The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-02-23

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nne Hawaiian workmanship 10 vain.
able collection ~ Eamehamfha and
kalakaua dynasty decorations. those Oi
the former being red and the lat or
blue Tho massive solid silver service
presented 10 Klng Knlakana BY Queen
Victoria lH enclosed IN the same chbl-
net.
a peculiar feature of this race was
their evident desire In ancient DAYS
as well NJ In modern times 10 make
IAN appearance. they fashioned mir
rors from stone. making discs Of the
size OF a dollar, and others. two or three
Inches across the face: the high polish
Of the stones enabled the bellies OF the
period to makeup" nv well as II they
had modern mirror OF glass.
Personal relics OF the different kings
OF the Kamehameha line and OF the
Kalakaua line I'LL many large cases;
cooked military hats, swords, gold
bedecked uniforms, and royal insignia,
give one an impression that this little
monarchlcal court was about as snowy
and as well conducted as any court
OF Europe; at all events, the gold and
tinsel and sheen OF brass buttons was
ever present, II that goes to make up a
royal court.
Polynesian Relics.
In another wing OF the museum are
the exhibits from the Polyneslan ISL
ands. The Gilbert Islands show a very
savage and barbaric taste in dress,
houses, household implements, etc. Ev-
erything in nature supplies them with
the materials Of life, dress and recrea-
ton. Ornaments OF human and dog
teeth for anklets and necklaces are nu-
merous. They make their kappa, or
clothing, from the tree fbres, little
clothing, however, being used, as only
VI.
clubs and spears are made OF fire.
hardened wood, edged with the teeth
of sharks. making them weapons OF
great destruction when welded by the
mighty warriors of these islands. Their
war-drums and dancing-drums are
made by following out log of wood,
with a drumhead of lizard skin tight
ly stretched over the opening; small
gourds are also used in making tom
toms. Hideous idols, grotesque and
squat, show the ancient characteristic
of all the ancient peoples OF Polynesia.
Their houses are made by matching
palm leaves over structure of sap
lings, and raised several feet from the
ground. the opening being reached by
means of ladders. Their mats are
woven in skillful manner from the
strips OF the palm tree, and are soft
and pliable. One of the principal ex-
hibits from the Gilbert Islands Is the
warriors armor made of cocoanut
fibre; it is as complete as that OF the
knightly cavalier of old who went
forth clad in armor of steel or chain
links; here 1t Is reproduced in the
fibre OF cocoanut, the skull cap, fitting
over the ears like the steel fighting
cap OF the Puritan; cuirass, jacket, belt
and trousers covering the legs to the
ankles; the fibre is tough and will re-
sist the sharp thrust of spear.
Micronesian Articles.
The exhibit from the Micronesian
group shows more artistic turn of
mind in their different manufactures;
most of their household implements.
which they have fashioned from diff
ferent woods, have been carved with
regular designs, some of them closely
following the plan of the GrecIan bor-
der; their tapestry work and weaving
show the same degree of skill: they
possess the art of coloring their mats
and hbres, so that they appeal to the
eye very strongly. Their idols have
no semDlance to human shape, as in
the case of the Hawaiians and New
Hebrideans; the idols are merely large
stones OF any shape, just as they are
picked up, and placed one on top of |
another; this is the only group which |
observed which did not attempt to |
give a shape fashioned somewhat after
ne human form, in making their idols. |
'retty woven baskets of different col
- ~ iciS'i non Lidus ana HelS OI strong |
lDres, form an interesting study. A |
rown made in the conventional style
# old King Coles headpece, com
'osed of strips of palm leaf dyed alter
lately red and black, the band bor-
Ter being made of woven kappa, stud
led with shells and sharks teeth, oc-
uples prominent position.
The Fiji Islands are probably bet
er known to people under the cogno-
len of the Cannibal Islands; the ex-
ibits from there show that most
avage life must have been theirs in
avs long gone by. Most everything
, the exhibit signifies some warlike
Implement. Considerable skill, how
yer, is manifested by them in the
manufacture of kappa, their dress being
imposed of one small piece of cloth
bout the loins only; their designs and
oloring show some artistic ability. |,
he war-clubs are richly carved and
olished. A battle-axe is made of a
a nd cd |