Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-06-05
CostIiest Cloak On Earth.

I
Government officers in the Hawaiian
Islands might be called upon to wear
cloaks that represents value OF at
least 100000 One now in the
National Museum is said to be of that
value.
1t is surely without superior ID
chronological interest and uniqueness
of workmanship. At one time 1t
belonged to Kekus- -skalani, one Of the
highest chieftains of the Sandwich
Islands. After the abolition Of idol
airy there in 1919, he rebelled
against the King and attempted to re-
establish. the ancient religion. In a
bloody battle be was slain, however
and this wonderful cloak, which he
wore in that fateful battle, fell into
the hands of the conquerors, and then
passed into the possession of King
Kamehameha III, "The Solitary,
or Lonely" From him it descended
to King Kanikeaouli, and was later
presented to Capt. ]. H. Aulick, OF the
United States Navy.
Some idea of the amount of work
expended in making this war cloak
may be gathered from the fact that
the time required tor its manufacture
extended through eight reigns preced-
ing that of King Kamehameha. 1t is
4 feet long and has spread of IL! feet
The ground work is of coarse netting,
made of olona, native hemp from the
fiber of the hau tree, and to this the
feathers, which are exceeding ly deli
cate and very small, are skillfully
attached, overlapping each other anc
forming a perfectly smooth surface
The feathers around the border are
reverted, and the whole presents
bright and beautiful appearance, as o
a mantle of gold. The upper anC
lateral borders of the cloak, which arr
corded with a string of the olona, arr
decorated with alternate tufts OF red
black and yellow feathers. The body
is decorated with alternate figures
generally crescent shaped, composed
of either red or yellow feathers. The
inner surface is without lining, ant
shows the olona network and the
quill ends of the feathers The core
of the upper margin is prolonged t'
form fastening at the throat.
The yellow feathers are those OF tn
rare bird %, or Uho, mahoa noblis
while the red feathers are taken from
the body md neck of ofdrepanis cocciner
one of the most abundant birds inhab
iting the Hawaiian group. 1t Is tht
yellow feathers, however, that are o
such great value. They were at on
: time used by the natives in paymen
of poll tax to the King. Only tw
of these feathers are obtained iron
each bird (from under the Wings, 81
that the number of birds captured
from which a sufficient number o
feathers could be obtained in maxim
this cloak must have been very great.
The capture of these birds is effect
ed with much care and toll. Loni
poles, smeared with some adheslv
substance and well-baited, are place.
! in the vicinity of their haunts. Th'
bird alights on the pole, and, belnl
unable to disengage itself, ls readll..
caught. The two so much deslre'
feathers are plucked and the bird
then set at liberty. At one time thre
, of these yellow feathers were wort
$3.50, and it is largely on this basl
, that the value of this cloak has bee
estimated, as mentioned at the outset.
Until recent years cloaks Of thl
kind were counted among the mos
precious of the royal treasures of tn
kings of the Sandwich Islands, bu
: since European dress has been adopte
they are now rarely or never seen.-
) Vashinqt0n Times.