Polynesian., 1862-11-29

stances of constancy, to death, under circum-
stances where it might be supposed constancy must
have faltered and died.
The American missionaries and the native gov
ernment actuated by the missionaries, threw them
selves uninquiringly and at once into crusade
against the prevailing icentousness OF the people.
Fines, Imprisonment, severe labor, and iniormers,
were the weapons of their warfare. A great ap-
parent change was rapidly effected. They clothed
and converted the natives and they produced, not,
alas regenerated people, bot q nation of hypo-
critics. Ii is difficulty to the Hawaiians to dis
semble; stimulation and dissimulatiOn are dramatic
costumes they readily assume. They not only
seemed to do what the missionaries required, but
they initiated the manner. tones, and the very ap-
pearance Of the missionaries themselves. In fact
they are admirable mimics. The missionaries ges-
ture and ntonatiOn, their soft feline style Of ap-
proach their very seat in the saddle, the sunburnt
black suit, all were exactly Notwithstanding
escaped them 1t is only doing the missionaries
justice TO say that they might we'll have been de-
ceived by such oOking-glass resemblance of them
selves
Incidence is another grand fault attributed to the
Hawaiian race. 1t is very that the delicious,
equable climate engenders in those constantly with
in its influence otus-eatng habit, q love of the
dolce far niente. Their absolute wants were few
and as the chiefs would have pounced down on any
little surplus the people could have acquired by
Labor they lost the powerful stimulus of a desire to
accumulate. 1t is going beyond the truth to say
that Incidence was entirely ingrained in the peo-
ples nature. 1t was enforced upon them by cir
cumstances. &" The moral effect of unpaid labor
upon their habits is to do little possible when
at work, and that little as unfaithfully possible.
The influence of unwilling labor when excessive, as
| understand it, is injurious to health, far
healthy state of body depends upon cheerfulness of
mind.' Thus was dstaste for labor forced upon
them; with the knowledge that the fruits of labor
would be stolen from them, and with tolerable
certainty that they would not actually starve if
they did the minimum quantity of work, We are
not surprised that many Hawaiians were lazy
drones, in the absence Of religion which erects
diligence in business to the rank of God beloved
virtue. Nor is it correct to say that Incidence
universal. 1t is true that a far0 pit having the
area of an ordinary dressing room will keep man
in food the whole year-H be diligently cultivated.
But there are few species of labor more constant
and more wearing than that of cultiyating the escu-
lent aruIn. The men work in the heat of the day
in the patches pits, which require to be kept
filled to certain height with water. Irrigation
has to be attended to, the plant continually tended
and even when used. the process of converting the
ooOt into poi, which is done by pounding it for u
long time with heavy stone pestle. is heavy and
tedious work. Ellis remarks: '' We have often
been struck with the restless avidity and untiring
effort with which they pursue even the most toll
some game"
The natural disposition of the Hawaians is
everything that is opposite to the gloomy and mo-
rose. The pleasant, universal aloha or salutation,
the merry ringing laughter of the women wherever
found, proclaim the people to be light-hearted
race. No occasion to address to them, as Souihey
does the fair SEX a consideration of the short
ness of fe "a melancholy exhortation to be cheer
full while they may for the cares of life sit
lightly on them 1t is consistent with such mirth-
ful and gOod-tempered temperament to be wanting
in very deep human feelings; but the people as
kindly and as hospitable any who inhabit our
planet. Nothing is more offensive to a Hawaian's
feelings than that traveller should not return the
aloha salutation and they very observant of
the haOh or foreigner. In living, they simple,
having few artificial wants. The chiefs especially
exhibited great courtesy. Their hospitalities were
always accompanied by polite behaviour pecu-
arly gratifying to those who within their
range, and indicated degree of refinement seldom
found among uncivilized nations. This courtesy
was remarkably shown in the of the graceful
dual in their speaking, and their delicacy by the
constant practice which prevailed among the chiefs
of washing the hands before and after meals Per-
sonal cleanliness must have been greatly promoted
by the universal bathing habits of the people.