The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-06-17
BEA UTIFUI lSLA DS.
Lanai apd Niihau of the Hawaiian
sSsl5s Group.


80
ssS Islands.
The island of Lanai. with its delight
full climate, some of the most interest
ing of the Hawaiian islands. It. is the
principal sheep-growing district of the
kingdom, and from it are chiefly
drawn the mutton supplies for Homo
lulu. The island, according to the
New York Sun, is about ten miles from
Lahaina, and some seventy-two miles
BY way of the latter from Honolulu.
It has an extreme breadth of twenty
two miles, with width at its broad
est part of thirteen miles, while tho
highest point of it's ring-shaped noun
tain ridges has an altitude Of $500 feet
above sea level. To the visitor APP
preaching it 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 Indication Of the rich grass-cov-
cred land which lies beyond, or of the
timber and shrub-covered ridges and
ravines with which it is interpreted.
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 almost 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 it's 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 it's sister isles is clearly and un-
mistakably of volcanic origin. The
round and landlocked valley of Pala-
wal, with its grassy plain containing
more than ten thousand acres of rich
soil, was in ages past the crater of q
great volcano, which, after the great
upheaval which forced the chain up
ward through and above the waters,
still served as a 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 a coral reef on the wind
ward side. The Kanaka population is
now in the neigh borhood 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 won't to be per-
formed.
Lanai is in places we'll supplied with
water; there are springs and several
small streams in ravines, and upon the
beach in different places wells have
heen sunk which furnish liberal sup
ply of fresh water. There is one per-
petual river, or rivulet, which flows
through the ravine of Maunalei The
lovers of the grand and beautiful in
nature will here find much to crafty,
and the botanist especially will 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-raising stand
point. 1t lies to the southwest Of
Kauai, whence it is reached after an
at times agreeable passage by
steamer, or the traveller whose time is
III no
which separates it from that island by
the ever-convenient whaleboat The
islet has an area of about 70, 900 acres,
or something over 100 square miles. It
was once more thickly populated, but
is now little more than large sheep
ranch, and the population consists
chiefly of shepherds and employees Of
enous here and is not to be found
elsewhere, though closely resembling
the Guayaauil grass, used in the man
nfacture of Panama hats, was former
" woven into Niihau mats, which
were noted for their great delicacy
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 SIS to $11
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 reddish, coral-colored seed are
gathered by the not over-industrious
natives, and, being strung into neck
laces and similar ornaments, are dis
posed of to their fellow-countrymen
and to foreigners. Considerable taste
and ingenuity are displayed in the
manufacture of these pretty articles;
and as tourists are, as rule, ready to
pay literally for curiosities. the ma
tives derive a considerable income
from their sale.
II Minute Filanents.
Some Interesting as well as extraor-
binary accounts have recently been
given concerning experiments in the
production of minute threads from
..15 class 5~1of;nrrn md other sinh.