Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-05-28
p.a., ,ha sandwich Islands
CORRESPONDENCE OF the Richmond Enquirer
IIn.nrr G Nfarch IL 1871.

letter ever received by you from the Islam
world. 1t is written to afford some little in
formation to your readers, and to friends VII
have kindly requested letters on the SUBJECT
To comply with each individual request Tor
letter, would be impossible, ard ! therefor
throw myself on your Kindness and ask il
publication.
Outside Of New England, very little Seem
to be known respecting these beautiful and in
teres,ing Islands. When about 10 visit theu
on a late occasion, in taking leave Of friend
in Virginia and Washington, some Of them ap
pea1ed to be alarmed at the idea that your cor
respondent should venture to 90 to o land in
habited BY Cannibals. hope, alter they shal
read this letter, they will have no fears that
shall be killed and eaten up; unless, indeed, /
shall be done BY kindness-such rs never ha:
been exceeded by any people iii whose mids
my lot has heretofore been cast.
In tine year IT'S, the Islands were discovered
By Cook, and the whole group-eight in NUN
ber-were supposed to contain q population 0
some four hundred lhousand-quier, peaceful
and contented "Polynesians," living, Of course
in a primitive state, but happy. Frvlu variou:
causes the number ut present is much dimin
ished.
Some thirty years since the Missionaries
made their appearance, and it is but justice to
them to say, that they have done much towards
Christianizing the natives. | will not say
ciSIl:zing, Tor it is difficult to imagine, 20 see
them in their present state, that they ever
we're otherwise than a civil race. They have
done much towards educating them; most tx
cellent schools and colleges hove been estab'
lished, and arc in successful operation, and
already some o! the natives, land among others
the present King,) have been we'll educated,
AMI reflect great credit on their Institutions.
THE GOVERNMENT
Is conducted under u written constitution
which, in is provisions, is liberal and enlighten'
ed. 1t is modelled, very much, otter some
Of our State governments. The Laws en-.
acted by the King, The MOBILES and Representa-
tires in Legislative Council" IRE respected by
all, and rlyidly enforced.
The Courts are cf a high order, ard would
10 no discredit to any in tue United States
The Chief Justice is a native Of Maine, former
ly d member Of Congress, since q United
States Consul at this port. lie il & man
Learned in tile law" and possesses the corf'
denca Of the people.
The ENG
Is a well educated and talented man disEi'
fed and sen,lemanly in his department ; is
very well informed; speaks and writes the
English language well has travelled in the
United States and Europe. He lives in great
comfort-quite as much es the PrcsideDtc CT the
United States has IN ample income; is much
respected by foreigners and loved by he Ia
t;vxc II, &c nrtr o. % nc uua IJa on.
points his successor.
the QUEEN
Is only about twensy.one years Of age; said to
be very charitable, good hearted, and kind tc
her people, who idolIze her.
TIE CABINET
Consists Of a minister OF Foreign Relations"
Il Minister of Finance and q Minister Of
thc Interior" The FIRST is filed by a talented
Scotch gentleman, who has been much in the
United States, and holds cur institutions and
in very high estimation. lie holds
office, not for its Salary-he being very wealthy
and without any funnly-but solely to give the
the benefit Of his experience and
service. TIE Office Of minister Of Finance
is held by GU: LAKE e. s. Commissioner, from
Illinois, gentleman Of fine talents and gene
raj information. The minister Of the Int.
rior' is a natiye-brother of the King. He is
we'll educated, and is very popular.
On the whole, the government is d yer: good
one.
THE NATIVES, HABITS, &C.
As | have already said, the nalivcs are quic,
and happy, easily governed, very friendly 10
al foreigners and especially Americans. Many
Of them arc well educated, especi lily tie fe.
males, and are intelligent and genteel the
higher class dress with great laste and like Tie
foreigners; some Of them are pretty. The
lower class, "Kanackas," (men,) also dress like
foreigners. But the "Wycnas" (womcn) Of
that class dress in very loose dresses, often
made of hnc silks, butGo 5arsfooted. All classes,
ns;i7e and foreign, ride OH horseback and at
full speed. The W'yenss ride as men do, and
very gracefully. Il is a fine sight to see Of Nj
evening hundreds OF these On horseback, with
long scarfs thrown 10 the brccze." All
classes look neat and clean. No people pay
greuter attention to personal cleanliness.
AS 4 race, the natives, in size and personal
appearance, | think, are greatly superior TO the
:" Chinese and japanese, or Iny oi the Poly
rHsian race | have seen.
AREA OF THE ISLANDS, CLIMATE, &C.
The whole area Of the Islands is ABOUT Elk
thousand square miles, or three million, eight
hundred and forty thousand acres. They are
within an area of about TWO hundred and fifty
miles, and in latitude from 20 to %. They are
10 the pathway" 20 China and japan. The
climate IS a very equitable one, the %thelino,ne-
tor varying from Is 10 so the year round. Il
il never opprcss:vsly hot in the dag, and al.
ways pleasant at night; never too warm TO dis
pcuse with q blanket.
PRODUCTIONS.
Every species Of fruit raised in the tropics
are grown on scne of the Islands, ard very
many kinds not found on other islands. The
same may he said Of vegetables Of almost eye
ry kind. Wheat ind Indian corn, in some To-
cations, are successfully cultivated, especially
wheat Coffee, Of s very superior quality, has
heretofore been extensively aud probably
raised. Bur within the last year or two an IN
sect has attacked aud Injured the trees. it is
said to be similar t. tire insects which have
done so much injury to other coffee growing
countries, ard, for a time, almost put n stop 10
its cultivation, and then wholly disappeared.
Doubtless, it will be the same On these islands.
Sugar is, and will, no doubt, continue to be,
the great staple OF the islands. The cane con.
tinues to grow for two years, and attalns 1 size
which is almost incredible. 1t ratoons from
eight to ten years, none, OF course, being in.
iured by frosts, US they arc unknown. The
quantity raised is about two tons to the ecrc,
which commands in the San francisco market
from eight TO nire cents per pound. Labor in
abundance is obtained - from Two to six dol.
lars per Inoath, and the whole cost Of finding
uhe only expensc) is about Two dollars per
month. Lands Of very ine quality can be
purchased at from i've 10 ten dollars. II will
be seen from the above tina. sugar can be raised
at three cents per pound. and that the profits
immense.
The quality of that now being made is very
superior.
Grazing is also all extensive and profit.
able business; the increase Of cattle is so great
that many thousands have to lie killed OF to
keep the stocks under, and the hides alone
saved. I may mention in this connection that,
in the year l79S, Vancouver placed on one Of
the islands four head of cattIe only, and from
their increase some thirty thousand hays been
killed, and the same nu,nbe. still remain. Inc