The Hawaiian gazette., 1898-09-06
Scientist Glppy Writes an In.
tersstinQ Letter.
NE MAKES APPEAL TO HAWAII
Natives Of the South are Dying
Out = A Colony Twenty-Five
Years Old-War Comment.

MIR. EDITOR:-I am at present
stopping at the Wainunu Tea Estate in
vanua Lew and this gives me an OPP
portunity of referring to the tea indus
try of Fiji. The cultivation of tea in
this British colony has been hamper
ed by very serious difficulties which in
the case Of one estate proved insur-
mountable, and 1t was in consequence
closed. The other surviving estate lies
at Wainunu, and it has long been 60
ing through troubled waters. The OBJ
stacles, however. are not connected
with the growth Of the plant, which
thrives wonderfully well. nor with the
quality of the tea. since the testimony
in its favor is abundant. They are
concerned with the difficulty and cost
of procuring labor, and with the limit
ed market which the colony offers for
the lucrative disposal Of its own teas.
The white population of Fiji has not
increased since the islands were annex
ed nearly a quarter Of a century ago,
and its consumption of tea would in
itself barely keep the local industry
above water Secure in their supplies OF
Indian and Ceylon teas, the Australian
merchants have not facilitated the sale
of the Fijian article; and thus tea cul
tivation has been for years leading
struggling existence in this colony.
Had 1t not been for the pluck and en-
terprise displayed by Captain Robbie of
4 nd bNy Nv 10
manager Of the estate, the undertaking
would have been abandoned long ago.
Hawaii, as / apprehend, is now a part
whether in the moment of her triumph,
she would extend hand to this strug-
Cling little group, by making Fijian
teas more widely known not only
amongst her own people but also in
America.
have been spending much time in
the mountains geologizing and bOtan-
izing. Most of the interior Of this ISL
and is in its primeval condition, al
most all the natives living at the coast.
Travel is accordingly beset with many
difficulties. and 1t Is more difficult to
climb the mountains, which are not
over 1000 feet high than it is to ac-
complish the ascent of Mauna LOa. One
is always being scorched up or baked
through. A dozen times in the day one
has to wade or swim across swollen
rivers, and the wretched bush-paths are
often nearly obliterated on account of
the dying out of the people. Apart,
however, from such matters 1t is inter-
esting to note that the unfortunate
Fijian is in many ways being assisted
in the path downward to extinction.
There are signs, however, that the Gov
ernor Is quite prepared to act in some
decisive way when the opportunity
offers. He is hanfpered by native
policy not of his own creation, a policy
which after a duration of nearly a
quarter Of a century Is resulting In the
extinction of the aborigines and in the
decrease OF the white pOulation. The
system of Harvesting white men and
natives together in the local govern
ment Of the islands is am glad to
hear about to break down. Many OF
the most important ordinances direc-
ted to preserving the aboriginal race
have long been practically in allegiance
The white magistrate is terribly handi.
capped by the relatively independent
position which the Roko or Governor
of his province occupies. He can only
suggest things to him, but the RokC
merely promises and there everything
ends.
The war of course in the absorbing
topic down her; and in common with
other Englishmen cannot help think
ing that England will benefit by tn,
success of American arms almost al
much as the citizens OF the United
States. The use of might on the sid,
of right has not been of too frequen
occurrence In the worlds history
mean the exercise of might withou
the Interior object of self-aggrandize
ment. 1t would be grand thing 1
America could give the world an al
truistic lesson and introduce q new
ethical code for the nations. The alb
sorption of the Philippines would
venture to think rather spoil the objec
lesson. To convert the heathens II
Christianity and their lands to his owl
uses has been too often John Bulli
method Of procedure. have employed
here the language of a recent critic O
England and her colonies. Let us hop,
that the United States Of America will
inaugurate another policy altogether
II. b. GUPPY, M. b.
Wainunu, Vanua Lew, Fiji, July II
1898.