64 KAUAI AND OAHU. 



anchorage on its western side, but no harbour. Its eastern side is 

 rocky and unfit for cultivation; the inhabitants therefore reside on its 

 western side, on the sea-shore, and are for the most part miserably 

 poor. They cultivate, principally, yams and sweet-potatoes, the former 

 of which succeed much better here than at any of the other islands. 

 Water is very scarce, and they suffer occasionally from droughts, from 

 which cause they are not able to raise the taro. This island is cele- 

 brated for the beautiful mats manufactured by its women. It is also 

 said to be a favourable place for the manufacture of salt. 



The number of inhabitants is one thousand; and what is remark- 

 able, although but a few miles removed from Waimea, on the island 

 of Kauai, they show an increase, in the proportion of births over 

 deaths, of eight to six. The climate cannot be very different, and 

 both would be equally subject to drought, if it were not for the rivers 

 and the irrigation dependent on them. On this island there are two 

 hundred children, about one-third of whom read: these are divided 

 into twelve schools, under native teachers. 



The district of Koloa on Kauai is twelve miles long by five broad. 



The face of the country is much broken into hills and extinguished 



• craters. The land is good along its whole extent and half its breadth, 



and they have a sufficient quantity of rain to enable them to dispense 



with irrigation, of which but a small extent only would be susceptible. 



The climate is generally mild and equable, the range of the ther- 

 mometer being usually from 60° to 80° F. ; but during the summer 

 months it is occasionally found as high as 90°, and in winter as low 

 as 50°. Sugar-cane grows in luxuriance, as well as cotton ; the mul- 

 berry, both Chinese and multicaulis, Indian corn, sweet-potatoes, yams, 

 and taro also flourish. 



This has been the seat of the operations of some foreigners (Ameri- 

 cans), and although, as has been before remarked, the natives derive 

 but little pecuniary profit from their labour, yet the influence of a steady 

 occupation has produced a striking improvement : they are clothed in 

 foreign goods, and are generally found employed, and not lounging 

 about as formerly. The comforts of their habitations have, however, 

 as yet undergone but little change. 



The population in 1840, was one thousand three hundred and forty- 

 eight. There is a church, with one hundred and twenty-six members, 

 but no schools. The teachers set apart for this service were em- 

 ployed by the chiefs, who frequently make use of them to keep their 

 accounts, gather in their taxes, &c. The population is here again 

 increasing, partly by immigration, whence it was difficult to ascertain 

 its ratio. This district, it will be observed, lies immediately on the 



