The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1891-02-10

persons of ali nationalities inhabit-
ing the district reported on, the
death rate reached 1921 per thou
sand, while analysis shows that of
the 1900 Hawaiians there fell off
1881 per thousand, the Asiatie
races being only 14.40 and all others
Is per thousand.
There were only deaths under l
year old, which is a better showing
than that of the last month, but
again we have q, or .375 of the
whole, reported unattended" and
10 "cause unknown" ALI this is
very sad. The question is, how to
mend it. There are here in Homo
lulu, supported by public funds or
private charity, as many hospitals,
free dispensaries, benevolent socie-
ties and every imaginable means of
assisting those in sickness, unable
to help themselves, as exist in any
population of the same number any,
where in the world. The advice is
of the best, the means the most
ample, recent, scientific that can be
employed. All that talent, training
and charity together can do is at
hand, free and without price, and
yet the death rate of the aboriginal
race is to the foreigners as 1881
to 1910.
To compare the vital statistics
of Honolulu With other cities, we
will cite the return of the Regis
trar General of England for the
death rate in London and twenty
seven other great towns for the
first week in this year, reduced to
correspond with the annual rate
per thousand of aggregate popula-
ton. London with by far the
largest population of any city in
the world had 8 death rate of 1871
or within small fraction the same
as Honolulu. Of the other twenty
seven cities, Leicester with 1872 is
the lowest, and Preston with 1876
the highest death rate, both are
inland manufacturing cities, the
former with population of 155, 900
and the latter 100000, each largely
in excess of the population of the
whole Hawaiian Kingdom. Dur
ing the last two weeks of the year
1890 the death rate rose from 21.3
of the preceding fourteen weeks to
1858, the former or lower of these
rates being itself IA per 1000
higher than the mean rate in the
corresponding periods of the ten
years 1880 to 1890.
Now, as the apparently heavy
rate recorded in Honolulu, is due
almost altogether to the dispropor-
tionate mortality amongst Ha-
waiians, it is in that direction we
must look for the causes before the
attack can be made with any hope
of success.
The cause of this terrible NOR
tallty amongst Hawaiians we be-
lieve to be almost or altogether
the faith of the people in KAHUNAs
or native sorcerers. The Hawailans
may wear haole clothes, may fill
the churches on Sunday, and send
their children to school the week
through, but they believe. in and
dread the power of the kahuna.
The native preachers themselves
will tell you so. Not a doctor in
the place with any experience of
the natives but will confirm the
statement. Not one who has
not found his advice disre-
garded, his prescriptions dis
carded, his rules neglected and
knows that the kahuna has crossed
his path. Even in critical surgical
cases, the surgeons work has been
undone, and some unfortunate ma
tive brought to his deathbed, or to
partially recover with a withered
or distorted limb, by his own rela-
tives at the bidding of the kahuna.
We have no hesitation in assert
ing that kahunadom is rampant
and is thinning out the native race.
How many petitions were present.
ed to this very last Legislature to
recognize, to legallze, to license
and even to endow kahunadom.