The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-01-18

about either heat or cold, and it is
said their language contains no word
to represent our idea of weather.
They are natural born athletes, and
can endure more physical strain
than white men. They are a good
natured, confiding people and where
their countenances have not been
marred by the vices of white men,
have a free and open look that seems
to forebode good will to every body.
1t has long been puzzling ques-
ton with archaeologists how the
first people came to this country,
and how people with no vessels, bet
ter than log canoes, could ever get
to countries so remote from all other
land as the Hawaiian islands. /
think when the legends and tradi-
tions of the people are fully known
these questions will no longer be a
mystery. Although Hawaiians had no
written language, yet their bards and
story-tellers preserved vast amount
of history of the lives and exploits
of their ancestors. The great Ram
ehameha, who died in 1919, traced
his geology back for 80 generations
to Pill, Samoan chief, and then on
back for SO generations more to
Wakea, Polynesian chief, who was
expelled from the island of Java.
Then no longer being able to trace
his earthly relations, he sailed off
among the gods and finally landed at
Kamu-Honua, "the first created"
Although the Hawaiian legends tell
of heroes who visited the islands two
thousand years ago, will only bur-
den this article with an account of
the first ancestors of Kamehameha,
who came from Samoa to Hawaii.
About the year 1000 two brother
chiefs lived on Upolu, one of the
Samoan group. The brothers quar-
relied and the war grew so fierce that
Paao, the younger, decided to leave
the island and sail northward in
search of the Burning Java" or
Hawaii. They prepared their canoes
by building the sides two or three
feet higher. This was done by hew-
ing boards with stone axes and sew
ing them to each other through holes
drilled by bones, using cords of Goa
coanut fiber for thread. Thus canoes
were prepared capable of carrying
thirty to sixty persons. They laid in
provisions consisting of dried ba-
nanas, figs and pounded taro. Thus
prepared, Paao and his people took
to their canoes and tried to escape.
But his brother discovered them and
sent a storm to destroy the canoes.
Two great fish aided the fugitives-
one pushed the boats while the other
held back the storm waves with his
huge body. A magic bird was sent
to take up great waves of water and
force them into the boats, but Paao's
men arranged mats to cover the
boats and turn the water into the sea-
Thus they escaped. A weary journey
of many days followed. One day the
astrologer, who understood the con-
stellation and planets, the wander
ing stars of the gods, and acted as
pilot, said to Paao: "Oh, my priest,
we have watched long for the burn
ing mountain, and the clouds of SIN oke
they are not. Oh, priest, pray for
the god of the air to open his Gala
bash and let out the winds that blow
to Hawaii before the food fails and
we all die" Then Paao redoubled
his daily prayers to the gods.
Many weeks passed. Sometimes
they would replenish their stock of
water from the rain. Sometimes
they would pass through school of
fish and catch what they could.
Sometime the thirsty, starving peo-
people would swim beside their boats,
thus absorbing moisture and strength
from the water.
Paao was discouraged. He con-
cluded that some water god was driv-
ing them away from Hawaii. Then
he remembered of once hearing
water pilot from the burning islands
talk about water gods who sometimes
turned their boats from a straight
path. Thus the action of the ocean
currents was supposed to be the
work of some malicious god.
ooh, my men," said Paao, "shall
this strange god be our enemy until
we die? Who will go down and lay
on his alter?"
The men we've silent. None VEN
tured to move. Suddenly Paao's son,
a slender lad, sprang from the canoe
and sank into the deep. The legends
say that Paao introduced human sac
rifice into the temple of worship of
Hawaii. Many of the people had
died and some of the boats had been
abandoned, but still the rest pressed
on in their weary course.
The legend goes on at length to tell
how they travelled many more days;
how they consulted every cloud and
scent of the air for god. One night
Paao could not sleep; he thought he
felt strange wind. He awoke his
prophet, who shifted the air and
said: 1.-THE wind has the voice of
smoke, perhaps the smoke of the
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