The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-25
BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS.
Lanai and Niihau of the Hawaiian
Group.
Interesting Facts About . Delightful Re-
treat for Tourists-Some OF the
Features of the
Islands.


The island of Lanai. with its delight
full climate. is one of the most interest
ing of the Hawaiian islands II is the
principal sheep-growing district of the
kingdom. ard from it are chiefly
drawn the mutton supplies for Homo
lulu. The island, according to the
New York sun. is abou: ten miles from
Lahaina, and some seventy-two miles
by way of the latter from Honolulu.
1t has an extreme breadth of twenty
two miles. with width at its broad
est part of thirteen miles. while the
highest point of its ring-shaped noun
tain ridges has an altitude of $500 feet
above sea level. To the visitor APP
preaching il by sea. Lanai has by no
means an inviting appearance, the
brown slopes rising toward the inner
range in almost every direction, Civ
ing no ;adication of the rich grass-cov-
cred land which lies beyond. or OF the
timber and shrub-covered ridges and
ravines with which it is interspersed.
Nevertheless, some $4,000 or $4,000
sheep and lambs here fatten upon the
succulent grasses. as well as some 900
horses, 500 horned cattle, and goats
and hogs. Wild turkeys almos. with
out number also inhabit the island.
During ten months there were shipped
from this island some 5000 sheep and
numbers of cattle and horses Very
large quantities and an excellent quail
ity of wool are also clipped here and
shipped to the United States, England
and other countries.
Lanai is noted for the extent and
character of its fisheries. 1t was once
the favorite fishing resort of Hawaiian
royalty. The island is sixth in point
of size of the group, and in common
with its sister isles is clearly aud rn-
mistakably of volcanic origin. The
round and landlocked Wiley of Pala-
wal. with its grassy plain containing
more than ten thousand acres of rich
soil, was in ages past the crater of
great volcano, which. after the great
upheaval which forced the chain up
ward through and above the waters,
still served as vent for the molten
mass and gases beneath the earth's
crust The island is also unique in
that it is the only one of the group
which has coral reef on the wind
ward side The KanaSa population is
now in the neighborhood of two hum
dred and fifty, who are engaged in
cultivating small patches, in sheep
herding and in fishing. One of the
places of interest here is the native
temple where, in the old days, the
heathenish rites were wont to be per-
formed.
Lanai is in places well supplied with
water; there are springs and several
small streams in ravines, and upon the
beach in different places wells have
been sunk which furnish liberal sup
ply of fresh water There is one per-
petual river, or rivulet, which flows
through the ravine of Naunalei. The
lovers of the grand and beautiful in
nature will here find much to crafty,
and the botanist especially viii obtain
much food for study and entertaining
research among the numerous canyons
covered with shrubs and forests.
The island of Niihau is the eighth in
size of the islands composing the Ha-
waiian archipelago, and the last of
any Importance from commercial, ag-
ricultural or stock-raiSiug stand
point 1t lies TO the southwest OF
at times agreeable passage by
steamer. or the traveller whose time is
valuable can cross the narrow passage
which separates il from that island by
the ever-convenient whaleboat. The
islet has an area of about 20, 600 acres,
or something over 100 square miles. II
was once more thickly populated, but
Is now little more than large sheep
ranch. and the population consists
chiefly of shepherds and employees of
the firm. A fine grass which is indig
enous here and is not 10 be found
elsewhere, though closely resembling
the Guayaquil grass, used in the man
ufacture OF Panama hats, was former
" woven irto Niihau mats. which
were noted for their great deiicacy
and softness. These mats were woven
in different designs and coLors, and
were really beautiful. They are now
very rare, and of late years the price.
which formerly ranged from s. To slI
or so apiece, has advanced in an al
most exorbitant degree. Shells OF
great beauty and OF many varieties
are found upon the shores, and those
with a reddish. coral-eolored seed are
gathered by the not over-indust-ious
natives, and. being strung into neck
laces and similar ornaments. are dis
posed of 20 their feiiov-countrymen
and 70 foreigners. Consider bic taste
and ingenuity are displa@ 81 in the
manufacture of these pretty articles.
and as tourists are, as rule, ready 20
pay literally for curiosities, the ns-
tives derive a considerable income
from their sale.
Minute Tilamepss-
Some interesting as 4 b as extraor-
binary accounts hare recently been
given concerning experiments IN the
f