The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-10-03
Commercial Advertiser.
Rural Sketches
of the 9awaiian e4slands.
kAT, HAW All.

that the natives generally more industrious.
aud their houses in better condition than those of
other portions Of our group. We expected to
find th. reverse in district - secluded from the
trade and activity of our seaport towns but this
very s-ciusiOn appears 70 be the prime cause Of
this difference. Most of the able-bOdied men and
women seem 10 b. engaged in some way, either
gathering fungus and pulu or keeping goats, 10
which latter pursuit this district i most admir-
ably adapted. Although the land for several
miles back from the shore l. utterly worthless.
h-ng stony and dry. yet the more elevated tracts
which frequently visited with cOpiOus show
ers afford tie best of pasturage. Goats thrive
TIN. fine land, and grow To an enormous size.
We shown skins of an improved breed Of
long wOpled goats measuring four tcf across
Thes. animals ara exceedingly prolific, herd
doubling in humber every twelve months Some
times the increase - larger, they very
exempt from diseases. In ordinary times goats
worth for slaughter about seyenty-ive cents
each large will yield one dollar, the skin
being sold Tor tanning. the tallOw tried out and the
meat eaten 10y the natives with is much relish
IA mutton j. by Foreigners Thus native with
a herd Of hundred two goats, receives
steady income from them.
The Mission Premi-rs-
There hut few foreigners living IN kau, the
number not exceeding thirty ia ali. Rev. VIM.
e.. >hipman. uf the American Mission. resides
WstiOhinu his house and premises occupying one
OF thc most charming and lovely spots to be- found
ia our group Ii l. frame aud stone house,
located the base ot the beautiful aInphitheater
Of green hills To which alluded IN our last,
with their sidrs covered with patches Of upland
tar1, AMI clusters of orange trees, and which
% shield II from the strong trades that 1T
times sweep across the southern point oil Hawaii
The hOu-. Is surrounded with fruit trees, among
which noticed numerous orange, guaya, chi
rimUya cuStard apple, fgs, peaches, apples and
pears. Here. for the first time on these islands,
we found ripe peaches worthy of the name,
sweet and delicious ever grew in New Jersey
or Delaware. BY accident, probably, fine seed
ling has been produced here, and promises 70 be-
come great bearer. After enjoying a few days
in thiS beautiful retreat, We cannot wonder at the
remark made by Mr.. =. that he knew of no place
that ne would exchange for Waiohinu a resi-
dence. II has 4 cool. invigOrIting temperature.
averaging in midsummer from 90 : To 20 of
Fab, with elevation of about HOO feet above
the
4 Live Yankee "a Kau-
immediately opposite the store and dwelling
OF our former tOwnsman, Charles y. Spencer,
Esq, who, with the enterprise of the Yankee,
has pitched his tent here TO vend Yankee Notions.
He has the premises formerly occupied by VI. VI. 1
Cover Esq Mr. Spencer is actively engaged in
the pulu trade. of which article large quantities
are now collected in kau. The pulu Is purchased
by him for cash on delivery-which is the only
proper way in which island produce of any kind
should be purchased from the natives. They thus
feel more satisfied with their bargain, and can buy
their goods where they can make the best bar
g.-:n. Fungus. goat skins and hides are also
bought for cash During the few months in
which Mr. :. has been established at Waiohinu,
the gathering of pulu has been greatly increased,
mainly through his untiring industry and urging
ON the natives coupled with liberal policy and
open-handed dealing with them. % great has
been the increase of the trade with this district
during the past year, that the siooP Lire Yankee
IL kept running every week between liIO and
AIualu, the harbOr of Kau. This i in addi- |
ton 10 the trade with Honolulu direct carried /
on by the schooner hskGuiHDhi-
koa Shingles.
Besides the occupations have alluded to, |
there Is another important TO he passed by. 1t
j. the shingie business. lt may not De known u !
our readers that forests possess material for
making shingles superior To any imported either
from Puget Sound or Boston. Whenever shin !
sl.S are wanted in this ncighborhOOd, natives are
employed ~ up 10 the woods and get them I
uuJ. splitting them with and wedge, they hay I
Ing NJ machine for this purpose. These shingles .
are furnished 1T hre dollars per thousand, and 4
fJ,y measure at that, the bundles generally over /
running the number called for. Regarding their /
durability We were informed tdat the house now \
occupied by Nlr. Shipman was covered with them /
about eighteen years since. and with the exception
Of some slight patching, they have lasted during 4
that time and are likely u last ten years longer
All the houses in this district, whether built by
natives OF foreigners, covered with kVa shin \
sIe> The large church has recently been rooted /
with kua shingles, which gliSten IL IT polished \
ThrTe can be ~ question regarding tine superb .
OrIty 0f koG over any imported article, and when
some euteTpTIsIng foreigner imports >hIngle /
machine. We NAV expect another profitable .
branch IF domestic industry started, and the en- J
tire group supplied with kOa shingles. thus cut
ting OF one of oCr unnecessary imports, and /
making more independent of foreign labor .
ami capital. But where is the - Duke Of Kahu-
ku. - whose land II buriened with forests Oi kOl /
trees. that h. does net move IN this matter?
4 Village
IL was pleasant o. enter the store Of Mr.. Spen-
and listen % the gIrruousne>s OF the natives
- they arrived from the country. some with bags
OF puiu and fungus and Others with goat skins.
hides &c. all Of which found ready cash sale
1t fixed prices The store. ON some DAYS, was !
perfect bee hive. filed with happy and satisfied
iace>; and enough 10 assure us that the
proprietor not only knew the truth OF the old
IrJverb that =. nimbe SIxpence L better than a
slow shilling but knew also how to profit by IL
The natives evidently mOre industrious aud
thrifty here than IN other parts of the group
This Is clearly Indicated IN the pleasant frame
cottages spTingiu. Up here and there IN place If
the deJayIny thatch nuts They begin 10 aVpre-
cate the superiority Of wooden grass houses.
aud are careful OF their earnings u invest IN
building materials. They have been taught u
put Up frame building. with thatch roof. and
containing Two rooms. 81 = cost Of not over nftg
d5+4rs- And according 10 their ability You Will
ind here houses belonging 10 natives costing from
$50 % Sl2DC- This i what pulu has done
With such practical man a. Mr.. ShipInan. a
their guide, they have improved. and are ImIroy-
ing very rapidly He i one Of the few. who, for
examples sake. not afraid 10 take off the coat
and hold the plow drive an ox-team. or make
a free uSe Of the and hammer To him in q
great measure ! WaiOhinu indebted for the best
carriage roads 10 be found in the group, mostly
constructed without aid from the treasury. For
eight miles either way. towards kahUkU or on
the Hilo road. or the harbor of AluAlu. YOU
c-ln drive cart a carriage with ease This i
more than Honolulu can boast. And yet rhe
roads out Of Waiohiuu. must have been origin
ally worse than out Of this city. The govern
Inent and people TO this quiet and humble
missionary some testimonial Of their APPRECIATION