The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-02-26

while east Maui contains tho vast extinct
crater Of Haleakala. and tho other islands
abound In sublime and beautiful scenery
Speaking generally. the climate ofthe islandsis
! much cooler than that OF other countries in the
same latitude. This IL due not only to tho trade
winds which blow over q wide expanse OF the
Pacific. but also to tho fnct that the ocean IT.
self is cooled by the return current from the
region OF Behring straits. 1t is said thatthe
scas surrounding the Hawaiian Islands are
cooler by ten degrees than those OF any other
region in the eame latitude. IT should further
DO mentioned that tho group is exempt from
tho destructive cyclones which often pre-
vail In the central part OF the Pacific ocean.
The contrast. however. In Innate between the
windward and the leewnrd side OF each island
Ia very decided. the eastern slope being windy
and rainy and heavily wooded. While tue
western const enjoys u warm. dry cimate'
with a moro scanty vegetation. Then again.
by ascending the mountains any desirable de-
gree OF ter perntu'e can he attained. ior on
the highest submits snow remains during
most Of the year. Tho soil Of those is!anus In
general is poor. with tho exception. per-
haps. OF Kauai. and nature yields but iittie
spontaneously. The valleys. indeed. arc Ter
tile. but they are OF limited extent. some Of
the dry plains. nevertheless. can be made rro-
ductlve by irrigation. In Hawaii ana MAUI
extensive tracts are covered with rugged Java
Much labor and skill nre necessary to produce
good crops. II fact which tends to render the
inhabitant more Industrious and hardy than
those OF some other tropical groups. As there
wcre no metals. the Inhabitants were obliged
to use the best substitutes they could nnd.
Their cutting tools were originally made OF
stone or sharks teeth or bamboo. Their axes
wero formed OF n hard. compact kind OF lava
found on the SUBMITS OF the highest noun
tains. Tho principal tool used In cultivnting
the soil was the 90. which wns simply II stick
OF hard wood either pointed or shaped nj the
end into n fiat ilade. Rude as these tools
seemed. extensive works were executed with
them. such ms building terraces. lcvelling and
embnnlinu the taro patches. and constructing
irrigation bitches. often miles In length, The
only quadrupeds existing upon the islands be-
fore their discovery bv Capt. Cook. were dogs.
swine. and mice. which were probably intro
duced by the frat Polynesian settlers. These.
MS well MS the dom este fowl. we're Of the same
breeds rs arc found throughout Polynesia.
The sea abounds in fish. for which capacious
artificial ponds along the coast were
constructed at tho cost OF immense
labor. The principal food plants were
tho taro. which was the Hawaiian staff OF
life. the sweet potato. and the yam. The only
fruit trees In ancient times were the bread
fruit. cocoanut. banana. and ohia tho Malay
jnmbo). together with the wild strawberry. the
Cane gooseberry. and the raspberry. Many
other kinds Of fruit have since been intro
duccd. Sugar cane was Indigenous and grew
luxuriantly. Forest trees. including the san
dulwood supplied abundance oftimberfor USE
full and ornamental purposes. Unfortunately.
with useful animals and plants. many
kinds OF weeds and noxious vermin. such rs
mosquitoes. wasps. scorpions. centipedes. and
white ants. have been introduced from foreign
countries in recent times.