The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-03-10
THE DEMON TREE
OF Fl AW All.
A Strange Story of a Man.Eat1Bg
Vegetable Told by an Eye
Witness.
By e. ELLSWORTH CAREY.
written for the P. c. ADVERTISER

government to find a certain rare
wandering plant that was believed
to grow on the higher slopes of Mau-
ma Kea, large extinct volcano situa-
ted on the northern part of Hawaii
had station built Oh one of the
wooded slopes Of the mountain far
away from any other habitation. My
only companion was a native who
had lived all his life on this part of
the island. About twice month he
would visit the sea coast to obtain
needful supplies for our camp. This
native, who said that his ancestors
were ''big Chiefs" whose bones lay
secretly buried in caves on the
mountain side, was very old, al
though be could climb canyons and
scale lava cliffs with wonderful agii-
ity.
During one of my botanizing ex-
cursions l passed by the mouth of a
narrow canyon or gorge, and I asked
spill, the old native, if he had ever
explored the same. Pill suddenly
became interested in his pipe, and
didn't know anything about the
gulch and did not understand what
I said. This was rather strange in
Pill, for natives generally know every
rock and tree in the section where
they live, and I knew Pill was lying
when he said he did not understand
me.
So, naturally, determined to ex
anime into the mysterious ravine.
Some time after this, was walking
with Pill down gentle slope, when
] saw a number of bones. Pill
stopped. He walked back few rods
and sat down on a stump. Not a
word would he say. I began exam
lining the bones. and for two hours
or more puzzled my brain over a
problem as I had never done before.
What I found was this: a circular
area of about 100 yards in diameter
thickly covered with the bleached re-
mains of birds, animals and human
beings. These CHASTITY relics were
scattered among the shrubs and
grass. The larger bones were near
the center; in fact found that the
bones became gradually smaller as
approached the periphery of this
circular bone yard. In the center Of
the circle was we'll like opening in
the ground, from which emanated
sickening odor. No vegetation grew
within fifty feet of this cavity. How
came this hole with its horrible
stencil? How came these bones
here? How came they to be ar
ranged about the central opening?
These questions continually present
ed themselves, but they remained I'M
answerable. a deep mystery seemed
to hang over the spot. 1t was grow
ing dark. / heard Pill calling, and
hurried to him. He pointed in ter
ror to the center of the bone covered
area. A shadow was thrown on the
scene by a rising bank of clouds.
But l declare that | saw rising
from the pit visible vapor,
a column of visible fog or smoke or
gas that was luminous. Spell bound,
l gazed al the spectral column Near
the ground it had the appearance of
a phosphorescent flame, aud gradu-
ally became fainter as it assembled
Your imagination will have to picture
the unearthly phenomenon. Pill
pulled at my arm, and in silence we
left the spot, and we did not loiter by
the way side.
AS was looking for a simple
plant, and not blood curdling mani
festations, I was inclined to break
camp and leave. But by morning
my nerves were in better order, and
went back to the scene of the even
ing adventure. I could find no clue
to the mystery, and the matter grad
ualIy went out of mind as / prose
cuted my labors.
But / had occasion after time to
visit spot near where | had seen
the CANYON about which Pill WAS sc
apparently ignorant. One evening ]
made known my intention to PHI to
return to the place, and to explore
the gorge.
"When?" said Pill.
SIN the morning" I replied.
Without a word, the old native
arose from his mat on the floor, ano
departed. He was gone all night. Ht
returned by sunrise, bearing on his
shoulders a bundle. When we reach
ed the canyon, he stopped and IN
packed his load. saw stone Idol
curious in shape; he placed 1T on the
ground. and then took a small pie
from his bundle. Making fire, h'
sprinkled something in the flames
muttered strange sounds and made
symbols in the air with his fingers
The animal Offering was placed be
fore the idol. After he completed
his strange rites, he said that | Nigh
never come back, but he had dom
what he could to preserve my life
He would wait until the going dowl
of the sun, and then, if / did no
come back, he would wall for me a
d;d his fathers long, long ago whel
q son fell in battle. Then he sa
down, covered up his head, and wa
silent.
All this made me feel uncomforl
able The natives of the Havana
islands are supposed to be Christian
;1ad INIT in time of danger or tror
HE MANY often turn to the di5carde
oods Of their fathers l knew n
Relieved that great danger awaite
anyone who assembled the raVih'