MAUI. 259 



few inhabitants, who are engaged mostly in fishing. The eastern two- 

 thirds are almost one entire mountain, rising gradually from the south, 

 until it attains an elevation of two thousand five hundred; while on the 

 north, it is almost perpendicular. 



On the south side, it has a narrow strip of land, not exceeding one- 

 fourth of a mile in width, the soil of which is very rich, and which 

 contains the greater part of the population. Owing to the want of 

 moisture, however, few plants will thrive even here ; resort is therefore 

 had to the uplands, which are found to be susceptible of the highest 

 degree of cultivation. 



The amount of arable land, or that susceptible of cultivation, is 

 believed by the missionaries to be one-fourth ; but I should be inclined 

 to reduce it to one-eighth, from the report of others and my own 

 observations. Only about one-tenth of this is cultivated. 



The population of the island was reported as five thousand, in 1840 ; 

 eight years prior, in 1832, it was six thousand : during this time, five 

 hundred marriages took place. The data has shown, that the births 

 much exceed the deaths; and the decrease is attributed to emigration, 

 which has been going on for some time. The inhabitants are all poor, 

 and their pastor, the Rev. Mr. Hitchcock, asserts, that there are not 

 ten individuals on the island who have comfortable clothing and suffi- 

 cient food ; and he adds, that there has been no improvement in their 

 dwellings for the last ten years. 



The schools on this island are little more than a name ; for they have 

 neither regular teachers nor school-houses. One thousand scholars are 

 said to be embodied in them. 



The island has been occupied as a missionary station since 1832, 

 and the church contains about three hundred members. 



Some efforts are making to introduce the cultivation of cotton and 

 sugar. All other articles are in want of a market ; and the distance of 

 Lahaina (about eighteen miles) is found too great, and the voyage 

 thither too uncertain, to derive benefit from it. 



There are several small harbours within the reef, on the south side, 

 at Kaluaaha, the missionary station, which are capable of affording 

 shelter for vessels of from sixty to eighty tons. 



The formation of Molokai is similar to that of the other islands. 

 Coral rock was reported to exist on one of the high hills. Some of the 

 same was found on the south side of Maui, at a considerable elevation, 

 specimens of which were presented to the Expedition. 



On the 18th, we anchored off Honolulu, at an early hour, although 

 too late to enter. The appearance of the island was much more fertile, 



