The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-07-02
SKETCHES OF
gife in tbe Yawaiian Sslan0s. go. 8.

(From Jarpes' Scenes and Scenery.

and other trees. The coast swers gradually inland
at times presenting hills of considerable magnitude
three Of which, mile from the Shore are particular
objects of attraction They ancient craters very
uniform and regular in size and shape, truncated.
and covered with fine greensward. The view from
the sea is beautifully picturesque than sublime
Of clear day, the snowy peaks Of Mauna Kea, with
its brown sides are to be rising abruptly from
the plain, and, in the background, the dome Of
Mauna Loa, and the smoke of Kilauea, distinctly
visible. All the back-country is well wooded and
watered, while towards the sea, houses and gardens,
trees and small streams dell and grove, grouped
in pleasant confusion The soil is luxuriantly YER
dant and its depth and richness favorable to all
tropical productions The bay forms excellent
harbor, protected from the surf by reef and bar,
which makes nearly across, and it has good holding
ground. Ships lay close in, without danger.
and, with proper encouragement from government,
Hilo might become rich and popuous district The
best of is obtained, with the greatest facility,
at the Wailuku, river of destruction, romantic
stream, which empties itself into the bay the
anchorage, and derives its from the number Of
persore>ahaubave perished in its rapids. A short
distance from its mouth there is fine cataract,
tumbling precpice sixty feet i'll height, into
deep and craggy basin beneath, which formerly
the interior of crater through the side of which
the stream now forces its way. 1t is called the
''cascade of the rainbow
The population of the district of Hilo is nearly
eight thousand. Stores have been established at the
village much to the benefit of the natives in afordng
them market for their produce, and foreign goods
in return. A spirit of enterprise has been develop
ing which, no doubt, will make this place the
garden of Hawaii but it is here elsewhere, through
the influence of foreigners, that better day appears
to be dawning upon these islands. Seven miles in
land there is saw-rn which, when water is
abundant can saw from six to eight hundred feet of
boards per day. Two sugar mills, by water power,
capable of grinding from four hundred to six hun
dred pounds each, per day, have been erected.
The climate of Hilo is particularly favorable to
agricultural operations Regular land and breezes
prevail, which give very delightful temperature,
tempering the monday heat, and rendering the
nights cool and bracing. 1t has formerly been
sdered obnoxious to continual rains but the resi-
dents state that within the last four years great
change has taken place in that respect, and that
much less falls; indeed, than is necessary to
preserve its fuitfuness Orange trees do not -four
ish, but the mango, chirimoya, fig, strawberry, and
many other fruits, grow thriftily. Corr. mulberry,
and sugar-cane do excellently well, but the plant
which seems to thrive the best, and is destined to
become the principal export, is coffee The expense
of raising it is tring, compared with silk, sugar
1t grows most luxarantly, and the branches of the
trees, then in fruit bent to the earth by its
weight. Mature trees have produced ten pounds
apiece, which is enormous product, compared with
most coffee countries. In Brazil, and the West
Indies three to four pounds to the tree considered
a great crop. There several plantations
of the berry, which have commenced bearing The
shrubs planted in rows, and shaded by banana
plants. The strong trade-wind, which almost every
where else on the islands operat IS serious i'm
pediment the growth of plants is here neuralized
by the land breezes, and the neglboring mountains
A pleasant wine has been made from the wild rasp-
berries of the mountains.
The mission houses, three in number, pleas
antly situated near each other, quarter of mile
from the beach, and exact models of yankee farm
houses in New England. Indeed, they look if they
had been transplanted to their present situation,
from the country of frost and snow, and form quite
singular object, half hid by the deep foliage of the
oriental lilac, mango, and brea11(t6i trees Rev.
Mr.. Lyman ibas boas5ng- school, of from fifty to
sixty boys 4ghtest of whom are sent, annually,
to the lZschool at Maui. They partly support
themselves by their abor all neatly clothed and
their whole appearance reflects great credit upon
their instructors. They lodged in large,
wooden two-story building. The lower part is the
school-room, and the upper is divided, by parti-
tons, into chambers, for sleeping apart
ments. Besides this, there is another house, of the
size, where they eat, after civilized manner
They allowed meats often they be pro-
cured. For the sick there is separate building,
where they be retired from the noise of the school,
and have such attentoRas their wants require.
The shore, in the vicA of Hilo is formed by a
wall from thirty to forty n high which the surf
beats loudly and heavily ~ country is picturesque
and tolerably fertile; alrkamlets are frequent,
situated in the midst If shady groves They were
built after the primitive fashion the count9E and
the inhabitants generally appear POD and esttute.
Civilization, whatever it had done eSsS Se, has
evidently made but small progress here, N(dS-;a
whole scene probably differs but little from what
it appeared in the days of Cook, excepting that we
saw no other signs of heathenism than numerous
ruined temples. The people are civil and hospita-
BILE, but of darker compilations and more repulsiye
countenances than those had been accustomed to
seeing on the other islands. But the whole land
scpe had an air Of quiet repose and happiness which
was the more gratifying, from contrast with the
areary spectacle had just left The males were
mostly employed in fishing, which labor. to judge
from the rocky landing places and rough sea, was
no sinecure They assembled, however, very readily
at the summons of conch to attend the meetings
which the missionary held at every village passed
through. From the traces of cultivation, the numer
pavements, and terraces partially overgrown
with vines and trees, and the bestowed in the
erection of their habtatnns, old and out of
repair, this evidently once populous and -four
ishng district. The of kamehameha drained Il
of its able-boiied men, and series of oppressive
governors have consummated It's desolation.
GAMING.-Be assured that, although men of emf
nent genius have been guilty Of AL other vices none
worthy of more than a secen5arf name has been
q gamester. Either exds@I r. 6varice, de-
fciency of what, in physis Med excitablity, is
the cause of it; neither of ON exist in she
same bosom with genius. with petriQtisn, or with
virtue " Washington. sc