The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-08-13
FAIR AND FIRM.
An AnecdOte of Kamehameha /,
the Warrior King.
CThrum's Annual .

The following story, illustrative OF
manners and customs of the olden
times, narrated to us a short time since,
is interesting, as showing remarkable
traits in the character Of Kamehameha
/. the warrior King, and which, we be
Iieve has never before been in print.
In the early days of foreign inter
course with these Islands, it was the
custom that all trading with the vessels
should be done first with the King, then
the Chiefs, according to their rank and
station, and after them the COmmOners.
At the time of Captain BARRIERS visit
! TO Honolulu, in the brig Arthur this
custom prevailed and in accordance
| Herewith, a short time after his ar
rival, he was visited by Kamehameha,
where a nuUbe of foreigners were
| testing and .lauding the good qualities
Of the Captains rum, which he had for
/ trade On the King being seated, he
! early negotiated for and concluded a
! purchase. the same to be delivered him
| the following day, but before leaving,
| desired to have a couple OF bottles OF
| the rum. which was readily handed
| him, presumlng it TO be for the nights
use in a carousal. Eearly the next day
! the King came aboard, accompanied by
| his retinue. with his various containers,
! and seated himself in a chair on deck,
! TO superintend the transfer of his pur-
! chase After watching the operation
! closely for short time, and perceiVing
! a difference of color from what was
shown him, he dispatched an attendant
! for one Of the bottles obtained the day
| previous. on receipt of which he suS-
pended the measuring operation, called
! for a glass, and received some of the
! rum from the open cask, then
! into another glass he poured some
| from the bottle. These he placed
side by side, held them up
| to the light, smelt of them, tasted
! them, then cody said: Barber! here
no all the same" cycling him closely all
! the while. Barber saw he was detect
! ed in his attempt to palm off what he
| had weakened, but endeavOred to paci-
fy the King by assuring him it was
some mistake, and he would have a
cask of the better kind brought up.
| This. however, was all to no purpose,
for the King ordered all his containers
to be emptied back, and his people to
| their canoes, and thus left the vessel,
telling the chiefs they might trade II
they desired, he had got all he wanted.
But, strange to say, no trading was
done with the brig Arthur by the Ha-
waiians.
On the loss of the brig Arthur, in
! October. 1896, on the southwest point
Of Oahu which now bears his name,
CAPTAIN Barber was seriously troubled
at the thieving prOpensities OF the ma
! tives, taking not only what drifted
! ashore. but appropriated to their own
use whatever they fancied from the
stores-stOck of trade, or portions of the
/ vessel itself, In his trouble he came
I'D to Honolulu to seek assistance from
John Young, and together they con
! Guided 10 set out for kalIua, HAWAII
whittier Kamehameha had gone TAX
ing a boat, they set sail from Homo
lulu. reaching Kailua at early morn
after a somewhat tedious passage, &c
find that the King was in the woods
directing his canoe builders. Off they
started to lay their complaint, ano
came up to the royal party about noon
lust as the King was dividing run
around among the WOrkmen-as was
5 said to be his cuStOm-paSSing some tt
Young on learning their errand. Bar.
Der feeling exhausted from his sea ant
= shore trip, desired Young to ask the
King if he might not have drink, "a
he felt, indeed, thirsty, and could no
= understand why he had been so slight
; ed Young replied that ii would no
do for him (YOung) to do so, he, (Bar
-, ber) would have to ask himself. SO
: mastering courage. he asked the klnE
5 if he might not have glass to refresl
l him. after so long travel in the no
l sun Kamehameha looked at hin
sternly. and said: 20, Barber. you III
- like rum: YOU like water" Barber fel
L, ON l-nG \
+ The King. however. passed him tn
Y hottie. After the noon meal, and tn
c King had learned the particulars OF tn
o loss of the Arthur, and the object o
T. his visit. he cody told Barber to 9
z hack. The Captain wished Young t
=, entreat the King and know his mean
= ing remarking: Are we to set II
q help for our pains; all this trip TO
= nOtbing?" But Young said there Wa
: no help for it; there was nothing lei
/ for them to do but to obey. They re
s Turned. therefore. to Kailua, and fOun
II the boat had been already prOvlSlOne
for the return trip, and on showing OF
q native. bearing a small, white pun
die. sprang on the stern sheets, Wnel
he sat. neither speaking to any on
.e nor sleeping the whole trip. On IN
: bOat reaching Honolulu, he was IN
l. first to leap ashore, and was lost SlSL
IS of. The next afternoon BARRIERS Trims
/ were all being brought in and place
side by side at Pakaka, Robinson
L, wharf-even to pieces of rope. bolts an
III mans. The silent vOyager had been or
of the Kings spittOOn-bearerS, sci
with royal command to deliver up a
: belonging to the wreck OF the Or
i. Arthur.
- Kamehameha, in all his intercour'
=. and dealings with foreigners, ShoWe
e Ithat he was ever their friend