The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1899-11-16
Sandwich Isianders' Way of Filling the
Wood Box

Boys whose most distssteiul task is to
keep the wood box filed, or who are e1
pecied TO split the kindlins wood every
night, would undoubtedly enjoy livipg at
Hawaii Firewood there is rot Only very
scarce, bnt they get 1t ont OF the water,
another festuro OF the matter which would
probably appeal to such OF the boys as de
light Ia swimming, ii. w Henshaw
writing 10 The Y lutn's Companion. says
OF this custom.
Upon the shores OF Hawaii frewood ia
scarce aud precious commodity. The
present forests do not grow near the sea.
and the labor OF bringing wood from the
distant timber is great, especially as road
are few, Practically oil the frewood OF
the Lstives, and much that is used by the
Europsans Ia the towns. is drift that is
brought down periodically from the up
lands by freshets that follow heavy rains.
There IL Dotbiog strange IN all this,
but what lie strange is the wey the natives
gather the wood. Pick il up on the
bescbr No, at all, at least, very little is
obtained iD that commonplace manner.
Much the Island timber is extremely
heavy, aud inatead OF floating 10 ortLo odoI
fashion, as wood should do, i. promptly
siHks to the bottom. As the freshet
gathers headwsy. down come the heavy
tree trunks and branches, dssbing fierce
ly against the rough lava sides OF the
till all sembance OF their original shape
stream and humping agaIrst the bottom
is lost snd they are bruised into shspeless
blocks or split into hindling
The current carries them well into the
ocean. where they settle into the sand. .
The first stage OF their journey 10 over.
now for the second. Ia day or two the
ocean rises 10 its might and sends 10 huge I
breakers upon the shores, which catch |
he logs and splinters and roll them over
md over. still on the bottom, toward the I
beach. q
Here is the natives chance. He has d
,een waiting long for just such an oppor
unity. Down TO the shore come The
Ksnskss in troops. No one is left behind 8
ave the sick and the blind. Men, women
nd children are all on the beach. having I
n eye both TO business and pleasure.
The women are clad 10 old, loose hola D
,us, garment may best describe by
king it TO the original "Mother Hub
ard The men dof their garments and
lon the economical malo, or waist cloth.
he children follow snit so far as the doil p
,g goes. and don - we'll, TO tell the truth. OF
lost OF them don nothing, and IL they are u
ltis6ed, you and ] need not complain.
nd now for 1t.
The men dash into the breakers, diving
nder the big combers and rising on the u
rests Of the smaller ones I'LL they are out
loulder high, then they feel sround
ith their feet till they 61d piece OF os
ood ii msy be only a splinter, or IL 70
aY be log so large ss to require the aid
rope TO pull it ip, bot, large or small ol
, matter. Down dives The Kauaks head
remost TO seiz, the prizs
The women and children wade in ~
tile distance to catch the smaller pieces
at get past the men, and soon the piles W
the shore grow from nothing to cords. ca
A hardy native will stay 10 the water,
sding and diving. for couple OF hours ID
ID then come ont, pretty thoroughly ia
illed. 10 sun himself on tue beach in de
sdiness for another bout With the waves he
esniime solsciDg himself with the ineyi
BILE pipe or cigarette. lot
Hard work Is this wood gathering by lh
wing, what between the bufistings Of OF
g waves, the cold and the labor oil tug be
ng the logs ashore. Bat for oil that 20
outs and laughter fill the air, and one
Ighi suppose the occasion was a summer tes
enic.
W Whstever bis faulte. the X snsks has l1t
/ added TO the gloom aud discomfort Of
8 world. He endures disappointment
d misfortnGo With equsoimily, snd anC
zen the clouds psss aud the sun shines hln
is resdy 10 laugh aud be glad tar