234 HAWAII. 



one hundred and sixty-nine, of the latter two hundred and thirteen. 

 Of marriages there were about fifty in the year. 



Infanticide does not exist in this district, nor is intemperance a 

 common vice ; ava, made from fermented potatoes, is considerably 

 used, and also tobacco. 



The diseases are fevers, inflammation, and scrofula. 



The opinion generally prevails, that the natives of the Sandwich 

 Islands have an abundance of food, and are not exposed to any hard- 

 ships ; but this I found to be extremely erroneous ; for, with the ex- 

 ception of chiefs, and those immediately connected with them, they 

 often suffer as much as the poor of other countries. As civilization 

 advanced this suffering seems to have increased, partly owing to the 

 decrease of food, and partly to the dimiuation in the authority of the 

 chiefs. Many were formerly obliged to labour for the chiefs, by 

 whom they were in turn supported ; these are now compelled to trust 

 to their own resources for support, and seldom can be brought to 

 work until they are driven by necessity. 



The Kohala district lies on the north point of Hawaii, and is 

 divided from that of Waimea by a range of mountains. The soil on 

 the leeward shore is barren from three to five miles inland. On the 

 windward shore it is of good quality quite to the beach. The face of 

 the country is regular, gradually ascending from the coast to the 

 summit of the high lands. 



Kohala, the residence of the missionary, the Rev. Mr. Bliss, is the 

 principal place in this district. The view from that place is pleasing : 

 in front is a fine prospect of the ocean, with the island of Maui in the 

 rear ; the ground gradually rises from the shore to the volcanic peaks 

 of Mauna Kea, tipped mth snow; while on the right and left are 

 extensive forests and uncultivated fields. 



In this district it is estimated that there are fifty thousand acres of 

 good arable land, much of which is fit for the plough, and suitable for 

 the growth of sugar-cane, Indian corn, potatoes, the mulberry, and 

 the other productions of the country. The country inland, especially, 

 is well suited to the culture of the common potato. It is also well 

 adapted for grazing, but is now a waste. The natives only raise suf- 

 ficient taro, sugar-cane, and sweet-potatoes, for their own use, and a 

 very small patch suffices to supply their wants. Some of them 

 attempt to carry a small quantity of their produce, on their backs or in 

 canoes, to Kawaihae, for sale, but this is of Uttle account. One of the 



