The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-06-13

HairbOttlc, the pilot, was correct, when tie IN
formed me that he knew q difference Of three feet
during the time he had been 1T Hanaroora.
\ small river runs bv the back Of the village,
and Joins the sea az the west side % the harbor
owing 70 the latncss Of the country. the water is
brackish. and there Is none fresh 10 be had with
IN several miles Of the place. Ships, however,
can be supplied ~ q moderate rate BY the natives,
who bring il from the spring in calabashes.
SIX miles TO the westward Is Bass harbor, also
formed by an entrance through the reef; within
it IS well sheltered, with good anchorage in five
or six fathoms but there being no village in the
vicinity, il is little freQuented.
Wymumme, or Pearl River, lies about seven
miles farther 70 the eastward This inlet ex-
tends ten or twelve miles up the country. The
entrance is not more than a quarter OF 4 mile
wide, and Is only nayigable for small craft the
depth OF water on the bar, ar the highest tides,
not exceeding seven feet farther up it is nearly
two miles across. There is an isle in it, belong
ing 70 Mamma, the kings Interpreter, in which
he keeps a numerous flock of sheep and goats.
Pearls and mOther-ofpearl shells are found
here in considerable quantity. Since the king
has learned their value, he has kept the fishing
TO himself, and employs divers for the purpose.
Ten miles TO the west of this is BARRIERS
Point, $50 called from the captain of a ship
wrecked there,) the northwest extremity Of the
island. 1t is very low, and extends a considera-
bic way into the sea.
The tides upon this coast do not rise more than
four feet at springs it is high water about three
at full and change of the moon. The force Of
the current is scarcely perceptible.
The fiat land along shore is highly cultivated
taro root, yams, and sweet potatoes, are the
most common crops but taro forms the chief
object of their husbandry, being the principal
article of food amongst every class OF inhabi-
tants.
The mode of culture is extremely labo.ious, rs
1t is necessary TO have the whole feld laid under
water it is raised in small patches, which are
{ seldom ohOVp n bunIral vorIS D,ar these are
surrounded by embankments, generally about six
feet high, the sides of which are planted with
sugar-canes, with a walk at top the fields are
intersected by drains or acqueducts, constructed
with great labor and ingenuity, for the purpose
OF supplying the water necessary TO cover them.
The ground is first carefully dug and leyeled
with a wooden spade, called maiai, which the
laborers use, squatting on their hams and heels.
After this it is firmly beat down by treading it
with their feet till 1t is close enough to contain
water.
The plants are propagated by planting a small
cutting from the upper part of the root with the
leaves adhering. The water is then let in, and
covers the surface to the depth of twelve or
eighteen inches in about nine months they are
ready for taking up each plant sends forth a
number of shoots, or suckers, all around. This
mode of culture is particularly laborious, and in
all the operations those engaged are almost con-
stantly up to the middle in mud.
Notwithstanding this, l have often seen the
king working hard in q taro patch. L know not
whether this was done with a view of setting an
example of industry to his subjects. Such exer-
ton could scarcely be thought necessary amongst
these islanders, who are certainly the most indus
trious people l ever saw.
The potato and yam grounds are neatly in
closed by stone walls, about eighteen inches
high. In addition 10 these native productions,
Indian corn, and a great variety of garden stufs
have been lately introduced, and are cultivated
with success, chiefly by the white people.
When the islands were discovered, pigs and
dogs were the only useful animals they possess
ed but Iamaahmaah has paid SO much attention
to the preservation of the breeds left by Van
couver, and other navigators, that in 4 short time
the stock of horned cattle, horses, sheep, and
goats will be abundant.
At Owyhee l was informed that there were
many hundreds of cattle running wild, and sew
eral in q domestic state. The king had intro
duced the breed into Wahoo and at the time |
was there he had Il herd of nine or ten upon the
north side of the island.
Sheep and goats are already very numerous.
Several lnd hSd 5Rts cbbhhaaist Ing of about o. one 'I bun.
dred and fifty and Mamma had several hundreds
on the island in Pearl River. The king had five
horses, of which he was very fond, and used fire.
quently to 60 out on horseback. | was informed
there were still more at Owyhee.
The cattle lately introduced are pastured upon
the hills, and those parts of the country not un-
der cultivation, the fences not being sufficient to
eontne them. The hogs are kept in pens, and
fed ON taro leaves, sugar-canes, and garbage.
The chiefs are the proprietors of the soil, and
let the land in small farms to the lower class,
who pay them a rent in kind, generally pigs,
cloth, or mats, at four terms in the year.
AT one time during my stay, there were nearly
sixty white people upon Wahoo alone but the
number was constantly varying, and was consid-
erably diminished before my departure. Although
tho great majority had been left by American
vessels, not above one third of them belonged to
that nation the rest were almost all English,
and OF these six or eight were cOnvicts, who had
made their escape from New South Wales.
Many Inducements are held out to sailors to
remain here. If they conduct themselves with
propriety, they rank as chiefs, and are entitled to
all the privileges of the order; at all events,
they are certain of being maintained by some of
the chiefs, who are always anxious to have white
people about them.
The king has a considerable number in bis SER
vice, chiefly carpenters, joiners, masons, black
smiths, and bricklayers these he rewards liber-
ally with grants of land. Some of these people
are sober and Industrious; but this is far from
being their general character on the contrary,
many OF them are idle and dssOlute, getting
drunk whenever an opportunity presents itself.
They have introduced distillation into the island ;;
and the evil consequences, both to the natives
and whites, are incalculable. 1t is no uncommon
sight to see a party of them breach 4 small cask
OF spirits, and sit drinking for days till they SEQ
it out.
There are, however, a few exceptions to this.
lillian Davis, a Welshman, who resided with
Isaac Davis, used to rise every morning at FIVE,
and go to his fields, where he commonly remain
ed till the same hour in the evening. This SIN
gularIty puzzled the natives not n little but
they accounted for it, by supposing that he had
been one of their own cou~ntrymen, who had gone
to GAZETTE, or England, after his death, and had
now come back to his native land.
There were no missionaries upon the island
during the time l remained in it, at which | was
often much surprised.
Most of the whites have married native women,
by whom they have families but they pay little
attention either to the education or to the rcli-
gious instruction of their children. | do not
r%ecollect having seen any who knew more than
the letters of the alphabet.
Go be cOniinued.)