The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1879-12-20
IMMIGRANTS FROM MICRONESIA.

The bark HaivaH, Capt. f. Wood, which sailed
hence on the Both of July last on a voyage to the
groups lying southwest of these Islands, inI
search Of immigrants, returned to port on Sum
day last, thirty-One days from Jaluit, in the
Marshall group. She brings two hundred and
Lightweight people,-ll5 men, 80 women and
"a childrcn-all apparently in robust health and
in excellent spirits. The bark was only twenty
two days from land to land, the remaining nine
days being consumed in beating up from Kauai.
The Storm Bird, under command of Captain
Hatfield, Capt. jackson returned in the HatrGn)
which left JaIuit on the I4th November, arrived
on Thursday, bringing 10 immigrants, all well.
The brig Nicolaus, which had been chartered
by the Agent Of the Board of immigration, would
sail for the Gilbert group on the 10th of Novem-
Der. the Agent going on her. She may be ex-
pected here about the LIST of February, with two
hundred immigrants.
We understand that the Hardii will be re6tted
at once for another voyage, and will probably be
commanded by Captain Benz. Whitney.
IT APPEARS that the result of the first thorough
ly organized expedition by the Board of lmmigra-
ton will be the addition of six hundred men,
women and children to our population. with a
prospect Of as many more as we may have the
means Of sending for. We heartily congratulate
the Board on the success which has so far
attended their efforts to introduce a cognate race
with the original inhabitants of Hawaii mel and
We congratulate the country on the fact that the
supply Of this class of immigrants is 50 ample,
whereby the immigration of Chinese Males
which threatened to overflow the country and
oyershadow the native Iace-wil be materially
discouraged.
We are well aware that as labOrers OF planta-
ton hands. the South Sea Islanders are not the
physical equals Of the Chinese-and it cannot be
expected that they would be, under the eircum-
| stances. The Islanders are mere children IN
character, and have not been trained to sys-
tematIe labor. But they are extremely t%ractable,
and ready to do with cheerfulness whatever they
are taught to do, and We may not anticipate their
combining 10 attack an oyerseer with hatchets
and cane knives through some misunderstanding
about rations or wages. But at the same time
we beg to suggest that a system of treatment and
management should be adopted by the employers
of these Islanders somewhat different from that
nursued with Chinese or native Hawaiian labor
ers. For some time, or until they become
familiar with their new conditions and surround
ings. they will require to be specially looked
after in the matters Of food, clothing and medical
attendance-or it must be remembered that they
are liable to all the effects of change of climate
and habits Of life. Children as they are, OF a
larger growth, and with very inadequate ideas of
the value of money, they will be likely to squan-
der their wages with interruptions Chinese shop
keepers. In regard to health precautions, a few
simple remedies are usually kept on hand on
| every plantation. IL would however be a sound
precaution to have all the newcomers vaccinated
on their arrival in the country. Vaccination was
made compulsory in the Fijis after they becamea
British Colony, and it saved the race on the ar
rival of coolies from India with the smallpox.
a noticeable and q pleasant feature is the large
number of children among the immigrants from
the South Seas. These will of course be sent to
the government schools, and in a year or two be-
come to all intents and purposes Hawaiians.
IL has been commonly said,-and we hear it
here at the Islands as well as from abroad THAT
with the Hawaiian people a few years more will
finish the work of extinction. This is a mistake.
During the past few years the rate Of decrease
-. haon gradually IesseninO. until the nresant