The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-07-26
THE PACTEZC
Commercial A0Otrtisrr
SATURDAY. july %.
From tMe Weekly Slit Iaae Tribune. jams .. I.-s1
THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

ton OF q synopsis OF 10 unuI we could do u
justice with moro sTacc than our yesterdays
issue afforded.
The Doctor resided some years with his family
at the Sandwich Islands, in the actual practice Of
his profession. Travelled much over them ard was
intimately acquainted with all classes of the in
habitauts, the native chiefs and PEOPLE, mission
aries and foreign residents.
He opened his remarks with q general dcscrip-
ton Of the locality and number of the group.
They are some seven or eight in number. only
five or six being Of special importance IN agri-
cultural and commercial respects. These are
Kauai, Oahu. Molokai, Maui and Hawaii. They
are not far from 1000 miles s-outhwesterlv from
san Francisco, lying in longitude I549l6O'. and
in north latitude 1929. They are strictly trop-
zeal, but the great elevation Of the principal
islands gives Il variety Of climate. from the soft
and balmy level Of tropical seas, where the bread
fruit, cocoa palms, p~lantains and oranges luxuri-
ate, through temperate regions where the Irish
potato can be cultivated, 70 regions Of perpetual
snow. The highest points Of Maui have an ele-
walton Of 10, 600 feet. and those Of Hawaii II 900
feet and more.
The islands were first brought TO the knowl-
edge Of the civilized world in 1879 BIZ Captain
James Cook. On 4 map Of the world published
at Rome some 800 years ago, the Doctor had
observed a group Of islands, laid down not far
from the latitude and longitude Of the Hawaiian
Archipelago, which led hin to believe that these
islands had been visited by the early Spanish
nayigatOrs in some Of their voyages between
Panama or Mexico and Eastern Asia. Besides, q
European cast Of features in some Of the natives
had confirmed this impression.
The origin of the people was not known. The
Doctor doubted their Malayan origin, notwith-
standing this is the current belief among scholars.
He thinks their progenitors were more likely
derived from the Japanese, in consequence of
resemblance Of various words and their mean
ings, in the respective languages. But in conse-
quence of similarity of language, especially of
the identity Of certain immemorial customs exist
ing among Polynesians inhabiting all the groups
from New Zealand TO Hawaii, including islands
like Easter Island, widely separated from the
great archipelagos, the Doctor had been strongly
disposed to believe in the existence of n former
continent, extending from Behring's Straits TO
the Antartic Sen, which was inhabited by Il single
race, and which by sudden submergence left
peaks here and there above the level of the sea
upon which 4 few of the widely distributed in
habitants had been preserved. The geological
structure of the Hawaiian Islands shows strong
evidence Of violent oscillations, and their volcanic
vents indicate the existence Of n prolonged assure
from southeast 10 northwest in the crust Of the
globe occasioned by the deep submergence Of
connected areas in both %northerlv and southerlv
directions.
Captain Cook, in his voyage of discovery. came
to anchor in the Bay Of Kealakeakua, in the
Island of Hawaii. The natives crowded to this
spot from all parts of the island and brought
abundance of refreshments for Cook and the
crews OF his two ships, supplying them with hogs
and fish, p~lantains and bananas, breadfruit and
all the vegetable productions suitable to their
wants. They were civil and gentle in their
department to those strangers. regarding them as
superior beings. Even the high chiefs and the
priests treated Cook as more than moral, inviting
HIM to their temple and placing him in the place
of their great idol where he allowed himself to
be wOrshlped as n god. For all the abundant
and invaluable supplies to himself and crews,
suffering from the prIvations Of a long voyage
and liable to scurvy, he repaid them with a few
scraps of iron which to the natives were of value
for the purpose of making fish hooks instead of
bones and shells from which they had hitherto
been made. Cook and his crews exchanged for
the hospitalities Of the simple islanders the most
loathsome diseases, which becoming hereditary
have since poisoned the blood of most of the pop
~ulation, destroying their fccundity, breeding the
foulest forms of leprosy, and ending in the de-
population of the islands and the gradual destruc-
ton of the Hawaiian race. After lying some
weeks recuperating and feasting in this inviting
bay, Cook set out to visit the other islands. and
pursue his discoveries. Bad weather occasioned
disasters to his vessels, and he returned to Keala-
keakua for repairs. Here and at this time he
met his death at the hands of an outraged and
eCraged people. lie had on his previous visit
almost exhausted the products Of the island, and
paid almost nothing for them. He renewed his
tLlauuH lHl lily NCI llOL - fdlltlllN dlll
freely responded to. The natives had learned the
use Of iron for making fish hooks, and as half
their food has always been derived from the sea.
everybody wanted fish hooks. These could readily
and most conveniently be made from nails and
one morning it was reported TO Cook that n small
boat was missing. The boat had been nOiselessly
detached in the course Of the preceding night
from the stern Of the ship by some of the COM
mon natives, who unbeknOwn TO the chiefs, swan
Off and stole, and carrying her to some distant
shore, had broken her up for the nails with which
she had been built. This was the first theft
reported to have been done. Cook with resent
ment demanded of the chiefs the return of the
and forbade all passing of canoes in or
out of the bay until his boat was returned. The
chiefs were in distress and protested their inno-
cence, and begged him to .Ferlook this impro-
priety on the part of some OF their people, I'M
known to them, and who had concealed the evil
dences of their theft. Cook was memorable. lie
ordered every canoe TO be fred upon which should
enter or leave the bay. Certain chiefs from
distant shores of Hawaii, knowing nothing of
had occurred at Kealakeakua, were quietly
entering the bay TO have friendly intercourse
with their subjects, and to see Cook himself,
they were fred upon and one of their
lumber killed and others wounded. The natives
were thrown into CONSERVATION and exasperated.
\ universal wall, resounding for miles, went up
from 4 simple and broken hearted people, and it
spread from point to point like wildfre. Their
respect and Infection for Cook changed to fear
and hatred. All who know anything of the
character of the natives of Hawaii know the
tender veneratiOn with which they regard their
The chiefs carry in their veins the blood
Of the gods, from whom they sprang, and they
are looked upon with 4 sort Of idol-worship by
the common people. There was no more good
feeling and no more refreshments for Cook nor
crews. He went on shore to endeavor to con-
,iliate them, but the loss of their chief was cry
ing for revenge, and the people, in consequence
Of his injustice, having lost their confidence in his
which he had previously impressed upon
spears and clubs, and showing every sign Of hos
-ility, Cook and his crew retreated 10 their boat,
which laid n short distance from the shore. The
'eamen had left Cook on the beach, and as he
.urned his back las 1t has been stated. to COM
nand his men not to fire upon the natives), one
If the islanders nlunoed bis snear into his hack