Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-07-25
CLOAK WORTH
MILLION DOLLARS
Nest Valuable Garment of Its Kind in
World.

| U0TIus
If old fashions prevailed now, our
government officers in the Hawaiian
Islands might be called upon to wear
cloaks that represent a value of at
least 81 ,000,009. One now in the Ma
tional Museum is said to be of that
value.
| 1t Is surely without superior to
chronological interest and uniqueness
OF workmanship. At one time it be-
longed to Kekua-skalani, one of the
highest chieftains of the Sandwich
Islands, After the abolition of idola-
try there in S19, he rebelied against
the King, and attempted to reestablish
the ancient religion. In a bloody
battle he was slain, however, and this
wonderful cloak, which be wore in
that fs@teful battle, fell into the hands
of the conquerors, and then passed
into the possession Of King Kameha-
meha Ill, 1.-THE Solitary" or
LONELY" From him it descended to
King Kanikeaouli, and was later pres
ented to Captain J. Fl. Aulick, of the
United States navy.
Some idea of the amount of work ex-
pended in making this war cloak may
be gathered from the fact that the
time required for It's manufacture ex.
tended through eight reigns preceding
that of King Kamehomeha. 1t is 4
feet long. and has spread of III
feet. The ground work is of coarse
netting, made of olona, a native hemp
from the fibre Of the hau tree, and to
this the feathers, which are exceeding
ly delicate and very small, are skill
fully attached, overlapping each 9th
er and forming perfectly smooth sur
face. The feathers around the border
are reverted, and the whole presents a
bright and beautiful appearance. as of
mantle of gold. The upper and
lateral borders of the cloak. which are
corded with string of the olona. are
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, and
shows the olona network and the quill
ends of the feathers. The cord of the
upper margin is prolonged to form a
fastening at the throat.
The yellow feathers are those of the |
rare bird 90, or Uho, hahoa nobils. |
while the red feathers are taken from
the body and neck of drepanis coccinea.
one of the most abundant birds inhab-
iting the Hawaiian group. 1t is the |
yellow feathers, however, that are of |
such great value. They were at one
time used by the natives in payment |
Of poll tax to the King. Only two of |
these feathers are obtained from each |
bird (from under the wings), so that |
the number of birds captured from
which sufficient number of feathers
could be obtained in making this
cloak must have been very great.
The capture of these birds is effect
ID with much care and toll. Long
poles, smeared with some adhesive
substance and well-baited. are placed
IN the vicinity of their haunts. The
bird alights on the pole, and, being un-
able to disengage itself, is readily
caught. The two so much desired
feathers are plucked and the bird is
then set at liberty. At one time three
Of these yellow feathers were worth
81 so. and it is largely on this basis
that the value of this cloak has, been
as mentioned at the outset.
Until recent years cloaks of this kind
we're counted among the most precious
If the royal treasures of the kings of
,he Sandwich Islands, but since Eu-
.Opear dress has been adoped they are
low rarely or never Washington
Times.