East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1859-09-15
THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

jewellers of the largest division of water
on the face of the globe. This vast sur
face, extending from the West coast of
America to the East coast of Asia, and
North from Behring's Straits to the An
tartic Circle, covers seventy millions
square miles-a surface larger than all
the area of dry land, nearly half the en-
tire surface of the globe. An area of
this sea larger than the Atlantic has
hardly any islands of consequence save
the Galapagos; but besides the islands
near the shores, the Pacific contains an
immense number far remote from any
continent. The Ladrone, Caroline and
Sandwich Islands lay North of the Equa-
tor in the centre and West arc the vast
groupe of the Polynesia; and in the
South are the Society, Marquesas, Navi-
gators and Friendly, and New Zealand
This vast expanse of water, by its pro-
ductive fisheries and islands rich in vari-
ed products, contributes in no small de-
gree to the wealth and comfort of man
kind.
One Of the most astonishing facts con-
nuv,.d viii, tho p.v;G0 Iol~uIs > e.-ll,-
is their rapid depopulation since they
were visited by the white man. This
fact holds good as to all portions Of the
native race of the South Sea Islanders,
from New Zealand to the Sandwich
Islands. The fact remains unaccounted
for. The natives are accustomed to state
that after the departure of the earlier
ships with which they had much com
munication, and after the white men be-
came residents among them, a disease
unknown before appeared among them
which proved remarkably fatal. This
fact is met by others to the effect that
such diseases have ragged but short
time, when the natives have recovered
their usual health, and this depopulation
has gone on in places where no disease
was manifest rr
The Sandwich Islanders are illustra-
tive of the extent of this decrease Of
native population. Cook estimates the
numbers on these Islands in 177S at 400,-
O00-an estimate considered, however,
as having been far too high. A census
taken in 1886 showed the population to
be 1OS,579. More special statistics con-
firms the general fact Of decrease: thus,
the deaths in 1857 were 2007, and the
births only 1915; and in prior years the
disproportion has been even greater. The
population of Tahiti was stated in 177S
at 121, 000-the lowest estimate; at pre-
sent it is less than 1000. 1t is most re-
markable that this declension should have
gone on in spite of improved social con-
dition, more comfortable dwellings and
better clothing. ls7 tr
But while the native population of the
Sandwich Islands is decreasing the com
merce is increasing; and more especially
since the gold discoveries in California.
The Europeans are multiplying; thus
years ago there was but one house in
Honolulu built after European model
now the populption of this place numbers
5000. There are twenty importing
houses, about sixty retail stores, twelve
hotels; five printing Offices and six
churches. ,H.j
Of late years both the English and
French have regarded the islands of the
Pacific with great interest. The latter
have gone steadily on in establishing a
naval station and final settlement in
those waters that of New Caledonia
The last report about this new colony is
that the French are about to stock il
with laborers from New Guiena. The
Loyalty Islands have been lately (1857)
added to it, and others are now on their
way to annex to it the New Hebrides, a
numerous cluster to the Northeast.
This naval station excites the jealousy
of John Bull, and he is now contempla
ting the appropriation of the Fiji Islands
to counteract the influence of the French
This consists of very clever group Of
; eighty islands of an area of $4,000 square
miles, the chief of which is $50 miles in
circumference, with population of 200,.
600, and with a soil fit tor coffee, cotton
and sugar. The surface of the two larges,
islands only is equal to the Kingdom oil
Belgium, and therefore the territory il
not unworthy the notice of John Bull
British journals are now urging this ster
as necessary to counteract foreign powers
which are occupying station after station
in tha. vast Pacifc.--Boston Post. ~.
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