078 SAN FRANCISCO TO MANILLA. 



hundred and fifty-five thousand dollars. These are the amounts of 

 goods actually landed — I do not include those that have been brought 

 in, and retained on board ships; while the exports of native produce 

 are no more than ninety-eight thousand dollars : one-half of the imports 

 are set down as from the United States. From this great difference 

 between the imports and exports, it would appear that many of these 

 articles must have been reshipped to other ports, or are still on hand. 

 The latter I believe to be the case. During the year for which the 

 returns are given, more has certainly been consumed on the islands 

 than in former years ; but the interdiction of trade by foreign vessels 

 on the coast of California, together with the exorbitant duties there, 

 have most effectually paralysed all trade in that quarter, and, there- 

 fore, the goods intended for that market were landed at Oahu, and 

 remained in store there. The trade on the Northwest Coast, formerly 

 so much resorted to by our vessels, is entirely broken up by the 

 Russians, who have interdicted the taking of furs on the coast of 

 their territory, and obtain their supplies exclusively from the Hudson 

 Bay Company, or by the latter, who have adopted the principle of 

 underselling all competitors, and have thereby caused a monopoly, 

 which effectually shuts out all small traders. Some articles of Chinese 

 manufacture are sent from the Sandwich Islands to Mexico, but to no 

 great amount. There are, comparatively, few transient vessels that 

 call at these islands on their way to China, and the whole trade seems 

 now confined to but a few vessels. 



Although the Sandwich Islands are not so fruitful as many of the 

 other islands of Polynesia, yet their geographical situation has rendered 

 them hitherto by far the most important group in the Pacific Ocean. 



They are the favourite and most convenient resort for those whale- 

 ships whose cruising-ground is the North Pacific ; and the amount of 

 property engaged in this business, visiting the ports of the Sandwich 

 Islands annually, is equal to three millions of dollars. To the supply 

 of this fleet, the labour of the inhabitants has principally been directed. 



The groves of sandalwood, which were formerly represented by a 

 number of designing persons, who professed a strong friendship for 

 the chiefs, to be an inexhaustible mine of wealth, soon gave out. The 

 chiefs have ceased to look to them as a source of profit, and have 

 begun the cultivation of sugar, which, together with silk, now attract 

 much attention ; but, until some capital be invested in these cultures, 

 and the business be better understood, these articles cannot be raised 



