The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-03-04
From the Pacific, San Francisco.
A TRIPTO THE ND
WICH' ISLANDS,.
REV. o. c. THOMPSON, OF DETROIT, MICH.

EDIToRs Pacific: In accordance
with your request, send brief ac-
count of my recent trip to the Sand
wich Islands, which terminated on the
arrival of the Zealandia," OH Thurs
dav last. We went out, myself and
daughter, on the "Sydney,' Novem-
ber oath, and arrived at Honolulu on
the End of December. 1t seemed lone
ly out there on the Pacific, travelling
100 miles without seeing anything
except few 81 e.-gulls, which never
forscok us. -a-
The strangeness of the island seem
cry at Honolulu makes very pleas.
ant impression on stranger coming
from America. The unpreIending
dwellings are nestled down in the
midst of groves of tropical trees and
shrubs, with spacious lawns, and often
at the back side of deep lots, with ave-
nues leading to them. 1t was my
good fortune to fall in with Rev. S. &.
Damon, ID. D, who took me to his
heart, and to his house, where l was
made welcome guest until left the
island. 1t will be a great loss to Ho-
nolulu when DIR. Damon is seen there
no more. His wife, the niece of Rev.
Samuel j. Mills, of missionary notori-
ETY., is fully his equal in every good
word and work. Rev. Mr.. Fear, pas
10 q nf
clear.cut thoughts, and is greatly be-
loved by his people. His church edi-
flee has recently been rebuilt, and the
seating capacity nearly doubled. The
Bethel has also undergone thorough
repairs.
DIR. Hyde, the head Of the theologi-
cal school, is the right man in the
right place. 1t is a great pity that he
had not been there twenty years ago.
Mr.. Jones is said to be doing a good
work at Puriehoe. Miss Bingham of
the female seminary has of late been
kept from her useful post of duty by a
broken arm. The prevalence of ty-
phoid fever has for some time thrown
gloom over the place, but has now
mostly disappeared.
was greatly surprised to see such
extensive iron works at Honolulu.
They would be creditable to any city.
The failure of the "New York" to
come into the harbor was a great dis
appointment to the business men of
islands, and to many passengers who
were expecting TO 60 on her to the
coast. Thus disappointment gave me
the privilege of seeing the ceremony
of laying the cornerstone of the new
Royal Palace, on the queens birthday,
December 31st. The civil and military
display was imposing and grand. The
two war-ships, "Lakawana and
" "Ranger," being in the barber, con-
tributed their quota to the eclat Of the
occasion. The building is l2Oxl4O feet
four stories high, including basement,
which is already up. Sixty thousand
dollars have been appropriated, and it
will probably require $4,000 more to
finish it.
On New Years day there was a
great gathering of the Sabbath-schools
of the island. The services were con-
Quoted in spirited manner, in the
Hawaiian language. The occasion was
honored by the presence of Princes
Ruth, Lydia, the heir-apparent, Cap
ena, Minister of Foreign Relations,
and other mobiles. After the meeting
there was native feast, under can
vas, outside the church. We were
seated at the royal table, the heir-ap-
parent sitting directly opposite, to
whom we were politely introduced.
After the giving of thanks, we pro-
ceeded to business. The first course
consisted of baked pig, raw fish and
poi, carved, and eaten without knife,
fork or spoon. The pig was baked in
their old-syled oven, and no pig could
be better baked in any oYen. The poi
was eaten in the most approved ma
tive style. The whole of this feast
was an enjoyable thing to US foreign
ers.
The next day was Queen Emma's
birthday, and her spacious gardens
were filed with natives for two days
and nights, bringing presents, singing
and dancing in old native style.
King Kalaksua is popular now, and
the kingdom is at peace with itself
nd oil ho nvI &c, ~ l,ap
sed with debt, but has surplus of
cash on hand. The municipal arrange
ments are complete. The fellow that
does a wrong is in bad fix there. l
believe there is no place on the face of
the earth where life and property are
SO safe as on those islands. Another
fact is, that everybody there can read
and write. Newspapers in the native
language are quite extensively circu-
lated.
The presence of the Chinaman is
more acceptable there than in Califor-
MIA. There is Chinese church at Ho-
nolulu, with a good pastor. 1 was
present at one of their sacramental
occasions, and assisted in the service.
There were 70 communicable, above
one-third of these being women. One
Chinsman was baptized, and received
into the church. This people are about
to build themselves house of wor-
chip, and have COLLECTED already So, ,OOO
for this purpose. Brother Rouse re.
ceived into his church at Moui, a few
Sabbaths since, sixteen Cinnamon and
women. A Chinese colportenr is sus
tained in his church. There is grand
opening fol Chinese missionary on
fheee ialands-One fullv oualitied for