The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-08-18
Correspondence pac. Commercial Advertise


HONOLULU, August 8. 1859.
Ma. EDIroR Every newspaper scribbler who has
ever had occasion to voyage in our island coasters,
has left behind him in books, or in the public prints,
a record of suferings sustained on the voyage, an
anathema on all crowded coasters. and n feeble plant
for &c steamers. Those who don't scribble tell
mournful stories to their friends of their distresses,
and feelingly describe the crowded decks, and the
many d~iscomforts incurred during the long Gains and
heats that almost always occur at some points in the
different channels. 1t does not require o very extern
sive inquiry to verify these statements. They are
true beyond a peradventure. only the half has not
been told; probably because seven-eightbs OF our for
eign population have at some time or other INDUCED
in a coasting trip, and do not need to be reminded OF
what has been a strictly Hawaiian " institution" from
the time the first passenger craft plowed the waters Of
the channel.
We boast of our wonderful advancement in civilI-
ration and in the acquisition of those numerous ap-
pliances to public and domestic convenience whicha are
seldom seen away from the first class cities. 1t Is
scarcely necessary to particularize. we ara metrop-
olis-almost. Another noteworthy fact Of which We
boast is, that the other islands are rapidly becoming
populated, and not alone by the sterner sex, but
ladies, and real ladies, too, are finding their way TO
the remotest parts of the other islands. Any one who
READS your paper al e W JIG oucoe P"oSoe~
list that the foreign passenger travel is increasing
among the islands, and the names Of ladies figure
largely in the lists. Yet, with ell these facts and
figures before US, we still find the same management
of Coasters as Of yore. and the same keen d~iscomfOrts
and suferings endured by foreign passengers.
The story is always the anne in substance. The
native deck passenger comes aboard, spreads his mat
on the best part of the quarter deck. ASSEMBLIES on it
his wife and keikis, his NANCY dog. his calabashes Of
ancient fish and sour poi, and perhaps q pig besides
For this he pays tpo dollars, with perhaps q quarter
or so more for the pig. and he makes himself as happy
as a lord. Others follow in his wake, and the quar-
ter deck and cabin deck are soon deDsely crowded
with Just such family parties as above described, ex-
cept perhaps that some of the dogs are sicker than
others. A gentleman and his wife, or a number of
gentlemen and ladies, now present themselves. These
are cabin passengers, mind you; they pay from Sc
to So each, and are entitled to eat boiled beef and
potatoes, and sleep there. if they can. The cabin is
ventilated by ~skylights, differently arranged in diff
ferent vessels, but generally under the control of the
deck passengers, who close them when they please to,
by means of the variegated awnings which they
spread over their heads to keep off the heat. What
little air does descend is loaded with a greater vari-
ETY. of smells than Coleridge found at Cologne, the
principal of which are tobacco-pipe smoke, rancid
fish, steaming natives, ETC., etc
The voyage commences, and a calm or q mild breeze
is met with next morning under Molokai. The ladies
other cabin passengers find their quarters intol-
erably hot and close, and seek the deck, but can
move an inch beyond the companionway.
Standing in the sun a few minutes, till the roasting
process commences, they discover that one side of the
quarter deck is shaded by the mainsail. but within
the limits OF the shade is crowded a dense mass of
bumap heinOs iack naSsenOarS GCaptain I, W
sufferer, Sc can't you clear a space among these ma
and give these ladies n chance to breathe'?''
Oh no I couldn't disturb them; it wouldn't do:
you know we make most Of our money out of native
passengers, and we have to treat them kindly, or the
vessel gets a bad name. But if there is anything
Else I can do for you. I should be pleased to do it.
wish to make my cabin passengers comfortable" So
the party descends into the cabin again, and, oh
The headaches and suffering; but we won't attempt
to ID describe it.
Now, Mr.. Editor, where's the remedy for this,
Let some one speak out. for it is time that this matter
vas thoroughly discussed and ventilated. Don't talk
sbout 81 patience" and & ~steamers;'' it will be years
before a steamer viii run regularly to Hawaii.
Answer, We lawyers. (but don't expect a fee does
not the common law of England and America compel |
vessels to keep their steerage passengers
of the mainmast If it don't, it is the uni
7ersal custom, all over the world, even in the small |
st class of packets. IF the law be as above. vhy
sannot we coasting passengers assert our rights. and
lemand a clear quarter deck? But here another
question arises. Owners of coasters coolly assert that
I foreign passengers must have the quarter deck,
hey won't carry any foreign passengers. Another
tut for the lawyers this. Can they do it. Can a
common carrier refuse one class of speeps', M
and accept the other
l nope that some ADLER pen that mine will take M
his subject and 6 open up the merits Of the matter.
Yours, &C., A TRAVELLER.