The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-02-20
SOMETHING ABOUT FIJI
san Francisco Attn,

The receipt Of the first discovery Of FIJI
published In in 1870, suggests some remarks
about that group, which is destined to oc-
cupy n prominent place in tho future of the
Pacific half of our globe. Thu islands ARE
situated in latitude 1870 south, nearly in
direct line between San Francisco and
Sydney, l400 miles from the latter port,
and about the same distance from New Zen
and, Tnhih, Honolulu the Marshall Islands,
Caroline Islands, and New Guinea and half
as far from New Caledonia and the Now
Hebridgc, Solomon, Ellce, Samoan, and
Friendly groups. Amid all these, III is n cen-
trail port, with the prospect oigreat CONNER
cial facilities when Micronesia-a name in
Guiding those small islands ofthc South Pacific
is well supplied with steam vessels. Five
years ago Fiji became II British colony, but
the civilized authority was so weak in some
Of the smaller islands, or districts remote
from the sea-ports, that cannibalism did not
cease till two years later "Long Pig" has
ceased to appear on the native bills of fare.
There is an orderly government, with police,
courts OF Justice, public records, and last, but
group has IN area Of 900, 900 acres. much of
which belongs to the Colonial Government,
and is offered for sale at 50 an acre for first
class, and less for poorer qualities The area
cultivated by white settlers is $4,000 acres
and no mention is made of the acres sold TO
white men, belonging to natives, or of UNI
sold of the first quality. The group has
eighty islands, making an archipelago $40
,lna L. h,,D IA
natives, including 10000 available for work.
but, when employed as aborers, they idle
away their time, unless closely watched
Their wages are $50 year, besides food +,
clothing, and tobacco, costing $50 more,
making the total expense less than $4 u
month. Natives of New Britain and New
Ireland, hired by terms Of three years, at
$40 year, are more industrious. With
such wages, there is no chance for white
man to make anything as II laboe', and
there is littl opportunity to make much as
an employer, unless he has $4,000 capital TO
begin with. The chief exports are cocoanuts,
cotton, and sugar, and it is supposed that
coffee will be largely cultivated The dried
cocoanut, called copra, makes up near
ly two-thirds Of the exports; and of $4,000
acres planted by the white settlers 6 900 are
III CO'bhluts -,uUO III Cullull, LOW III sugar
cane 1000 in coffee, and go in arrowroot.
We are told that all these can be cultivated
protitaby. January the hottest month has
mean temperature of 81 degrees, with u
maximum of 80 degrees in the shade aud 100
degrees in the sun; and July has mean
of II deg, with minimum of 81 deg, three
feet from the ground, SO deg. in the grass,
and maximum of IS deg. in the shade and
40 deg. in the sun. There is never n month
when the heat does not go to lao deg. in the
sun. The coolest month Of FIJI is about 20 deg.
hotter than the warmest IN San Francisco,
if the adjective cold can be applied
to any month in the former place or warm to
any in the letter. Though Fiji has l0Oinohes
of rain IN the average year. it has only 100
rainy days, and the climate 10 generally con-
sidered very pleasant one for those accus-
toned to the torrld zone. There are no ma
lignant fevers or maarious diseases, and the
vegetation is most luxuriant and beautiful.
Taken altogether, Fiji will always be consid-
cred tropical paradise.