The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-07-10
THE PACIFIC
Commercial advertiser.
Rural Sketches
OF the 9araiian c4slands.
Huo. H,w,II. June Goth. I86


To tie EditOr of the Conn. Adreyfiser:
Knowing, by experience, that it is much harder
to edit newspaper during the dull months of
summer, than during other portions of the year,
when the times are lively and news abounds,
allow me limited space in your paper, for a
few paragraphs. We left Honolulu. Friday
afternoon, the Doth inst, and reached Lihaina,
the following afternoon. 1t was exceedingly gra-
tiying 10 to 20 on Shore and spend the Sab
bath. The Rev. DIR. Baldwin invited our party
to lis hosPitabIe dwelling, where many weary
yOyagcrs have been entertained during the last
quarter Of Il century The vessel was detained
until the following Monday morning, which
afforded Us an excellent opportunity 70 90 on
shore and spend the Sabbath. in place where
each man does Cor Inay) sit under his vine
and fs tree Surely, tine old Hebrews never
Plucked better grapes from the vale Of EschOl,
than grow at Iahaina. As for figs, they, too,
are equal to those of Smyrna, (when raised from
Smyrna trees.) We never met with better than
those growing in Mr.. Oudinots premises. BY
the way, did you know that Mr.. O.. grand
mother was sister Of the Pioneer, Boone, of Old
Kentucky, and, report says, that Marshal o. Of
France, his uncle. More than all this, he
has spent years trapping for furs, with Kit Car
son, of Rocky Mountain notoriety.
Iahana has decidedly - cavcd in since
whaleships have ceased to resort thither for sup
plies. y half score of good dwelling houses ere
- to let" but no applicants The people of
IlhIina console themselves. that they going
10 be better off than formerly. - Suppose whale
ships have deserted us say they, - We have a
rich soil, and we determined to produce su-
gar-cane that will astonish the world, if 1t does
not equal the cane raised mt Waikapu,-seyen
tons to the acre -
Two days sailing from Lahaina, brought US
safely to Hilo. We should be ungrateful not to
say Il kind word for the Maria and her excellent
Commander, Capt. Crane. \ more efficient and
accommodating navigator, does not cruise among
our islands. The Maria is clean and comforta-
BILE, which is more than can be said for many of
our intcr-isand craft.
IIiIo appears the same beautiful spot as when
we visited 1T in IS44 and 80. The trade winds
do not give the trees - south-westcrly lean
ing" but allow them to grow up stately, tall
and comey. From the window where | am
writing, several tall and beautiful - Pride of In
dias'' are to be seen. growing and spreading as
If they were intending TO display their comely
proportions The mango tree grows to Il lofty
ducrd in Honolulu At Il damp locality, trees,
grasses. and flowers may grow most luxuriantly,
but, after all. warm sun is required for ripen
ing fruits; hence, the excellent grapes of Laha-
ina, and Waimea, in Kauai, and the luscious
water-nelons from the dry and sunny shores of
Lanai.
Since our arrival at Hilo, have been about
the country, and visited localities where the
planters are busiIy manufacturing, preparing
To- manufacture sugar. The enterprising Ger
mans from Kauai, who started plantation i'll
the vicinity Of Hilo, about eighteen months ago,
are showing what can be accomplished when
take off their coats and go to work like
men who understand their business. Their
plantation Is two or three miles from IIilo. They
commenced - in the BUSH but have cleared
away guava bushes. and pushed the plow through
one hundred acres of rich land, and now are
anxIJusly watching the growing Their
crop looks fine. and they hope to commence grind
iug in November or December. They have put
NJ their own building and constructed their
machinery. One of the partners is a carpenter
and the other a blacksmith, rather a machin-
ist- | went over their plantation, and witnessed
the great improvements which had been made in
a few months. Among other improvements,
they have constructed a water-courSe, which
brings down a stream of water sufficient to turn
their miLt and any other machinery which may
ne attached Their wheel is thirty feet in dame
ter, and Il already in working order. At the
time Of my visit the maSons were busilv at work
setting the kettles. Success TO Messrs Reinhardt
and Asegut , Hilo needs score more of such
men. \ few miles farther along the coast Mr.
Hitchcock has just - broke ground for another
sugar plantation under the auspices of Mr.
Austin, of Hilo. and His Ex. the Chief Justice
There Is more good land IN the Hilo District
enough, 1t is said, for ten, perhaps twenty more
plantations w hat Is wanting, is the right sort
of men TO start them,-men, who remember the
old proverb, that
He who by the pow would thrive,
Himself ether hold
Perhaps neither you nor many of your
readers are aware of the fact that the Chinese
Planters of Hilo have never used the plow at
all During the past twenty years they have
been successful sugar growers. and vet never
used the Plow. Their practice is to dig holes,
about four feet apart and place their rows about
eight feet apart. They insert the young plants
in these holes, and DO all the work of cultivation
with the 40 and hoe They never replant. but