The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-07-25
The Sandwich Islands.


The Sandwich Islands.
A gentleman in Southern Illinois, who on
account Of il-health had entertained tho'ts
Of settling for few years in warm eli
mate, addressed letter of inquiry TO Hon.
ID. l.. Gregg, Z. S. Commissioner TO the Ha.
waiian Government, touching the induce
ments which the Sandwich Islands presented
for the temporary residence Of an American
family who would expect 10 engage in bust
ness while there to meet the necessary ex-
penses. To this letter Mr. Gregg, with his
accus omed promptness and courtesy, re-
turned an answer Astounding in interesting
facts, from which the gentleman to whom it
was addressed, permits the Chicago Tress to
make the following extracts:
1t affords me great pleasure to answer
your inquiries, so far as my means of in.
formation will admit.
In the outset, | must express the opinion
that these Islands afford poor inlucenent
to business men unprovided with consider
able amount Of capital. The two principal
tewns-Honolulu and Lahaina-are full of
foreign traders, who all complain of compe-
tition, az robably only realize small
profits.
In this place there are four drug stores
none of them on a large scae-but quite
enough to supply the wants Of the commu-
nifty. Within the year there was fifth
closed few months ago by the insolvency
of its propretors.
You could not probably live here in the
comfort you have been accustomed TO enjoy
in Illinois, short Of three thousand dollars
per annum, even with the most rigi econo-
my. | occupy house for which pay a
yearly rent # $3.50. When lived ia Chi
cago, had a far better house at less than
one-half the rent. This was the case in
Springfield, also. Rents here, and believe
at Iahaina, are generally enormously high.
for anything like decent tenement such as
you would desire. This chiefly arises from
the expense of building. All the lumber
and brick in use come from the United States
At the present time, the expense of living
here, is undoubtedly much higher than at
San Francisco. | will send you, separately,
Honolulu paper, containing the prices cur
rent Of various articles Of subsistence, from
which you will be able to form an opinion
aside from my representations.
Teachers of music are abundant, but they
seem to find employment, and there is pro
baby room for more. The higher schools
Of education are excellent and well provided
with instructors. Teachers of common
schools, qualified to instruct native children
in the English language, are in demand.
am not able to speak with any certainty as
to the usual rates Of compensation.
My advice to any family coming here,
would be to send everything in the way Of
furniture and articles for housekeeping
around Cape Horn. Carpets are not much
used, Chinese mating being the substi: ute.
Most Of the vegetables of our latitude are
produced here in abundance. Oranges and
bananas are the only island fruits that en-
ter into foreign trade. Sweet potatoes are
exported to San Francisco to some extent,
anu large quantities go to supply the whaling
vessels which touch at the various ports.
Coffee ana sugar are the staples Of the
country.
In regard to the RESP reliability of occupa-
tions, everything is about the came as IN
Illinois. No honest employment is coHsId r
ed disreputable.
There is no such thing as caste arising
from color except as to negroes, who as eve
rywhere else, seem to be under the social
ban. Hawaians and people from every
quarter of the world, whether light or dark,
mix together on equal terms, in all the de-
partments of life.
No winter clothing is needed, but you
could not comfortably be without it on the
journey hither.
Foreigners may acquire fee simple titles
the same as subjects, but land is not easily
to be got
There is no difficulty in procuring SER
wants. A great proportion of the house
servants in Honolulu are Chinese The ma
tives are not fond of continuous labor, but
they are employed for every species of
service. Female domestics are almost I'M
known. The cooking, washing and general
drudgery of every household are done by
men. in fact American and European wO-
men are not fit for kitchen work in such a
climate. They cannot stand it beyond a
few months at most, and then their health is
gone.
In point of climate, this is a desirable
place fof residence, especially to persons in
clined to pulmonary disease. Rheumatic
and asthma ic people will, in the long run,
find their disorders aggravated, as rheuma-
tism and asthma prevail to very incOn-
venient extent amongst all classes.
think have now, either directly or in
replied to all your inquiries. You
will see that have suggested but few con-
siderations to induce you to think of coming
here. As to prospects of easy competence,
can truly say that they are a thousand
times Il SIS in the Hawaiian Islands than al
most any where in Illinois.