The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-11-28
AROUND IN CHINATOWN.
HoNOLULU'S METROPOLITAN ORR
ENTAIL COMMUNITY.
Scenes of squalor and other views-why
the Japs and Chinese DO
Not Quarrel.

hardly realize the truly oriental char
acter of the community. Oriental |
Yes, it is oriental; but more correctly !
speaking, it is metropolitan com !
munity composed largely of Asiatics
Any thing in the way of an Asiatic can |
be found there. From the light-brown
Japanese boy, to the Chnaman, the
Indian, the Cingalese and finally the
coal black Manila man, is found |
specimens of humanity to make up all
that the word Asiatic can mean.
Their habits very according to their
nationality and circumstances. Some |
are clearly, more especially the better |
class of Chinese. but for the most part |
they are filthy and repulsive in their |
habits. Their mode of living is usually |
in crowded quarters. Some of the
Coolies in Chinatown, who have arisen
to the distinction of sho-keepers, sleep
at night in little room scarcely larger
than dogs kennel. In some cases
numbers of them will pack in place of
this kind together. They seem to like
it, or at least, it seems to suit them.
Parts of Maunakea street are notable
for its numbers of small wooden buildings
standing together Few people know
that these buildings, on the inside, are
just like honey comb, with the addi-
| ton OF innumerable doorways, stairs
and little alleys. But such is the case
Manu- Of tha littla collie ,,sal fo, ,loa,.;,,.
purposes are dark and windowless into
which the light of day never pierces,
with close air, thickly impregnated with
unpleasant and impure odors. Most of
these, in the less neat section of the
community, are extremely filthy. Dust
and dirt, in some instances, are thick on
the walls OF sleeping apartments.
In the dark depths of Chinatown
visit to lodging house, set back in the
block away from the street, is an expert
ence person can not easily forget. A
lodging house in ordinary Chinese par
lance means a cook room, table in the
same apartment, a card room or social
hall and multiplicity of sleeping apart
ments. 1t usually has two stories.
When back from the street the entrance
is invariably by an alleyway; there are
a number OF exits, but these are only
known by the Cinnamon themselves.
Their hardest work in life, perhaps, is
to keep detectives from discovering their
doors through the wall.
poosipn Hnun tho al tba onoI,
room of the lodging house is entered
through little door, the feat being ac-
complished while in STOPPING posture.
The first thing noticed is a stove in the
center, its dark shape being made visible
by the dim light of an old lantern.
: Nearly all the cooking utensils are pots
: for boiling purposes. They have little
, use for frying pans in such place. The
chief diet prepared on this stove is rice,
:, though this does not complete even the
poor Chinaman's menu, as popularity
supposed. They have a stew. which
' they call in English "China STYLE" that
is not bad. 1t is a regular diet with
them; they all know how to make it,
All kinds of meat go to make up this
stew. The ordinary bean is the favorite
y vegetable forthis dish though they
. add corn, cabbage sometimes tomatoes
and not infrequently gambo and rice
1t is made verythick and eater
!, :, with chop sticks. Inaddition to thi.
!. the ordinary Chinaman has his
roast duck PLAIN, and generally
!, kills a chicken for Sunday. Otherwise
: he buys fish for change.
But going back to the lodging house il
may be well to state that the only thing
:. to be found in the cook room, aside iron
the stove and dining table, is miniature
% stairway leading to the rooms above
This stairway is just little better thar
ladder, and leaves you to crawl through
a small hole at the top into region o
9 darkness and evil odors. The rooms VI
Il there are all small. They are like cell
il in dungeon. Though less regular the,
remind one of the wards of peniten
d tiary. When the dodgers are in it is
4 gruesome place to visit. They sit o
- NOPE around in the darkness, remind
ing one of spooks and hobgoblins
When a pencil OF light darts through
distant crack in the wall and strike
us upon their brown skins, they flare W
They look twice as big as they are
III Their eyes stand out like danger signals
1t and their fingers look like the claws OF
,h bear.
nd The rooms are dirty. You put you
ul hand against the wall and take it ava
is black. The handkerchief is used. 70
begin to sweat and apply the sam
~ handkerchief to your brow. The resu
" is maddening and you quit the place.
ne While this rambling description al
v. plies to sphere of life in Chinatown,
rs by no means portrays all. In SON
places the sights are too dispiriting
NO recall; the scent and effects of opiul
yo are at every hand. The places are di
he gustingly vile. In some of them
a would seem impossible for a huma
ay being to exist.
or Turning away from this scene it
Ike refreshing to recall the fact that mar
on of the larger Chinese merchants live
comfort and surrounded by the conve
ks fences of modern civilization. They a
Ike clearly in their habits and really chast
ON more 80 than any other people living
las Chinatown.
The Japanese in this locality, SO far
OF, it lies within the power of Caucasus
ire to judge, are, in habits and condition
rs. in about the same state as the Chimes
Eat In fact, in point of moral
TX the Jap is rather below Il
Chlnaman, and is harder to manag