APPENDIX. STATISTICAL VIEW OF THE RESOURCES, TRADE, COMMERCE, pop. ULATION, PIETY, POSITION, AND PROSPECTS OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. MOTHER of Wealth, and Enterprise, and Arts, Her golden empire marries distant parts; She knits the league; she sheathes the blade of war, Of Earth, and Sea, and Man the conqueror : Dread agent, or for boundless good or ill, God speaks the word, and COMMERCE Works his will. Anon. WE throw into the form of an appendix, for ease of reference and for the use of commercial readers and travelers, the following condensed statements and tables of statistics, gathered mainly from latest documents in the Government Journal published at Honolulu, and carefully compared and corrected for this work. In the chain of events which have served to attract attention to this portion of the globe, the first was the seizure of these Islands by Lord George Paulet, and the subsequent restoration by Admiral Thomas. Up to that time, 1843, the trade of the Islands was limited to one or two ships which sailed from Boston, and the trade with the whaling fleet. The imports in 1843 amounted to $223,385 38, upon which a revenue of $8,468 38 was collected. So rapidly did the trade increase, that in 1847 the imports amounted to $710,133 52, and the revenue to $48,801 25, while for the current year the amount of both imports and revenue therefrom will doubtless far exceed that amount. But it should be borne in mind that this great increase of importation is not the consequence of increased consumption, for many of the goods which have been imported and paid duties here, eventually found their way out of the country. The second event which occurred to draw public attention to the Pacific was the establishment of the French Protectorate at Tahiti. Although this event has not directly exerted any great influence upon commerce, it has, in a political sense, attracted public attention to the Pacific, and will in the end, if the right measures be pursued by the government there, exert a wholesome influence upon commerce. The consumption will be increased by the influx of foreigners, while the products will also be increased. The settlement of the Oregon boundary question, and the influx of settlers, may be classed as the third event, which has already exerted, and is destined to exert a still greater influence upon the growth of commerce in the Pacific. The exports of Oregon, a few years since, consisted mainly of furs, and her trade was limited to one or two vessels annually. We have no statistics by which to judge of the increase of trade, but it must be apparent that it has been great. Lumber, timber, flour, and salmon are now exported from Oregon in large quantities. The occasional trader is but one of quite a fleet of vessels which now annually visit Columbia River. The natives of the forest are fast sinking away before the mighty tide of civilization which is pressing onward, and their wigwams are being displaced by the hut of the hardy pioneer. Oregon is rich in agricultural resources, and the time is not far distant when her "dark shores" will be crowned with stately warehouses, her waters be whitened with the sails of commerce, her rivers plowed by stately steamers, and her borders resound with the songs of an independent and happy people. The occupation of California by the American forces may be called the fourth link in the chain of events to which we have alluded. The trade of California, previous to this event, was limited to an occasional hide-drogher or smuggler, her exports to hides and tallow, with now and then a sprinkling of specie. During the occupation of the country by the forces of the United States trade was better, the consumption was increased, but, on account of no export existing, the prosperity of the country was likely to suffer a serious check. In June, 1848, however, the gold placer on the American Fork was discovered, and the ease with which gold was procured soon afforded an export more than sufficient for all their wants. Subsequently, the treaty of peace between Mexico and the United States was ratified, and Upper California, gold and all, became a part and parcel of the great American Republic. California has presented an instance of commercial growth unequaled in the annals of the world, and the discovery of gold in such abundance is an event which will exert a mighty influence upon the prosperity of commerce in this ocean. A dense population will soon be in California, and if agriculture be neglected a large fleet of vessels will be required to supply their wants. The line of steamers via Panama make California and Oregon near neighbors to the great commercial cities of the Atlantic coast. A railroad has long been talked of, and will doubtless soon be commenced. OF THE PACIFIC. 379 Boston and St. Louis are already connected by a magnetic line, an extension of which is contemplated to the Pacific coast. The expense of completing a line from St. Louis to the Pacific has been estimated at $300,000. ocean. It is impossible to foretell the mighty influence which this chain of events will exert upon the future prosperity of commerce in this The Pacific, about which so much has been written and so little known, will soon be crowded with traders-every bay and island, every nook and corner, will be explored. The mighty wave of immigration, which is now rolling toward the western shores of the American Continent, will sooner or later reach the coast of Hawaii. The geographical position of these Islands plainly point to them as the West Indies of the Pacific. The nature of their resources and the channels of their commerce will appear from tables hereafter, which we preface with the following COMPENDIUM OF COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS, for the information of merchants, travelers, ship-captains, and sea-faring men generally who may peruse this book. Condensed Abstract of Laws respecting Commerce, published for the information of Ship-masters and others frequenting the Ports of the Hawaiian Islands. Vessels arriving off the ports of entry to make the usual marine signal, if they want a pilot. The pilot will approach vessels to the windward, and present the health certificate, to be signed by the captain. If the vessel is free from any contagion, the captain will hoist the white flag, otherwise he will hoist the yellow flag, and obey the direction of the pilot and health officer. Passports must be exhibited to the governor or collector by passengers before landing. Masters of vessels allowing baggage to be landed before compliance with the laws are subject to a fine of $500. Masters of vessels, on arriving at any of the ports of entry, are required to deliver all letters to the collector of customs. The law regarding the delivery of letters by shipmasters to the collector, will only take effect on promulgation by his Hawaiian Majesty in privy council. The commanding officer of any merchant vessel, immediately after her arrival at either of the legalized ports of entry, shall make known to the collector of customs the business upon which said vessel has come to this port, furnish him with a list of her passengers, and de |