78 KAUAI AND OAHU. 



facts derived from the natives, it would appear that both personal and 

 mutual abuse at an early period of life between the sexes, holds a 

 prominent place among the causes of this decrease. 



The law of marriage it is thought will have a wholesome influence. 

 Mr. Emerson has never heard of more than one instance where the 

 fear of punishment for the breach of the laws of chastity has produced 

 infanticide. The laws which formerly existed, requiring parents to 

 pay taxes for children over ten years of age, may have had that ten- 

 dency. It is ascertained that the repeal of this law, and the enactment 

 of the one now existing, which offers a premium for large families of 

 legitimate children, have induced many to take care of their offspring. 

 The law which compels unmarried women found to be enceinte to work 

 on the roads, may perhaps have had a tendency to cause the commis- 

 sion of this crime. 



Intemperance has again made its appearance within a year in this 

 district, and the introduction of rum, brandy, &c, under the French 

 treaty, has had its effect upon the common people ; for although these 

 liquors are too dear for them to purchase, they will follow the fashion, 

 and in lieu of spirits use ava, or some a fermented drink made of pota- 

 toes, water-melons, or the ti : many bad consequences are the inevitable 

 result. 



Messrs. Rich and Brackenridge, accompanied by Mr. Emerson, 

 made an excursion to reach the top of the Kaala range of mountains. 

 They were unfortunate in the selected day; for shortly after they 

 reached the mountain, it began to rain, which rendered climbing on 

 the narrow ridge very difficult. This was in some places not more 

 than two feet wide, about fifteen hundred feet high, almost perpendicu- 

 lar, and extremely dangerous from its becoming slippery with the wet. 

 The ridge became in a short time so narrow, that they were compelled 

 to go astride and hitch themselves along, until, as they thought, they 

 had attained the altitude of two thousand five hundred feet, when they 

 deemed it impossible to reach the top, and concluded to retrace their 

 steps. As they returned, they collected many interesting plants ; 

 among them a shrubby Viola, about two feet high, with a slightly 

 fragrant white flower ; Exocarpus cupressiformis, the same as the 

 native cherry of New South Wales ; and near the base of the moun- 

 tain, forests of Erythrina monosperma (of Hooker), the wood of which 

 was used by the natives for making out-riggers for their canoes. 



The next day they proceeded on their way to Honolulu, across the 

 plain between the two ranges of mountains. This plain, in the rainy 

 season, affords abundance of food for cattle in three or four kinds of 

 Brasses, and is, as I have before remarked, susceptible of extensive 



