The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1873-06-18
Our. Book Table.

PARADISE IN THE PACIFIC book Of Travel, Ad-
venture and Facts 10 the Sandwich Islands.
By William R. Bliss. New York, Sheldon &
Company, 1873.
We are indebted to the publishers for an early
copy, received by last post, of this work. little
brochure of 207 small l2-mo pages, and have pc
rused its chapters with more than ordinary eager
ness, as the cleverly written sketches of the au-
thor, which appeared IN the New York Observer,
had prepossessed US quite favorably towards him,
as writer. We have read the volume through
carefully, and closed it 10 disappointed frame Of
mind, convinced that it furnishes another evil
dence of the un6tness of casual visitors to write
about country or people of which they know
but little from actual observation. The author
spent few weeks in this city about year since;
but, If we are correctly informed, did not visit
either of the other islands of the group. This
may account for the inaccuracies which appear so
cOnspIcuousIy on its pages. We hoped to ind,
from so intelligent writer, at least an impartial
account of the condition of the people and coun-
try but, If we except some very fair scenic de-
scriptions, the aim of the book is to belittle
Hawaians and Hawaii, at least such will be its
effect. 1t is true that we have not much to
boast of as compared with older and more
lightened nations, but we ask for a fair descrip-
ton of what little we have.
To show the current of the authors ideas, we
will give few sentences taken at random "I'he
Hawaiian dynasty is polluted stream. orgnat-
ing with Kamehameha l., polygamous chief"
&c, p. AZ. The dynasty is afterwards warrant
ed in woman named Kinau who was the favor
tie daughter Of another concubine of the chief"
&c, p. "A. Referring to the visit of Kamehame-
ha ii. and his Queen to England. he says, There
he and she ANONYMOUSLY died of the measles" p
46. Referring 10 the plantations, he says, "fhe
sugar plantations, also, are not profitable nor in
creasing in number" Speaking of the steamer
KiIauea, he says, her regular passengers are ma
tives. Cinnamon and dogs, on deck going to and
from the sugar plantations" In the chapter on
the physical aEd social condition of the ma
tives," he leaves the impression on the reader that
the natives, men and women, appear in q state
of nudity even in Honolulu. than which nothing
is more false In the markets Of Honolulu, the
beef is lean; for the strength of native cattle
runs into bones and horns" we are told by Mr..
Bliss. when travellers invariably extol our choice
and tender steaks and roasts. Again. Straw
berries lsic) are acid. Most of the butter is im-
ported and cream is almost unknown" The
truth is all the butter consumed here is made
here whatever is imported is to supply foreign
ships. Again we are told, Birds are not often
seen or heard in Honolulu" when as every one
knows they are very numerous.
The authors description of visit to the sum-
nit Of Mauna Loa is evidently taken from the
account written by the editor OF this paper in
1872, but contains several gross errors. We
quote, p. loo, "The crater called Monaweoweo
(sic) on the summit Of Mauua Loa, is enormous;
It's upper circumference being estimated as twen-
ty miles in circuit. From its brink, rugged and
PERCEPTIONS walls descend to a depth of 1900
feet" Our author appears 10 have missed his lat
itude and longitude aud taken the measurements
of Haleakala, as Wilkes makes the diameter of
Mokuaweoweo only 5000 feet and its walls 500
feet high. The cool presumption with which be
instances the great dead volcanoes of the Ha-
waiiau Islands-W aialeae, Haleakala, Hualaai,
Mauns Kea. and even 1.-THE spasmodlc volcano of
Mauna Loa, AS corrOborating the new volcanic
theory of NJ. Malet the French scientist,-that
the ear,hs surface is rapidly cooling. and that
earthquakes are the result of the contraction of
the earlhs surface-is quite amusing. The truth
is our active volcanoes furnish the strongest evil
dence against Prof Mallets theories, which can
be adduced.
The errors Of spelling Hawaiian proper names
are so numerous as TO sadly dis6gure the book.
For instance, Kauai is spelled Kdui; Rdkunadnu,
for Kaahumanu Manu- for Nuuanu paate, for
wauka HudLali. Tor Huaalai MonatceotDeo for
Mokuaweoweo. used so several times; l1is for
eis. wreath. &c, &c. We would suggest to the
publishers that in case new edition is required,
The proof sheets be read by some one who is
capable of correcting the numerous errors, only
lev of which are pointed out
We had marked several pages to refer to or
quote from. but End our article already too ex-
ended, and must leave The book till another oc-
;asiOa. As we said before, its general tendency |