Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-01-28
For the Public LedSerd D F1E8a
.e RECOLLECTIONS
OF THE
SANDWICH ISLANDS
ED BY cEoRsFw. CIFT.

There is more than an even chance
that the group known as the Sandwich,
or, more properly, Hawaiian Islands,
will shortly be acquired by the United
State, and be set up probably as q State;
therefore little information concerning
the territory and the people who inhabit
it will not be out of place. The tropic
of cancer passes few miles to the north
ward of the most northerly island, whilst
the hundred and fifty.sixth meridian,
west from Greenwich, cuts through about
the center of the group. From San
Francisco the distance, in round num-
bers, is twentyone hundred miles, and
the course southwesterly. The great
circle course to Australia passes through
the cluster. AS the course from San
Francisco to China is on the parallel of
thirty-Gve north latitude of Memphis),
Il. will be seen that these islands cannot
be made coaling station or stopping
place for vessels plying between the
points named. 1t will be seen that these
Islands are in about the same latitude as
that of Cuba, which does not imply, how
ever. that their climates are similar.
Cuba being washed by waters which have
crossed the Atlantic under thetropics, is
super-tropic whereas our Pacific islands
are bathed by waters which have ira
versed much less distance; hence the
climate, though of the tropics, is not op-
Bressively warm. At present California
lin the absence of familiar knowledge Of
Chilli has the reputation of possessing
the most delightful climate on earth-all
the advantages of tropical climate are
claimed, with none of its drawbacks;
warm, balmy weather in winter and no
malaria in summer. Oranges, dates,
olives and figs grow, beside apples and
pears. Strawberries and pine-apples
mature their fruits on adjoiitng beds.
All this is so, and the claim made to
very delightful climate is just.
But when | come to consider the mat
ter am inclined to think that the eli
mate of the Islands, taken all and all,
the year round, is better even than that
of California. Like California, they
have no malaria or fevers, save during
short period near the time of the March
equinox when the northeast trade winds
are disturbed and the winds occasionally
come from the southwest from oyer the
hot waters of the Central Pacific. Dur
ing ten and half months of the year
the winds come sweeping from the
northeast, cool and bracing, and laden
with life-givipg moisture. The native
population amounts to $4,000 souls, a
Jew more or less. From my observation
they would not be valuable acquisition.
Possessing a most prolific soil and eli
mate exceedingly friendly to the easy
ACQUISITION Of Q living, these people have
been nurtured ia idleness and sloth'
from the beginning. At ons season of
the year the bread-fruit yields very ex-
celleut food, at another the plaintain
and the taro completes the circuit. The
first of these is produced without labor
and the other two With very little-a
tsnth as much as is bestowed on wheat.
This is the bread portion OF the Diet.
OF meat they eat but little, subsistlng
nrincipally on the articles already
nan, ed and fish. From this statement 1t
would appear that they have but little
Incentive to labor, and they take adyan-
taSe of Il. OF virtue they possess not
the slightest trace. 1t is likely that
earlv the entire raGa is affected by
". ahilitic poison.
r he soil of the Islands is as generous
- l. the climate-fourteen and hait
,ogshe ads Of sugar having been pro-
luced f,,om a sigle acre. This, however
: mot an average by any means Inc
,roductiou us are those of the tropics.
sugar Is tire staple, and coffee succeeds
Teil while grapes, melons and Vegeta-
les are not beaten elsewhere. The
or;ncinal town is Honolulu on the
Tslapd of Oahu (Wah-hoo), which is the
,apital. and being on the only secure
barhor-and it is q very secure one--of
he Islands, enjoys quite q lucrative
trade, the greater part oil Whleh grows
ont of the business made BY the meet Oh
American whale-ships, which annually
yisit that port to reft and get supplies
af nrovisions. reship cargoes and pay on
.rews Here will be found a foreign
of several thousand souls,
A meriesns matchmaking. They are
LAWYERS. doctors, merchants, mechanics
shopmen and Office holders. Ihe society
Il pretty good. and the hotels hrst rate
though not large. The form Of govern,
ment is constitutional monarchy, framed
bv the American missionaries forty years
aro. They hRvetwo houses OF parliament
Peers and Commons, Supreme Court
and a cabinet. A couple Of companies
male M the army; they have no navy.
prs:a.s.s In The custom houses. courts
aud public Offices is transacted u hn-