Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-06-08
THE NIUHI.

The doctor and were en- loving much
needed rest in little cottage at Waikiki,
Honolulu's ideal watering-place, says F.
l.. Clarke in the San FranciscisC O
Chronicle. Strolling along the beach one
day we came across a group of native
fishermen repairing a large saffron
cOlOred net one hundred feet long, per
haps, and ten feet wide
Take a LOOK at that" said the doctor.
who, born and brought up on the islands.
was familiar with the language and
habits Of the natives THAT is made
from the tibrous inner bark of the olona.
small tree growing in damp gulches.
The natives have way of separating the
inner bark from the outer green pellicle,
and scrape it into long smooth threads,
which they twist into thin cords, with
which the net is made. The fiber is as
strong and smooth as silk, and fish lines
and nets made from it last a long time. :"
''lf 1t is so strong what has torn it
sop asked.
The doctor repeated the question to
the fisherman and then translated.
''They say that they were Just outside
the breakers yesterday with the net, and
managed to entangle a specimen of the
'ManO Kihikihi' CHE hammer-headed
shark and he did the damage 1t seems
that they can't manage one of that spe-
cies of the huge white shark in a net
They have to use a hook to secure such
sea monsters"
After asking a few more questions of
the natives the doctor told me that thew
were going off in few DAYS to try to
capture one Of the huge sharks known as
''nluhl," or man eaters, and that they
had offered to take US (for a considera-
tom If we would promise to sit still in
the canoes.
otis a good chance, " he added, 'to
ENJOY an experience that not one foreigner
In thousand meets with. And these
fellows wouldn't offer it now if they did
not believe that the niuhi would scent us
white men, and be al the more ready to
take the baitE on the chance of it's being
you or l."
Having had some experience in a
Sandwich Island canoe, it was not with
out feeling of trepidation that | con-
sented to embark again in one, under
the circumstances. The agreement was
made, however, and we held ourselves in
readiness to start whenever the signal
should be given to do so.
But elaborate preparations had first to
be made by the fishermen for the pro-
jected trip. They first took the livers
and part of the flesh of some common
sharks they had caught and wrapped
them In the broad stout leaves of the
kl-pant, These packages were then
thoroughly baked in a rude stone oven
built on the beach and packed in the
canoes as bait While this was being
done two of the larger canoes were
dashed together by their ''outriggers" so
as to make one double canoe. On the
int OcEp6 OutriTCrorc ro-,,,
built, and on this were arranged piles of
bait and strong line. With the bait
was slowed two or three bundles of
lava, (the root of the piper methys-
tchum, which, being chcwed, is stupe-
flying IN its effect. Gourds filled with
fresh water were also provided, and
finally, when the fleet was ready to sail.
an ancient 'kahuna'' (half priest, half
sOrcerer) appeared and examined every
thing critically. 1t was his province.
by his lamentations, to prevent the I
dreaded man eater from devouring anv
of the fishermen, and so the doctor took
pains to have us specially mentioned in
his invocatiOns.
A swift, light double canoe was fitted !
up for Us, and four stalwart paddlers as
signed to the duty of keeping US in the /
midst of the sport, and still out of dan
ger.
Everything being in readiness, two
or three of the lighter canoes were
launched and their occupants padded /
out to sea to discover some signs of the !
wished for man-eater, while we were di- |
rected to be ready to embark at any time. |
1t might be day or two before the fish |
ermen scouts would come across the |
proper indications of the presence of the .
niuhi. That variety of the shark tribe |
comes voluntarily into shallow water. F.
but must always be sought for mile or
two from land. There he makes havoc .
among all other kinds of fish, and his .
presence is indicated by the commotion
among them.
So the doctor and 1 leisurely dined
that afternoon on the broad veranda
overhanging the ripping sea, and lazily
sauntered through the grove of palms
and down hybiscus-shaded, jasmine
scented paths, bordered by brilliant
leafed crotons, watching through thin
clouds of tobacco the simmer and play
of light of the setting sun on the CLEAN
ing surf. Now and then we would