104 HAWAII AND OAHU. 



a trifle better than using the fingers ; the cards were imported from 

 the United States. Thus prepared, the work went into operation on 

 the 1st of January, 1838. 



Three females, who had made a tolerable proficiency in the art of 

 spinning, and had been taught by the American missionaries residing 

 at Maui, were procured as teachers. Under these, thirty women and 

 girls, from ten to forty years of age, began spinning ; they soon equalled 

 their teachers, and many of the younger ones excelled them. 



Two looms and other necessary apparatus were next procured, and 

 also a foreigner to teach the use of them. He was engaged for several 

 months in the establishment, during which time he had under his 

 instruction four young men, with whom he wove several pieces of 

 brown stripes and plaids, plain and twilled cotton cloth. After this 

 time, the natives were able to prepare and weave independently of his 

 aid. Becoming dissatisfied, however, all left the work, together with 

 the foreigner ; but after some time they were induced to return to 

 their work. This small establishment has ever since been kept up 

 entirely by the natives. It is succeeding with this aid alone, and is 

 probably the only one of the kind in Polynesia. 



In this district, no cases of intoxication had been seen for some 

 years prior to the French treaty ; but since that time, an American 

 resident at Honolulu has introduced spirituous liquors, by which a 

 number of natives have been once more led back to this vice. 



No cases of infanticide have been heard of here. 



The acute diseases which prevail in Kailau, are inflammation of 

 the lungs, pleura, and peritoneum ; but these are not frequent. Acute 

 inflammation of the eyes is common, but generally yields readily to 

 medical treatment. Fevers of the synochus type are common ; typhus 

 is rare, if it ever occur. Chronic inflammation of the eyes, accom- 

 panied by opacity of the cornea, is of frequent occurrence; as are 

 also asthma, diarrhoea, cutaneous eruptions, and ulcers. Paralysis 

 and mania are frequent; gonorrhoea is met with, but few cases of 

 recent syphilis. The mumps spread extensively during the summer 

 of 1839; in some cases, owing to want of care and exposure, it was 

 severe, but was more generally mild. 



In this district, the Reverend Mr. Thurston has been settled as 

 missionary since the year 1823, and is assisted by Dr. Seth Andrews, 

 to whom I feel much indebted for useful information. 



Mr. Rich found but few plants among the decomposed scoria; 

 among them he notices Copaiva, Plumbago zeylanica, Boerhaavia, 



