| Show THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS the NEWS has baa been kindly permitted to make use of the following interesting ter te communication LAIE OAHU H I 1 september 29 1894 to the officers members and attend ants ante of the oxford sabbath school oxford idaho U S A beloved friends and companion Compan loue like unto the old adage better late than never ll 11 I 1 take great pleasure in communicating a few words to you all through the medium of my pen which I 1 sincerely hope wiil find you one anu all enjoying the great boon of good health and also the benign influence of goda holy spirit which brings true happiness to the soul of man ton ten long months have come and numbered themselves with the past since I 1 grasped the parting hand with you all to my leaving friends relatives relative and sand the dear old mountain home to go abroad in the world to a strange land and people as an ambassador of truth and salvation to banish darkness with christs gospel and declare a message of glad tidings of good things to mankind and though three thousand miles are stretched etched between us u I 1 have not forgotten you no far from it and how frequently and vividly do cherished memories of our past associations present themselves to my mind giving me joy not sorrow for on my part those times are reflected on with satisfactory feelings of and brotherly love inspirit in spirit and thought I 1 am often with you but of course in reality I 1 am separated far from you separation was caused by a divin divide call from almighty god and accepted with those feelings which all true servants have who wish to do their duty and serve him the giver of all good I 1 regret not that I 1 was wag chosen in this capacity but rejoice exceedingly for there to la honor in help ing a cause that is just Certa certainly iDly glides audys work is mighty and we could be engaged in no better I 1 am truly thankful to be able to say may that while I 1 have thus labored I 1 have been and now am the happy recipient of many rich blessin blessings gp I 1 never in my life felt better physically or spiritually Y am much interested in my missionary labors amongst this branch of the house bouse of israel have received kind treatment at their generous hands and my desires are to be a auseius usei ul instrument in the almighty a hands in elevating them to a higher standard of purity and righteousness but I 1 realize that to do so will require strong faith earnest prayer and diligent work on my part for in this part of the vine vineyard yarck we have to become acquainted with a different mode of 11 ving living than that to which we are accustomed cus tomed to in zion and also have quite a difficult language to learn however where there is a will there is a way and I 1 feel to trust in him who death all things well and be patient for patience to la the rope of advancement along all the lines ot of life it may perhaps be well for me to give a little space apace to a few points of a descriptive a nature atu re and I 1 trust that they may prove interesting to you after leaving the city of san ban francisco and sailing miling in a steamer in a southwesterly direction over the placid matere of the great pacific ocean for about seven days day covering a distance of about 2100 miles one comes colnes to a group of islands known as the th sandwich or hawaiian islands stretching etre from latitude lati tute 19 deir dee to 23 deg and from west longitude deg to deg twelve in number eight of them are inhabited and the area of the whole is square miles mile their names are hawaii maul maui labaig Mol ohal oahu bahu raul kaul and aad and Mo Mol luBini lehua kaula raula and bird islands are barren rocks rock the population of the islands ike as per the report of Captain Cook in 1779 was in the year 1840 a census was waa taken and was found the last census this year showed 34 a decrease of 1800 per year the entire population today foreigners included is about of which Ch chinese luese japanese and portuguese form the principal part during the few months of my stay in this country my labors have baa been confined to the islands of kauai kauai hawaii and babu oahu the one I 1 am now BOW on but speaking from a general standpoint it to is indeed a lively country the climate is without a rival on earth it is never hot and never cold there is no summer and no winter but perpetual spring it is in the trade wind belt insuring and perfect ventilation the country is 18 mountainous mounta incus and the soil volcanic insuring perfect drainage cool breezes ever come from the real sea with just enough rainfall to keep the foliage always a beautiful green long hott hot dry weather with intolerable dust la is unknown the grass is always green and there is a refreshing sweetness in the air that to is like our beautiful june june at home this kind of weather with flowers fruits birdland birds bird and sand sunshine throughout the entire year ip what contributes largely to make hawaii the paradise of the pacific among the numerous varieties of beautiful flowers which spread over the islands are the lovely oleanders which grow to be large trees and fill all the air with a delightful fragrance the pretty red geranium which grows with but little cultivation and in some places I 1 might say wild similar to lo sagebrush