The Hawaiian gazette., 1894-06-22

,eOple.
4 A racy chapter OF half forgotten Ha-
sSiian history is likely to cause SEN
sStion in the United States, and particu-
1 lSrlv in the ranks Of the American Board
Of Foreign Missions, within the next
three months. 1t is nothing less than
the filing OF claim for 81 O00, 900 against
\ ne United States Government. The
cain Is based on alleged robberies by
! e missionaries Of 1876, led by Hiram
Bingham and abetted by Captain Jones
and his men, Of the United States sloop-
ot-war Peacock.
The story Of how the poor natives were
compe led at the lannon's mouth to
raise property worth 81 900 900 r those
who came in the name Of Christ TO save
their souls is like chapter from the his
tory OF buccaueering in the days OF
Spanish supremacy. The m ssage bear
ers lS26 were not so d.vout as to
train their minds wholly on spiritual
things, Tor some were shrewd traders
In their strange dual capacity Of hall
r1ri4st ard half Yankee trader they car
rel a large stock OF looking glasses and
small hand mirrors, bvnnets and cloth
ing from ancient and shop worn stocks
in Boston the natives bought freely o.
these wares, and when the early chiefs
hesitzted on account OF hard times they
were charitably given unlimited credit.
SONE ASTUTE TRADERS.
Though they know nothing about the
deyouring principle OF compound int
est they hesitAted TO accept CREDIT, but
were finally coaxed to buy the goods
offered lest their refusal to purchase be
construed as an insult to their ingenious
visitors In buying Christian goods a.
the prices current in early church circles
. they be ieved they were pleasing the
Lord. Later they were surprised by
demand for immediate pay ment in sand
81 wood, which teen brought very high
prices in China. they were by this time
-fsopelessy involved to the extent Of
Pnesrly $l,0OO,OO0 indeb,e ness. The
chief items were looking glasses, which
were sold for sums ranging from $3.50 10
$1,000 each. The smallest hand mirrors
brought $50. and il is said it was fad
in 1875 fur every young buck kanska 10
buv each OF his swerthearts-all had
ssveral-a hand miIroc. There was no
excuse Tor Noncompliance with the Gus
tom. because the Hawaiian lassies knew
that the message teArers refused credit
10 none.
Bat the awful day Of reckoning over
took the people one bright morning in
June, 1925, when the war sloop Peacock
arrived in Hawaiian waters. They had
seen war ships before, but none had ever
come save on a friendly mission. The
unexpected arrival OF the Peacock excit-
ed the native curiosity, the more
particularly because its commander
was often sen in close consulta ion
with Hiram Bingham, Hunnewell
snd company and other missionaries.
Finally some Of the chiefs were sum
rnonei before Commander jones, Of the
Peacock, who questioned them severely
IS 10 wnv their people had not paid for
goods sold Snd delivered TO them by the
MISSIONARIES. Hiram Bingham was the
interpreter for the Commander, and
though he wrote an extended history OF
tie Hawaiian Islands he nowhere in any
manner hints at the remarkable claim of
= million dollars which was collect at
the bAyouet's point.
After the taking OF a brief amount OF
ex parte evidence Commander Jones
core .uded that the claims were all Just,
and he sent King kamehameha word
that the sum must be paid or he would
enforCe il in the name of the United
States In reporting the matter 10 Hon
Ogden Hoffman. who was then in Con-
guess. Commander Jones said in 1855:
ave compelled the natives TO pay nearly
$1,000, 600 to worthy citizens Of the United
States !"
After coerciny the King and chiefs it
was decided TO compel the PRONUNCIATION
Of a law obliging every able bodied man
10 scour the mountains for sandal
wood. while the women (by which term
sn females over thirteen years Of age
were included) were compelled TO contri-
butte tspS cloth and rare mats, All
these gods were sold in China by the
missionaries. The gathering of the
Smou Of sandal wood required was a
great hardship, for it reQu ned an aver
ase Of sixteen days labor by each man,
Trees were dug up by the roots, and the
richly scented wood was, as a result, ex-
terminated in all the Hawaiian Islands.
The method " collec ing the tribute is
thus described hy Commander Jones
in the letter TO Hon. O.drn Hoffman
EVERY man had TO deliver half pecul
is,xty-seven poundsl Of good sandal
wood & the Gov. rnor Of the district Il
his resider &c before September l, 1927.
In case of no sandal woOd, We took four
Spanish dollars, or anything convenient
" at hand worth that sum M person,
except those who were intirm, or too ad-
vanced in sge to 90 TO the mo lntains,
werv exempt from the demand
Continuing, the command who en-
fenced the claim says; Every woman
Of the axe OF thirteen years OF upward
had % pay q mat twelve feet long and
six feet vide, or taps cloth Of equal value
or 10 the sum OF one Spanish dollar. All
of this property had to b. put in desiS-
mated honses and never to b. removed
or applied TO any other purpose except
the liquidation o. the debts designated"
uAwAuAEs TAXI LEoAL ADVICE.
These laws were promulgated by King
Eopaahamaha III 1nrtug HE r,fnorstv