The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-05-01
Ths 9ailg 8nllstim.
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1885.
A NATIVE SOLOMON ON DIVORCE.

1 was sitting with the Rajah on
the raised platform in front of his
house, drinking tea in the cool of
the evening. Suddenly our peace
full, silent smoking was disturbed by
a young and very pretty girl with
flowers in her hair and silver orna-
ments on neck and arms, who rushed
up the ladder and threw herself at
the Rajah's feet in passion of tears.
After her assembled slowly, one by
one, number of villagers wrapped
in their long, homespun nantes, who
quietly sat down on the platform to
the right and left of the chief. The
Rajah smoked on silently, until the
woman's sobs had grown somewhat
less violent, when he remarked
quietly, "Weeping is good for wo-
men,"
A few more puffs of fragrant TO-
bacco, and, as the sobbing still con-
tinued, he added with solemnity,
"Three conditions are to be avoided:
First, not to be able to weep; sec
ond, to weep without knowing for
why; third, to weep too much"
The last condition was pronounced
with impressive distinctness, and an
asserting murmur went around the
assembly. The girl raised her head.
"My father. l cannot live with
Tawngey! I hate him!" "What
has he done? Has he beaten you?"
''No, he has not beaten me, that /
should not have minded. He sus-
poets me. He watches me, and l
will not endure it. demand to be
divorced! Oh! my father, be it on
your head!" "Tawngey, come for
ward, thou son of foolishness What
is this l hear?'
| Tawngey appeared, sliuking shame
facedly from the depths of the
crowd. First making lowly obei-
sance he sat down before the chief.
My Lord" said Tawngey, " l saw
her flirting with -" cit is
false-it is false!" vehemently cried
the girl, dashing away her tears. 81
went with the other girls to draw
water in the stream, and Adults
sweetheart, Pawthee, came and
began laughing, and so we splashed
him with water. Then this man -
(pointing with concentrated scorn at
the wretched Tawngey), "this man
was spying behind tree, and he
came and dragged me by the arm
and abused me before them all. !
have never suffered such shame.
Release me, oh my father! 1 vii
not live with him. Here she again
Frustrated herself at the Rajah's
feet. A dead silence ensued, broker
only by the girls sobs. Tawngey
looked as though he wished the eartL
would swallow him, but he said no
word.
Suddenly the Rajah spoke again
and gave orders. ooh, you and
you" (naming two or three elders
among the spectators), "take away
these two wicked ones, who disobey
the holy law. Strip them of all theil
clothes, save one cloth only to the
women, and shut them up together
in the great empty guest-house. II
the morning l will hear them again
Enough! l have spoken" So thu
young couple were hustled off ant
shut up in bare, empty house, will
but one garment between them. Th
night was very cold, and as / pulled
my thick wadded quilt over M.
shoulders before going to sleep,
admired the shrewd wisdom of tn
Rajah. In the morning when thei
clothes were handed in to them ant
the door was opened to conduct ther
before the Chief, they quietly slippe
away hand-in-hand, and departe
peaceably to their own abode. Fro'
Lieut.-CO1. Lewias's "Hoao
|. Helped to Govern L0ia."