The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-08

From the San Francisco Chronicle.
The doctor and were enjoying a much
needed rest in a little cottage at Waikiki,
Honolulu's ideal watering place. Strolling
along the beach one day we came across a
group of native fishermen repairing a SAT-
fron-coored net, 100 feet long, perhaps, and
10 feet wide.
Take 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
fbrous inner bark of the olona, a 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
fibre is as strong and smooth as silk, and
fish lines and nets made from it last long
time"
''If it is so strong what has torn it soF'
The doctor repeated the question to the
fishermen and then translated.
They say that they were just outside
the breakers yesterday with the net, and
managed to entangled specimen of the
'manO kihikihi, the hammer-headed
shark and be did the damage. 1t seems
that they can't manage one of that species
or the huge white shark in a net They
have to use a hook to secure such sea mon
sters"
After asking few more questions of the
natives the doctor told me that they were
Eoing off in few days to try to capture
5ne of the huge sharks known as ''niuhi, -
)r man-eaters, and that they had offered to
lake us for a consideration if we would
promise to sit still in the canoes
''It's good chance he added, ''to en-
joy an experience that not one foreigner
IN a 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 all the more ready to
take bait on the chance of its being you
or l."
Having had some experience in a Sand
wich Island canoe, it was not without
feeling of trepidatlon that [ consented to
embark again in one under the circum-
stances. The agreement was made, how
ever, and we held ourselves in readiness to
start whenever thesignal should be given to
do so.
But elaborate preparations had first to be
made by the fishermen for the projected
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 XII plant. These pack
ages 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 tire larger canoes were dashed
together by their ''outriggers" so as to make
one double canoe On the inter-locked out
Triggers a platform was built, and on this
were arranged piles of bait and a strong
line. With the bait, was slowed two or
three bundles of Java" (the root of the
piper methystichum, which, being chewed,
is Supplying 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 sor-
cerer appeared and examined everything
critically. 1t was his province, by his in
carnations, toprevent the dreaded man-eater
from devouring any of the fishermen, and
so the doctor took pains to have us specially
mentioned in his invocations.
A swift, light double canoe was fitted I'D
for us, and four stalward paddlers assigned
to the duty of keeping us in the midst of
the sport and still OUT of danger.
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 directed to be ready to
embark at any time 1t might be day or
two before the fishermen scouts would come
across the proper indications of the presence
tribe never comes voluntarily into shallow
water but must always be sought for mile
or two from land. There he makes havoc
among all other kinds Of fish, and his pres
ence is indicated by the connection among
them.
SO the doctor and leisurely dined that
afternoon on the broad veranda overhang-
ing the ripping sea, and lazily squntered
through the grove of palms and down
hyrhicp11c- clo 1oI
bordered by brilliant-leafed crotons watch
ing, through thin clouds of tobacco, the
simmer and play of light of the setting
sun on the cleaning surf. Now and then
we would glance up to the sharply defined
peak of Diamond Head. where, 700 feet
above US, we knew the natives were watch
ing for the signal from the fishermen far out
at sea-
At last it came. When the western sky
was ablaze with the glory of tropical sun
set shout went up from the group of ex-
pectant fishermen on the beach. They
pointed to Diamond Head, where, clearly
drawn against the sky, was seen the naked
Inquire of the Waterman fiourishing his scar
let maJo, or breech cloth, which he had torn
of to signal with.
1t took us but few moments to reach our
canoe and spring in. Immediately our
crew of paddlers forced the light hulls into
The water, and in another moment we were
dartlng over the smooth water inside the
reef III hot chase after the large double
canoe, on the platform of which sat the
hahuna, wildly tossing his arms about and
hoWllng out dismal incarnation. All the
paddlers sat on the gunwales of their
canoes and with vigorous Rhythmic str0kes
Oh their broad-bladed paddles drove for
ward the vessels. Soon we felt from the
plunglng motion that we were on the inner
edge OF the breakers Another moment and
the roar and hiss of the coming waves were
upon us. | glanced at the doctor, and had
Just glimpse Of him as he sat low down in
the stern of his canoe, his muscular hands
clutching firmly the edges of the craft,
while from between his close-set teeth de-
pended his beloved meerschaum. Quick
pulls Of smoke betrayed his excitement as
the canoes reared and plunged over the
breakers, and then we were gliding easily
over the long swell outside.
Though it did not take us long to reach
the spot where the man-eater was known TO
be, yet night had fallen on them, and it was
oy the light Of torches made of the baked
kernels OF the candle nut strung upon
cocoa-leaf fiber that we drew near the feet
AS we did SO the dip of paddles was noise
less, and it was by signs alone that the
luna, or head fisherman, gave directions
OF the rest. BY the smoky, red light of the
torches we could see men busily scattering
about the baked meat they had brought,
a Leo Ar.lE H.