Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-11-06
ATE POI AND MIAMOS.
EXPERIENCE OF A YOUNG EN-
VOY IN HAWAII.
Compelled to Eat Fatted Dog and Live
bIinnows I'm the Interests of
France-But His Loyalty
Was All In Vain.


Was All In Vain.
Charles f. Hinckley, OF New Fork.
spends most OF his time in the Sand
wich Islands where he has large COM
mercial interests. During conversa-
ton in the Grand Pacific he related a
story which explains why France was
not able to carry out desired negoti-
alton with the late King Kalakaua
There is nothing especially start
ling in the Hawaiian Islands, he be-
gan, ''but l will relate a bit Of history
and give you a government secret A
year ago now the French government
sent Paul Leroq, young Partisan in
the diplomatic service, to make GER
tain negotiation with King Kalakaua-
The young fellow was bright enter
tanning and made a good impression
in the foreign land. He had general
preliminary talks with the king which
were quite satisfactory, and the bust
ness was to be definitely settled at a
dinner given by the king. NJ Leroq
asked me to be present at the dinner.
The king invited young Cumkua, one
of his nephews. 1t was the oldest ban
quet ever heard of. You know that
the late king was the prince OF enter
tainers and he spared no expense in
royalty taking care OF his friends.
After several courses the king said we
were TO be treated to the choicest dish
in the world. called poi The serv-
ants brought in huge tray, upon
which was fat smoking dog. The
young Frenchman started to jump up
from the table but held him down,
saying in French that he must put up
with anything in order to carry out his
plans.
Cheer up. said. as the fat dog
was being carved. III eat it If l die, ;
he said, as he began TO make his word
good.
This poi, as it is called, is the
greatest dish in the Sandwich Islands.
A young dog is fattened for three
months upon sort of native potato
called poi Then he is ready for the
chef. II it were served like roast beef
1t would be excellent but the novelty
is always brought on like beef at a
barbecue-head ears, and all but the
Dark. The meat itself did not taste
bad, but 1t was enough to make a
Paul Leroq ate few mouthfuls, then
complimented tho dish with the suav-
ity characteristic OF his race.
81 am dead man. he would
whisper to me in his native language.
"'But you will win out l replied
as l struggled manfully. I'VE were
tortured for few moments, then the
poi was taken away. Now, said
the king look out for surprise.
Poor Leroq's face was a study. He
did not dare to ask what was the next
sporting event and felt as if l were
gong through a surgical operation.
"'Do you love miamos? asked his
royal highness. Leroq did not speak
for a moment and | pinched him.
"'Do love miamosT he asked, half
dazed; why, love that better than
anything Yes, indeed. l put in.
M. Leroq was telling me this morning
that no grand dinner was complete
without miamos'
"All the while we were guessing.
Presently the bells changed and the SER
want brought in an immense bowl
filed with little gold fish. There were
some kind OF a native minnow such
as we use for bait when fishing. l
supposed this was but an ornament
and nearly fell out of my shoes when
the king began TO serve them in deep
plates half filed with water. Putting
his hands in his plate he took out
few of the little fish. pinched them to
death, and ate them with the grace OF
q swan.
- This is too much, muttered my
friend. Eat them, If they have fish
hooks in their gills 1 said. Think
of your business which will come up
after the dinner Not much, he re-
piled. I'd not eat them IL l could be
made president OF France by so doing
Just then the king said something
about the friendly relations between
the Hawaiin government and France
This so upset Leroq that he grabbed
q handful OF fish and swallowed them
alive. In n few moments he was pale
and deathly sick.
Pardon me- he said TO the king.
but have one OF my old attacks of
chills and fever. / will retire Then
he turned to me and said in French:
The whole Hawaiian Islands can go
to the devil. II must be cannibal
TO carry out a mission for my govern
ment / will resign
II left the room to care for him and
was Mortified TO hear the young
nephew toll the king every word that
Leroq had spoken In French. That
was the last straw. Leroq tainted
away when l told him that the nephew
was French scholar, and that treaty
with France has never been ratified.
Leroq never same back. Chicago
Herald.