Port of Waimea. 



SANDWICH ISLANDS. 



Island of Niihau. The Porpoise sails .- 

 for the Paumotu Group. *** 



and fish-ponds. Among the few interesting plants 

 were a species of daphne, a cleome, and some 

 sidas. The garden of Captain Stetson contained 

 several ornamental plants, brought from St. Catha- 

 rine's, Brazil. The garden had a pretty appear- 

 ance, being enclosed with a hedge of ti plants 

 (drecsena), set closely together, about five feet in 

 height, topped with thin, wide-spreading leaves, 

 while the walks were bordered with psilotum in- 

 stead of box. 



The mulberry trees do not produce well here, 

 being subject to blight, and requiring great at- 

 tention. This is thought to be owing to the dry- 

 ness of the strong trade-winds that constantly 

 blow, and which have parted with their moisture 

 in passing over the high lands of Oahu, lying 

 directly to windward. 



The silk is reeled by native women. The 

 specimens seen appeared of good quality, but were 

 not reeled sufficiently fine, or with that attention 

 to economy which is necessary to its profitable 

 cultivation. 



The sugar-mills of Ladd and Co. are said to be 

 doing a good business. They are turned by water. 

 The sugar is of a fair quality, and has been sold 

 in the United States at a profit. The natives are 

 induced to raise the sugar-cane, which is sometimes 

 ground, or manufactured, on shares, and is also 

 bought. The labour of the natives, in raising the 

 cane, costs twelve and a half cents per day. This, 

 however, is paid in paper currency, issued by Ladd 

 and Co., redeemable at their store ; consequently 

 the price of the labour is no more than six and a 

 quarter cents ; for the sale of goods is really made 

 in these islands under a profit of one hundred per 

 cent. The want of a native currency is begin- 

 ning to be much felt, both by the government 

 and people ; a fact that will tend to show the 

 advance they have made and are making in civili- 

 zation. 



Dr. Pickering and Mr. Brackenridge set out on 

 foot, the day after the tender arrived, along the 

 southern coast, for Waimea, distant eighteen miles, 

 in order to take the western route across the island. 

 The whole distance between Koloa and Waimea 

 was found to be a series of sunburnt hills and 

 barren plains, sloping gradually from the base of 

 the mountains to the ocean, and now and then 

 intersected with ravines, or, as they are called 

 in the Hawaiian Islands, " gulches." Only a 

 few coarse grasses are met with, quite unfit for 

 pasture. 



At Waimea, the fort built by the Russians, 

 under their absurd trade-master, Dr. Schoof, is 

 still in existence. His ambition would have made 

 him the proprietor of the whole island, although 

 his only business was to take possession of the 

 remains of the wreck of a ship belonging to the 

 Russian Company, that had been lost in the bay. 

 Several Russian vessels were afterwards sent there, 

 which Schoof took charge of, by displacing their 

 masters. It is said he made presents to Kame- 

 hameha I., and received in return a grant of land 

 from him ; some accounts say, the whole island ! 

 It is quite certain, however, that Kamehameha's 

 fears were excited by the reports that were circu- 

 lated from time to time, that the Russians, through 

 Dr. Schoof's operations, intended to get such a 

 foothold as to subvert his authority, and keep pos- 



session of the island. With his usual promptness, 

 he, in consequence, ordered the governor, Kaumu- 

 alii, at once to send them all away. This was 

 effected without any disturbance, and all the Rus- 

 sians embarked in a brig, in which they proceeded 

 to Halelea, to join other Russian vessels that were 

 lying there, and all departed together. As any 

 intention of taking forcible possession, or coloniz- 

 ing the island, was shortly afterwards denied, in 

 the most positive manner, by the Russians, it is 

 probable that the whole was the work of a vain 

 and ambitious man, who had suddenly found him- 

 self elevated above his own sphere. That he 

 either wanted the inclination or the courage to 

 carry out his conceptions, if he had any, is mani- 

 fest, from his immediate acquiescence to the order 

 of the chief to quit the island. He is now known 

 at the islands under the appellation of the Russian 

 Doctor, although by birth a German. The Russian 

 Stone Fort, as it is now called, is garrisoned by a 

 guard of natives. 



Waimea offers the best anchorage at this island, 

 except in the months of January and February, 

 when the trades are interrupted, and the wind 

 blows strong from the south-west, and directly on 

 shore. 



About a mile west of Waimea is the spot where 

 the first English boat landed from Cook's expedi- 

 tion. The village of Waimea takes its name from 

 the river, which rises in the mountains, and after 

 a course of about fifteen miles, enters the sea there. 

 It is navigable three-fourths of a mile from its 

 mouth, in boats. The water is used for irrigating 

 the valley, and might also be appropriated to 

 manufacturing purposes, as there are many excel- 

 lent mill-seats, and a steady supply of water for 

 such purposes. 



The island of Niihau was not visited by any one 

 belonging to the squadron; but it seems proper 

 that in giving an account of the Hawaiian 1 slands, 

 it should be spoken of. It is situated sixteen 

 miles south-west of Kauai, and is eighteen miles 

 long by eight broad. There is an anchorage on 

 its western side, but no harbour. Its eastern side 

 is rocky and unfit for cultivation; the inhabitants 

 .therefore reside on its western side, on the sea- 

 shore, and are for the most part miserably poor. 

 They cultivate, principally, yams and sweet-pota- 

 toes, the former of which succeed much better 

 here than at any of the other islands. Water is 

 very scarce, and they suffer occasionally from 

 droughts, from which cause they are not able to 

 raise the taro. This island is celebrated for the 

 beautiful mats manufactured by its women. It is 

 also said to be a favourable place for the manufac- 

 ture of salt. The number of inhabitants is one 

 thousand. 



On the 3rd of November, the tender reached 

 Rawailoa, in Waialua district, and the naturalists 

 were landed on the western side of Oahu. It was 

 near this place that Mr. Gooch, who accompanied 

 Vancouver, was killed by the natives. Here the 

 party again divided, to explore the island of Oahu, 

 on their way to Honolulu. 



On the 16th, the Porpoise, under Lieutenant- 

 Commandant Ringgold, sailed to the Low Archi- 

 pelago, or Paumotu Group, with instructions to 

 return to the harbour of Honolulu by the 15th of 

 March. 



