Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-01-22
THE DEATH OF KAMEHAMEHA.
Particulars of the Event-Some Char
acterisrfcs of the Late king-Native
Funeral Ceremonies.
correspondence of the New York Tribune.

correspondence OF the new YORK tribune,
Honolulu, S. L, December 15.-The
Sandwich Islands are in a state of
political agitation at this time, in COD
sequence of the death of King
Kamehameha V. He would not
name successor, which was
his prerogative according to the
Constitution of the country. It is gen
orally stated that he desired to be the
last Of his line, and the last of Hawaiian
kings. This seems likely, as the choice
of the Monarchists of the country lies
between an hab1tual drunkard, though
naturally able man, named LunaliIo; an
imbecile old woman, who would be the
merest tool of her advisers, named
Kellik olani; and an inferior chief,
named David Kalakana. There is no
other noble timber out of which roy
atty may be reconstructed here. The
native aristocracy is defunct; and if
American residents make the slightest
manifestation In behalf of their politi-
cal principles, we will have republic
or annexation right away. The late
King was named Lot Kapuiwa Kane
hameha, and he was the the fifth
of the royal line founded by the con-
queror Kamehameha, who united all
these islands under one dominion.
His late Majesty had re-
ceived superior English ed
ucation, and spoke our language
with perfect correctness and with the
refined tone of an accomplished gentle,
man He was well versed in English
literature, and sometimes INDUCED in
very apt Shakspearean quotations
He was stout, well-made, and skillful
in athletic sports. Like his great pre-
decessor, Kamehameha [, he was fond
of the sports of the sea; he would
skillfully manage a huge canoe alone,
and would dive to dangerous depths
with the playful ease and buoyancy OF
dolphin; and when he arose from
the deep, shaking the brine from his
curling Jetty locks, and revealing his
magnificent dusky form, he seemed in
deed the Neptune of the Pacific wa
| terS.
The King was thrifty man, and had
accumulated large means for these
islands. He had sheep run of $50,
900 acres upon Moloki, upon which
grazed 10000 head of sheep. His in
come was about 100000 per annum,
and he held half million of Crown
and Government lands. The quarter of
these means will amply sustain a new
and efficient republican government.
A great majority of the foreign popula-
ton desire to set aside our paltry, ex-
pensive, though interesting royalty,
and the only difficulty will be to per-
suade the native population to acquisce
in the change. The Kanakas, orrather a
portion OF them, are now bowling over
their dead chief, although [ must say
that less feeling has been shown at the
death of Kameh amelia Y. than on the
demise OF any previous chief. Still
there are enough to keep up the bar
balous saturnalia around the palace,
which amuses foreigners so much. This
time the hideous funeral fandango was
tabooed strictly to the foreign popula-
ton. A strong guard enclosed the pal
ace, and tried to keep the heather sat
urnalia from critical foreign eyes, but
| enterprise and a strong curiosity
managed to outwit the valiant
! Kanaka guard. Within the Palace
| Court were to be seen more than
|
strels, and professional walters, who
made night hideous It was a lovely
moonlight, and the graceful tamaEind,
algeroba, and mango trees, made beau
tiful silhouettes on the clear sky. The
crowds were interspersed among the
| groves. A hundred half-naked women
gyrated with their supple, shining
| bodies, and swung IN the air tatooted
calabashes that ratified with pebbles
inside. Another crowd moved in mock
fights. Some recited, not the exploits
of war or peace, but the lascivious
proves of the late monarch. This is
the especial burden of the minstrels-
to laud the physical development and
cratic power of majesty.
Christianity with, all its beneficent
influences in these lands, has never
been able to check the filthy and riot
Gus mysteries enacted over dead kings
It is curious that such intelligent men
as the kamehamehasr really were should
have consented to the perpetuation OF
such abOminable native superstitions
Kamehameha Y. was an able man, and
qualified to be a statesman in a much
more important sphere than this Arch
ipelago. He disdained his situation,
and said that. his country offered
no basis for the dignity of royalty. He
had projected a tour in Europe, and
intended to be present at the Vienna
Exposition, if he recovered from his
late sickness. He was AZ years of age
at his death, and was we'll formed,
princely-looking man. Lady Frank
lin said of him, that he would be re-
garded as one of the must distinguish
ed of princes in any court of Europe.
He leaves no family, and not one of his
blood, except an imbeclle half sister, to
bewail his loss. He intended to be a
great king among the Pacific Islanders,
and to re-people decaying country,
but Providence has left this work to be
done by men who shall represent new
order of things