in our country the water lily Is in also found in many places the different species of roses bloom the year round giving the appearance of ft pretty garden the fruits grown here are bans bananas Dav pine pineapples appless oranges limes lemons the native mango and oata a sort of apple the bread fruit is also found in abundance the vegetation is 18 prolific the hill sides covered with a heavy growth of trop tropical loal woods the bright and varied colors of whose foliage produce brilliant effects when seen against the dark and bold outline of the mountain ranges the varieties of ferns are numerous numbering about or more some growing very large on one beautiful feature of the country ls there sito are no ferocious waste beasts or wild lid laja duplese wv e ce bog wb LOA J a W til lathe mountain and dd gaa 9 jor or i of to ami insects t there or a arl are e A few 9 venomous ease scorpions ante ciders pi ders and wasps are abundant wt their venom is modified by the climate mosquitoes and fleas fiess are in many localities there are no snakes io in the group besides domestic dome atio poultry there are not many birds the principle products of the islands are rice and sugar As one rides through the country numerous little valleys will be seen dotted with rice patches furnishing a pretty view to the eye ye this industry is in carried on almost entirely by the chinese the fields of wAvil waving lit sugar cane calls likewise present an interesting picture this thin industry is extensive and many large mills mille and well regulated plantations are found un on all the principal islands about three filthy of the capital being invested by americans the remainder principally vally by the english and germans yet the hawaiians Hawaii ha bailans wai lans ans chinese norwegians Norwegia ns and chiliano Chi lians have some interested inte reste the total capital is about the Is au supplied p by the contract con tract system chit fly with japanese and chinese some rome portuguese also being employed and all at the very low prices of about 8 to 13 and 16 15 per mouth month respecting coatee it Is is sold said that there is no more delicious coffee in the world than that grown in kona hawaii although the industry is in its infancy it promises to be one of an extensive and profitable nature tobacco grows very rank on all the islands and is raised by the natives for their own use but bug owing to a lack of knowledge in she proper mode of curing it Is not raised for export now leaving the islands in general let us conr to the city of honolulu the capital of the hawaiian republic a thriving seaport sea port town of about inhabitants having regular communication per steamer with the pacific coast now new zealand Zua laud australia aud and china bins the city to is well supplied with good pure pare water well lighted with le otrio lights has a number of miles of street railway and drives good broad cleanly kept streets lined with beautiful homes surrounded with extensive ten give art u ad which are ornamented with the grandest vegetation on earth it is in a land of palms and ferns has ban fine stores and business houses in which first class clan stocks are kept in all departments of trade good goed churches good gocie society and everything that is conductive to good health and recreation it is the only city of importance on the islands and about fourteen of the business is 18 transacted there leaving honolulu and passing or going up avenue on which are located the most moot fashionable residences and most beautiful gardens past the protestant cemeteries which are indeed pretty being nicely laid kofl aft with all kinds of lovely trees shrubbery and grasses always looking fresh and green and past the royal mausoleum a nest neat chapel like building of gray gra granite the windows of stained glass where lie ito in state the kings ot of the last century one comes to a point where can be obtained a splendid view of the city behind embowered empowered ered in tress wita with an occasional spire or 0 cupola 0 U 4 6 1 the greet foliage stately the royal palace the catholic cathedral ana a few othet other buildings are afe most moat easily land beyond all lies libe the shimmering ahlm mering expanse of the summer sea continuing the aseena by this road one arrives at the pall or precipice a distance of six miles from the city 1200 feet elevation while the mountains on either side aide tower to the hight bight of feet and more historically the pali is interesting it was here that the principal chief of oahu bahu made his hie last stand aland against 1 I the chief who conquered and thus consolidated aull soli dated the government of all the islands during the concluding years of the last century the decisive battle took place in mays may 1795 the abe people ot of bahu oahu fought with great bravery but finally anally broke and fled numbers of them were driven over the precipice and dashed to pieces on the rocks below skulls and bones can still be found at the foot relies relics of the unfortunate survivors who fell in defense ot the independence of their island the pali certainly affords a magnify cent view unequaled for mildness and rich coloring the road takes an abrupt turn to the right and plunges down we the face of the cliff winding zigzag along for the distance ot of about a mile