78 KAUAIANDOAHU. 



The population of this district has been for several years decreas- 

 incr, and Mr. Alexander estimates the decrease to be one-hundredth 

 annually for the last nine years. In 1837, the population was 3024; 

 the proportion of the sexes was — males, 1609; females, 1415. In 

 1840, population, 2935— males, 1563 ; females, 1372. 



The census taken in 1840, is no doubt much more accurate than 

 any heretofore made, and as far as the ability of the king's officers go, 

 it may be depended upon. Mr. Alexander is inclined to impute the 

 decrease to former licentiovisness, as well as to the barrenness of the 

 women. Those who have children, lose them at a premature age, and 

 abortion is produced sometimes, from fear of the pains of parturition. 

 Mr. Alexander has known of only five cases of the latter description 

 within six years, the time of his residence here ; so that this latter 

 cause can have but little influence. This is true also as regards 

 intemperance, for he bears testimony to his having never seen a 

 native intoxicated on Kauai. The touching of a French whale-ship at 

 Waimea and landing a quantity of wine and brandy, has, he thinks, 

 revived their propensities of fifteen or twenty years past ; and when 

 the liquors were exhausted, they were found resorting to a method 

 of distillation of their own, or subjecting various fruits to the process 

 of fermentation until they would produce intoxicating effects. All 

 this has been promptly arrested by the activity of the judges and 

 their agents. 



In this district comparatively few die of acute diseases. Dropsies 

 are among the most frequent ; palsies and diseases of the hmgs also 

 occur ; syphilis is rare, but gonorrhoea prevails extensively. 



The climate is considered very salubrious. Immoderate eating 

 and fasting, living in damp huts, long exposure in the water, and 

 sleeping on the ground, are all assigned as causes for the many sick 

 and weak among the natiA^es. 



The schools in this district have, as elsewhere, undergone an entire 

 revolution. Formerly, all the adult population were included among 

 the pupils ; now they consist only of children, and within two years 

 past these have greatly fallen oflF in numbers — as much indeed as one 

 half Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, with some native teachers, have charge 

 of the school. Mr. Alexander thinks, that the native children are 

 not inferior to those of other lands in point of intellect. These schools, 

 unlike those of Tahiti, are kept open five days in the week, and six 

 hours each day. Besides the school at Wailua, there are several 

 others at different places. The teachers are relieved from all govern- 



