The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-09-20
miscellaneous department.
ADVENTURES OF A PRINTER.
A ROMANCE.

leUeT Gateu al f1OlUlulu, OduuWlCu isiduusp sdu'
1, 1850, from an old friend and fellow printer,
whose adventures have been so much Out of the
common order that we extrar. part Of his let
ter for the amusement of our readers. The
writer lett New York in 1916, as a full private
in Col. Stevenson's regiment. Alter the wars
were over, he remained in California, where he
was employedby Grn:Nallejo as carpenter
al the time the gold mines were discovered.-
He, OF course, took his chances at gold digging,
but soon abandoned The business When last
heard from, (prerious tn the reception of the
present letter. he was one of the publishers Of
the Californian. sfle writes that he soon aban.
donpd this speculation. He concludes his ad.
ventures for the presen, by being wrecked one
day on Honolulu, and marrying the daughter of
the chief oil the village on the following Sun.
day. But let bin speak for himself:
'''rhe paper was slow pay. in those times so
| sold out my interest, and gained one or two
thousand dollars, which Ispent. Speculated
little, however, and did we'll failed in some
things, hut made up 10 others.
"On the OH of October last. in company with
seven, left San Francisco on a. visit to the
Beautiful Islands, intending afterwards to sail
to China, make our way overland to Russia,
where had an uncle. and thence TO England,
where could lake passage for home. On the
2Slh, al noon, when we were within two oleagues
Of Honolulu. it came on 10 blow gale. We
stood of and succeeded in worrying out the gale,
bat just as We were entering the mouth OF the
harhor, it came on to blow very hard from the
northwest, and in five minutes we were hard
and fast on the shore. rushed to my chest
for my dimes, and had barely time to secure
the when the hull parted, keeled over and fill.
ed. Isecured a spar, and clung 10 il and the
dust like grim death TO a deceased African.'-
At being in the water about three qiarters of
an hour. lashed by the surf and bruised by the
spar, | gained The shore ! kissed the earth
where first stepped, and determined never to
leave it. Having IS pounds Of gold dust about
my person, besides three or four hundred dol.
lars in gold coin, was completely exhausted,
andaurned in for the night (ior night it began to
be) under cocoanut tree, where slept sound.
Iy unlil-l2 or o'clock, when awoke so stiff
with cold and so,e from my bruises that could
scarcely move ffo my great i"y4 discovered
fire ab"ul halfa mile to the weSi. 1t proved
to be village of the natives. kanakas,) who
ou learning (by signs) my misfortune, stirred
up the FIRE. gave me some boiled pork, bread
full. yams, and variety ofeatng matter. Al
ter I had disposed of this turned in on so",e
mais, where slept souudly Until sunrise, when
arose.
safer ! had made my toilet was introduced
to the chief of the village. He is of nigh rank
and much respected. His name is Kanni, and
he is rea,cd to The king ofthe islands. He was
very polite, spoke English auenrly, offered me
house, some land. and his daughter in marr.
age, il would live with his tribe and instruct
them as lar as | was able, in The arts of civil.
zaion thanked him for his offer, and told
h m thai would think over the matter.
"Afier this interview, went down to the
hrach, accompanied by party Of the natives.
to look after the wreck. hut nothing could be
seen save the spar on which came ashore.
When discovered the sad result Of the storm
KAT down on the beach and wept like a child.
I had lost the only friends have had since
left ny home. Bu. tears are of no avail. so
| made up my mind to bear it, and to accept the
offer Of The chief and become his son. ac..
rordingy on my return 10 the village informed
the chief that would accept his offer. He i'm
mediately introduced me 10 the fair one. Her
name is Niaara (Mary) She is of a light cop.
! per, fourteen years old. s feet inches high,
small hand and foot black hair and eyes, and
above all very afftcliona,e. Her dress consist.
I'd Of faded blue satin skirt, mocassins and
leggngs, aud curious!y wrought head dress
She wasby no means bashful and none too mod:
est. She sal on my knee and kissed me, and.
when asked her if she would marry me, she
said yes without the slshes, hesitation and eS.
pressed wish that the ceremony should take
ace on the following Sunday, saying that
missionary would be there on that day. This
[ agreed to, when she rewarded me with kiss
and ran off 10 her father.
The following day visited the capital and
purchased the wedding dresses for my lady and
myself together with some presents for the tribe
and on Sunday'w I'VE twain were made one flesh. ;
On Monday, my ia.bpr.in law, at my request
sci several men at work at getting ont cocoa
nut logsto build my house. and in the course OF
It"n days very substantial dwelling, 30 feet
front, 25 feet deep, and 25 feet high was com
ple,ed. This is the only building of the kind
in the village, all the others being bull, of reeds
and mud. The chief is very much pleased with
il, and hope within year The whole village
will be of log houses. hare promised to fur
nish axes and all other tools, and think the
natives will build themselves better houses.