The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-07-26
DEFINITE BELIEF IN DEMONS.
Native HawaiIans Lack Tenaoity Of Life
Fatal Dread of Disease.

Native HawaiIans Lack Tenaoity OF Life
Fatal Dread of Disease.
Although capable of great exertion
on sea or land the grandly muscular
bodies of Hawaiian natives, If in
fiuenced by fright or dread. absolutely
lack tenacity of hfe. In 1858, alarmed
by smallpox, thousands threw them
selves into the water to stop the fever,
and many died in the act. An epidemic
of measles a few years later proved
harmless to the whites, but several
thousand natives perished. One writer
quoted by the Popular Science News,
thinks that this "ready surrender to
sickness is, in most cases, due to detin-
ite belief in demon whom the native
feels working in his vitals, and whom
IL is hopeless to resist"
In 1878 native called at the shop of
c. Il. Williams, an undertaken, in Hon
olulu, and bought for him self and wife
two coffins went home, bathed,
changed his dress, and was buried with
his wife. There was no suspicion of
poisoning.
A native workman who had been in
Mr.. Williams employ for many years,
admiring one day snowy coffin of Goa
wood which he hims elf had polished,
strongly limited his desire TO be buried
therein.
"Yes, MolSu, when you die it shall
be your pahu Cbox, } said the employer.
DIT tka aNta.,N MAlE,, an.,1latt
dure but for one brief day, for he was
buried within forty hours after acquir-
ing his new possession. In the latter
instance some emotion other than fear
ambition, perhaps, or avarice-
seemed to influence the early death.
1t is nearly impossible to induce a
native when sick, TO submit TO medical
treatment. Here the power of the
ordinary kahuna, one Of the saving
sort, is displayed. Black pigs are
roasted for the invalid and his friends
and the kahuna, while communica-
tions, we'll paid for, are held with the
powers above and below. There is
then no limit TO the fortitude with
which the patient will endure suffer
ing unrelieved. Pretending TO obey
the foreign physician he follows the
directions Of the kahuna who, in his
two-fold function Of doctor and priest,
is preaching and practicing behind the
scenes and throwing away the mix
lures Of his rival (perhaps Of question
able adaptation themselves.)
Thus doomed race courts death.
What we have now seen of character,
habit and surroundings of the native
Hawaiians clearly shows that II would
be impossible TO exert any deadly in
fluence upon these people through
threats or their own fears and supersti-
tlons or the slightest exposure or shook.
The processes Of praying to death
are as follows; Any native whose
goods were desired, or who might
otherwise have given cause Of offense,
summoned by anaana, instantly sus-
pended his avocation, and, fastening
TO the ltahuna, crouched in abject sub
mission to his will until death took
place, usually in few hours, and APP
parently from exhaustion.
frequently kahuna repairs in per-
son TO the abode of his victim and
places himself in the presence of the
man, thereupon muttering nominations
and prayers. The kahuna's own favor
ite god is usually addressed and also
such aumakuas and deities as are sup
posed to have been offended by the sc-
cused. The subject sits quietly before
his antagonist, takes no food and but
little drink, and dies in few days
Chicago Tribune.