The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-03-28

with clusters OF the rough coated nuts;
banana trees i'll profusion hanging full
of their green and ripening fruit. We
drive past the beautiful mansion of
Claus Spreckels, the Sugar King"
Spreckels WAS one of the first enter
prlsiDg spectators to see the vast pos
Sibilities of these islands, and now has
immense sugar plantations and numer-
Gus mills. Honolulu has electric lights,
street cars and telephones, churches of
various denominations public H.
brary of $4,000 volumes, Y. NJ. c. \.
Hall, Masonic Temple, Odd Fellows
Hall, several small theaters and beauti-
full college buildings and grounds. We
visited the Young Hotel, whose palm
garden on the roof is marvel, and
the Royal Hawaiian Hotel which dates
from the time of the monarchy and has
witnessed the decay and overthrow of
the native government. Here and
there are streets whose residents, our
guide informs us, are almost entirely
Americans, who have settled here and
built modern little bungaloes of the
approved laIIornla t!pe, nail hidden
by tropical foliage. many varieties of
which are as brilliant in colorlng and
gorgeous as any flower.
Dec. 10th. Last night reception and
bail were rendered the passengers of
the two transports at the hotel, at
which the famous Royal Hawaiian band
furnished music. Here were seen
some of the native ariStocracy, as we'll
as Americans who have settled here.
This morning the ocean liner siberia"
came to dock on our right, and its pas
sengers added to those of the two trans
ports thronged on shore and made
things lively about the streets of Homo
lulu during the day. We have spent
the time in continual sightseeing and
shopping. There are several stores
where native curios are displayed, and
vendors have their stands all about the
dock as close to the transports as posi-
bic. Their most attractive wares
which appeal to the tourists are the
postcards 4 the long chains formed
from lhe ,Y h., seeds, BEANS and shells.
The brit ,.'' d seed Is OF a tree grow
ing ~ y untains, alternating with
:, ~ % make most beautiful and
tu. ~cIytuit of the Hawaiian
Is.aua. ..s 10 The chains formed of
hulaI-.a u tiny shells in glistening IL
lidtscenJ hueS. Every lady and child
on coming back to the boat is adorned
with strings of the shells or seeds.
On the street corners are the flower
markets; men and women squatted
along the curb with baskets Overlooking
with bright flowers, yards and yards OF
flower chains wound about the neck
and shoulders and WreathS about the
head. These flower chains are called
LEAFS and very popular with the lndo-
lent, beauJy-loving natives of these is
lands. They are made mostly of carna-
tons, and of WaXen, creamy yellow
native flower, very odorous. 1t is a
common thing to meet on the streets
prosperous looking native gentleman
clad in white duck, with heavy bright
hued wreath about his panama hat, and
we are told that on Fiesta" days every
laborer down to the coal HEAVIER is thus
gaily adorned. We spent an hour at
the Aquarium, where hundreds of curl
Gus fish are exhibited III glass tanks
The immense duck ranch and native
deer park are interesting, but as we walk
or drive, hopping our flushed faces and
vigorously waving the fans we have
purchased in the first store we entered,
for the sudden change from the cold
winds of san Francisco is very marked
we mentally congratulate ourselves that
it was our fate to visit these islands in
| December and not July. In Hawaii, the
largest of the group, is situated klanea,
which is the chief scenic attraction,
and we greatly regretted our inability
| through lack of time to visit this, the
largest and most wonderful active vol
cano in the world. 1t rises to the height
of 1000 feet; the crater is eight miles in
circumference and 500 feet deep, exhibit
! ing the rare spectacle of a sea of molten
| lava i'll ceaseless activity. Though
much of the surface of these islands is
mountainous, the amount of arabic
| land is considerable, and the numerous
elevations furnish all the conditions
necessary for the cultivation of the
most diverse crops. including sugar,
| coffee, fruits, rice, and even wheat, po-
| tatoes and other vegetables of the tenn
| perate zone.
Hitherto sugar has been the most i'm
portant product, but of late coffee has
attracted much attention, aud immense
| tracts are devoted to coffee plantations.
The Hawaiian is indolent and fond of
pleasure. Nature has so bountifully
| blest his islands, that he can live well
without the laborious efforts necessary
in less favored climes, so since the
annexation to the U. S. the thrifty
Americans have found it profitable to
import cheap foreign labor to handle
the immense crops of sugar cane, rice,
coffee, ETC. The latest estimate of the
native population is but $4,000, which
is less than third of the whole num-
Der of inhabitants. There are 80 miles
\ of railway, and about 1000 miles of
telegraph and submarine telegraph in
operation, and the new Pacific tele-
graph and cable line between San Fran
cisco and Manila brings the islands
into instant communication with the
outside world. Honolulu publishes in
English six daily papers, five weeklies,
and four monthlies, while the Chinese,
Japanese and native publications num-
Der fully one hundred more. Our
second day in port draws towards its
close and we return to our boat, wear
led but we'll pleased with our short visit