CHAPTER XI.

ISLANDS

T

A wilderness of sweets.

MILTON (Paradise Lost).

THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

HE Hawaiian group, 10 in number, although some

writers say there are thirteen, is between lati

tude 18 deg. 54 min. and 23 deg. 34 min. north, and 154 deg. 50 min. and 164 deg. 32 min. west longitudes. The total area is near 6,000 square miles and the population some 65,000.

The rapid growth of this little island kingdom, and that within a very few years, into commercial importance, is but a sample of what will be done in the island world in the near future. The topographical features of the group, the few and small streams, with valleys of no very great extent, with a wasteful destruction of nearly all the valuable indigenous products in the past, with the low order of inhabitants, has barred their progress, yet the magic wand of American enterprise has but touched them, and the islands are now in practical, successful commercial existence.

The principal export is sugar. Of this valuable

product it is safe to say that 150,000,000 pounds, or 75,000 tons will be produced this year.

GEOLOGY.

The geological formation of the group is altogether volcanic. Two celebrated volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa, are noted for their eruptions, and in some of their convulsions the world-famed outbursts of Ætna and Vesuvius "pale their ineffectual fires." Thus, in the island of Hawaii, according to the Journal, Geological Society, 1856, in 1840 a deluge of lava broke out ten miles below the crater of Kilauea. It spread from one to four miles wide, and reached the sea at a distance of thirty miles in three days, and for fourteen days plunged in a vast fiery cataract a mile wide over a precipice of 500 feet. In 1843 a similar stream flowed from the summit of Mauna Loa, and in 1855 the lava broke out at a spot 2,000 feet below the summit, on the opposite side to Kilauea, and continued for ten months, overflowing an area of 200,000 acres. The main stream was sixty-five miles long, from one to ten miles wide and from ten to 300 feet in depth. The records do not show any eruptions of Mauna Loa previous to 1832. There were outbursts in 1851, 52, '55 and '59. In 1868 one occurred accompanied by a severe earthquake. The last was in 1877.

SUGAR CANE.

The wonderful sugar-producing qualities of this little island group, now something like 70,000 tons per annum, is gradually calling the attention of the world to what might be done on other islands of the Pacific.

Many of these garden spots are peculiarly adapted to the growth of cane; the soil, climate and moisture necessary to its successful cultivation being found on hand. every

The sugar cane, saccharum officinarum, is a perennial plant, of the family of grasses, cultivated sorghum and broom-corn being familiar examples of the species. The cane is not found native in any country, never producing seeds, and is only reproduced from cuttings. There are many varieties, but the best is the Otaheite, or Bourbon, grown successfully in the Society group.

Sugar is mentioned at a very early period, being used then only as a medicine. It was introduced into Persia about the ninth century. In the tenth century it was cultivated and formed an article of trade in Spain.

It was first cultivated in Madeira in 1420, and shortly afterwards in the Canary Islands. After the discovery of America it was introduced into Mexico, San Domingo, Brazil, etc., and about the same time into Africa and the Indian Archipelago. In our own country it was first cultivated by the Jesuits, near New Orleans, in 1751.

HISTORY.

In regard to the discovery of these islands by Captain Cook, I am led to believe that he was by no means the original discoverer, but that like many other navigators on the great oceans of the world, it was a discovery for him, while in truth it may have been known to others many ages previous.

it is believed that the Hawaiian Islands were first discovered by the Spaniards, and were often seen by