The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1899-03-16
4 Letter from Hawaii.
CONTINUED from last week }

The Kanaka, or as thsy are more
property called, the Native Hawaiian,
are the most interesting people in Ha-
wall. Physically they are the finest
race of people ever saw, without ex-
ception. The Kanaka has on the whole
mt attractive face. which lights up wi b
race kindness and views you with its
smile. The only thing that reminded
me Of the savage state from which they
immerged was when saw some native
sailors on one Of the inter-island steam
ers eating their fish raw. That and
poi. which | will describe further on,
constituted their regular fare. To see
a biz half naked native sieze live fish
in both hands and tear the flesh from
its back bone. as you would eat corn
from tina cob-with its tail slapping him
on the cheek atSsach bite, Is sight one
cannot soon forget.
Taro, a water plant, is the chief food
staple among the natives. 1t IS grown
in lois or taro patches, being land sur
rounded by turf sides into which water
can be turned from irfigating bitches.
The taro is planted in rows and grows
in the water. The crop requires about
II or II months to mature, but being
planted at odd times through the year,
a native can always have food at hand
IN abundance. 1t IS said that one acre
will produce enough food to supply Is
men for II months. However freely
the Kanaka may regale himself on or
anges, bananas aud cocoanuts just as
they come to his hand, he cannot eat
his taro raw. He must cook it, scrape
it, pound it and after allowing 1t to fer
ment slightly, mix it with water To the
proper consistency. Thus treated it is
called poi. II is the national dish, and
Is to the native what rice is to the
Chinese. Judging from the looks of
the natives | think it most whole
some article of food, but judging from
seeing the Chinese prepare IL, | have
my doubts about il. Many foreigners
eat it, and am told that it is the very
best thing | can eat-never producing
indigestion; that | will not like it at
first, but will learn to like II, or become
educated TO the taste of 1t. This |
thought very good advice and COM
meneed my education, hut hal not pro-
gressed very far when |, in company
with a friend whose education, by-the-
way was further advanced than mine,
drifted around 10 a place where the
much Landed article OF diet was being
There | saw two Chinese
naked, with the exception of breech
clout, wading into a hugh mass of what
dirty dough. with the sweat
rolling off their bodies into the repu-
siye looking mass. While We looked
on, with various emotions of the
stomach mot of the soul). my friend ex-
planned that the poi We got at the hotel
was made by machinery. However
that may be. | have not applied
myself very assiduousy toward acquir-
ing an education in that line; in fact my
has been sadly neglected.
There are few occupations in which
the natives are not found. However
t hey do not work as field laborers on
the plantations. | am speaking of the
men only, as the women do not work at
all, and have yet to see the first one
doing any work other than weaving
flowers into wreaths or leis. To them
Dne day is as another and life contin-
lal holiday. Their dress is the 'Holo- |
ku" or old style mother hubbard dress !
without belt, made of some light cOlored |
gauzy stuff with voluminous folds, which |
have no doubt is very cool and best
adapted to the climate Many of the
young girls dress u la mode and are
quite pretty.
There is not the slightest distinction
IN Hawaii on the ground Of color and
the two races mingle freely in all social
events. Education is the open sesame
to the best society.
The number of Hawaiians over six
years of age, able 10 read and write Is
81 per cent. Part Hawaiiln, 81 per
cent can read and write. The last CEN
sus returned the native population of
the islands at BLOB, whereas in 1853
there vera 70,036 There rapid de-
crease must be attributed to other than |
climatic causes.
The Hawaiians are passionately fond |
OF two things, music and flowers, and |
when a mail steamer sails, she Is given
an aloha by the band, while the ma
tiyes deck their departing friends with
'leis', or garlands Of beautiful flowers
a custom that has extended to the |
whites. To witness a departing steam
er as she moves slowly and majestically J
from the shore; her rail crowded with
ladies and gentlemen with their bodies !
almost smotherel in bright-hued flow
ers, waving adieu to the friends they
are leaving, and the band playing "old
long syne', is u scene that to one hav.
ing any love OF the beautiful In his soul |
will never be forgotten.
There are many objects OF interest to
be seen in and around Honolulu. The
fish market is one of them, and one the
visitor should not fail to see. A list
gives 81 varieties of fish, all but % are
said to be regularly in market. They
include all sizes from a minnOw to
shark; all colors and all shapes. Here
you see theshorrible looking devil fish
in great numbers, which is a favorite
article OF food with the natives. The
stalls are kept by Chinese and natives,
while the market is crowded witRnoisy
natives haggling over the price of their
fIyorite fish. On making a sale the
vendor dexteriously wraps the fish, be
1t one or half dozen, in a long leaf.
called 't'-pronounced, tea-the stem
answering for handle; no strings are
used. The fish here are excellent, but
! can't say as much for the beef and
mutton.
Talk about bathing and its delight.
Surely nowhere are they to be found in
such perfection as at Waikiki. The
place is well pltronized. | go there two
or three times q week and take a swim
in the surf. The water is perfect for
bathing purposes, being entirely free
from chill. A couple OF hundred yards
out are coral reefs, within which the
sharks never come. Waikiki is three
and one-half miIas from tho oantra of