KAUAIANDOAHU. 63 



for the inhabitants fast sometimes for days together, and then gorman- 

 dize to the greatest excess. 



There has been no ease of infanticide, to Mr. Whitney's knowledge, 

 during the last ten years, and he does not believe that the law interdict- 

 ing sexual intercourse is promotive of this crime; for from all his 

 inquiries, he has not been able to learn a single fact that will tend to 

 warrant such a conclusion : on the contrary, he thinks that the law in 

 question has rather acted to prevent its commission. 



Intoxication certainly forms no part of the cause of diseases, for Mr. 

 Whitney bears testimony, that he has not known six cases of intoxica- 

 tion within the last thirteen years. A spirit, however, is distilled from 

 the ti, potatoes, watermelon, &c. 



The marriage law has had a good effect in this district, and will 

 probably be the means of arresting the desolation that is now sweeping 

 over the land. From thirty to forty marriages have taken place yearly. 

 I have been thus particular in the population of this district, as it is 

 generally reported to be that wherein the causes of decrease are most 

 active. This cannot be owing to the climate, which is very similar to 

 that of the leeward portions of the other islands, and the atmosphere is 

 considered dry and healthy. Can it be owing to the fact, that the 

 original virus of the disease was here first spread, and that it has con- 

 tinued to be more virulent, here than elsewhere 1 



As respects agriculture, there being no market for the sale of pro- 

 duce, the supply seldom exceeds the wants of the district. Some 

 attempts have, however, been made to produce cotton and the sugar- 

 cane ; but, for want of encouragement, the produce has not yet been 

 sufficient to clear the expenses. 



The improvement in the morals and instruction of the natives is very 

 considerable. There are sixteen schools, all taught by native teachers, 

 at the expense of the people. Two-thirds of the adult population read, 

 and many of them can also write. The instruction is now confined to 

 the youth and children, of whom about three hundred attend the schools 

 regularly, and six hundred more occasionally. Much improvement has 

 lately taken place in their habitations, and in the manufacturing of their 

 wearing apparel, consisting of tapa, &c. 



There is one church, and one hundred and fifty-nine communicants : 

 the number that attend worship in the morning is about a thousand, and 

 in the afternoon about half that number. 



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 

 Islands, it should be spoken of. It is situated sixteen miles southwest 

 of Kauai, and is eighteen miles long by eight broad. There is an 



