The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-31
MAUI

Something of Plantation life ON the and.
witch Islands.
Correspondence or the indianapolis 5entiuS.
HAIKU, Maui. May 10 --Thinking Would
interest The readers OF the Sunday S,sitinel
to wfile and tell something Of planlaIiln life
on the Sandwich Isands, I take this kppor-
tunity TO do 30. In the frat place, this Island
of Maui has The largest plantation the
world. The island is the second In szsS)f The
group, and has the largest average 10 cane
land of any OF tho other islands, thereSbeing
at present 20 225 acres under cultlvatl4i. Its
present population Is Il 900, asi II
Las an area OF go square miles, or 90, 600
acres The highest elevation. Halcsekala,
is 1882 feet. The plantation l wiz tell
about is called the Haiku Sugar Coispany
No. 9, and is estimated TO yield 1000 sJns OF
sugar. II is situated at Hammaktfpoke
sn d employs 100 laborers, one manage, one
head oyerseer and numerous petty kanas.
The soil here 10 quits different from an thing
In ILdiana having 10 pillow II three & four
times before they ESQ the harrow at alA Tbs
planting begins at any time during tn; year,
depeRd ding upon how many times itxlas TO
DO plowed before planting. Afters hsr.
rowing the ground IL is then aeady
to DO laid of, az most ok the
cane Is raised by irrigation, as the car rain
here 10 not sufficient 10 do much good.y Toe
coprass 10 here broughtinto use. Thels omes
the planting, which generally begins q Al.
gust and lasts till nearly the first OF N2vem.
Der. The seed cane Is stocks OF cane CIT mp
In pieces about a foot long and put "a the
ground at distance OF about two feet the
rows being about four feet apart. The water
iTg begins two or three days after the me Is
AL seaA D.4I d fWnfa IL 49,
days until II II ready for the mill. taxes
from twelve to fifteen months for the kne TO
mature. They have various wak OF
conveying the cane TO the null, N OK
carts, by fumes. and by porta5l& rail.
ways. Ii would no doubt surprise the
Hoosiers to see the number OF bullocys to
esch cart eight end sometimes ten pAsr be
irg used TO each cart. The plantation help
10 enc of the curious features OF the ssos,
comprising almost every nation on thu faca
OF the globe. but principally Portuguese and
Cinnamon, but the labor OF the Chinaitsn Is
not hs satisfactory % the plsntors wouIs like.
Trey not wanting to chip as lsborers and
wanting too much pay and doing too slittle
work, 10 tive months $40 the Board OF .mmi.
grafton, as su experiment.. imported 900
japanese, and so FAR they have dones very
we'll, OF course IL takes time 70 teachtthem
how TO 20 things, buL they seem: very
willing to work. The lsoor contract
10 made In their own country. they
agreeing for the term OF Ave years to work
ten hours day faithfully, for which they
are 10 receive the sum OF SIS month aud
house room. The wages seem small, but IL
Is wonderful how large an amount the Por-
tcguese save They are without doubt the
| dirliest people have ever seen, never wash
| ing their face nor bands until compelled TO.
They are very industrious people, AMI give
very good satisfaction on the plantation,
woriin better than the native Hawaiian.
| J. w. ALEXANDER.