before it reaches the plain below in this miles distance I 1 think the decent Is about 1700 feet pawing passing through the country below which to Is dotted clotted with cane fields rice and kalo patches pa and continuing on to the distance of thirty two miles from honolulu one comes to the little village of late which is in the late lale plantation near the ocean with a pretty grassy granny shore having a population oi about natives who have land for homes given them rout rent free irleand and are furnished to some extent with labor from the plantation the acreage ot of which in all is about across acres about SOO of which is under cultivation growing cane rice taro or kalo and vegetables the uncultivated land is mostly mountainous and furnishes good pasturage on which at the present about 1000 head of cattle are grazing this place is headquarters for the hawaiian mission of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints sainte which at the present to Is under the leadership and of elder matthew noall of salt lake city the mission pre premises named laul bull consisting of three residence buildings church building school house barn etc are situated on a little raise or hill bill overlooking the entire settlement tl the meeting house ina is a well constructed building and will accommodate about people the new residence building to Is of modern style divided into about eighteen rooms 9 well arranged and furnished making a comfortable home for the missionary families at the present there are fourteen elders five sisters and nine children in the mission miss lau now altogether here at late lale for or general conference and to enjoy a rest and visit for a few weeks before the elders depart to the different islands for another terms labor the time of which Is generally about five montal I 1 returned from my tunas labors to late liffe here oh ob the anti idro t and indeed it ake ead flag nome to wife and baby were here to meet and greet me 0 on n return e burh we are tn in perfect health truly happy and our labors in the advancement of the noble cause of truth are indeed a source of pleasure time Is rapidly with us and we feel that it will not be very long until through the goodness of god we will be safely re turned homeland again enjoy your corn puny pany and society now in conclusion we who wera once teachers in your midst feel to express a low few words of encouragement and advice to you through the grace of our lord jesus christ the gospel in its purity with the holy priesthood with all the keys powers and authorities necessary for the salvation and exaltation of the hum human an family have been restored to the on ea arthr in these theme last days and the true chu ach to is established in our midst never m ore to be thrown down the latter d my ay saints are the recipients of these gre at blessings ob how thankful we shou I 1 id d be to our heavenly father and he bo w we should strive to serve him for his mercy in granting us these privileges an d furthermore we must not forget that through him we live and are kept each day god never has and never will neglect or forsake his obedient children and if we will but prore true and faithful to the covenants we have made with him in glory we will triumph in the end storms have raged the night has sometimes bee been n long and dark and the waves of sin and in iniquity equity have dashed against the earthly shores is 9 if total destruction were inevitable but amid the storm and the tumult have heard board the silver tones ring ing from the lighthouse of revelations revelation pealing forth the message of hope to the struggling children of the almighty that there here is a haven where rest peace and joy them at last therefore lot let us be awake to each and every duty that to is placed upon us and press onward to the mark of eternal perfection and prepare ourselves so that when the savior boball again come to earth to ru leand when righteousness will reign supreme it may be said of us well done good and faithful servants enter into the kingdom of your lord children be obedient to your parents parente and to those placed over you respect old age be kind and cheerful to each other be thoughtful in your actions for remember each act that is not inspired by a desire for righteousness will bring its condemnation while each kind and thoughtful expression each loving and noble deed will lay claim to blessings that cannot be refused 11 be diligent in your studies stu diess for education you know to is a priceless jewel be attentive to your sabbath schools and aad mutual improvement meetings that you may become acquainted with the principles of the gospel so that if any of jou you should be called on a 61 mission to the nations of the earth you will be ready and prepared at any moment to intelligently explain christs doctrine remember it to i through our faith and good works that thab we receive blessings and that at some future time we will each stand before the judgment augment seat of god to be reward d for dededi done in the fib while life INN upon the earth kindly accept our beat wishes and warmest love for or you all invoking ago gods richest blessi age upon you with health healt peace and happiness hap we are sincerely your friendie and oo laborers ju jn the just cause ot of truth H AND LAURA launa |
