The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1874-06-03
The Fijian Group.

America. They are the West Indies of tn,
South Pacific, as we are called the West Indie.
of the North Pacific Whatever reliable infor
nation is obtainable relating to the Fits will bC
read with interest here aud elsewhere. We have
therefore inserted in full on our fourth page Mr.
Murrays valuable sketch of the political situa
ton in that group, and assure the reader that it
may be relied on as n true and impartial state
ment by an eye witness. In continuation Of the
sketch Of the Fits, we give below an account OF
them, so far as relates 10 their social and COM
mercial position, furnished TO Us by Lieut.. Liar
det, R. n, who has resided there for some time.
and is now en- route for England. 1t will be
found exceedingly interesting, and no less relia-
bic than that on the fourth page:
Fiji is at the present moment in doubtful
position and may in few months be British
colony, failing this, fall back into worse con
dition than it has lately been in. However, an-
nexation is looked forward to and with reasonable
hope for the British Commissioners, who COM
/ pleted their report more than two months since,
have expressed themselves in favor Of it. It's
geographical position has very lately come to be
Of great Importance. 1t is now centre from
which mail steamers diverge to Honolulu and
San Francisco, north to New Zealand and New
South Wales south; and shortly to operate
branches to Tahiti, eastward, aud to New Gale
donia and Brisbane Queensland, westward. The
distance from FIJI TO Sydney is nearly the same
as from Honolulu to san Francisco.
The white population is of a very mixed
character-Engsh, Americans, Germans and
few Swedes compose it. BY large majority
British subjects predominant, most of these hay-
ing come from the Colonies, but not a few are
men from England CeyIon and Canada amongst
whom are retired Naval and Military officers,
and some men OF talent and ability. These. to-
gether with some erst successful New Zealand |
ship builders comprise the body of planters who T.
are scattered over the group. Those among |.
them who are married have their wives and fami. |
lies on the plantations in various degrees of COM
fort. The white population is between 1900 and /
1000 and that of the natives is estimated at lOO-
600, They are an inoffensive and peaceable
people, of a remarkably Interesting character.
That cotton culture has not only failed to pay
but proved loss to those engaged in il is now
too well known. but for the planters new era is
dawning. There is plenty of good sugar and
good coffee land. This has already been tested
aud capital only is wanted now to develop these
industries. Large sugar mills and machinery have
already arrived in FIJI, while small mills have for
some time been worked successfully, and hun
ireds Of acres are now under sugar cultivation
Coffee is now also being planted, and a few small
plantations are already in full bearing These
show that the nlant will hear in three wears and
as with cotton produce two crops year.
Maize or Indian corn produces three crops
fear. The yield under proper cultivation is not
Known, for none has been cultivated except by
land. New Zealand is its principal market.
where it brings from five to six shillngs per bush
j. and at Leyuka three shiIlings can now be OBJ
aimed for it per bushel. A steamer running
constantly between this port aud Auckland. has
ed to its more extended culture The wedding 1
u all crops has been done either with long knives
II by hoes, and consequently necessitates great
eal OF labor, which is however easily procured !
nd not expensive. {
The ground or pea nut is very productive and s
7ere there market for any quantity in the colo c
lies it would prove very profitable, the yield be-
ng about ton per acre. and it has realized in u
Auckland last year five pence pound, but the a
emand Is very limited. Attention is now also c
rawn to the value of forming cocoa-nut pIanta- P
ions, and some are being laid out on large S
Gale. At the island Of Rambi the enterprising e
ropretor has planted $50 acres OF this valuable t
rec, and another has planted 300 acres on the a
land of Taviuni. 1t bears in five or six years. Il
coording to the care bestowed upon it, and the D
siimated return per acre is one ton of copra b
I'd over one ton Of fibre. :,
An excellent arrow-root is produced from an Il
Indigenous plant but fails to suit the colonial II
erchauts who prefer paying more for the article a,
opposed to be the product Of the Bermuda plant.
he cassava grows wild, as does also ginger and 4
utmeg. both OF which will no doubt attain =
arket value in time. The candle-nut tree, both "
'eiu and ornamental, Is very abundant and will -,
ear in two years. A patent for a machine de. u
gned to break the shell and remove the kernel :.
Is lately been taken out in FIJI. Kara the VI
me as the Hawaiian aura is much cultivated :,
ID used by the natives and some Of the roots have "
zen purchased in New Zealand at three shiIlinrs 70
r pound. Vans and taro they also cultivate M
rgey and these form their staple article Of diet 81
OF the profitable tropical plants which have N
'en tried experimentally we may mention the
lmaica nutmeg, pimento, cinnamon, campbor. IN
mariud, litchi aud longan trees as also the i
lngo, guava, alligator pear, lemon, citron, lime, n,
igo, Arnotta and China grasscloth plant, all 80
which grow luxuriantly.
FJian natives, from very few parts Of the -,
Dup will come and work on plantations but only :.
: one year. Foreign laborers, that is labor
ported from the New Hebrides, Solomon and ~
ne Islands will come for three years. They
; much preferred to FJians, aud work well :.
thout the constant watching that Fijian re- p
Tres. Happily kidnapping among the islands
now done away with and the labor question is
ing thoroughly examined in Its details BY Mr.. 90 90
yard, Her Britannia Majesiys Consul aud Com -
ssioner in the group, whose unceasing energy
, oil odr-r 4 = 1 L