The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1856-11-20
TIE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.

is its foreign populations composed of natives of
almost every country of the Pacific if not of the
globe. Especially is it so with the population of
Honolulu, where merchants, tradesmen residents
found who are the representatives of probably
twenty-five thirty different nations. They have
been attracted here in the hope of betterng their for
tunes, and thus have become identified with the
place
Among the carly adventurers to this group, was
young and enterprising Chinaman named Chuwun,
who was probably the pioneer of the numerous Chi
nese merchants, who have long borne active part
as tradeslnen at these islands, 1t was in the year
1928 if we rightly informed that he arrived here.
bringing with him stock Of Chinese goods, silks,
and fancy articles, and can readily imagine the
monopoly he may have enjoyed for while, till the
report of his brought other adventures from
China From that date down to the present, the
Chinese have formed insignificant portion of the
foreign population of the Islands Some of them have
been large importers and become wealthy, but gen
orally they arc retailers, peddlers, or bakers So
long ago as we can remember, this amusing verse
was flvorite announcement Of chinese firm in
Honolulu
Good people all, walk in and buy,
OF Sam and Now, good cake and pie,
Bread hard soft, for land sea,
Celestial made come buy Of We"
The lumber of Chinese now on these Islands, in
cluding coolies, must be at least 600. The more
respectable of the merchants are quiet honest and
peaceabe class, and among the Kings subjects he
has none more loyal than the Chinese. 1t may be
mentioned in their praise that for years they have
maintained here in Honolulu, at their own expense,
Il fire engine which is promptly manned at every
alarm, and has often done great service in checking
the spread Of fires
The idea which prompted the Chinese merchants to
give marked testimonial of their loyalty to the
Sovereign of their adopted country, happy
one, and showed that they were ambitious to equal
least their fellow citizens in " honoring the King
The Sc festival' consisted of ball which took place
on Thursday evening, Nov. 13, at the court house.
IN unusually large number of invitations had been
issued in conformity with the wishes of the Chinese
merchants, that none should be omitted, and it is
probable thatover thousand persons visited the
hall during the evening At the outer door, which
had been estoned for the OCCASION and also at the
entrance of the hall, visitors met and greeted the
Chinese merchants all dressed in the different styles
of Mandarins. But when their Majestes arrived
the long line of Mandarins bowed their heads very
low, till they passed, which is the Chinese custom iii
the royal presence.
On entering the hall, guests accosted the .landa-
rims .Aaglais, Weong Chong Hoffman,, Chong Fong
Field, Ming Ching Rciners, and Weong Kong Water
man. dressed in Chinese costume, fans included who
charged with the duties Of Directors general
ball being practically above the comprehension of
Chinaman
The decorations of the Hall wore decidedly Chi
aspect, and We may say truly magnificent
What first attracted the eye entering was canopy
with lounge for the royal guests constructed for the
occasion, and surrounded with Chinese Transparent
cies, intermngled with Hawaiian and Chinese flags.
lo44o
spread, monstrous gilt and red figure, sort of q
dragon with wings. Hanging in each window was
large boquet Of flowers, representing vases, a mon
strous spider with legs three feet in length dragon
fly five feet long, butterfly of equal dimensions sc.
Opposite to the seat provided for their Majesties,
erected over the main entrance, was the saluta-
ton aloha nui, and under it the same in Chinese
characters La the hall hung large octaginal Ian
tern, made for the occasion, bearing its sides fig
ures of men and animals, all in motion, caperinl
about with life-like precision, the workmanship o.
which evinced good deal of skill and ingenuity
Their Maesties arrived about half past nine, soon
after which the dancing commenced but owing to the
crowd, gave less satisfaction we suppose than might
otherwise have been derived. We give the original
programme of the evening, it may interest our
readers and serve precedent:
GEE JIK TUNG sun KIE YIN
HANG HONG SUP GU LOOK Ylx KuNo
WONG AAEHEEEA Nv