The times., 1899-07-23

possess the earth, but to demoralize the
untutored tribes which knew not civiliza-
tion and (save the markD religion. The
story of the advent of Captain Cook is told
with candor, and it does not appear that
this discoyerer did anything to improve
the condition of the Hawaiians, morally or
materially. This is what happened on that
occasion.
Captain Cook accepted without remonstrance
the worship offered 10 him as the god Lono.
He joined the natives in their pagan ceremonies,
and then violated their tabus and outraged their
religious sentiments He appears to have vouch-
safed no word of wholesome instruction to them.
though they made eager enquiry concerning the
government, manners, and customs industries,
and faith, Of the land whence he came. For
the generous supply OF eatables with which his
ships were provided-and which the natives
could il-sfford TO spare-he made scant return.
Theft he punished by shooting; and he sought
10 decoy or dragoon the King board ship,
that he might be held as hostage for the re-
turn of a stolen boat The first company Of
sailors that was landed shot and killed native
under no sufficient provocation peaceful en-
bassy was fired upon, whether by mistake
otherwise, with fatal effect, and after the death
of Cook an entire village reduced TO ashes.
The commander accepted as his tempo
rary wife, and as a propitiatory offering the
distinguished navigator it should be said that
he sought, though without success, 10 improve
the native swine by the introduction OF an Eng
lish breed.
The behavior of Vancouver, who visited
the islands three times during the years
iT92'9i is in striking contrast to this
record. Vancouver appears to have dealt
with the natives in just and kindly spirit.
He introduced sheep and horned cattle and
several garden plants; gave the King,
kamehameha !, some good advice about
dealing with foreign nations and promised
to come back with religious and industrial
teachers. He found the natives suspicious
and hostile; he left them willing to become
subjects of Great Britain. This cesson of
territory was never ratified by the British
Government, and Vancouver died without
having had chance to redeem his prom
ise. 1t is rather curious to reflect on the
probable future of the islands had he car
ried out his plans.
There is an interesting sketch of Kane
hameha l and his career, and then follows
history of missionary work in the ISL
ands. The author does not extoI the mis-
sionaries in extravagant terms, but he
does recognize the fact that at the time
they went to the islands their influence
was valuable in counteracting that of the
dissolute and ruffianly sailors, traders,
'beachcombers, and other characters
who focked to the ports. This is a point
which should not be overlooked in dealing
with the influence of missionaries in saw
age tribes. When new country is open
ed up. there is always more or less disor-
der and viciousness arising from the ad-
vent of the scum of the earth who go or
are carried there; and in SO far as the
mission settlements teach order, decent
living and intelligent cooperation with
the forces which make for progress. they
are surely good. This was certainly 10
hp in
A great part of the book is taken up
with statistics concerning the present pop
ulation of the islands, and there is also
history of the Government and its changes
in the present century-matters which are
already familiar TO the general public. One
OF the most interesting chapters in the
book is the last, which deals with the
white men in the tropics, and the future OF
Hawaii. Prof. Blackman is of the opinion
that the Hawaiian native will be a steadi-
ly diminishing factor in the development
of the country, and eventually disappear,
and that the number of Asiatics will also
diminish through the application TO Ha-
waii of the United States contract labor
laws. AS to the ability of the white man
to work in the tropics, he has several
things to say. First, there are other things
besides latitude which influence climate,
and the climate of Hawaii, though tropical,
is not to be classed with that of Bombay.
Again, white races, contrary to the gen.
eral supposition, stand malaria about as
well as the colored races do; and it is
a theory which is gaining general accept
ance that germ diseases lose their Viru-
lence, or run out" when several gene
rations are subjected to them. Altogether,
the general argument of the book is that
Hawaii is eventually TO be peopled by
white men, who will thrive there. (New
IN