2 THE CORAL LANDS OF THE PACIFIC. 



necessitate its resumption at no distant date. A glance at the 

 map will show anyone the advantages of the San Francisco 

 route for reaching quickly those marvellous clusters of islands 

 Avhich lie just in the track of ocean travel between the Pacific 

 slope of the United States and the ever-growing colonies of 

 Australia and New Zealand. 



A pleasant run of a little over seven days brings you from 

 the City of the Golden Gate to Honolulu, the capital of the 

 Hawaiian kingdom, delightfully situated on the island of 

 Oahu, one of the thirteen which compose the Sandwich Group. 

 Eight of these islands are inhabited. The chain runs from south- 

 east to north-west, in lat. 19 22' K and 155 to 160 W. long. 

 All the islands are very mountainous, and of volcanic origin. 



The pleasant little town of Honolulu, which boasts a popu- 

 lation of about 15,000 souls, is built on a level piece of land, 

 backed by a low range of green-clad hills, topped here and 

 there by peaks of volcanic rocks. The harbour affords a good 

 anchorage, and there is an excellent wharf for the large trans- 

 Pacific steamers. All the Pacific Mail Company's Australian 

 steamers coal at Honolulu ; so the through passenger has at 

 least a few hours wherein to enjoy the scenery and gain some 

 little knowledge of this most interesting Archipelago. 



In ancient days the different islands of Hawaii had their 

 separate kings and constitutions ; but Kamehameha the Great, 

 ' the Napoleon of the Pacific,' united all the islands under his 

 rule. He levied great armies, sometimes 7000 strong, and his 

 victories are celebrated in the national songs with majesty and 

 power. He founded that dynasty which has stood for seventy 

 years, and which, compared with the Governments that went 

 before it, has been clement and civilised. From Vancouver's 

 Island Kamehameha heard tidings of the grandeur of the 

 Christian races, and he asked for Christian teachers to instruct 



