117 ri.
held with the civilized world, could hardly have been anticipated; and
we hope it may not prove too rapid to be advantageous to the country,
which has now several expensive establishments to maintain, and extravagant
ideas to satisfy, with means evidently diminishing, if not nearly
exhausted. The treasures accumulated by Tamehameha, and tlie supply
of that precious wood which has been so instrumental in bringing the
islands into notice, have been drained to meet the expenses of ruinous
purchases ivhich have materially contributed to tlie apparent show of
grandeur and prosperity above mentioned. T’he sandal wood, it is
known, requires many years to arrive at a fit state for the market, and
its cultivation not having been attended to, the wood is now becoming
scarce, while the debt of the nation has considerably increased. During
our visit, in order to avoid the expense attending the collection of
this wood, it became necessary to levy a tax upon the people of a pecul,
or ISSlb. each, which they were required to bring from the mountains,
under a penalty of four dollars, and to deposit with the authorities at
Honoruru for the purpose of liquidating the debt of the nation. The
greater part of the wood brought in was small and crooked, and only fit
for the use of the Jos houses in China, where it is burned as incense,
but the consumption of it there is diminishing in consequence of an
order for its disuse in those places of worship. The odour of the sandal
wood of the Sandwich Islands is very inferior to that of Malabar, Ceylon,
and other parts of India. With the exception of the profits arising
from the sale of sandal wood, of salt, and from the port dues, and from
the advantage derived from merchant vessels visiting the,islands for
refreshments, there is no revenue of consequence; certainly none that
is at all adequate to meet the expenses of the nation.
The chiefs, foreseeing the approaching crisis, are anxious to avail
themselves of any prospect of an increase of revenue. Thus attenqits
have been made to manufacture sugar from the canes which grow very
abundantly and in great luxuriance in the islands; and I sincerely
hope that Mr. Marini, who has hitherto been of the greatest benefit to
the government of Woahoo, may succeed in the mill which he was constructing
for this purpose during our visit. But machines of this nature
have already cost a very large sum, and have not hitherto succeeded,
partly, perhaps, in consequence of the want of proper materials. A cargo C H A P .
of this sugar it was hoped would be ready for exportation in 1827’ —
which was then to be carried to the Californian market, where, as it
Jan,
1827,
has already been said, sugar attains a high price. But the Sandwich
Islands until much more advanced in the science of cultivation will
always have to compete with Manilla in the sale of this material.
Tobacco, coffee, and spices have been introduced into the islands, and it
is to be hoped they will succeed under the fostering hand of the indefatigable
individual before mentioned. An attempt was made to
encourage the planting of cotton, which was tolerably successful the
first year, but for some reasons, which were ascribed to the rigid observance
of the church duties, the labourers were prevented from
gathering the crop, and it rotted in the pod. It is particularly unfortunate
that the attempt to cultivate this plant, which would be of
great advantage to the islands, should have failed both m tlie Society
and Sandwich groups, as it will probably discourage the inhabitants
from any further endeavour to produce it. Salt has been collected
from some lakes near the town, and for some time past has produced
a small revenue. Hereafter it is likely to be in greater request, for the
purpose of curing meat for sea store, or for exportation to Kamsehatka,
W'here it is in great demand. Flax of a good quality grows upon Owyhee,
and rope for the vessels of the country is made from a species oiurticii?
As yet, how ever, the sandal wood is the only material that has produced
any revenue of consequence.
Soon after the Christian religion had been introduced into the
Sandwich Islands, several of the chiefs were taught to read and write,
and were so delighted at the idea ofbeing able to communicate their
thoughts to friends at a distance, without the necessity of disclosing
them, and free from the risk of misinterpretation, that some of the
scholars laboured at their task as if the prosperity of tlie islands
depended upon penmansliip alone. Education in other respects has
made much slower progress than every well-wisher of the country
could desire. A few' individuals who have had the advantage of continued
instruction have acquired a limited knowledge of the scriptures,
3 II 2
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