HAWAII. 219 



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 excep- 

 tion 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 diminution 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 lee- 

 ward 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 with 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 sufficient 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 little account. One of the natives, 

 however, has been induced to begin the erection of a sugar-mill. 



Little has been done by the inhabitants towards the improvement of 

 their dwellings : these are very small and often exceedingly filthy : the 

 doors are from two and a half to three feet high. A few attempts have 

 been made to erect larger houses, and to improve the quality of the 

 thatch; but the people do not seem inclined to change their former 

 modes of life. 



