Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-06-19

IsceEaSsRI OCK ISLAND, June 10.
"A a H Editor Of TIE ARGUS:
Ia ki Having spsnt several
~ III months on the Hawaiian
laeetQ Islands. and much Of
that time on one Of the
largest sugar plantations Of Hawaii
proper, take deep interest IN the
present question Of the ratification
Of the annexation treaty.
In January 1895, altar . voyage Of
eight days from San Francisco, I
arrived In Honolulu, . city rarely
beautiful in itself and its tropical
setting. The balmy air, the dark H.
ing hills, the abundant vegetation,
the emerald green Of the harbor. the
softness and depth Of the blue skies
and the generous sunshine bathing
all the landscape, greeted me indeed
with . tropic welcome. was for
tunate enough from political stand
point, TO have arrived during the
summer time, though I only re-
manned two weeks. but during that
time I Witnessed the defeat Of the
rebels BY the government troops. I
saw the arrest OF Queen Lilioukalani
and her followers at the palace, aud
attended the trial. Tho city being
then put under martial Law, and the
liberty Of strangers being somewhat
restricted, I decided to take the
steamer 10 Hilo, In Hawaii, the
largest Of the group Of islands. This
port il situated at the base of Xii.
anna. the largest active volcano in
the world, this being nine miles In
circumference. OF all the wonders
Of the islands, this alone 10 worth
visiting, and beggars description.
Finding . companion at Hilo. I de-
cided to push northward into the in
terror. All journeys are made BY
horse. and here. by the way, the
American woman may well emulate
her southern sister. Seated astride
and clad In elongated boomers. al
most sweeping the ground. horse
and rider seemingly cast in one
mold, she makes graceful picture.
Native Hospitality.
Our ride Of 75 miles wss broken by
the most hospitable entertaip ment
at the various plantations, and on
two occasions We spent the night in
native huts. These huts, built of
thatch, are familiar to all visitors
at the Worlds Fair. We were made
most welcome, the natives having q
great affection for an American. We
were seated about mat and served
with the native dish, .'poi," but
being required to eat It with the
index and second fingers, my pro.
gress was slow. After supper We
we're RECALLED by music, song and
the native dance, the hula, which to
my unaccustomed eyes was neither
pretty nor graceful.
After i've days, We reached our
destination, the large sugar planta-
ton Of kuk-ku-hah. This planta.
ton employed 500 Japanese. about
so Of whom were women, so natives
who are much aversed to work of
any kind, and can only be used 80
teamsters for light work generally,
II white men (overSeers). .
physician. and chinese cook. The
agents Of the sugar kings, per-
mitted by the government, contract
the Jap labor for from three to i've
years at IS cents . day, and they
must board themselves.
Some Of the Customs.
The morning following my arrival
I Was aroused by . Jap bringing my
horse. 1t became my duty TO take
200 men to the fields where they
worked in the cane hoeing and strip
ping. and In constant danger of be-
ing bitten BY scorpions and oenti-
pedss, until IL M, whom they were
given 80 minutes for dinner, which
consisted Of . pail Of rice. Work
was then resumed until $50. This
Was the program day after day,
these slaves being at times CON-
PEELED to work in . downpour Of
rain. Each plantation has . police
man. fatrell oall any osolis il miss
ing, the overseer must report him e
this functionary. whose business It
10 to look him up. II he b sick, he
isgiven into the care Of the physician.
II merely indispossd, be IL tied and
whipped and fined his days wages,
and sometimes compelled to walk
half day before the japanese camp,
carrying weights Of iron. For larger
misdemeanors he is frequently fined
$40 By .. so-called justice Of the
peace, Who 10 attached to the planta.
ton. This plantation was popularly
supposed to b very generous and
kind to its labor. Heaven help the
others. Escape from the island ID
impossible.
After witnessing four months Of
this slave system could stand il no
longer, and departed whence I came.
should Hawaii be annexed to the
Unitsd States. the sugar planter
r. NEhADTlk !