New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-09
A FUNERAL IN HONOLULU.
CEREMONIES THAT ATTENDED THE BITRIaI,
OF THE PRINCESS VICTORIA:
aER UNFORTUNATE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES cs
o. HAWAIIAN MoURNERs-wHY PRINCE
BILL NEVER MARRIED.

o. HAWAIIAN MoURNERs-wHY PRINCE
BILL NEVER MARRIED.
IN the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir; The death OF Kalakaua, the King OF Hawaii
n-nrs to the recollection OF one who knew him we'll
oa,e incidents in connection with the death and burial
Al the Princess Victoria, sister of King Kamehameha
". In the year 1866. lived in the upper part of
the city of Honolulu, and my nearest neighbor
Kalakaua, then Chamberlain of the Kingdom. with
che rank of colonel in the army. After the death Of
the Princess her body was taken to the Palace and
laid IN state This building. which was nothing more
than large square stone house. with veranda on all
sour sides stood alone In plot Of ground the size of
an ordinary city square, surrounded by wall ten feet
high made of blocks Of coral taken from the reefs in
'front.' Of the city Immediately after the dead Princess
was brought the Palace these grounds were opened
10 her retainers who swarmed In, filing a good part
AZ the space about the Palace. and took uptheir
residence for the week during which the body would
remain the Palace They eat and slept In the open
air as there fear of rain at that season Of the
year. In the night their waing for their dead patron
could be heard long distances away rising and falling
with its melancholy cadence producing weird and
canny effect upon those who heard it, did. for
the first time.
An Official bulletin published to the effect that
on such day the Palace would be opened TO all who
might desire the body of the Princess it IL
In state On the appointed dsy went, with older
resident Of the islands, to witness the novel scene.
Entering the Palace grounds, Joined the long line
of and few foreigners making their to the
Palace. AS nesred the building. from which came
the most heartrendng walls, my companion nudged me
and said
Look at those natives in front getting ready to
howl
The group composed Of women, whose dress in
these Islands consists of two light garments. the
outer made usually OF calico, and like an ordinary
de mutt falling to their feet They took out their
hsndkerchiefs and then catching hold of their gowns
lust hips each side. began tngging at them
a. II the garment from their backs. and then
setting up their death wall which sounded like the
quick repetition Of the vowel sounds "e-ah-oo'
On reaching the Palace, we entered a wide
hall running directly through the building,
and then turned the right into the state parlor in
the middle of which couch. over this was
spread the royal eatherobe, about six feet in length
made of the feathers of bird found only
on one island of the Hawaiian group Only two feath
ers this color found on each bird, so that one
can only imagine the quantity of birds slain
10 provide sufficient feathers for this robe and birds
OF any kind are plentiful anywhere in these islands
on this couch dead body of the princess was lying
She was dressed in white satin robe, trimmed down
the front and around the bottom with ribbons and
lace and so long 20 fall over the foot Of the bed
and to rest the floor. On her hands, which were
crossed on her bosom, were white kid gloves. Her
dusky face, of course, showed none OF the deathly
pallOr IN the fdce u Nlulc pcISOu anu OhOiO
was nothing 10 indicate that she was not sleeping ex-
cent the marks OF dissolution about the mouth. At
each corner of the couch was large "kahele,'
wooden rod with feathers fastened 10 IT, looking some
thing like long feather duster On each side Of the
couch stood native waving kahele.D AL the
head Of the body, on each side, were seated TWO
Hawaiian ladies of high rank one of whom, with
handkerchief rolled into the shape Of cone was con
stantly wiping the lips of the dead Princess All the
Cabinet Ministers and many of the Hawaiian MOBILES
were grouped about the couch The throng OF Visitors
passed slowly by the body not being allowed TO pause
The wangs increased as the natives neared the re-
mains of her they had served and were at their
height when they reached their dead patron. One old
hag in particular whose gray locks had been cut OIL
close 10 her head and probably offered as sacrlnce
nv eS and her sSreks rose high above ali others.
until IL seemed that our hearing wOua De PtrIha-
n Is1 in 'I 1Se midst Of her most supreme eff
f6rI, she exploded with q violent cough, wheh
had made our escape into the hall again. We found
our way back again to the veranda, near where ue
isSer of the Interior sitting there watching the pro
cesson, we Joined her. ana looked upon ehe Hoeo t
is done without her presence. And strange the
sight was. indeed. illustrating the character Oh ss
b. seen approaching, laughing and chatting one an
other. until they ca within lew 1eeu DI oe PAM aoe
wonld begin Juggling at their gowns, others would
place both hands middle Of the body and bend
intense pain and all break forth into their Weisu
walls and cries of mourning All through the Gay
his continued II was the;r last day of mourning, as
on the morrow all that remained of this unfortunate
princess carried in geat pomp up the valley Of
Nunanu TO the Royal tomb, and there placed 10 rest
among the ashes Of her forefathers. $500 :,
The story of her life a sad one. Whlle scarcely
more than girl had been betrayed by the son OF
L. -, tha Inissiouares Her father turned her out Of
his house. Her brother. the King, treated her win
great harshness She was tahooed" by the mission
sres and most of her friends and the result was that
Ike many another poor girl she was practicaly driven
20 a life OF dissipation. After she had grown into
wornanhood Kamehsmchs ~ tried to bring about
marriage between her and another seion OF royalty
Commonly known as Prince Bill" Ahe sort OF lie
each Of them leading was fully Illustrated by se
answer made TO a friend of mine by the Prlnce Inns
Gentleman said to him day, while they were talking
Hawaiian politics 1,,.. A. o II.
Prince. why do not you and Victoria do as his
Majesty wishes in this matter ana marry.
= perause there is serious impeachment"
what impedlmentq" 80 .,-, l.. III. ava
"Why said the Prince. with twinKle IN MS eye
Sue are never both sober at the same time ,,.
20 moor victoria never married. ana FRINGE Bill
.are 20 the Throne after the death Of Kamehameha
~. reSgned for few brief months, and was IN MS
turn gathered TO his fathers hHiON>
Hobokcn, Feb. 5, 1891.