1827. 



PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 99 



to, the wood is now becoming scarce, while the debt chap. 

 of the nation has considerably increased. During our v . '._ 

 visit, in order to avoid the expense attending the col- J""^ 

 lection of this wood, it became necessary to levy a tax 

 upon the people of a pecul, or 1331b. each, which they 

 were required to bring from the mountains, under a 

 penalty of four dolLirs, and to deposit with the autho- 

 rities 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 diminish- 

 ing 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 Mala- 

 bar, Ceylon, and other parts of India. With the ex- 

 ception 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 con- 

 sequence ; 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 in- 

 crease of revenue. Thus attempts 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 con- 

 structing for this purpose during our visit. But ma- 

 chines 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 



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