Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-01-30
For the Public Ledger.l
DO RECOLLECTIONS
af3A9oA blp OF THE
SANDWICH ISLANDS

The people use no chairs, but sit or
SQUAT on the mats. When sleepy, they
have but to extend themselves at full
length, for the mats are also their beds.
Their food is also exceedingly simple.
The taro supplies the bulk of their living.
1t has root shaped somewhat like a
turnip. but in taste and texture comes
nearer the sweet potato, which, however,
| cannot say it resembles very close. i
believe il is common in Louisiana and
Southern Georgia and Florida under the
name of tanyah. 1t has top running
up eighteen inches or more in hight, with
leaves as broad as those oc the tobacco
plant, which make an excellent green's
when cooked, but are horrible if tasted
raw. The taro is cooked by being placed
in hole in the ground, which has been
previously heated to high temperature
by building fire in it, which is removed
and the roots put in and covered up.
When done they are taken out, peeled
and beaten to the consistency OF mashed
potatoes by the old man, who is the head
of the family-which old man also tills
the ground in which they grow and
likewise provides the fish for the family.
According to my observation the young
men and women in that part of the
islands seldom engaged in any labor or
employment-enjoyed a perpetual sunny
holiday. This mashed taro is worked
into mas ses like dough, say twenty pounds
in lump, and is then put in a tempo
rary basket made Of leaves or fresh bark
and hung up to ferment. When it has
soured so as to meet the tastes of the
epicurean native, it is taken down and
prepared for the meal, which is accom-
plished by mixing it with water in huge
calabash (gourd) of capacity in acoor.
dance with the number of the family
saw from four to eight gallons. Upon
being mixed with water it becomes a
paste somewhat like the batter from
which buckwheat cakes are made, only a
little thicker (but that depends upon the
taste of the partly and tougher. This IS
the staff of life of the native. His next
best dish is fish, which he eats entirely
raw. so much so that / have seen them
bite a fish In two that was vigorously
attempting to escape by Tapping Its tall.
They also fancyJa dish OF sea-weed as a
relish, which they tranfer from the rocks
of the beach to the E table" in few
moments. The family squat around
the calabash of taro batter, which
is now known as poi, and fall TO-.
Each one has a small calabash plate on
which his or her quantum Of fish is
placed, but they all take the poi from
the big dish on their fingers, each for
himself. Reaching over and plunging
one, two or three fingers into the poi
(according to its consistency, the party
gives it stir around and, around to
Gather a ball. then draws the hand dex-
terously forth, throws the head back,
onens the mouth vide and thrHsts in the
nellet which is about the size of a
goese.egp. Another sitter goes through
the same operation, and so they go by
turns until the cravings OF hunger are
enneasas Toward the latter part OF
.te nerformagee it is interesting to
Itch the old fellow who iess the work.
He will endeavor, by twisting the body
and kneading the stomach to increase
his inside capacity for containing pol
I had heard from paturalized foreigners
Who had tried this dish that 1t was very
excellent and felt curiosity to try, IT.
hDt never could. have sat and watched
INV sweetheart feed, but could never
hreak bread with her. Not that con-
sidered the poi Of itself bad, or In itselt
disgusting, but ! had no confidence 10
my intended father-in-law as neat COOK,
The store-kseper, Mr., Plttman' was
married to half breed wife, VINO was
connected to the nobility IN some
wav. and was cultivated, refined lady.
Their cottage was exceedingly comfort
able. and their grounds presented matter
of interest TO the botanist and lanscape
gardener. The serpentine mot very
extensive) was bordered by luscious
nine-apples, and the shade trees were
! The bread fruit, orange and coffee, lne
verandahs we're broad and shady, the
chairs those splendid ones OF the Ohl-
nese extension pattern, on Which you
NAV recline at full length; aud the che
roots we're good. Our visit to hilo put
a great many Mexican dollars IN the
noekets Of Mr.. .Pittman, and he was crate
iul therefor, SO much so that he made
a feast and bade the officers OF our good
shin thereto. w stipulated that tne
cookery should be exclusively after 1he
manner Of the natives, and ne agreeu
10 il. And il vas further agreed that
dog should also be served in the native
stvie. The cooking is very simple. A
hole Is dug in the ground and IRE put IN
uenl ths hole n hot. A number q
.,i,res III the size of a goose eEE are also
I heated The Gre Is removed from the
4 80 .nd he things 70 be cooked are put