Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-10-28
A GEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.



1slan ds. These are twelve In number
Jour large, four Intermediate, and
four very small. They form chain
the general trend of which Ia nom
n. W, to ). f., and are Of volcanic
formation. Extinct cfatefs are numer.
ous, and plainly mark the frey march
Of the goddess pelt, whose present
nbod. n the famous Kilauce. Out Of
the twelve islands, the eight larger
ones are inhabited; viz, Hawaii
Mani, Oahu, Kanai, Molokai, Lanai,
Niihan, and Kahoolnwe. The soil, Ia
general, IA very fertile, though there
are large tracts which are unpr0ductivc
from lack of moisture, or through he.
ing covered by moro recent nows oi
lava. Showers are frequent on tue
windwArd slides Of these islnuusi
caused by the moisture laden trade
winds which blow almost constantly
during eight months II the year.
Hawaii Ia the largest ~ the group,
and has an area of 4, 30 square miles.
Its greatest length is 90 miles, aud The
greatest brudth ~. Because OF IT.
elevation and Size, the temperature
varies greatly. Ascending either Of
it, great mountain cones, every variety
Of climate eau be found until frost Il
reached. The summit Of Mauna kea
and Mauna i.1a are nearly 1900 feet
nioys the level " the surrounding
ocean, aud are nearly always capped
with snow. Probably the most note.
worthy feature on this island II the
active volcano Kilsuea, situated ON the
flank Of Mnuna LoA, nj an elevation OF
l,Oi1 feet.
Maui ~ the second island in size and
agricultural Importance, tho grcstesi
length being Is miles, the greatest
breadth 30 miles, aud the area 100
tqusrc miles. HalrakAla, the largest
extinct volcano Ia the world, ~ one "
the noted features Of this island. The
rim II il- crater II sbsut twenty miles
IN circumference, and broken by two
large gaps through which tho lava
formerly flowed. Another feature OF
note Il the picturesque lao Valley.
famous for IT, beautiful scenory-,he
perpendicular cliffs by which II Il eur.
rounded aud a. being the scene ~ n
fierce battle. fought between Kane.
hameha /. aud one Of the former kings
Of Maui about the year 1890. IL
Il said that tho struggle was %
great that the stream running
through this valley wac, for time,
hl0ukhded In IL coufsc 10y the bodies ot
tue dead aud wounded. Hence II has
since borne tho mamie OF "Wailukui"
or waters " slaughter.
Oahu IL the third IN sire but fiut In
population. II has An area NJ 100
square miles; liugth ~ mile, and
breadth 2j. This IL the most important
island u the group, sine. Il contains
the metropolis and capital Of the king
dom, Honolulu. The harbor OF thii
city Il also the best aud most ircqucntrI
Of the islands. The principal public
buildings Of Honolulu are lOlaui
Palace, the residence Of tho Queen
Aliioiaui Hall, containing the legis
lativs hall aud principal governmV nj
of,lc,s; the Qucen's Hospital; the rus
tom House, postoiiico aud oahu Jail
At the back VI Honolulu Ia the mag
nihcent NuuAnu valley, chrpctcd with
ferns and crccpcrs, which prevents q
the tourist n fair sample " Hawaiian
scenery. About thirty miles north OF
here IN the settlement; Of Laic, oul
mission headquarters, conspicuous fUl
its extensive pastures, absence Of dust
and prosperous ltilc community. Her,
also Is small plantation run In con
nection with the mission labor. Tn,
cane irrigated by the three iino hrtesiaI
wells looks well; but that ABOVE hai
suffered much from the drouth during
the past four months. Recent rains
however, have revived II somewhat
and n partial crop will he harvested.
Kauai has an area OF 800 squarl
miles; length % miles, and bfcsdth -
An abundance Of water aud wood
fsrtHe soil, aud luxufiAut vegetation
have obtained for Il the name OF "thl
Garden Island"
Niihau IL n small island near Kauai
having an area Of only o. square miles
The greater portion Of this Island con
sitts u n low, grassy plain, anurdinl
excellent pastufage for some 5000
head OF sheep. The manners anu Gus
toms OF tho natives living on tubs lslAu
are more primitive than those Of an
other Island Of the group.
Molokni, with Au area Of go squaf
miles, length forty miles, breadth seve
miles, IL the island 10 which the lopei
are sent by the government for iHDii
tion. Their houses built by thcmselv,
or the board " healihl together with
few horses, cattle, pigs and dogs, arr al
they possess. A store N kept by IN
government, at which all things Nj
sold at cost, and those who are too sic
to help themselves are cared for In th
government hospital.
Tho area u Lanai IL 1850 squat
miles, length 10 miles, breadth 10. III
inhabitants here depend principal
upon rain for their supply Of waite
there being hut one running stream o
the island, Shocp.raising Ia the loai
lug industry, IL was here that OF
mission headquarters were locate
prior 10 the purchase Of the Lale plal
tstion, In the year 1864.
The area Of KahoOlawe " On squal
miles, length a miles, breadth o. N
cause Of n plentiful supply of grass,
cattle ranch has been established her
The other four Islands Of III
group are too small 10 call for mention
The population Of the Islands IL chicil
iouni along the shores ON belt u lan
varying from one 10 four miles
width, aud except In the cases OF fe'
deep and fertile valleys, the interior
very spsrsely Inhabited. In 1887, OF
Of s0,6Ts people ~, 900 were Hawaiian
the remainder were American
British, German, Portuguese, Chimes
and Of other nntionRllties; The prime
raj industry II the cultivation " sugR
cane and the manufacture OF huga
Mkt In Importance IL the cultivate
Of rice. Tho raising Of cattle stanl
third In the list Of Industries. Coiiv
bananas, cocOanuts aud other tTopic
fruits are grown In considerable qua
Titles. The climate Ia mild and inu,
cooler than places In a similar lRtitul
on 'any OF the continents. Thumb
storms are Of rare occurrence, and n