The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1869-03-17

sunsza El.zvrS.
WRITES a. sas Gazette.

I
the east end Of 0Falau. and anchored oh
Mbau-the place that then dominated over
and still does rule the principal part Of the
group As l have before stated in these
sketches, the island on which the town was
built was merely sand exereseence Of the
reef, and scarcely anything grew upon it,
Yet rich, extensive and fertile districts
were tributary to it. and daily, whole fleets
Of canoes were arriving from the other isl
ands with iood. tapas, mats. etc. for the
consumption of the Mbau people In CON-
pany with the captain. spent another day
and night on shore, with Thakombau. We
were entertained, as may be supposed, in
8 prineely manner, and were fsssted with
all the Injuries Of the native cuisine One
dish, which l can never forget, and which
makes nv mouth water, even now, to think
of it, was turtle soup. "a Fiji. 1t was
served up in the upper she'll Of the turtle.
and consisted of the green fat, the liver.
cut up fine, nealy yams, well Drowned, and
seasoned with few red peppers For
spoons, We had the shells Of mollusk.
that abounds on the islands, and much re-
sembles clam in shape The dish was
brought in smoking hot. and the chief. the
captain and /, sitting erOss-legged around
it, enjoyed the savory mess with great
gusto. The usual dessert Of choice fruits
followed, chief among which, was basket
Of unusually large and fine .-ndawas,r
delicious fruit, which l have heretofore
mentioned.
In walking about the town, early next
morning after refreshing sleep OF soft,
yielding mats, beneath spacious @tau ma
mu. or mosquito bari came to the pub
lie square. Here l saw an unusual sight
in those islands: A fine looking bull,
COW, and two halfgrown heilers, tied to
coeoanut trees, each confronted with pile
of freshly cut grass and Iii" leaves. These
animals, the first of the kind that had ever
been brought TO the islands, were looked
upon with admiration and astonishment by
the natives. The king had set apart
separate servant for each of these bulloeks,
whose duty it was to see that they were
daily fed and watered. | suppose that by
this time. twenty and more years having
elapsed since then, the bovine species must |
have largely increased in the islands. If |
they have not, it cannot have been the |
fault of the climate or want of pasture.
That morning. after my stroll around |
Mbau, l returned - ThakOmbauis house
for breakfast, and saw 4 singular sight
The kings barber was getting his break
fast, consisting of yam and broiled fish.
But what attracted my attention was the
fact that the BARRIERS hands were clasped
across his knees, while the food was being
put into his mouth by young man sitting
in front Of him. On inquiring the mean
ing of this strange proceeding, l was in
formed that the barber. or body servant of
the chief was tabued man, and could not
touch any food with his own hands. was
and amused in witnessing the
process of feeding, and could not but ap-
preciate the skilIful and discriminate man.
ner in which the feeder popped the morsels
into the mouth of the hungry barber. The
breakfast was wound up with a eOpious
iraught Of water. But the BARRIERS mouth
must not touch the mouth of the jug.
The vessel was held high up, while the
irinker, with his head laid back and his
mouth wide open, swallowed the fiuid, as it
vas poured out
SAILING from Mbau, an hour brought Us
to Nbiwa. the residence Of my friend
France-for, after several months of close
/ had learned to consider this
lmiable young chief in the light of friend
Here. however, We were TO part, perhaps
never to meet again Before going on
ihore, France asked Of the captain leave
If absenee for me for a day or two, to ae-
company him to his home This was readi-
y granted, and for two days and night |
enjoyed the hospitalities Of this gentle
'avage-' lam sorry to say that learned,
bout ten years ago, by vessel from sgd
ley, en- route for California, which had
ouehed at Evouka, that France had been
reacherously killed BY the people Of BABE
abe, because be had become 20 decidedly
-Christianized- He was thus, un-
Ioubtedly the first, bat unfortunately not
he only, Christian martyr of the Fijiis-
The night that | staid on shore with
rance, We spent IN the vale nbure--
ouse Of prayer-sitRsted. as is always the
ase in their villages, on an emineDce.
Iers FIRE is constantly kept burning. and
va drinking goes OF sIl night, while the
ID men and chief discuss the affairs Of
the nation No females are ever allow
d to enter this sacred place, and the ava
heEing was carried on in -Tale na ale
'a"-womau's hOuse-near BY.
On the expiration Of my leave Of absence,