The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1870-04-13
N,x.uAo Mani. Anil ?. ls.0.


MAKAWAo. Maui. April ?, 1870.
EprroR HAwA1AN GAzs-TE-DkAR SIR. Since
l wrOte yoa. Februsry 10th, giving you some &C
count Of the prevailing sickness among the peo-
PIE. and the number Of deaths in this district.
from Huelo to Keokea, during the year 1869,
have been laid aside from my accustomed labors,
and confined almost entirely 10 my house. 10
deed. have not been to our place OF public
worship where have been accustomed so'preach
at II o'clock, A N. on each Sabbath 10 my
foreign neighbors. since January 30th. ofthese
egAi SabbAtbs, five have been 50 stormy that
the people did not assemble at all. and two Of
the remaining three were somewhat rainy, 50
that only few were able to attend. So rainy
season a. this, we have not experienced since my
residence at MakawaO. Though sickness still
continues and proves mortal in many cases,
have not been able to visit the sick. nor attend
the funerals Of those who have died. Nor have
1 been able to meet class of the people on the
"Wednesday Of each wees as have been secus-
toned to do for many years, to make inquiries
concerning the sick il different neighbJrhOOds,
and TO offer such advice. and make such sugges
,ions as the state of things seemed to demand
l have been very helpless at time when my
people needed help greatly. I am happy to re
port the arrival at Makawao Of Doctor Storer
from IAhaina. who came up from Waihee, where
be found many sick. about two weeks since. and
who is still in our neghborhOod attending upon
such as need his services
How many have died 10 my district since the
yesr came in, can not tell you to-day, though
l hope 20 ascertain soon. The state Of the
weather has been such that there has been very
little stirring. Much Of the time, the rain has
been well nigh iueessant; the gnehes are filed
with water as they have not been filed for years,
if ever. Some OF them are impossible, aud
others nearly 50. a native. on his way to the
parsonage his morning. had his horse washed
from under MIN and carried down stream
great deal Of kalO was carried away and lost in
the sea the patches destroyed. bananas torn up.
and other damage done; and this, too, when food
Is very scarce. On Tuesday Of last week, from
sunrising to sunsetting ersa inches of rain fell,
according to Mr. Spercsrs measGrement.-and
still it comes both day and night. One day last
week the clouds 90 Haleakala lifted. and gave
Us the welcome sight Of a large surface of the
mountain covered with snow. say welcome
sight for till 1865 more or less snow fell during
the winter Of every year and | have known 50
large crop that it lay more than four weeks
uumelted. Several years ago, assembled the
mountain. 1 think il March, and found bank Of
snow some thirty rods in length. and Ia depth
from six inches to foot and so frozen that
walked on the crust the entire length of the
bank. welcomed the sight last week. because
fall OF snow is said to Indicate fruitful season.
the following summer. We hope this sign viii
Prove true one. for the present Is a time of
great scarcity. There Is scarcely a sweet potato
to be obtained from Huelo to heokea- No Irish
potatoes are to be found in all Kula- No one Is
missing wheat, and very few garden vegetables
are offered for sale. And now. that so much
kaIo has been destroyed by the food, l fear there
viii be much suffering among all classes.
Scarcely anything seems to flourish among Us
excepting sugar-cane But for this the native
population would scarcely make living Of it.
The plantation hands are well fed. and better
clothed and housed than their friends and neigh
bors who are not thus employed In consequences,
fewer Of them have been sick during the last
fifteen months and Of those who have been sick.
fewer have died. because they have been better
cared for. The plantations furnish employment
for not few Of the people Besides those who
are employed By the year. the mouth. or the day.
many are engaged in teaming drawing wood, or
plowing the land foI another crop. By these
means. not a little money IS circulated among the
people; and this helps them to obtain comforts
for their families. such as bread. salmon, and
other meats. Excellent beef can be obtained
for FIVE cents per pound. and think good deal
Is used BY the Hawaiians. Nothing better, l
suppose. for the couvsleseents from the sickness
which has so long afflicted our people than the
beef soup. prepared with little rice Our people
would DO vel think to take lessons on the
subject Of living from the Cinnamon. They live
both eheaply and comfortably, and have good
health, as general thing.
AS the Spring opens, hope there viii be
waking up among Us Of a spirit Of industry. We
can not compete with our California neighbors IL
the raising Of wheat and should not think Of en-
gaging again in that enterprise; but We can,
with the blessing Of God, raise our corn and po-
taioes. and do something to supply our neighbOrs
Of other stations and other Islands
More, if spared, when shall ascertain how
the sick and bereaved are il this season Of rains
and foods
Yours. in IabOrs for the Hawaiian race
J. s. GREES.