The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-05-29

tor had worked himself into q fever, if /
everything went right and he did not faint
from over-exertion, the powder would begin
to smoke. That was the critical moment of
the whole operation. The fre-maker must
then increase his exertions and rub with
added vigor, then suddenly pause and coax,
with the last puff of wind he has left, the
smoking powder into flame. 1t may be said
in this connection that since the whalemen
brought the first bunch of matches from
Boston to the Islands the fire sticks have
gone out of use.
ANCIENT HAWAIIAN CANDLES.
With the fire sticks are shown the old
style of candles Of native manufacture. They
are made Of the nuts of the "candle-nut'
tree. These are roasted for time and then
the meat is extracted and strung on the mid
rib of palm pinnule. Ten or fifteen of the
kernels will make candle about foot in
length. The kernel at the end of the candle
being lighted, ithe others burn as the flame
reaches them, the whole lasting about an
hour. The nuts give a smoky, oily light,
and are also eaten as a relish, they having
pleasant oily taste and piquant flavor.
HAWAIIAN TOYS, BOTTLES, ETC.
There are a number of the toys called
palate, braided from flexible withes, and
finished with loop the end. Hanging
| from the middle of the stick is small ball
of kappa, and the object lof the players is to
see hOw often in given number of times
they can catch the ball in the loop. Another
toy is a spinning top made of small gourds.
| The machine is arranged so that the center
| gourd, being held in the hand, the other two,
| by means of string, are made to rotate
| rapidly. Then, too, there are the miniature
buzz-saws that every boy from abroad has
made with round piece of tin and double
cord. The only difference between the Eng
lish and the Hawaiian form of the toy is
that the Hawaiian used bit of wood or
shell for a saw. The common gourd is seen
in great variety of shapes, and is used for
a variety of purposes. There are fat plates
made from the bottoms of large ones;
pretty drinking vessels from round, smooth
specimens, and some curious bottle-shaped
containers, SO tightly corked up that no
moisture can get inside. These are used by
fishermen and others at sea. Some of the
| gourdS married in fanciful designs, and
many OF them are uSel AZ calabashes. There
are many other fiue cAlabaShes made of koa,
| kou, aud other handsome oods. There
are also large number of dishes, cups,
plates aud other con tanners made of cocoa
nuts, and beau tifully polished. The carving
on some of them is very pretty and original.
FIsH-HooKs, TRAPS, NETS, ETC.
Among the fishing implements are hooks
made from bits of wire sharpened and
fastened in pairs to shell of the cowrie
species, and weighted on the back with a
stone cut into shape for the purpose. Diff
ferent kinds of fish traps are also shown,
from models of the large ones used in catch
ing big fish, to the little pear-shaped ones
used by women in taking shrimps and other
small fry. Nets of various sizes, and made
from different kinds of native fibres, are
also exhibited. Fish lines, snares and other
means used for capturing fish are shown in
profusion.
KAPPA, OR NATIVE BARK CLOTH,
Is shown made up into bedspreads, petit
coats about foot long, and as wrappers.
Many of the specimens are dyed in pretty
colors and queer designs.
THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
OF the ancient Hawaiians are represented
by nose flutes and bow-stripged instru-
ments. The flutes were made of bamboo,
and the music produced on them is simple
and plaintive. There are also some drums
made by stretching FISH skins over gourds
and also rattles used in dancing, made by
putting a number of pebbles into gourd
These last are oTnamented with tufts o.
feathers.
FOOT AND HEAD WEAR.
variety of sandIes are shown. Some are
made from the leaves of the lau-hala, and
others from the tough leaf stalks of tn,
banana. A small pair or two, for children:
use, are made from wauki fibre, hare
twisted, and made up like fat mat. There
are great many hats, both for men and
women. They are made of the stalks of the
squash, from the flower stalk of the sugar
cane, and from palm fibre and various
grasses. The work on them is very gooG
and neat, some of those made for women
and children being especially handsome
Some pretty fans are exhibited, much taste
and skill being shown in their manufacture
The models of canoes shown are pretty
and make fine souvenirs of the Islands.
PERSONAL ORNAMENTS, ETC.
At one of the tables is to be found larg
number of bracelets, or Wristlets, made o
shells polished kukui nuts, seeds of TIT
wil:wii tree and the koa tree, bright yellow
shells and other pretty trifes. Attached t.
the necklaces are ornaments made of ivory
called palaua, which were at one time high
ly priced by the Hawaiians. Specimens d
hat braid. of the bark of trees in differen
stages of preparation, and many other &r
ticles illustrating Hawaiian everyday lif'
are to be found in this unique and pleasan
fair.
THE ROOM IS HANDSOMELY DECORATED
With the flags of all nations, and the equally
brilliant and varied colors displayed in the
costumes worn by the native visitors. The
fair remains open to-day and tomorrow
and affords every an opportunity to see
and procure many pretty and interesting
articles of Hawaiian make.
Their Majesties the King and Queen will
be present during the day, Her Majesty pre-.
siding at one of the tables. Their Royal
Highnesses the Princess Liliuokalani and
LikeIike will also have tables. His Majesty
Cham berlain, Col. C. b. Judd, has genera
charge of the arrangement.
The fair will open at O'Clock this after