The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1883-08-23
HAWAIIAN
Colonization and Conquest +!
sANDALWooD AND GUANo.
Death and Disaster.
Second-H Diplomacy F!


sent day to call up the "reminiscences
of the early days of Hawaii and to
see that the colonizing and conquer
ing spirit showed itself Sc oarly.
Even now it crops up in the last
expedition of the Julia.
In the years previous to 1929
George Koloka Manini Marin the
Oldest son of Francisco de Paulo
Marin had been trading to the New
Hebrides, Tonga, the Fljis, and
other of the South Sea Islands. On
his return voyages he used to tell
glowing stories of the sandalwood
to be found at Erromango and others
of the New Hebrides.
These accounts fired the imagina-
tions of Boki and Manuia, two high
chiefs of this island of which the
former was Governor and they easily
persuaded Kamehamcha the Third
to lend them two of his brigs, the
Kamehameha and the Beckett, to
sail for the New Hebrides for the
purpose of conquering that group
and colonizing them and raising
sandalwood for export.
In the early part of 1929 they set
sail for the New Hebrides, Governor
Boki having about 800 Hawaiians
with him on board the Kamehameha
and Manuia having an equal number
aboard the Beckett. About 400 of
the total number were able bodied
fighting men. Many of them took
their wives with them. The Cap
tains were white men and most of the
crews also. Both vessels were
aimed with carronades and carried
great quantity of ammunition.
They also took along materials for
houses and provisions. The plan was
to settle on one island, gradually
conquer it, and then proceed from
island to island conquering each in
turn. One vessel was to be retained
for purposes of transport and the
other was to ply between the group
and Honolulu with sandalwood
bringing rcinforcements and sup
plies in return.
The Kamehameha was a very
swift vessel, Baltlmore-b built, and
made the run out from New York
in 112 days under command of
Captain John Meek. The Beckett
was not such swift sailer but in
due course she arrived off Erro-
mango under the guidance of her
sailing-master, Edmund Butler OF
Lahaina, and landed her passengers.
They built large stockade and
erected their houses within it moi
far from the beach and prepared tc
settle down while the Beckett sailed
in quest of the Kamehameha which
had not yet arrived. She did moi
return for three or four weeks having
failed to find her or any traces O.
her and it was not till years afte
- that portions of her hull were foun(
by traders. 1t is supposed that b.
some means her supply of ammuni
ton exploded and she was blown up
Not trace of Boki or his 800 com
panions was ever found.
When the Beckett returned to tn
infant settlement over two-thirds o
their settlers had died from malaria
fever, the deadly scourge of thos
low-lying, swampy, tropical shores
The balance who were in a feebl
state from illness were immediatel
taken on board where some died be
fore the anchor could be weighed
They told pitiful stories of how til
cannibal New Hebrideans gathere
round their stockade and, when an
of them maddened by disease woul
crawl over the enclosure, woul
seize him, kill him, and roast hi
before the eyes of his companion
who were too enfeebled to help {
protect him.
On the retuln voyage with I'll
exception of Kaupena, the wife
Manuia, and five others the balan'
taken on board died and were throw
overheard, some even not qui
dead. The body of Manuia WI
brought home by his wife, preserve
in rum. Out of nearly 600 wi
went away in two fine briggs, We
armed and supplied, one brig al
six enfeebled and distressed Haw
iians were all that ever returne'
This ended the first colonizir
scheme.
The high chiefess Liliha, bett'