild and even, ranging from rs to 80
degrees during the entire year. The soil is FERTILE and
the agricultural productions combine many OF the tempe
rate zone with some that peculiar 10 the torrd.