Morning journal and courier., 1881-07-20


 ments, etc.
 HONOLULU, ISLAND OF OAHU, ]
 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, June 1, 1881.
 My dear M.:-We have not yet been able to go on, as we expected, to Mahukona in the Island of Hawaii, on account of the quaran- tine regulations. Generally, when one wants to go from Oahu to one of the other islands he is obliged to shut himself up in house for fifteen days away from everybody ex- cept policeman, to whom he pays five to ten dollars day to watch him. This is far from jolly. We thought we could do better than that, and got permission to go to Ma hukona at once, provided Mir. W. could sat- isfy the sheriff of Hawaii that we should be isolated from and not come in contact with the natives or anyone else in any way for the prescribed time of quarantine. We expected arrangements to be made accordingly, so as to have left here Tuesday before last, but MT. w. wrote that the men working on his railroad had not yet left, so we had to wait Last Sunday we got word from him that he was not ready for us quite yet, but, if noth- ing occurs in the meantime to prevent, we are to leave here next Tuesday. I saw the Minister of the Interior this morning, and he said that if MT. w. wrote that proper ar engagements had been made we might go, and that it would not be necessary to take watchman from Honolulu, as the sheriff of Hawaii could probably furnish a native one for dollar or two day.
 The smallpox has been here now some five or six months. Not much was thought of it at first, but it kept spreading and after time it was discovered that the natives would not report cases, but would carefully conceal them. A search was instituted, which result ed in the discovery of fifty cases in one day. People began then to get alarmed in earnest. Yellow flags were to be seen on nearly every street, and stringent measures were adopted to keep 1t from spreading, both here and on the other islands. These measures have par tially succeeded. but all efforts have failed as yet to stamp out the disease. The natives, though heavily fined for concealing cases, continue to do so. This, together with their gregarious habits many living together and eating with their fingers from the same dish, both sexes smoking from the same plpe,- their dread of vaccination and their belief that smallpox should not be fought against, make the end appear still in the distant future The other islands are, however, nearly if not quite free from the disease. Business has suffered great deal from enforced non ln tercourse. The last steamer down would not bring any freight or passengers, and 1t seems doubtful if the next steamer up will put 1n here even for the mail.
 I am quite anxious to leave Honolulu, as its climate does not agree with me. To most persons it is delightful-warm, moist and very uniform in temperature; never so hot as it often is in eastern cities. But find that for me the air is very hard to breathe, and consequently I have kept very quiet and have seen but little of the country around the town.
 Have you ever read Mark Twain's descrip- tion of these islands in his ''Roughing It.? They have changed somewhat since his time; at least Honolulu has, especially as regards the dress of the natives but his picture is still on the whole good likeness. It is "a ten acre kingdom, a sardine box run by the machinery of the Great Eastern" Imagine nearly dozen islands with total combined population equal to that of New Haven, hay ing king queen and court, a House of Nobles,' '' ''Privy Council of State," Minis ters of the 'Interior," of Finance" of Foreign Affairs" &c., Governors for each of the islands and whole hosts of petty off cers besides also resident eonsuls of foreign powers, while they maintain abroad Minis ters, Envoys Extraordinary, Ministers Pleni- potentiary, Charges d Affaires, Consuls, Gen eral and Consuls in all the quarters of both hemispheres. Imagine, too, His Majesty as Major of his artillery, Ca few secondhand iron cannon stuck up on Punch-bowl Hill, and captain of his cavalry. It reminds me of the old conundrum, What is majesty de- prived of it's externals ?" It seems to be a jest here indeed. I will send you an almanac giving list of the officers and offices and good deal of other information about the islands. You must not, however, think this barbarous, uncivilized place. It is thor oughly governed; too much so in fact, mak- ing it seem like big boarding school. All crimes here are severely punished by fines, work on the streets in ''chain gangs," or by digging coral on "the reel" /" The natives are very honest among them selves (most of them have little that can be stolen), but have less regard for the rights of foreigners. They very peaceable, good humored and lazy. The Chinese and whites do most all the business and have reached almost the civilization of the continent in cheating strangers. I had little sewing, about a half hours work, done on some can- vas the other day and was charged $1. 50. B. broke stick off in the stem of his pipe while cleaning it; watchmaker pulled it ont (with pair of pineers probably and charged him $3. When asked if that wasn't rather steep, he said he didn't know, but that was his price" The bank imports Mex ican dollars, five franc pieces and other for eign coins valued at from 70 to 80 cents and pays them out as dollars, but refuses to ac- cept them as such charges 3 per cent. diff ference between American silver and gold ; gives per cent. interest on deposits of $500 l and over, but requires 30 days notice before | withdrawing deposits and charges per cent. per month on loans. There is but one bank.