218 HAWAII.. 



owing to the taboo on cattle. Leather is here tanned in sufficient 

 quantities to meet the wants of the domestic manufacture, and there 

 are many trees having astringent barks, adapted to the use of the 

 tanner. 



A species of morus abounds in the forests : from this, a tapa is made 

 that is highly esteemed, and which is exported to other parts of the 

 island. 



The cultivation in this district is much affected by the annoyance of 

 caterpillars, which prove very destructive to the crops. 



Waimea enjoys frequent communication with Honolulu, which 

 affords the best market in the group. Besides, there are three or four 

 stores, kept by foreigners, for trade and barter. 



In 1830, Waimea was first brought into notice by Governor Adams, 

 who took up his residence there for the purpose of taking the wild 

 cattle, that had become extremely numerous. While he remained in 

 it, there was much activity and life : all trades found employment ; 

 roads were made, and ox-carts travelled a distance of fifty miles. Now, 

 since the taboo has been laid, the place is comparatively deserted ; and 

 unless the cultivation of the soil be resorted to, it will, before many 

 years, become a barren waste. 



During the period of its prosperity, many of the habitations of the 

 natives were improved, and they advanced much in civilization. Some 

 of them own horses and cattle, and are industrious; but the mass, who 

 have lived on this precarious employment, and found their subsistence 

 in that way, have become, since it ceased, more indolent than before. 



In this district there are forty-two schools ; half of these are for 

 adults and half for children ; all are taught by native teachers, except- 

 ing two, which are under the instruction of the missionary, the Rev. 

 Mr. Lyons and his wife. In these there are about four hundred children 

 and five hundred adults. 



The population is registered at six thousand five hundred, of whom 

 four thousand seven hundred and fifty-four can read; about one-fourth 

 of this number write and understand some arithmetic ; nearly four 

 hundred study geography. The number of communicants is two 

 thousand eight hundred and fifty-six. 



From a comparison of births and deaths, the population would seem 

 to be decreasing. Of the former there were registered in 1839 one 

 hundred and sixty-nine, of the latter two hundred and thirteen. Of 

 marriages there were about fifty in the 3'ear. 



Infanticide does not exist in this district, nor is intemperance a 

 common vice ; ava, made from fermented potatoes, is considerably 

 used, and also tobacco. 



