The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-07-27
STILL IN SOUTH
Cruise Among the South.
ern Islands.
Habits and Customs of the Mar
shall IsIanders-Work of
the Missionaries.

After settling with the teacher AND
landing him, we weighed anchor (4:3C
ID. No. that same day for Nonouti
some so odd miles to the southwark
and eastward of US. At first, had IA
yorabIe winds; then light and battling
toward morning. Having only one en-
gineer aboard, the chief engineer hav-
ing been left in Kusaie, sick, we could
not steam as much as we would have
done if we had had two. 1t was toe
much to expect of one man, for he was
doing all he could under the circum-
stances When the wind was light and
contrary we could not take advantage
of it by steaming; in fact, the engi-
neer was laid up on the way to No
mouth.
After box-hauling with the wind a
couple of days and the current against
us, Mr. Channon concluded to keep
off for Tapituea, as the prospects OF
getting to Nonouti for a day or two
longer were rather slim. Tapituea be-
ing on our lay, we embraced the OPP
portunity to get there first; then call
at Nonauti on the way back.
Made land early next morning, COM
ing to an anchor 8: 80 am. about two or
three miles from shore Can open road
stead same as Waiana) about half way
between Mr.. Kaaia's and Mr.. Paaluhi's
station. The distance from the ship to
either station is about or miles.
An hour after anchoring, Mr.. Paaluhi
boarded us; one hour and half later
Mr.. Kaaia came on board. Mr.. Mitchell
and family went ashore with Mr.. Ka-
ala, stopping with him that night.
Here as elsewhere in this group, the
school boys spent their spare moments
fishing. Fish is plentiful in this group
and it does not take long to catch a
mess. All kinds are caught there as
elsewhere One advantage about the
fish caught in the Gilbert Islands is,
that they are all eatable. No poison
Que fish as in the case of the Marshall
Islands. There they are dangerous to
a certain extent. The kind of fish eat
able on one island, is poisonous on an
other; so while we were in the Marshall
Islands we did not eat much fish, al
though they were just as plentiful as
in the GiIberts.
We found Mr.. Kaaia and Paaluhi
doing a grand work, spiritually, not
withstanding they have the same
things to contend with as on the other
islands. Mr.. Channon and his crowd
did not go ashore, as they deemed it
not necessary to do So Mr.. Paaluhi and
Mr.. Kaaia, as we'll as the relations of
the school boys and girls, who belong
to this island, being aboard.
When I was in the old Morning Star
% years ago Mr.. Kaaia was stationed
at Arno, Marshall Islands He seems
to hold his age well, and is as ener-
getic as ever. He had permission to go
up to Honolulu two years ago for va
cation, but did not do so, as he did not
want to leave the field, unless some one
was sent to relieve him during his alb
sence. He told me, however, that he
would certainly come home on the next
trip of the Star, as he wanted to take
a rest. He has been there now IL years
without once taking a vacation. That
is quite long time for one to be sta
toned at one place, year in and year
out.
In landing their freight we found
some missing, thus demonstrating
very plainly that the landing of their
freight in Butaritari on the Stars
way down from Honolulu, was a mis-
take. Everything belonging to the
Hawaiian missionaries in Butaritari
was landed all right When we got
there from our trip to the westward
we did not check the freight upon TAX
ing it on board again, as we did when
it was landed, not deeming it neces-
sary, as all the freight in the store
house belonged to the Hawaiian mis-
sionaries; that is, Mahihila, Paaluhi
and Kaaia.
We did not land anything for them at
Maiana (Mahihila's station), for we
checked everything as it was put into
the boat. Mahihila was short of one
package 1t was not landed anywhere
else. The only thing which was land
ed on the other islands belonged to the |
Gilbert Island teachers, of which Mr. |
Walkup had charge. All was stored in
one place by themselves, this in the |
wake of the main hatch. The Hawai- |
ian mission stores were aft that in |
one lot. Everything put into the boats |
for the Gilbert Island teachers was |
checked off by Mr.. Walkup and my
self.
There is only one conclusion to be !
drawn from the missing freight. It |
was lost or stolen (if I may be allowed |
to use the term in Butaritari This. |
perhaps, is another good reason for |
landing the Hawaiian mission freight |
at their island on the Stars way down |
from Honolulu, instead Of dumping it |
ashore at Butaritari. At any rate, it |
would be more satisfactory to all con-
cerned.
Considering the drawbacks which |
the missionaries have to contend with |
there, they are doing good work. They |
hold their own bravely. Kaaia told me |
the work was not progressing as he |
would like to see 1t, simply because, !
ever since the advent of the Catholics, |
their methods Of dealing with the ma
tives have proven more suited to their |
tastes ThRV not strict hnnIrc