Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-03-15
THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

these two fine views of the Capital OF
Hawaii, as it exists to-day, We could
have reproduced drawn gs made there
in the earlier years of tins century.
About 1893, if we mistake not. mis-
sionary named Ellis published vol
ume of something like four bundled
pages, eutltled, "Ten years in the
Sandwich Islands," This book Is prob
ably still to be found in some old
libraries, and would prove a m'ne OF
Information on its subject. In fact,
more of the knowledge now possessed in
regard to the savage condition of these
once uncivilized islands is taken from
this slightly prosy, bat highly valuable
WORK. 1t Is illustrated from drawings
made by Mr. Ellis, and it is these
which We wish that We could have
given to our readers in connection with
our fine modern views.
The "King's Palace" Was then long,
low hut, somewhat larger taan those of
the ordinary natives, and perhaps a
/ little more carefully constructed, but
still differing from them very little In
point of beauty or comfort. In place
of tie city Of Honolulu, looking like
every other rich or prosperous city OF
modern construction, and with har-
Dor full of ships of all nations, was then
but quiet bay and quieter shore, only
enlivened by groups OF natives sporting
in the tepid waves, aud, on rare occa-
sions. visited by an English or Amer
lean whaler. From the time of the
acquisition of our Pacific States, far
eeeing statesmen have almost univer-
sally agreed that to America wonld
eventually fall, as by natural right,
these fertile islands, situated so adgan
tHgeOusly for Us midway between San
/ francisco and Australia in the one di-
rrctIon, and China in the other. This
il rot question of politics. Real
statesmen of every shade of political
opini have uniformly looked forward
to the ultimate annexation of the Sand
wich Islands as a national necessity.
| Though a few narrow inded partisans
/ now seek to make political capital of
! their opposition to this salutary mea-
sure, it is TO be hoped that their efforts
will fail. That some who urge the an
nexatiUn may have selfish motives for
| their course, Is very probable. Bnt
| should all great measures be allowed to
wait until nobody had any axes to
grind, what would become of national
progress? 1t is an extremely narrow
view to take of such q subject that be-
cause a certain man, or clique, may be
/ benefited, therefore a great nation ls
! to refuse to take advantage of free
| gift which will eventually benefit every
citizen. 1t would be like refusing to
partake Cf a bountiful table, because
| sCme insIgnifca can't cat or dog might get
'he crumbs we must let fall.
II cur issua for February 18th, we
gave AN sccount of the late revolution
10y which Queen LIliuokalani was dis
| possessed and provisional govern
ment appointed. While We write, the
! question OF annexation is before the
! National Congress. There Is therefore
a period of waiting during which we
may protitably turn Onr eyes to the
| material consideration of these islands
| of the Pacific at the time when AmerI-
can missionaries first went among
them.
On this subject We find an interest
ing article from the pen of Frederick
Stearn5 in the Detroit Free Press, from
which we quote: .'An interesting art
IN the Polynesian group of islam is,
where othing like loom was known
! until the natives came in contact with
J
| the manufacture of their material for
clothing, called in the Hawaiian Is
lands, Tapa or Kappa. This art and
industry which has almost entirely
ceased in these islands Is still active II
those father south on the equatorial
belt.
Before printed c9ttons became com
mon in the Hawaiian Islands the dress
| nE
| Pau (pah-Oo) composed of five thick.
nesses of tapa each, abont four yard'
long and from three to four feet wide
passed several times around the wais
and extending below the knee, while
that of the men was simply a malo Ol
girdle which was about a foot wide anC
three or four yards long.
A mantle about six feet square, Hi
hei (Ki-ha-ee), was sometimes worn by
both men and women, by the men by
tying two corners of the same side to-
getber so that tile knot rested on one
shoulder, and by the women after the
manner of a long shawl.
Bed coverings KAPPA moel were made
of five LAYERS of common white taps
three or four yards square, the outside
piece (Kilohana) being stained Ol
painted with vegetable dyes and otter
richly ador ued with stampe patterns o.
the same.
This tapa, or lark cloth, wa
made of the tast or inner bari
of the paper mulberry tree ol
wauke (Broussontai Papyrifera, Vent.
and of the mamake (Pipturu
albidus, Cray, both belonging to tn.
nettle family aud both indigenous to tine
Hawaiian islands. Both were formerly
cultivated With much care, not only II
Hawaii bat by n ! Polynesisns of tn,
Msoi and Vitian races.
At the present time these trees are
found only in the isolated places along
the lower forest zone and chiefly IL
Kona, Oh the south coast of the Island
of Hawaii.
The manufacture of tapa was entire
iy in the hands of the women, who
peeled off strips of the bark as wide a.
practicable, three to six inches, anC
while fresh scraped off the outer coating
with shell or stone implements. Aftel
soaking awhile in water each strip wa,
laid upon a smooth log or anvil, curveC
after a certain pattern for the purpose
and beaten first with heavy hardwood
round club called ho-hoa. When re
duced to the thickness of common
flexible paper the strips were unitel
or feltei together by overlaying tb'
edges and beating them and then tn,
whole sheet when prepared OF siz,
to suit the special purpose was beater
with square club called Iekuku Zee
a-koo-koo) made of hard kaurvili wood
Two or three sides OF this club wert
carved with incised parallel lines NOR,
or less crowded, while one face woulC
be carved in some suitable pattern
By continued beating and careful man
ipulation many kinds and qualities o
tapa were made, some so fine as to re
semble muslin and lace, and otheI
kinds left very thick and tough lik,
leather. 1t was often bleacL ed whit,
or stained with vegetable and my eBa
dyes. One of the most advanced art