The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-01-13
THE KING IS MARRIED
AN AMERICAN GIRL TO SHARE HIS
ISLAND DOMAIN.
Romantic Career of Newspaper Man
Picked Up at Sea as Castaway--He
Abolished Cannibalism.

NEW YORK, Dec. 29.-Col. John +.
Hobbs, King of the cannibal islands
of Jetika at o'clock tomorrow even
ing will wed Miss Ella Collin, daughter
of Mr.. and Mrs. p. Collin of this city.
AS soon as the marriage service is con-
cluded "Oumalea" Hobbs, which is the
same as Caesar in the language of the
subjects of the South seas, will pro-
claim and crown his bride as "Utalie,' -
that is to say, Queen of Jetika. Inas-
much as Col. Hobbs has abolished can
nibalism throughout his realm the
wedding guests may sit down to a
feast without fear of being killed and
devoured to make Jetikan holiday.
The royal pair will start Immediately
for their island domain by way of
Australia, provided, of course, the
bride is not averse to so sudden a
transformation of her mode of life.
Oumalea is likely to be received by
his people with extraordinary honors
and conveyed from shipboard to Illika
in his famous war canoe of sixty row.
ers, which is capable of a speed of
eighteen miles an hour. and once was
rowed around an English man-of-waI
as it proceeded under full steam.
Col. Hobbs about six years ago was
sent as commissioner by a Sydney,
New South Wales, newspaper to in
vestgate the conditions of the abom-
Queensland sugar-growers. Col. Hobbs
schooner was wrecked by hurricane
He was cast adrift, and after floating
by means of life belt until nearly eX-
hausted, was picked up by canoe
manned by natives of Illika, which, by
the way, is an island not down on the
map.
They did not devour Hobbs, bat
treated him kindly, and in return he
rendered them services which led to
his being created war chief, and
later, on the death of the reigninS
King, "Odmalea."
These islands, which contain a pop
ulation of 10000 souls, have since be-
come a diplomatic quantity. Both
Great Britain and France yearn for
them on account of their pearl fisher
les, but treaty prevents either power
from asserting sovereignty. Great
Britain, however, has sought to coddle
"Oumalea" Hobbs with the following
tempting. offers: Her Brittanic Maj
esty's Ministers told him if he would
permit them to establish trading sta.
ton at Illika they would confer upon
him the honor of llnighthood and also
assure to him and his subjects the pro-
lection of the British flag.
Col. Hobbs, who is a simon pure
democrat, laughed at this proposal
and then they said they would give
him SIS, 900 for permission to work the
pearl shell deposits of the islands. He
put this temptation behind him with
equal firmness. He declared he did not
care to have his subjects contaminated
by civilization. "Oumalea" Hobbs says
his Illikans are now simple and vir.
tuous people, unlike their neighbors
who have fallen under the influence OF
Europeans. Their moral code teaches
that selfishness is cardinal sin, and
in a word, for an Illilan to desire any
thing belonging to his neighbor is be
lieved to arouse the profound dis
pleasure of their "Great White Spirit
Father"
1t is not necessary for Col. Hobbs
to be always in his kingdom in order
to maintain his sovereignty. He pos
sesses a token which is known only tc
princes of this people and revelation
of which, either by himself or his
heirs will insure the ready recognition
of his kinship.