The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-15

-
The News.
Up to j o'clock last night the steamship Canada,
nom Liverpool, had not made her appearance ut
Halifax.
The steamship st. Louis arrived al this port last
evening from Aspinwall, with full complement OF
passengers and more than million Of dollars in
treasure from California. She also brings interest
ing news from Australia, the Fejee Islands, the
South Pacific and New Granada. Our Australian
advices are dated sydney Nov. IA, and Melbourne
Nov. 20. In the Sydney Legislature the question
Of steam postal communication with Europe, by way
Of Panama, was under consideration. The gold
mines continued to yield largely The price Of gold
NJ Melbourne had declined Cd. per or, being quoted
at f3 las Sd. The banks placed the rate of ex-
changes with England at par the 10Th of No
vember. The closing price Of -four the 18th of
November at Geelong was $40 to ESQ per ton for
CHILEAN. Business there was rapidly improving.
At Adelaide -four was rising in price on the 18th Of
November, and is quoted at e55 eco.
Our New Granada files are dated at Aspinwall and
Panama 9Th inst. The Isthmus was perfectly
healthy, the railroad in excellent order, trade i'm
proving, and the weather warm. A force Of militia
had marched to the province Of Lavia to quell one
-
occurred at Aspinwall between tie native residents
and emgrants from Jamaica. Il looked serious for
time, but subdus 1Wfthout loss of life or pro
perry In other respects the accounts are cheering.
The news from the Feee Islands is interesting.
We learn that the United States slo0p-of-war John
Adams, during her recent cruise under Commander
Boutwell,, had punished the peryerse conduct and
daily cruees of the inhabitants by bombarding and
hur a0ff hoir pr;p ffar< I.;c
treaty was concluded between Thu Viii, the Fcjee
King, and Commander Boutwell,
The Feeee Islands form group in the south Pa
cifc ocean, east of the New Hebrides between lati
tude 10 degrees 80 minutes, and - degrees so mi
nutes SOUTH and longitude III degrees east and IT'S
degrees west The entire group comprises altogether
l54 islands, 65 Of which Inhabited. They are
the Eastern and Asaua groups, the latter forming
the west side OF the archipelago. there are
sun'.,ous -r~.s outlets Or passages to
and from the central space, enclosed by
the group, known az the Goro sea. Two
Of the islands only of large size, namely, Wit.
Lew and Paoo (Psou) or sandalwood islands,
Among the Others may be mentioned Yuma, Kand4:
hoo, Ovolau Ban or Ambow, Muthuatu and Goro;
some of the others, though smaller, are populous.
They each contain from 900 to $4,000 inhabitants.
Most OF the remainder are mere isets The Feeiees
are of volcanic origin but signs Of volcanic heat
have been met with, excepting at Savu-Savu, on
The south shore of the large island Of Paoo. The
peaks are usually basaltic cones needles some
Of which rise to the height Of several thousand feet
A luxuriant foliage covers these islands TO their
submits, giving them singularly pleasing and
picturesque aspect. The soil consists af deep
yenowish loan, with large portion OF decayed We
getable matter which, aided by fine climate and
abun dance of water l. extremely productive. Fruits
Of various kinds abound including the bread fruit Of
which there are nine different sorts, the banana,
cocoa sbaddocks, papaw apple, Tahiti chestnut, and
number of other fruits peculiar the islands. The
chief food of the inhabitants is the yam, Of which
they have five or six varieties. Sugar cane, turnerc
and tobacco are also cultivated. ~aHdawood, Tor
which these islands formerly noted, has wholly
disappeared. Vegetation Il exceedingly rapid Ac-
cording to statemene made by the borticulturst TO
the United States Exploring Expedition, turpips,
radish and mustard seed, after being sovn twenty
four hours, the cotyleon leaves above the sur
Face In four weeks from The time Of planting
radishes aud lettuce Rcre fi for use ana in tive
weeks, marrowiat peas. The climate & agree
able and healthiful. The mean Temperature of
Dyolau one at the most beautiful islands Of the
group, about eight miles long BY seven broad dur
ing TIN six weeks that the observatory Of the United
States Exploring Expedition established there.
was II degrees 81 minutes. The barometer stood
nj 3012G inches. The lowest temperature was ~
degrees the highest, 10 degrees. The inhabtants
of these islands are . barbaroas and savage race,
remarkable fol cruelty, deceit and cowardice. They
are also EXTREMITY covetous and addicted 70 lying Hu
man sacrifices are frequent among them, and cann
baIism is common. The Feejecan~ ruled by chiefs,
10 whom great difference Is paid, and who in torn
appear to acknowledge the supremacy Of the Chief
of Ambow, who has recently assumed the title Of
Tmi VIII King OF the Feejeeans. The missionaries
have made great progress in the ytrdward group.
The towns Of the islands usually fortified with
strong palisades, and have but two entrances, in
which are gates, tie passage being narrow a. to
admit Of only one person at time. The population
If the islands il estimated al I33 900.
From the South Pacific we have news dated at
raIlao January 90, and Valparaiso January l6
Chile was tranquil, and the local improvements
we're progressing. Trade at Valparaiso was active.
The city had been visited by an extensive fire on
Christmas day. it occurred near the San Francis
co church. Water was scarce, and the houses be
ing frame buildings mostly, the flames made rapid
progress. The captains Of ships Of war-English,
French and American men on shore, promptly
spd generously 70 cid in checking the dsmes, Ten