The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-01-30
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The Romantic Career Of nm adsentn'o /.
American Arrival OF Capt NaiHer VI.
Gibson from the Sandwich islands

We had the pleasure Yesterday of a visit from
our old friend Capt. Walter NJ Gibson VINO, IN
the course Of his adventurous aud Interesting ca
reer. has once again been brought 10 his native
city. Though his locks are somewhat more gTlz-
Zled since our last interview. some seven or eight
years ago. and although he shows the fatigue Of an
almost >~ireplesS overland journey from California.
he : still fresh and vigorous. and as fall Of ideas
aud OF energy - ever He sailed
from San Francisco for the Sandwich Islands some
time about lS62. and his connection with the Nor
mons seems tn have come TO an end.
When he arrived in the Sandwich Islands 4 good
many Latter Day Saints were established there
Their settlement was in Lanai, an island thirty
miles long and eight miles wide. Iii described
by all who have seen it a. the -lovelieSt scene upon
the face Of the earth. combining the Sublimity of
mountains with the richness of tropical vegetation.
and the beauty of an ocean whose waves break in
almost constant peace upon lis enchanting shores
The soil of this island i rich. almost beyond COM
pariSon; of its productiveness an idea may be
formed from the fact that during the present sea-
son 500 per acre has been paid for the crop OF
raw sugar cane. The Mormon occupants Of this
island have. however. all gone. whether through
the arrangements of Capt. Gibson or not. We be
lieve that the Mormon leaders unanimously attri-
butte to bin the fact that their people DO longer
have a foothold in the dominiOns of King kameha-
meha. or indeed. we believe. anywhere in the
whole Pacific. On this account they have natu-
rally become somewhat hostile TO Capt Gibson.
and in passing through Salt Lake City the other
day he did not deem il prudent TO make himself
known to any of his old acquaintances.
We learn from Capt Gibson that a remarkable
industrial and commercial revolution has taken
place in the Sandwich Islands. The cause of this
change is the introduction Of the sugar culture. for
which the soil is surprisingly adapted. \ yield OF
four tons of sugar 10 the acre is not uncommon.
though the largest yield hitherto known in other
countries has been three tons. Large stocks Of fine
sheep are also kept. as well as great numbers of
goats upon the mountains. whose skins form an i'm
pnrtant article of export. In this novel state Of
things the natives are suddenly becoming rich. and
a people who have hitherto gone naked. living
mainly on the spontaneous products of the earth.
are now flaming ont in all the s~plendor of Partisan
hnery. riding snowy horses, and cultivating the
theatre and the other luxuries of civilization. The
price of land in every part of the Islands has risen
immensely. Where. ten years ago. ten cents an
acre was an ordinary price, farms now are worth
from 500 to $500 an acre. and in the towns city
lots are sold at prices which would seem large
even to the experienced land spectators of the
United States.
Capt. Gibson visits this country not only 10 see his
relatives once again. but also as an agent Of the
Sandwich Islands. to endeavor to procure the rati-
fcation of the reciprocity treaty which Mr.. Seward
submitted to the Senate at its last session. Having
discharged this duty. he proposes TO sail for Singa-
pore. with n view of there engaging laborers TO emf
CRATE to the Sandwich Islands. at the Government
expense. All that is necessary. as he assures us. Ia
render his adopted country as rich in wine as in
sugar and wool. is n sufficient supply of laboTeTs
to develop its Incompatible resources.