The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-04-10
Quaint Customs and Ha-
bits of the People.
First Article Deals With Marshall
Group-WiII be Continued Next
Saturday Morning.

ne missionary packet Morning SCdf,
in command of Captain Garland, re-
turned to this port on March 29th, af-
ter a trip of nine months among the
islands of the South Pacific on her
regular work for the missionaries now
at work with the natives of the various
groups. A general summary of the
trip was given in the Advertiser of
the morning after her arrival.
Mr.. Harry Swinton, who went as
first mate on the last trip OF the Star
and a Hawaiian who has the gift of
telling things just as he sees them,
took special note of each day of the
steamships doings, and has kindly
given his MSS to the Advertiser for
publication. No doubt there will be a
great many people on the Hawaiian
Islands who will read his account of
the last cruise of the Morning Star
with more than ordinary interest
In it Mr.. Swinton tells of the various
happenings, of the nature and customs
of the people in the various groups,
and of the progress of the Christian
religion in the South Pacific He is GER
tainly able TO judge, since he was over
the same ground twenty-five years ago,
and on this account is eminently able
to make comparisons.
The story of the cruise will begin
with the Marshall group and will be
published each Saturday morning, or
more often, until concluded Here,
then, is what Mr.. Swinton has to say:
Left Kusaie September 21st, little
after 4 in the afternoon, with DR..
Rife, wife and child, Miss Palmer. Is
school girls and boys, and married
couples also belonging TO the school,
and Rev. konalulu, as passengers for
the Marshall Islands. After a pleas
ant passage of four days (steaming
most of the way, we came to an an
Choir in Jaluit. Soon after anchoring
the German Commissioner came on
board. Mr.. Rife and the captain (by
lis invitation went ashore that even
ng to dine with him.
We had concluded to go that after |
loon to the other side of the lagoon, |
where Mr.. jeremiah Gan old teacher |
md one of Mr.. Shows converts) was |
stationed, but for some reason better |
We did not leave till next day at 615 |
|. m. After a pleasant run of two |
hours. we came TO an anchor off the |
mission station (S:15 a. m). Half an
lour later, Mr.. jeremiah and a few |
'thers came on board. After break
asst, held morning service on deck, |
md an hour later, DR.. Rife, Miss
Palmer, the school girls and some of |
he boys went ashore, jeremiah going
long with them in the ships boat
Returned in the afternoon.
The next day being Sunday, grand
Meeting was held at the church on
hore, DR.. Rife, Miss Palmer. all the
choOl girls and boys, together with
art of the crew. attended the morn
ng service. In the afternoon. I went
shore TO the afternoon service and !
vas called by Dr. Rife to address the
Meeting, which I did with pleasure
/ must say I was agreeably surprised
0 see how changed the people were. To
ne who had seen them some % years
go it was a great surprise. I could
zee at a glance the great change
which had taken place during that !
ime. Instead of the unsightlv imita-
ion they had for a garment. they
we're neatly dressed with shirt. pants
nd a coat However. they have not. !
s yet, made up their minds as to |
-hether shoes are necessary TO their
eneTal makeup, thinking perhaps |
hey can very well dispense with such
rticles until some future time: but
s you see them vending their way to
hurch. neatly dressed as our own
eOple are here (barring the shoes,
on cannot help but say that "the
abOrs of these brave bands of Cody
len and women living among them
re not laboring in vain" They are,
4 fact, noble successors of these brave