72 KAUAI AND OAHU. 



of an expensive kind ; but on a closer examination, the dresses proved 

 to be tapas, printed in imitation of merino shawls, ribands, &c. 



The tender making her appearance in the harbour, our gentlemen 

 received notice to repair on board in the evening. Mr. Knox had cir- 

 cumnavigated the island, and made surveys of its small harbours : 

 there are none of these fit for a vessel to ride in ; that of Waimea, as 

 I said before, is the safest, but Halelea is frequently used ; and although 

 much exposed to the winds, it has more pretension to the name of a 

 harbour, than the rest. It is remarkable from having been the place 

 where the pride of Salem, " Cleopatra's Barge," was wrecked. The 

 west coast of the island was found destitute of harbours or anchorage, 

 having a perpendicular cliff rising from the sea for the greatest part of 

 the distance. 



The Halelea river is navigable for canoes about three miles ; it is 

 from one to two hundred feet wide, has but little current, and is slightly 

 affected by the tide near its mouth. 



The highest point on the island, which is estimated at six thousand 

 feet is called Wailioli. Mr. Alexander stated, that it had been ascended 

 on its eastern side from Waioli. I regretted afterwards I had not de- 

 spatched officers to ascend it, but our naval duties were so pressing 

 upon all, that I found it impossible to spare any one at the time I 

 ordered the party to Kauai. I also partly indulged the hope, that those 

 who were to cross over the centre of the island, would have been led 

 near it, and thus tempted to make the ascent. From the information 

 I have received, it is supposed to have a crater on its summit, like 

 many of the other high mountains in the group. It is said, that when 

 the weather is clear, the natives ascend it for the purpose of getting a 

 view of Oahu, one hundred miles distant. 



The population of this district has been for several years decreasing, 

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

 for the last nine years. In 1 837, 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 de- 

 crease to former licentiousness, 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 



