The herald., 1897-07-01
The Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii is a group of islands, eight in
number, covering an area of 664O square
miles and, according to census taken in
1890, containing a population of $1,000.
The names and dimensions of the sew
eral islands which comprise the group
ninety in width; Mani, fifty-four miles
long and twenty-five wide; Kahoolawe,
twelve miles long and five wide; Lanai,
twenty miles long and nine wide; Molo-
kai, thirty-five miles long and seven
wide; Ohau, thirty-five miles long and
twenty-one wide; Kanai, thirty miles
long and twenty eight wide, and Niihau,
twenty-nine miles long and five in
width.
The natives are of the Malayo-P Polyne-
sian race, of a reddish brown color, with
black, straight hair, broad face, fiat nose
and thick lips AT the time of Captain
Cooks first visit to the islands in 1918,
they were in barbarous state. Polyg-
amy prevailed among the chiefs and
rulers and the moral tone was of the
lowest. Human sacrifices were COM
mon and the form of their idolatry was
severe, cruel and bloody, while canni-
balism was among their vices. But
what is the most surprising with regard
to these people is their decadence in
number as they progress in civilization.
They have better food, better clothing,
better dwellings and the improved serv-
ice of a better civilization, yet the ma
tive population of at least 100000 in 177S
has been reduced to 34.436 in $780, This
ic tad fnr hx o,1fb bnr nj 1,a
hypothesis that the blood of the race
has been poisoned by the introduction
of foreign diseases, and by other inquir-
ers on the theory that crime, neglect of
offspring and the lack of maternal in
stinct among the women is responsible.
The principal products of the islands
are sugar and rice, though coffee, hides,
bananas and wool are produced in suffi-
cient quantities to become subjects of
export. In 1876 a treaty of commerce
was concluded between the Hawaiian
kingdom and the United States which
had marked influence on the trade and
| was of especial advantage to the islands.
1t provided for the free entry of the
agricultural products of that country
into this, and the reciprocal admission of
the manufactured products of this
country into that. AS a result, the
greater portion of the commercial tran
sactions of the islanders are with this
country. Steamers run between the
islands and America, Australia and
China. and the total exports in 1895
amounted to $S,35S,000, against an i'm
port trade of $5,714OOO. The total Gus
toms receipts in 1895 were $547 900, the
number of ships entered being 31S, and
| the aggregate tonnage 337, ,S17 tons.
The revenues for 1896 amounted to ST.
S79,52S and the expenditures to $1,S72, 400,
close margin, but ample. The cur
| rency is gold and silver gold coins of
the United States being legal tender for
all sums over $40 and silver coins of the
United States for amounts under. The
only paper money in use is treasury GER
tificates for coin actually deposited there.
The capital of the country is Honolulu,
which is also the metropolis of the
islands. 1t is situated in the island of
Oahu, and contains population of
about $4,000. In 1892 there were 16S
schools on the islands, with 392 teachers
and 1912 pupils, of whom 1858 were
Hawaiians. The appropriation for
schools for 1892-94 amounted to $210 800.
All forms of religion are permitted and
protected, and the population Of wor-
Slippers is about equally divided be-
tween Catholics and Protestants. The
mountainous, and in some measure vol
canic, though that feature is decreasing.
Kansas City Star.