Polynesian., 1851-05-10

serving health. A plan Of this sort may be
laid, perhaps, before the Legislature; if so,
hope it will be thoroughly discussed In
my opinion, however, the plan will not work
well among this people. 1t is not simple
enough. 1t will take its subjects away from
home and friends. They will not like it, Is
there not more simple way? Let us in
quire.
What aileth the people of Hawaii, that they
die so rapidly in this charming climate, un-
derneath these genial skies, nfaling, as they
do, as sweet breath as ever Heaven caused
to initiate the lungs OF sinful man: | do not
ask why multitudes have died, and why many
are still cut down in early manhood ''There
is sin, says a recent eloquent writer, " OF
which the Book of God often speaks. but Oh
which IT rarely expatiates-a sin which the
pure and holy Author of the Bible does no
more than significantly indicate with the one
hand, while with the other he opens to its
Obdurate and grovelIing perpetrator, the
doors Of the eternal prison, and points to the
lake which burns with fire." Did none but
the victims of this sin experience chastise-
ment, there would be no cause of astonish-
ment, scarcely of regret-foF who does not
even welcome the tempest which clears the
atmosphere of nOxiOus gasses and hurtful an
imalcul9? But others than these suffer; and
though it may be true that a righteous God
is &c visiting the sins Of the fathers upon the
children, unto this generation, still | think
there are other causes than the one connec-
ted with this sin, which are .depopulating the
islands.
Nearly thirty years have passed away since
the gospel of Jesus Christ began to be pro-
claimed on these shores, and it has been en-
braced by as great proportion OF the Ha-
waiian nation, as of any other to whom it has
been proffered. And of the many who find
an early grave, not few are Of this class,
intelligent, humble, devoted Christians. Now
there is cause for this distressing fact, and
trust that it is found in the ignorance or
disregard of the laws of health.
1t is too obvious to require labored proof
that the laws of life and health are sadly mis-
understood by the Hawaians; hence they are
called upon. with alarming frequency, to paw
the penalty of laws ineyorabe as those of
gravitatiOn, or those which govern the sea-
sons.
| cannot 90 fully into the subject, nor is
there need, but ] can hint at some of the
grosser breaches of these laws: Look, then,
at their habitations-A house is designed,
as suppose, to answer similar purpose,
in relation to the body, that the body does,
in relation to the soul. In adapting the body
to the convenience of the soul, to It's comfort
and usefulness, the Creator hath plainly in
dicated his desires, in relation to the houses
which we occupy Thev should be OF size
suitable to the number of occupants. They
should be well ventilated, suitably separated
into rooms. should be dry and clcanly. How
is it with Hawaiian houses, as "a general
thing, in these respects: Need add word
TO show you, Mr.. Editor, or you: readers,
that few natives have ever erected a house
of this description that they live in small
houses, without ventilation, without glass,
and often both leaky and uncIeanly: In such
houses can they understand or regard the
laws of health? Impossible.
Again:-Take the articles of eating and
sleeping; in regard tc these the laws of life
and health are sadly violated. by the Hawaii
ans generally. These laws require sufli-
clent quantity of simple food. 1t should be
of good quality, and taken at stated peri
DDS, day by day. This, with suitable exer-
else, without safety, on the one hand, or
long continued unnatural fasting, on the
other, will have the happiest effect upon the
body and the mind-will preserve, to a good
degree the health of both. So in regard to
lodging rooms ard sleeping. In every house
thcrere should be apartments appropriated to
sleeping, of good size, dry, and yet well
ventilated; and, in these a suitable number
should be lodged.
Who, that is Familiarity acquainted with
the state of things here, does not know that
all these laws of life and health are dis
regarded The food of the Hawaiians is
often of the poorest quality, and prepared
with little care. Indeed, it may be truly said
that they eat anything, and anyhOp. Now, a
surfeit; and, now, a painful fast The eating
of raw fish, and eating late at night, are
practices exceedingly common, and are,
probably, the occasion of many sudden
deaths. So, of their sleeping habits. How
few houses have regular sleeping apartments.
How exceedingly common is the crowding of
all together into single apartment, and that
small and i'll ventilated one. Does not this
indicate All ignorance and disregard of the
laws of health; disregard which involves
them in fearful penalty: So, of habits of
cleanliness, and other things of a domestic
character; treatmenbof diseases, exposure
to heat and cold, Sc There is an impera-
tive necessity that the Hawaiians should un-
derstand and faithfully observe the laws of
health. This would be OH the plan of pre-
vention-a simple plaza cheap. desirable
medicine, growing at every mans door; but,
in my opinion, worth great deal more than
far fetched and dearly bought remedies.
AGRICOLUS.
Maui, April 80, 1851.
For the Polynesia