the ship's boats was stolen by natives.

Now Cook had learned to manage South Sea islanders in a very practical,
though not the most tactful, way. When trouble occurred he used to send
out a strong landing party, seize the king or chief and take him aboard
the vessel--a proceeding which usually brought the natives to terms.
But at this particular time the landing party was driven to the boats
and Cook was killed.

The group of islands was first named after Lord Sandwich, a patron and
friend of Cook. At the time of Cook's discovery of the long-forgotten
islands it was estimated that their population was not far from four
hundred thousand. Missionaries went to the islands early in the
nineteenth century and their reports brought many Americans and
Europeans who settled there permanently. Then the chief business of the
islands was the ordinary trade with the many whaling vessels that were
in the Pacific.

For a time the islands were under the protection of Great Britain; then
they became an independent kingdom. When it was found that the lava
fields made the best sugar-growing soil in the world, American capital
came in millions of dollars to be invested in great plantations of sugar
cane.

Trouble between the queen and American business interests became so
serious in time that the queen was dethroned and the Republic of Hawaii
was established. The republic was short-lived, however; for when the
Spanish-American war occurred, it was seen that Hawaii is the key to the
Pacific Ocean. The Hawaiians, foreigners and natives, had long wished to
become a part of the United States. So the islands were annexed and
shortly became the Territory of Hawaii.

There are six large islands--Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, and
Lanai. There are many small outlying islets, most of which are not
inhabited. Wireless telegraph stations connect the principal islands; an
ocean cable ties the Territory to San Francisco; and steamship lines
carry on commerce with British, Japanese, and American ports. Even the
railway-builder has not forgotten Hawaii, for there are not far from two
hundred miles of railroad, about half of which carry the products of
the sugar and coffee plantations to the near-by ports.

Hawaii, the largest island, is famous for its great volcanoes, Kea, Loa,
and Kilauea. From the village or city of Hilo comfortable coaches take
visitors over a fine road clear to the crater of Kilauea. At times one
may stand on the edge