The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-02-09
From the Alta California;
a South.Sea Paradise.

The receipt OF the first directory Of Fiji,
published in 1870, suggests some remarks
about that group, which is destined to occu-
py prominent place in the future OF the
Pacific half OF our globe. The islands are
situated in latitude $50 south. nearly In
direct line between San Francisco and sgd
ney, 400 miles from the latter port and
about the same distance from New Zealand,
Tahiti, Honolulu, the Marshall Islands, Ca
rolna Islands, and New Guinea. and half
80 far from New Caledonia, and the New
Hebrides, Solomon, Elicc, Samoan, and
Friendly groups. Amidst all these FIJI Is
a central point, with the prospect OF great
commercial facilities when Micronesia
name including those small islands Of the
South Pactic-iS well supplied with steam
vessels.
Five years ago Fiji became British colo
nv, but the civilized authority was so weak
| in some OF the smaller islands, or districts
remote from the seaports, that cannbalism
did not cease till two years later. "Long
Pig" has ceased to appear on the native
bills Of fare. There is an orderly govern
ment, with police, courts OF justice, public
records, and last, but not least, regular
system OF taxation. The group has an area
| OF 1000 900 acres, much OF which beiongto
the ColOnst Government, and is offered Tor
sale at So an acre for tirst-class, and less Tor
poorer qualities. The area cultivated by
white settlers is $4,000 acres, and no
mention is made OF the areas sold
TO white men, belonging TO natives. or
| OF unSOld OF the first quality. The group
has eighty islands. making an archipelago
$40 miles long by 30 miles wide. There are
10000 natives, including 10000 available
for woik, but, when employed as laborers,
they idle away their time unless closely
watched. Their wages are $40 year, be-
sides food, clothing, and tobacco, costing
$40 more, making the total expense less
than 81 month. Natives of New Britain
and New Ireland, hired by terms OF three
years al $50 year, are more industrious.
With such wages. there is no chance for a
white man to make any thing as laborer,
and there is little opportunity to make
much as an employer unless he has $4,000
capital 10 begin with. The chief exports
are cocoanuts, cotton, and sugar, and it is
! supposed that coffee will be largely cuitl-
Iyated. The dried cocoanut, called copra.
makes up nearly two-thirds OF the exports,
and OF the $4,000 acres planted by white
settlers 5000 are In cocoaDuts, $500 in cot
ton. 1.5OO in sugar-cane, 1000 in coffee, and
95O i'm arrow root We are told that all these
can be cultivated profitably.
January, the hottest month, has NEAR
temperature of $40, with a maximum OF 99'
in the shade and 1902 in the sun; and July
has a mean temperature Of 10, with min
. imum of 90 three feet from the ground
o $50 in the grass, and maximum OF So II
= the shade and l40o in the sun. There II
. never month when the heat does not &
e to 400 in the sun. The coolest month o
Fiji is about 200 hotter than the warmest II
: san Francisco, il the adjective cold can b
: applied to any month in the former place
warm TO any in the latter. Though Eli
!, has 100 inches OF rain in the average year
il has only $50 rainy days, and The climat
y is generally considered very pleasant on
= for those accustomed to the torrid zone
VI There are 10 malignant fevers or malarii
a diseases, and the vegetation Is most lux.
= rant and beautiful. Taken altogether, Eli
II will always be considered tropical par'
" dice