The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-21
DIVING FOR FIREWOOD.
How The Ksnakas OF Tho Hawaiian Coast Fl The
ast4 Woodboy.

Boys whose most distasteful task js
to keep the wood-boX filed. or who
are expected to split the klndling wood
every night. would unaoubter eniov
living at Hawaii Firewood there -
not only very scarce. but they get out
of the water, another feature of the
matter which should probably appeal
to such of the boys as delight in "goin'
swimmin''
Upon the shores OF Hawaii firewood is
a scarce and precious commodity. The
present forests do not grow near the
sea-. and the labor of bringing wood
from the distant timber is great. es-
pecially as roads are few. Practically
all the firewood of the natives. and
much that is used by the Europeans
in the towns. is drift that is brought
down periodically from the uplands by
freshets that follow heavy sains. says
Youths Campanion.
There Is nothing strange in all this.
burt what is strange Is the way the
natives gather wood. PICK il up on the
beach? Not at all; at least, very little
is obtained in that commonplace man
ner.
Much OF the island timber u extreme
-iy-Aeavy and instead OF floating in
orthodox fashion, as wood should do. IL
promptly sinks 70 the bOttOm As
the freshet gathers headWay. down
come the heavy tree trunks and
ana branches, dashing fiercely against
the rough lava sides of the stream
and dumping against the bottom tin
ali semblance of their origina shape
is lost, and they are bruised into shape
less blocks or split into kinding..
The current carries them well into
the ocean where they settle into the
sand. The first stage of their journey
is over; now for the second. In a day
or two the ocean rises its might and
sends in huge breakers upon the shores.
which catch the logs and splinters and
roll them over and over, still on the
bottom. toward the beach.
Here is the natives chance. He has
been waiting long for just such an op-
rortunity. Down to the shore come the
Kanakas in troops. No one is left be-
iffnd save the sick and the blind. Men.
women and children are all on the
beach having an eye both 10 business
and 10 pleasure.
The women are clad i'm old loose
fnlakus. "a garment / may best describe
By liking ii TO the orig nal Mother
Hubbard" The men dOff their gar
ments and don the economical malo. or
waist cloth. The children follow suit,
SO far as doffing goes, and don--well, 20
tell the truth. most of them don noth-
ing, and If they are sat SIZED. you and
/ need not complain. And now for it
The men dash into the breakers,
diving under the big combers and ris-
ing on the crests of the smaller ones
TIL they are out shoulder high; then
they feel around with their feet till
they find piece of wOOd-it may be
only splinter or ii may BE- a log so
large as to require the aid of a rope
TO pull IL in: but large or small. no
matter. Down dives the Kanaka head
foremost to seize the prize
The women and children wade In a
little distance to catch the smaller
pieces that get past the men, and soon !
he piles on the shore grow from moth !
ng TO cords
A hardy native will stay i'm the water. 4
vading and diving. for "a couple ~ I
hours. and then come out pretty /
thoroughly chilled. TO sun himself on /
he beach in readiness for another bout /
With the waves, meantime solacing I
limself with the Inevitable pine or /
cigarette.
Hard work is this wood gathering by
swing, what between the buffet'ngs Of
he waves. the cold and the labor "
ugging the logs ashore. But for all
hat shouts OF laughter fll the air and
ne might suppose the oCcas on was "a
ummer picnic
Whatever his faults. the Kanak8 has
ot added TO the gloom and discomfort
{ the world. He endures disappoint-
rent and misfortune with equaulmity.
nd when the clouCs pass and che sun
hines he is ready TO laugh and be
lad.