The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-03-02
TIE PACIFIC
Commercial Ao6ertistr.
COSTRIBU TED.
The Navigator Islands.

@N"~
the latitude Of - 80 and Ia 30, and be-
tween the longitude Of les : % west and I727
so west, and contain 1850 square miles and
5000 inhabitants, all Of whom are Christians.
In speaking Of the islands, / shall claim for
them neither a Continental or Oceanic climate,
but a Combination Of the two. Like Borneo,
SuInatra, Java and Ceylon, it Is the maritime eli
mate, which is the foremost in the world. Here
are allied the Continental yig9r and the Oceanic
softnes5, in a fortunate union mutually temper
Ing each other. Here the development is more
lntense, life more rich and more varied in all its
forms and when to these causes We further add
the advantage of a tropical temperature, the forms
Of Nature are as it were raised to their highest
degree, and the wealth it brings to light surpls5es
ali elsewhere seen.
No where on the surface Of the globe is the
blending of the Continental and Oceanic elements
80 complete and on 50 great a scale as among these
islands, being located in the midst of the south
east trade winds, and surrounded by seas in the
most diversified manner-bathed by the humid
atmosphere of the tropics and copiOus showers of
rain, and exposed TO the genial rays Of a tropical
sun. These are all the means of a physical life
which Nature can receive.
The soil Of these islands is rich, arises chiefly
from the decomposition Of volcanic rock and veg
etable matter, and is sufficiently indicated by the
uniform luxuriant growth of all the trees. IL is
here that we find the most prolific and admirable
vegetation. We see at the same time plants with
broad and numerous leaves, the excessive expan-
sion Of which - always the proof Of an exuberant
humidity, and those shrubs with concentrated and
elaborate gums, and those spices and arOmata.
that bear witness to the dry and intense heat Of
the Continent. The forests are more sOmbre than
those Of Brazil, although the same kind of growth
appears to prevail. The trees do not branch out
until near the top, which renders it difficult to
obtain botanical specimens, but ut the same time
facilitates the equestrian and enables him to pen
citrate IN all directions these virgin and luxuriant
forests, which in Brazil, Central America, Mex
icO and India are an mpenetrable jungle, filled
with the most vOraciOus wild animals, such as the
lion, tiger, panther, hyena, etc, that are always
seeking whom they may devOur, whilst innumer-
able myriads of poisonous reptiles and insects are
10 be encountered at every step, until finally,
bitten and stung, poisoned, faint and fcYerish, the
traveller repOses his weary limbs for rest beneath
the shade of some friendly tree, where, if ne es-
capes the jaws Of tine hyena until the evening
shades prevail, ne is almost sure to fall a victim
~ the Unsuitable thirst of the Vampire bat, who
whilst he sucks the last drop of blood through his
insidiOus beak, fans with his enormous wings his
Insuspecting prey into that sleep from whence no
traveller has yet returned.
How very different do we find it here. The
trunks are covered. and even the submits of the
trees are sometimes OvergrOwn with the leaves of
n cliuging piper and a variety of other creeping
vines, some of which contain medicinal virtues
still unknown to the world, and almost invalua-
bic 70 the human race. The lower parts of the
trees are covered with ferns, Of which there are
many varieties, and with some species of pothos,
which give the whole ground n matted or woven
appearance. Among the plants a species of GER
lera was observed, with beautiful clusters of large
and OdoriferOus white flowers that yielded n guam
Tity OF viscOus sap, which bOtanists think will
manufacture into clOutchOuc. The species of trees
are much more numerous than at Tahiti, and the
vegetation ia consequence much richer and more
varied. Among the most remarkable trees is the
banyan, called by the natives : DIVA" Some
are seen whose pendant branches take root in the
ground to the number of thousands, forming
stems from an inch TO two feet I'm diameter, unit
ny ID the main trunk more than eighty feet above
the ground, and supporting a vast system of bOr-
izJntaI branches, spreading like an umbrella over
the tops of other trees. This tree is the symbol
Of vegetable strength. Here uplifts its head the
majestic palm, n single leaf whereof, sixteen feet
broad and forty feet round, is enough To give
shade to a score of people at once. Here may be
found on the bosom of these virgin forests some
Of the largest flowers in the world, such as the
~rtfiesia. one whose gigantic dimensions alone
measured no less than three feet across.
The breadiruit Is the most abundanC of all
trees, and grows to a large size. There are
twenty varieties, bearing from two To five nun
dred of this peculiar fruit To 4 tree through the
year. It varies in size from that of n small
cocoanut 10 that of a large one, and when baked
and eat hot Is very palatable, and a most perfect
substitute for bread. The wood is very valuable,
- Of a close texture like mahogany, and receives
Il high polish. 1t is used for the bottom of
canoes, being imperviOus to the attacks of in
sects, and also for the paddles, steering oars, pull
pits and war clubs. Ii is of Il dark color it
grows % q height of fifty feet, and forms one of
the most luxurIInt ornaments in the forests.
The cOcOanut tree grows 70 Il height of eighty
feet, and Is seven years in coming to full ma
turity, when it yields from fifty to two hundred
nuts in a year. Throughout the South Pacific
each tree is estimated 70 yield its owner one dol
lar a year. CORA. (Which is the sliced cOcOanut.
dried three days IN the sun to prevent mildew,)
sells in Hamburg for twenty pounds sterling per
ton. It suffers 4 loss of about twenty-five per
cent. IN the oil which surpaSses all others for the
human hair, and from it - manufactured 4 soap
which imparts 4 ~sOftness and deliclcy To the
skin, which renders IL - valuable that it is sell
dom found beyond the toilet of that class in
Europe who can afford 50 great a luxury. The
fruit when Young constitutes one of the PRINCIPAL
sources Of food, and the milk forms the principal
drink, which - very cool and refreshing, and in
flavor IL IS sweet and palatable. Both the milk
and pulp are cooked into a variety of dishes. In
Europe the pulp that remains after the oil Is ex-
tncted is made into confectionery, and the final
refuse into OiEcake for cattle. The stem which
produces the cOcOanut Is frequently cut at the
end, il being served round with Il string, and in
4 few days It drops a cOcOanut she'll full Of very
tine wine which, If permitted to remain three
days, becomes = strong intoxicating liquor.
Large quantities of molasses are produced from
the liquor when fresh by boiling. The tree put
To this use bears no fruit, but all the sap turns
into liquor. After each catch of this wine, 4
thin slice Is taken from the end of the stem, so
as to open afresh the pores, which become glued
up, as it were, by the sugar in the liquor. This
tree not only feeds, clothes and supplies the peO-
pie with drink, but builds their houses, canoes,
makes war spears and clubs, and is almost in
valuable TO them and as its natural life Is one
hundred years, and rs twenty thousand trees are
frequently to be found upon quite a limited piece
of ground, it becomes apparent that they are
destined to occupy a very respectable position
among many other valuable articles Of Commerce.