Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-08-09
NUMBER 81.

was proof against all DligDts, Dut OF Ialo
years a new worm, as il were, has at
tackled il at the root, and the chances
now are that the sugar planters will
have TO renew their stocks every few
years. II reminds one Of Horace Gree
ley's plan for getting rid Of the Canada
thistle, Cultivate 1t as garden plant,
and some derned bug or other will DO
sure to come along and eat il"
Wheat grows in but few places on
the islands. little valleys in the elevated
plateaus AS to moisture, the climate
cannot DO described In general terms.
Old residents say in a jocular way that
in one district the rainfall is II feet a
year, in another II inches. and in third
l-iith Of an inch. Isaw places which GER
tainly looked as If rain had never fallen
on them In the best sugar lands irriga-
ton is necessary. but in many places
very little is required Domestic animals
thrive, as a rule. especially horses, OF
which the native stock is very hardy and
capable. II appears to have been a case
Of survival II the fittest." All the ten
der ones We're run 20 death AT the start
and only the toughest mares left posterity.
After all, the great product Of the is
lands is the taro root. from which poi is
made. II grows wherever the soil is kept
thoroughly water soaked, and in matted
punches very much like the calamus or
weet flag Of the middle western states.
The root is something like long beet,
and when toiled and mashed the pulp is
poi IA whitcy yellow batter at first, later
a sort Of sovr paste. 1t operates home-
opathicelly. 80 10 speak-that Is. II builds
up dilapidated constitution surprising
ly, but If used exclusive of any other
food it injures the health. There Is no
particular danger Of any American or
Englishman using the native style Of 1t
TO excess. for il is emphatically nasty.
Decently prepared, however. it is quito
palatable. Local statisticians say that
one acre of it will furnish yearly bread
for 5000 men-a pleasing statement
which, | regret to say. DO not believe.
Fish is said 10 be the proper corrective
TO take with poi, and fish also are abun-
dant. Early visitors say the Ranakas
formerly ate them raw and at the SOON
est possible moment after killing them.
Indeed it was thought "A luxury to begin
10 gnaw on the tail before the head was
dead. At any rate the hungry native
took the fish as il came from the water,
hastily ran knife from gill 10 tail, tore
ont the entrails and AT once fell TO eat
ing, and there is a story that when the
first Kanakas were taken 10 be presented
to the king Of England they behaved
quite handsomely till they saw some tish
in little aquarium IN the royal apart
ment Their appetite overcame them.
Men and women alike fell on the tinny
prey. tore and deyoured il with the savage
yum-yum Of appeased hunger, and de
clared in choice Kanaka that it was their
first square meal" since they left Homo
lulu
They tell many hard stories like this
about the former Hawaiians, but as
saw nothing Of the kind will continue
10 hope they are not true. II II was true,
as the first visitors said, that the parents
killed all their children above two or three;
that methods Of check" We're used which
soon proved fatal 10 half the women;
that thousands Of men were killed IN the
saturnalia following kings death. and
thousands more were sacrificed or eaten,
how did the population get so large!
Why so much greater than now, when
none of these things are donel ! cannot
help suspecting that there has been ex-
aggeration.
There is peace and good fellowship
enough now There are social enjoyment
and ease and joyousness and feasting
enough now. Everywhere this Is true,
but especially in Honolulu There the
slant eyed Chinaman and the darker
Malay. the very fair Englishman. dark
Portuguese and medium American, the
smooth brown kanaka and the rough
brown Samoan jostle each other good
humoredly in the streets and even prac-
tice sort OF social equality unthought
of in the United States During my stay
there King Bill was even as one OF III IN
many an excursion. and at poi suppers
il was not very uncommon TO meet ma
tive ladies got up regardless" IN silk
and delicate pongee done in the tie
back" style, and wearing the monster
chignons which were the fashion ~
years ago.
or all our pleasure excursions those to
the Waikiki beach for bathing by NOON
light were the most pleasant. and the
requirements in costume were much the
same as at Long Branch. Back IN the
secluded districts. however, the natives
of both sexes took 10 the water without
the formality of putting on suits.
The Kauakas are described by scientists
as belonging to the Polynesian branch
of the Malay race" which means, take
il, that they are Malays modified by long
residence among many islands (polu-
nesia). and therefore swimming is about
as natural TO them as walking to US.
Brigham Young told me just before |
left Salt Lake City that they were like
the American NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
the ancient lsraelites who had back
slidden" and been cursed and turned
dark accordingly II so, they have slid
den back a great deal further than they
are ever likely to slide forward again.
JOHN F. WILLoUGHBY.