, 1878-01-19
Sandwich ,slands correspen-

Sandwich lslands correspon-
dence.
HonoLuLu, HAwAnAs Islands. Jan. 1s., 1875
To IHI EDroRs o. rus DnPArcE
I promised you communication
on my arrival here, and although !
do not feel confident of doing the
little Kingdom and its commercial
city, Honolulu, justice. I will do the
best my short acquaintance and abil-
ity will adEit.
Arrived here on the 21st day of
Dec, "a days from Astoria, Oregon.
I can say nothing of the trip further
than that I found Captain Pope and
his sstimable lady very agreeable,
which caused the time to pass very
pleasantly AMI at the end of the voy-
age I felt quite at home in the good
ship Matte Macleay.
The Hawaiian or Sandwich Islands
comprise group of twelve, eight Of
which are inhabited, and the area of
the whole is six thousand square
miles. The names of those inhabit
ed are Hawaii, Mani, Lanai, Kahoo-
lave, Molokai. OahI, Kauai and
Niihau. Those barren are Molokini, !,
Lehua. Kaula and Bird Island. Sur
veys show that they are chain of
volcanic peaks. rising abruptly from
depth of three miles, making the
tallest submits of Hiwaii, six miles
above the bed of the Pacific ocean.
The census of the group is taken
once in six years by the government,
the last being in December, 1872.
which gives total population of
So, ,S97. Total number of natives and
half-castes, 61,531; Chinese males.
1881; Chinese females, 1,O71: clergy
men, 100; teachers, 324; licensed
physicians, Al; lawyers, 81; mer-
chants, rs; mechanics. 2.115; agri-
cu'turists. 9.670; plantation laborers,
4,762, freeholders, $3.50. The ma
tive population during the interven-
ing years, from the time of the CEN
sus taken in 1866 to that of 1872
shows decrease of 1884, while the
foreign population during the same
time has increased 1,172. The prin-
cipal agricultural products of the
Islands are sugar, fungus. rice. cof-
fee, bananas, paddy and molasses.
The sugar plantations number over
forty six. Since the Reciprocity
Treaty with the United States the
growing of sugar cane has become
quite an industry in the farming
line. Every enterprising man with
o capital of from $40. 900 to $1OO, ,OO0
cannot converse on any subject five
minutes without mentioning sugar
cane. Wheat, oats, barley, rye and
buckwheat can be grown here, but
owing to their being little inferior
to that grown in the United States
they are mostly imported. On the
sugar plantations it is considered O
waste of land to try to cultivate any
of the above, even for their own use.
All kinds If vegetables. except Irish
potatoes and melons, are equal to
any grown elsewhere. Tobacco
grows we'll, but no more than can be
consumed at home is cured. Field
laborers are mostly Chinese and ma
tives. the wages being too low for
! American-30 to so cent per day; or
from SO to 81 per months of 26
days.
Honolulu is located on the south
end of Oahu. It is the capital of
the Kingdom, the seat of govern
ment and the residence of King
Kalakaua. the largest and only place
in the group that can be called q
city. Its population is estimated to
be at the present time about $4,000
3, ,O00 of which are foreigners. The
city is beautifully situated. and
passing through it after leaving the
business portion, beautiful foliage
of trees is seen as far as the eye can
| reach on each side of the streets,
hiding from the view Of the passer-
by the dwellings until he is almost
opposite them. Each OF the dwell
ings has its garden containing trees,
plants and flowers in great profusion.
The streets are-of macadamized ccral
in the city and vicinity, we'll graded
and smooth, and being almost per-
fectly level for carriage drives.
The most severe. gale of wind evel
experienced on these islands COM
menced blowing from the north
northeast on Tuesday, Dec. 18th,
just before my arrival here and con
tinued for several days. 1t was the
cause Of disastrous contlagration.
which carried away the lower por.
ton of the city bordering ON the
wharyes. The only barrel factory
on the islands was consumedtogethel
with several warehouses. Total
losses, $3.50, 7c0; insurance, S63, 900
The unfortunate losers commenced
rebuilding within a week after the
disaster. and before a month has
passed will resume business Us
though nothing had happened.
Christmas passed Off very quietly
in Honolulu, at least. more so than
this holiday usually does in the
United States. The places of busi-
ness and government building were
all closed, or rather they were new
er opened, and the usual services
held in the churches. No drunks or