The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-10-05
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Affairs at the Fiti Islands

aAa AE afEHa FaaaN q" 10 aa@aa@ aa ~
llit. Of The United States Exploring EKyeoi
ton. The situation o! these Islands Is seTy
Convenient and important. There are MANY
fne harb0~. and easy Of access. where saips
can even now procure fresh provisions and
good water 10 a-Intance. They are on tie
highway rom China round CaPe Horn, OF
thu Csre q Cod HOPE, fgT A.st-la Or fo'
South America while the rood 20 Ags;r-
ia from South Amerra les c.o-e along -1e.i
western shore.
The present. King is Thakomhau. a5o1r
% years Of age. His Majesty thus wr;=.
G.s name. Cakat11. He j. q son 0f Tame,
% conspicuous during The visi; o. Wilkss
TIE Islands are divided into seven districts,
each having Its chief. Two districts DO no;
acknowledge Caka5au's authority. L. May
last Cskabag was crowned King by foreign
ers and his chiefs. who are loyal. Ia le53.
Cakabsu and his chiefs r~enOuuced canuital-
ism. plurality Of wives. the s~ranElirg al
widows al their husbands death. and the
clubbing and eating Of prisoners. These SOL
utary reforms were brought about under the
{ recr influence Of the Wesleyan missiona-
res, who have been ia5oung there about
thiry.yezrs. The islanders have advanced
to about that STATE Of christianity and ciyili-
zation that prevailed 81 the Sandwich Islands
thirty years ago.
From Capt. Stanley, commander Of the
United States steamship TUSc1roTz- We have
learned sOme very interesting facts respect
ing the present state Of affairs at those Isl
ands. He was sent ihither TO settle certain
claims due Americans from the King. The
sum total Of the claims varying from enc 10
ten thousand dollars amounted 10 So, 900.
Upon examination, these were reduced TO
- 81 r-r-h Tr-a-ze- % - s..
he found 10 Be exor5!ian;, and Others IN
founded. =
Ga his arrival. according TO an old pre-
cedent Acknowledged a sound by king, pso-
PIE and foreigners, Capt. Stanley, as the
commander Of 4 man-ofwar, was appealed 10,
10 ST a. umpire, or Judge. who should settle
difficulties between natives and Americans.
According 70 previously decided cases, his
must = final, and without appeal.
Acting IN this capacity, be aGJuticated in
many cases brought before him. Ia one case,
Tor example, an American brought q case
against natives for stealing. The case hav-
ing been heard, ne decided that the natives
should restore what was stolen, or IT, value.
This was done. When the criminals there
were three Of them were arraigned for SEN
each one was brought in separately
and asked what punishment should be given
them. One said. that he should BE foEged.
Jut not as much as the others, because he
vas the Oldest Of the three. He had lived
IA honest man, aud correction was not so
for an old man as for a Young
Another said. :. that he ought 10 De
but no; as much as the Others, for he
the youngest, and the custom OF FIJI was
young people to be ruled by the old peo-
PIE. He only did what the old man told
The other said, . he ought TO be
but not as much Is the other two,
or they had rank. and he was Only a poor
This was a case OF SPECIAL pleading
Of a Philadelphia lawyer. They were
20 make restitution. Shortly after
natives IN turn brought up this same
for whipping a petty chief, who
would not work according 10 agreement. So
ggrsvaied were the facts, that the American
vas fined $50, or one-half Of his entire prop
.riy. In one case the King demuTed about
out a certain decision, which would
,It a foreigner in possession Of a small island.
fe was tod by Capt. ). that ne had power
n board his ship TO enforce the decision.
lis Majesty had the good sense 10 execute
lie law, or enforce the decision.
So much did Capt. SANKEY'S decisions
meet the views Of the King and people, that
= was made umpire between other foreign
- and the native government and people.
ling Thakombau has gone go far in admitting
JreiEners 20 influence him IN his govern
tent, that a written constitution has been
ublished. IL contained an article in favor
slavery, which Capt. Stanley persuaded
TO erase. Capt. Stanley, originating
North Carolina, and remaining loyal
unng the late war, was urgent and bold IN
j. opposition 70 the principle OF slavery
the Fijians. The constitution goes
Ito effect in January next. when every male
ihabiiant, eighteen years old and upwards,
rust pay an annual tax OF FIVE dollars. !
The American Consula at FIJI Is DR.. Bower, .
no figured IN Mexico during the Mexican :
while the British Consul, Capt. Jones,
eminen; services during the Crimean war, :
as promoted from the ranks. These are :
e only Consuls officiating there. !
Capt. Stanley speaks favorably of the :
.nglish Wesleyan missionaries laboring ,
nong the people. About one hundred Amer 7
have settled on the islands, aId about i
hundred foreigners Of other rationale i
p. The island. are favorable for the growth
cotton (Sea Islandl, sugar and cocoanut I
Lands are rapidly passing into the hands
foreigners. Deeds registered at either of =
9 ConSulaies are acknowledged good. All :
nd purchases pay ! per cent. for register
2 title at the office OF the Secretary OF For ?
IN Affairs. by the constitution which goes
10 effect on the first o. January next. r
gentleman from the State OF New York =
the name OF s.. Johns acts Us His Maj =
tvs Minister Of Foreign Affairs. The King
IDS il best TO act a. his own Minister Of
He Is not particular 10 report 10
5 chiefs and people the state Of his finances. n
~ IS the capital. Leyuka, island OF Ova-
j, Is the port where the Consuls reside, :,
q where ships discharge and receive cargoes.
he rumor J. rife at the islands that some
ars ago, when the question Of the sover- Il
ynty Of the islands was about 10 pass over