The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1833-07-20
ARDENT SPIRITS AND TOBACCO
AT ONE OF THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

II Al oNE or lie oANDWICH iSLANDS.
Extracts Of letter from the Rev. Mr.
81 Spauiding, dated Lahaina, Island oj
. Maui, Zone Of the Sand,cich Islands,
u October, 1882.
This Island has 35, 600 souls, and it il
without temperance Society! This
fact may not be generally known in A
merica bnt It is really SO. There is no
temperance Society on Maui, but it any
man is detected in buying selling, or man
uiacturing ardent spirits, he 10 forthwith
put into the forte, sentenced to make a
public road, or otherwise fined according
to law. About four years ago, ta6u
was proclaimed by the governor of this
island upon the use OF ardent splrits.--
Soon after, a native who had barrel Of
rum in his possession acting as agent for
a man on Hawaii, ventured to sell one
bottle, and was fined $3.50, to be paid in
sandal wood, and he Immediately collect
ed il. Another native undertook to sell
a little, and was fined S75.
A third mana foresnr,was detected in
selling it to ships, and was banished to
another island during The season Of ship
ping. About one year since, foreigner
resident in Labaina, was suspected oi sell
hing ardent spirits 10 the sailors f; his house
and premises were immediately searched
without finding It. Some time after, it
was ascerla aimed that he had one key con-
cealed in hogshead Of coal in his black
smiths shop. The same individual has
been since susp, Cted, but if he sells it at
all it is with closed doors, and probably
on promises of secrecy. A short time
since, u schooner engaged in merchant
service arrived from Honolulu with rum
on board. A nutive venlured to purchase
little to sell again to the seamen. Soon
its exhilarating effects were discovered
by the quarrelIing of some sailors, and in
less than twenty-iour hours from the arr-
val OF the schooner, the native was in his
proper place, i. e. in the jort About the
same time foreigner about to establish
himself at Lahalna, was detected with
four bottles Of rum, for certain reasons,
do not know that he told what, he went
Immediately OIL board whale ship, and
left the place. 1t is MIR. Richards opin-
ion that not one gallon has been drunk by
all tire inhabitants Of this island the past
lyear We have no evidence that ardent
spirits are now sold at this place conse-
quently all is comparatively quiet, and,
more than this, we have evidence that the
spirit of the Lord is with US. We are
much encouraged, and the more er,eourag-
ed from he fact th3t we hare no ardent
spir,ts 10 contend ,ciih.
| A few words on the subject of tobacco.
In May last, while MIR. Richards was
absent at the general meeting, Mrs. Rich
ards drew up paper on the principle OF
abstinence from this article, for the natives
in her family. When they had subscrib-
led to it, the thought occurred that it
might be proper to present it to the "po-
alema," a society of females associated
for moral Improvement. Jt was carried
before the s'poalema," by Mrs. Richards
and Miss Ogden, who addressed the soci-
city on the evils Of tobacco, and presented
the paper for their subscription. Tobac-
co is principally used at the Sandwich ISL
ands in smoking, both by males and fe''
males without any regard to the sex A
number Of females gave in their names at
that meeting. These prevailed on their
husbands to rel'nquish smoking, and from
that time for some days after, they flock
ed to Mr.. Richards house in companies,
bringing their tobacco pipes ard tobacco
irith them. Some came with their pipes in
their moths, and took the last mhi6 at the
Threshold of the missionary's door. 9th
ers Immediately sent word that they had a
little tobacco, and when that was gone
they would bring their pipes. One says,
"When MIR Richards returns, l hope he
will point out some other evil of ours,
that we may know the blesscdness Of re-
formation" The reformation commenced
in Mr.. Richards absence, and at the alb
sence Of the chiefs, and no other means
were used except the moral suasion OF Mrs
Richards and Miss Ogden. Now, there
are more than Q 800 subscribers ma
,,iorty Of that number gave in their names
and their pipes before MIR. Richards re-
turned from the general meeting.
The native pipes are made OF wood,
and generally ornamented with brass
The common price OF u pipe is one dollar,
instead Of one penny, as in America. "A
tobacco-pipc and dog are OF equal value:
One goat is worth two tobacco-plpes.
have lust measured the box which con-
tains the pipes delivered into the hands Of
Mrs. Richards. II is four feet long, two
feet wide, and one aud hnif Ieet deep,
and is literally filled with pipes. Here arc
npeire solid feet of tobacco pipes, which.
a lew weeks since. were in the mouths Of
more than $500 natives, many OF whom
had probably smoked 50 as to become in.
ltoxicut~d. The reformation has advanced
thus far very rapidly, nnd we hope i will
soon be Ccncral over the islands. Some