The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-08-23

wrapped round the waist of the rider,
and then around the legs. the long ends
streaming out behind and almost cover
ing the horse when in rapid motion. As
the custom used to be to dash AT full
speed through the town, it was a very
gay sight when several of these riders
ealloped by together in the brilliant gun
shine. Now alas! there are no more
such riding habits to be seen, and every
year there are fewer such riders.
LEI wREATHS AND SHAMS.
Even the Leis which are sold at sew
erai of the street corners in Honolulu
are in danger of extinction. These lei
wreaths are formed of strings of flowers
on grasses, and are hung round the neck
or hat of the purchaser In old times on
festive occasions the Hawaiians used to
appear almost covered in the wreaths OF
varied colors. Now when friends are de-
parting II Is customary to send lei
wreaths with aloha or goodbye wishes.
But even these charming flower wreaths,
costing only some % cents each, are
likely soon to be unobtainable owing to
the substitutes introduced. These cost
less, and have the added advantage that
they do not fade and need not be re-
newed They are. however poor sub
Hawaiian fashion" The habit consisted
of a very long piece of gay color,d cloth,
stitutes for the sweet-scented beautiful
lei wreaths of the real Hawaii When
The leis are gone, another link with the
past will have been severed and pro-
grossive civilization may rejoice ut an
other conquest.
In the old times luaus or native feasts
were held whenever an occasion of honor
or rejoicing occurred. and they were dis
tingu shed 10y the quantity of food con-
sumcd and the absence of illeffccts up
on the diners. This latter was principally
because OF the vegetable food in the
feast. The luau was held in the open air
, or in IA boathouse, then the principal
house in the place The food was laid
upon leaves spread on the ground. The
guests, crowned and hung with les, sat
on the ground ON the same level as the
food, and ate for hours at time. There
was always "A great display of the hand
made calahashe ana dishes. VIII lie suck
ing pig, roasted whole in the ground,
and poi made from the root of the taro
plant were prominent among the edibles.
Now. however. the luau feasts take place
/ upon low tables several inches from the
ground, and the beautiful old hand made
calabashes or bowls have given place
to machine-turned, highly-yarnished
bowls of modern manufacture. The old
calabashes had a beautiful soft polish.
caused by soaking in oil and the rubbing
necessary in constant cleaning after use.
DEBASING CIVILIZATION.
/ Thus. one by one, old customs have
passed from their old state and are now
, rapidly descending the path to disap-
pearance. The old native dance--the hui
la-hula-was condemned as not decent.
although the old dances We're perfect
marvels of the dancers art, and the un-
desirable elements of the dance were
largely introduced by the imagination of
10
was made an offence, and only takes
place when party Is made up. to bear
the expenses Of a special performance.
which expenses include the gne neces-
sary for the infringement of the laws.
The dance as now danced doubtless. Is
far worse than in the olden days. when
the hula girls kept time SO wonderfully
that, viewed from one end whole row
seemed but as one figure going through
the dance. 1t is very curious how civli-
zation degrades the habits of savage
races by contact, and then demands their
suppression on moral grounds
The Hawaiians do not work very hard
or very Systematically. In the old days
befor. the advent of missionaries and
traders. all the Hawaians lived COM
fortably without the need of working
thanks to the natural resources always
available. Civilization brought to them
the necessity of working for a living and
seeing others occupy the lands w".cf
once were theirs. Japanese and Chimes,
and other alien races have come into the
land and do the better kinds of work
and the Hawaiian is left principally to
fishing and boating, though even here
the Chinese have intruded, and will soor
drive out the poor Hawaiians,
1t is sad to watch the passing of any
race and doubtly when the native.
are such fine, well-made, generous, anC
good-natured souls But the civilization
of the white man is not kind to any o
| the colored races, and they go out ont
by one. With the end of the Hawaiian
another picturesque race will have disap
peared from this earth.
ALFRED STEAD.