The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-03-14
PUBLISHED WEEKLY
Al r. " RG VI. WHITNEY.


truth in Nature and Revelation, the great centra
truth To which every reasonable man clings-
- HERE Is ONE Cop ~ In this position the,
We're infinitely happier than the proudest member
OF the long dynasty of the ancient Pharaohs
OF all the characters the group. no one il
more interesting than that of Il native Judge. A
singular specimen of this genus homo | found re-
siding within the precincts of kualoa. Hi
house was constructed on the native plan. but his
domestic comforts were rather superior. He wa:
judge o. and that made the difference He
resided IN the center of village containing six or
other dwellings. His legal profession con-
stituted him of lord over his SURROUNDING
brethren. Tor they all looked up To him with feel
ings somewhat akin 10 reverence He had no
rosewood bookcases, well filled with elegantly
bound and ponderous volumes but "a single shelf
contained his papers, and some half dozen books
from which he had drawn his legal inspirations.
His house contained few articles for domestic
use that would not have disgraced the residence
OF many thoroughly civilized man. Everything
was arranged with scrupulOus care as TO the best
side being placed toward the gaze of the visitor,
and all was prOyerbially neat and clean. He
had 50 adjusted the insignia of his Office that his
own cOuntrymen might at Oncc be impressed with
the majesty that civil law extends 10 its faithful
disciples.
The Judge himself was a fne-looking fellow.
about six feet high, well proportioned, and with
a hand that might well have belonged to Il high
born patrican woman. His entire physiOgnomy
was that of Il lawyer
lt happened that two natives were present seek
ing the adjustment Of some private difficulty.
The question having been proposed, a solemn
silence peryaded the entire dwelling His honor
sat perfectly STILL and awful soemnity shroud-
ed his cOuntenance; while his - better half sat
down on the mat-covered floor, looking him di-
recty in the face all the time. The g;lze of the
two men was not less intense. After some min
utes' delberation, this painful silence was broken
the defendant was fined several dollars while the
plaintiff seemed 10 think himself lucky fellow,
and went away with lighter heart and more
pleasant countenance. The little court was dis
missed, and his honor deposited his fees in deep
recess in his nOndescripts evidently satisfied with
himself and his own profession.
| have already referred 70 tGrO plantations.
The profound interest with which they are re-
garded by the Hawaians induces TO give them
a brief notice. Those that were hourishng around
the dwelling of tina; native were among the finest
| saw on the group. But | would here be under
stood as giving general description of the article
in its nature and general cultivation.
The f0TO (kaio in Hawiian) is a species of
arum (ArDDI escuLeltauH.) Like the 4run1 tri-
Phyllna, 1t grows in damp or wet situations only.
1t is propagated in water BY planting tops from
the suckers of one years growth that have sprout-
ed from the sides of the original plant. The beds |
are excIyated two three feet deep in the earth,
leveled, and beaten with cocOa-nut stems, while !
wet, to produce capacity to hold water. Upland /
grows in the rich bottoms. There is red and /
white species, besides several varieties of each |
Some OF these plantations vary in size from 4
forty feet square to two three acres. Like /
many OF the fsh-ponds the size indicates the
wealth and rank of the owner. Forty square feet |
of land planted with kalO will afford subsistence |
for one person during n whole year. \ square
mile of land planted with the same vegetable will
feed fifteen thousand one hundred and ffty-one |
persons for the same length of time"
As article of food kalo is invaluable. tbs.
in fact, the Hawaiian staff of life. Ii is the bread
of the islanders. \ good Providence has caused
it 10 be Indigenous. While raw. it is exceeding
ly styptic and acrimonious, producing burning
sensation the tongue. In this state it is fre
quently taken medicine. These properties
are destroyed, however, by subiecting it To heat.
Boiling baking, or roasting leaves the root light
farinaceOus substance, not much unlike the best
potato. In this last state, it is extensively used
by the foreign population an article of food for
their daily table.
But the most precious diet of the lIawaians is
the kalo, when converted into poi. 1t is prepared
for this purpose by thoroughly cooking it. and
then pounding it to pulp in II trough made out
lf hard wood. The pounding -mallet Is piece of
ava. having shape much like chemists pestle.
During the process of pounding, water Is frequent
y added. When il assumes the appearance OF
thick paste, it is finished and then it receives the
euphOniOus appellation of POI. As food, it is
simple and nutritious. and eaten with one or two
fingers, according To Its consistency. Its always
preferred by the people after the Preventative
process has commenced. This article of food i'm
larts bulk rather than strength and solidity TO
he constitution. And this fact will readily ac-
;Ount for the immense cOrpulency of some of the
I'D Hawaiian queens. feature which, in those
lays, deemed the Plus ultra of female
1eauty. POI is the national dish. y native may
fed the very best civilized tables; but if he
; not supplied with his flvOrite dish. he will 90
III And ssl..N fol rIHat
highest possible grade of civilization, he readily
ningles with his cOuntrymen in any little party
where this article of diet is certain to be found.
After = f;itiguing ride, | reached Kualoa (from
IRA. the back, and ioa, long.) The maine seems ,
o be derived from the peculiar ridge of noun
aims forming the southern boundary of the Koo-
Iuloa district. 1t is highly interesting loca- :
ion, the home of several native families. In
ront rolls the wide Pacific. The scenery the
asst and west is bounded by the chain of noun
aims above referred to, and which are huge
masses of volcanic rock that have grown gray
ions. Once they echoed back the war-songs Of
ictOrOus chieftains returning from the field of
attle where they plucked glory from the stand
rds Of their foes. But now the race of warriors
as gone, and q few wild goats take refuge IN the
ides of these giant landmarks. The plains of
lualoa contain about twelve thousand acres, over
those surface may be traced tangible evidences of
large population long since extinct.
Nofhfng can surpass this spot when the sun sets
Glow the mountains. and reflects their massive
hadows far out the plain. Twilight reigns
Glow, while all above seems bathed in the glory
f the descending orb. And when night throws
IS veil over nature, and every sound is hushed,
he very silence becomes oppressive, and the 7
stand like giant sentinels to protect
he contiguous plains from all eyil-Sandlcich
shqld Notes.
.Tb bove estimate is made nv allowing paths, feet
m between each piece ground Of forty square feet Ihe
t ease by natives sustain themselves Is thus ex-