Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-12-06
DIVING FOR FIREWOOD.
/ iands. i~h fr.nmIe--' wny of Filling
the - Ood Box.


t!se - Ood Box.
Boys who.r most distasteful task is
O. snsp tue wood box filled. or Who are
tied to split the iniiing wood ev-
eiy night would undoubtedly enjoy
living az Hawaii. FirewOod there Is
not only very scarce. but they get IL
out OF the water. another feature OF the
matter which would probably appeal
70 sUcA af tnc boys as delight In ''goin
swimuin." n. W. Henshaw. writing
~ The Youths Companion. SAYS Of this
custom.
Upon the shores of Hawaii frewOod
is scarce and precious commodity.
he present forests do not grow near
the sea. aud tLc labor OF bringing wood
from tA' distant timber is great. espe-
"laiy a. roads are Few. Practically all
the hreWOOd OF tue natives. and much
that is used 10y the Europeans in the
towns. is drift that is brought down
periodically from the upiauG~ ly fresh
cts that follow heavy Iu..~.
There is nothing strange in all this
but what is strange is the way the
natives gather tie wood. PiclS it up on
the beach: Not at all; at least. very
little is obtained in that commonplace
manner.
Much of the island timber i, extreme
Is heavy. ami instead or floating in
orthodox fashion. as wood should do. il
promptly sinks 90 the bottom As the
fre>hct gathers headway. down come
the heavy tree trunks and branches.
da~hiu- n,rcely against the rough
lava sides of the stream and humping
against the bottom till an ,cmb.auce OF
their original shape is lost ana they
are bruised into shapcleSs blocks or
split into kindllng
The current carries them we'll into
the ocean where they settle into the
sand. The first stage of their Journey
is over. now for tile second Iu a Gav
or two the ocean rises iu it's might and
sends I'm huge hrcakor~ uuou the
shores. which catch thc ln-~ and ~plin-
t'rS and roll them over and over. still
on the bottom. toward Oh. beach.
Here Is tAc natives chaucc. He has
hcen waiting long for just ~uch an on-
portunity. Down to the shore conn, the
kanakaS i'm troops 80 ouc is left be-
hind save the sick and th- blind Men.
women and children are an ON the
beach. having au cye hutl to business
and to pleasure.
The women are clad u old. loose
AoiakuS. -ltmcut ] may best describe
10y A@cuiu- ID to the ori-ual Mother
Hubbard. THE men don their -ar-
ment~ and don thc economical malo. or
waist cloth. The children follow suit.
80 far as dottnS goes. and dou-wen.
To tell the truth. most OF them don
nothing. and If thcy are satisfied. YOU
and l need not complain. And now for
81.
The men dash into the breakers. div
ing under the biz combcrS and rising
on the creSt> OF the smaller ones till
they are out shoulder high. then they
feel around With their I,et tin they
nrd piece of wood 1T maE h, only a
splinter. or it may Dee lo. $50 large rs
90 require the aid of rope to pull il
IN, hut. large cor small no mattcr.
Down dives the Kanaka head foremost
10 seize the prize.
The women and children wade in "a
little distance 10 catch tile smaller
pieces that Set past the men. and soon
the piles on The shore grow from Moth
Ing 10 cords
hardy native viii stay I'm the wa
ter. wading and diving. for couple u
hours ana Then come out. pretty thor
oughly chilled 20 sun himself ON the
beach in readiness Tor another bout
with the waves. meantime solacing
himself with Tie inevitable pipe or
cigarette.
Hard work is this wood gathering
by diving. what between the buncrings
oi the waves. the cold and the labor Of
tuSging the logs ashore. But Tor all
that shouts and laughter hN the air.
and one might suppose the occasion
was summer picnic
Whatever his faults. the Kanaka has
not added 10 the gloom and discomfort
OF the world. He endurcs di>apuoint-
mcnt and misfortune with cquanimity.
and When the clouds pass ana the sun
shines lie is ready To laugh and be glad.