The National tribune., 1899-10-26

women used no needles, tfimbles, or thread;
the ingenious native outof early compul-
sion invented the simple means of using
the heavy and sharp grass found in the
lagoons for needle, or, in absence of this,
a piece of tough wood is whitfield slender
and to a point; upon this is fastened long,
slender fiber which forms the thread for
the 'lei."
No one but native can successfully
form one of these wreaths, and as only
a certain number are engaged in the busi-
ness, the sales, especially on gala days,
are very extensive. These 'leis" usually
sell for % cents each.
Nearly all these women eat, sleep and
live upon the pavement where they sell
their wares. 1t has been said: THE flower
girls lead a happy, lazy life; their only work
the gathering and stringing of these flowers,
perfectly content with their small earnings,
eating and sleeping in the open air, choosing
for their bed the pavements where they sell
their flowers, and dreaming away the long
hours under the soft skies of this tropical
paradise"
KANAKA HOME LIFE.
In the cities the natives live mostly in
wooden houses. These buildings are
rarely more than one story, homely built,
with view to coolness. No oenormous out
lay is made by newly-wedded pair for
expensive furniture, or dresser, or side
board; the interior of his home is most con-
spicuous because Of the absence of all un-
necessary articles of this nature. True,
he has his dishes, but they consist of a few
good-SiZed pots and calabashes. No
costly and cumbersome stoves find their
way into the Kanaka home. The only
stove the native uses is the one known to us
all-the crane and hook, or hole in the
ground with bars across. Here the meal of
fish, meat and poi may be cooked, and if
no visitors are around it is often eaten on
the ground. Cigarets are then brought
forth and often INDUCED in by all members
of the family.
The main room, n many cases the only
room, of our hosts home is devoted to a
table and chairs for his guest; the host pre-
ferring to seat himself upon the floor or
ground, or upon the native mats. In this
room the meal is also served to the guest.
Perhaps the most novel room of all to the
stranger will be his bed-chamber. may
say, in proof of this, that after renting
room in one of the best boarding houses in
Honolulu, found upon entering my room
that it contained one large bed and three
cots; two of the cots were already occupied,
one by native and the other by China
man, while the third was assigned to me
with the information that the bed was al
ready occupied by two, and it were useless
for me to place myself in it.
A NATIVE FEAST.
Upon arising in the morning I found
that the bed had been held down" by two
Americans from the Eastern States, with
whom had a pleasant chat. They afterward
informed me that they had come to the
islands with the intention of engaging in
the manufacture Of cigars, but had finally
concluded to give up the attempt. After
arranging my toilet | went down to my
breakfast of oatmeal and cakes, with
coffee, ham and eggs. After paying 80
cents in Hawaiian coin for my accommoda-
ton ] left for camp perfectly satisfied with
my experience.
4 native party when feast is given is