The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-03-09

User: HONOLULU, MARCH
eristic of a Japanese camp is the rude
stove made from a kerosene-oil tin or
paint-oil drum. Placed upon end, the
top is cut of and one side cut down to
within 4 to inches from the bottom
This bottom is filled with clay as a
bed for fire, and iron rods or pieces of
hoop-iron are run through from side to
side inches above this to support
cooking utensils. All along the edge
of the 6 feet porch above mentioned,
these little stoves may be seen arrang-
ed in front OF and convenient to the
doors of the respective rooms.
Many plantations provide central
cook houses, with or without ovens.
and large caldrons. Some furnish din
ing-rooms with tables and benches.
Who does the cooking? The wife.
for the family and at times for few
single men from whom she receives
pay; single men for themselves or
club together and hire one Of their
number to cook for them. Often the
plantation furnishes cooks. Wood and
water is provided The latter some
times from surface wells near the
camps but generally through pipes
from a distance. Wood is either
brought to the door by the plantation
or, as in many instances, the labOrer
is permitted in his leisure moments TO
supply himself. Sometimes a money
equivalent is paid.
Hot Bath Provided.
Oriental laborers demand, as a neces-
sity, a hot bath at the close of the
day. To supply this demand large
wooden tubs, with iron bottom, capable
of holding six TO eight persons, arrang
ed so that a fire beneath can heat a
large body of water, either in the open
or under a roof, is supplied either by
the plantation, in which case the bath
is free, or by some one among the
laborers, in which latter case a small
monthly fee is paid.
Often-times a small plot of ground
is utilized by the laboTer for vegetables
with the consent of the planter. Few
however of the Orientals avail them
selves of this privilege. More raise
pigs and fowls, and in this way in
crease their income.
The LaboIers Food.
The staple article of diet among Or
ientals, here as elsewhere, is rice.
Chinese add pork, vegetables, and GER
tain Chinese dried, sailed and other
wise preserved food imported from
their own country. Ducks are in favor
with them and tea in quantity is a new
er failing beverage.
Japanese add beans. in a multitude
of varied forms, imported Japanese
vegetables etc. Beef, milk and
wheat bread they soon learn to eat
and become partial TO. Tea is the
drink.
Europeans do not fare differently
from those in their own country.
The Work Required.
Contract laborers are expected to do
and mill work. The for
mer comprises; clearing land; cutting
wood and brush, grubbing out roots.
moving rocks and brush, teaming and
blowing, care of horses, ditching, hoe
ing, irrigating, fertilizing. planting.
stripping and cutting cane, loading
and unloading cane cars and any other
necessary farming operations.
In and about the mill he is occupied
in feeding the cane carrier and furn-
aces, tending any of the mill machine
ry, handling sugar, loading cars etc
From the contract labor class the
blacksmith, engineers and
sugar-bOilers select their assistants
and these, as they learn and become
obtain higher wages and
nffnn nj az.
per month.
When the profit sharing system is
in practice, contract men, If deserving.
are allowed to take these special con-
tracts and have made from $500 TO
$500 per month. In few places
men have been allowed to take small
pieces of land and cultivate them at
their leisure. In order to do this they
are compelled to work early and late.
and holidays and the mill buys
the cane at fixed rate per pound.
Between One-third and one-half of
the women work in the fields and a.
bout the mill at the lighter kinds of
labor. There is no cOmpulsion.
They have many ways OF earning
money in the camp. After attending
to their household duties which are
few and simple, they find time to wash
cook and sew for others. In these
ways the woman often can earn more
than her husband.
Many of the labOrers save quite large
amounts of money during the term of
their contract. II is not unusual for
Chinese and Japanese when leaving for
the Orient TO have in their possession
all the way from 800 to $500 money
saved. Some even are credited with
larger amounts, and this means a great
deal to them in their own country. IL
is the reverse with others; they have
not cent, are always in debt. and
when they wish to return home they
have TO borrow their passage money
from friends.
The Working Hours.
The number of hours is settled in
the contract, being ten hours in the
field and twelve in the factory. The
day begins at an hour varying with the
season thus taking advantage OF the