1840.] SCENERY OF THE ISLANDS. 379 



Taxes, in the Sandwich Islands, are paid, for the most part, 

 in kind. There is also a land tax occasionally imposed, when 

 the exigencies of the state require it. At one time the poll 

 tax was very heavy on fathers of families ; but latterly this 

 has been changed, ana encouragement has been given to raid- 

 ing children, by providing that where a man has a certain 

 number, he shall be exempt from paying taxes. 



Public and charity schools for the instruction of the chil- 

 dren of the common people, are located all over the islands ; 

 and there are higher seminaries for the education of the sons 

 and daughters of chiefs — for the males at Lahainaluna, and 

 for the females at Wailuku, on the island of Maui. The ob- 

 ance of the Sabbath is strictly enforced by the authori- 

 al offences and misdemeanors are punished wit!) 

 romptitude. There are upwards of twenty churches 

 •roup, and full one. third of the native population arc 

 church merab 



Two weekly newspapers have been established at Honolulu, 



have a pretty extensive circulation. Most of the chiefs, 



and : e principal members of the legislature, are men of very 



; nation, and po ss a respectable degree of judgment 



and .' slligence. They take a deep interest in the welfare 



■ own country, and exhibit a pretty correct knowledge 



of the affairs of other governments. 



(4.) The lofty mountain peaks of these islands, which are 

 tly destitute of vegetation, or, if really existing, not per- 

 ceptible at a distance, give an aspect of barrenness to the 

 country that is scarcely warranted by the fertility of the 

 lovely valleys lying sweetly imbosomed amid the broken hills 

 . Few more beautiful spots can be found in the 

 world than these charming valleys ; that of Nuuanu near 

 Honolulu, and that of Manoa, in the rear of Waikiki, have 

 excited the admiration of every traveller who has visited 

 them. The scenery of the other islands is similar ; and 

 where the hoary mountains, rising amid the fields of indurated 

 lava, attain the loftiest e'evation, and display upon their sum- 

 mits the snow and frosts of cold and dreary winter, around 



