Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-05-14

From the Philadelphia U. States Gazette.
The number of the Christian Advocate "a
valuable miscellany published in this city, for
the present month, contains an interesting let
ter from Mr.. Stewart, missionary in the
Sandwic b Islands, gentleman of fortune and
high talents-giving an account of the man
ners, language, etc. of the natives to whose
service he had devoted himself. Of their
chiefs he says:
"They are all very large, and gene
rally excessively corpulent: but the COM
mon people are only of an ordinary
height, and of a lean rather than full ha-
bit. l have seen no full grown chief,
except Keopuolani, the kings mother,
and king Taumuarii, who does not
weigh above 200 lbs. The sister OF
the latter, the present governess Of Ia
mai, is the largest female in the nation,
weighing between 8 and 400. Piia is
the next largest, and weighs 2s7. Ku-
akini governor Adams) is the largest
man, he weighs 325 lbs. The medium
weight of the chief is $50 lbs.
"Tbey may also be distinguished by
their walk, look, manners, &c. In this
respect, there is as marked a difference
between the chiefs and the "maki lima
ma" or ignoble vulgus here, as there
is between the courtiers Of st. James
or Versailles, and the lower class in
London or Paris. A consciousness
of natural superiority and the pride OF
adventurous distinction, imbibed and
nourished from their earliest infancy,
gives them an unaffected dignity OF
look and department, that would mark
them as persons of rank, in whatever
company they might appear. You
must not understand from this, how
ever, true as it is, that there is any
thing Chesterfeltian in their manners
| am speaking of uncivilized heathens,
who are living, not only in all the SIM
plicity, but in all the vulgarity Of UNI
tutored nature.
"Some of the chiefs are very veal
thy, not only in landed possessions, but
in money, accumulated by the sale of
sandal wood.
"Most of them constantly wear part
or whole of the American and Euro
pean dress.
"The dress of the men is Of the neat
est and most fashionable make, there
being many good tailors on the Island:
and besides, they often send their mea-
sures to Canton by the trading vessels,
and receive beautiful articles ready
made. The king purchased 400 suits
in one lot.
"rhe royal family have one singular
and peculiar way of raising money-to
wit, by building occasionally fine large
house, and then taubing it, and prohi-
biting an entrance to all persons with
out paying tax according TO their
rank, etc. The sum received from the
residents, shipmasters, and others, a.
mounted to $4,000. The kings house
is so feet long and so wide--s feet
high at the caves, so at the ridge pole;
with two large doors, and a number OF
windows on each side
"The exterior of this palace is very
similar, in shape and appearance, to
some Of the old Dutch barns l have seen
in Jersey. The furniture, however,
consists of handsome mahogany tables,
sofas, chairs, large mirrors, and some
prints and paintings of tolerable merit.
"Every chief has 20 or so personal
attendants, friends and attendants, who
never leave him for any length of time:
Of these some particular offices, such
as the pipe carrier, pipe lighter, spit
box carrier, kahile bearer, umbrella and
chair carriers, etc. and 90 or 80 others,
with their families, who prepare and
serve his food, etc. They all eat from
the same dishes and calabashes, and at
the same time, with their chief"