The Hawaiian gazette., 1903-10-20
HOMES|CK
ISLANDERS
Gilbertese People
Leave Saturday
Afternoon.

leave for Ocean Island via the Gilbert
group this afternoon at five o'clock,
will carry on board at least fifty home
sick Gilbert Islanders, the happiest
crowd that has ever left these Islands.
After an absence from their native
sands of nearly twenty years, the
hearts desire of these poor people,
many of whom are halt and manned
colder temperature of Hawaii, many
of whom had lost almost their last
hope of seeing their "ain countree'
once more, they return with rejoicing,
many of them helped by the generos-
ity of their fellows who have been so
fortunate as to scrape together more
than they need for their own fare.
It seems that some must be left be-
hind and the scenes of separation Will
be intensely pathetic. Those VINO
must wait for public or private bounty
to determine their lot, of going or stay
ing, are making desperate efforts TO
raise the necessary S.. For some time
the Gilbert Islanders have controlled
the industry of making so called ma
tive" hats and today and again tomor-
row, many of them have tried to sell
their stock. The women are franticaily
endeavoring to finish partly braided
hats. while their fingers, trembling with
excitement, can hardly ply their task,
while the men are vending their wares.
Most of the poor fellows have but
little English at their command ana
wander through private gardens car
rying their hats at a loss how to get rid
of them. Three or four sold means
all the world to them, the realization
of a hope as great as that of a man
liberated from prison. and their mute
look of appeal should tempt many a
dollar from sympathetic pockets.
The Rev. Mr.. Bingham in explaining
the opportunity of return to them at
Kalihi camp yesterday made an appeal
for generosity to those who had some
money laid by that was responded to
with an unselfishness that would put
many q more civilized colony to shame.
One man who by dint of hard work
and self denial has amassed riches at
the rate of $14 savings for every year
he has been in this alien cline, paid
$40 for his own transportation and
that of his family and gave 500, sixteen
per cent of his entire fortune, to the
common fund. This means that five
at least of his compatriots will rise
and cal him blessed when they reach
home where he will arrive happy In the
possession of a capital of 500,
enough to make him rich man In
Gilbertia. Julia, woman who had
$54 paid s24 for her husband. her child
and herself, and then gave one-third
of the remainder, $40, for others to
share in her joy. So with the others
until the twenty-one who had money
had given in all for fares and food
$500 where fourth of that amount
would have been all that was neces-
sary had they acted on the principle
that "Self preservation is the first law
of Nature"
Four hundred dollars is the sum
fixed by Mr.. Arundel of the Isleworth
for carrying fifty of them home. La
haina. the chief hat making colony, isl
yet to be heard from, where twenty
others have considerable money saved
and held in trust for them by Mr..
Bingham. Charles Isaiah, of the Ha-
waiian Board of Missions, the Gilbert
Island evangelist. left for Lahaina on
Thursday night to explain matters and
will doubtless bring back most If not
all of the little community with him
in the Kinau tomorrow in time to make
the Isleworth.
At eleven o'clock this morning, the
Islanders will leave kalihi where dur
ing yesterday, Gilbert men from Pearl
Harbor arrived Not until the last
moment will it be known how many
can go as after the first fifty fares will
be reduced to S. a head, the average
price lowering as the numbers increase.
$1,000 will see them all ready with only
food to be provided. They will sleep
in improvised tents on board the Isle
worth, their fare will be scanty, con-
sisting chiefly Of rice, but their hap
piness will far outweigh all dsad-
vantages. To those left behind the
situation will be n cruel one but Mr..
Bingham, whose efforts, with those of
British Consul Hoare, have been in
defatigable in their behalf has hopes
of sending all away by the aid of sub
scriptions. The sum of So with the
addition of little rice suffices for one
and none will be left for lack of rations
as all will go short if needful and
share alike. Five dollars is n small
amount but II will round out the earth
" measure of {. Gilbert Islanders hap
pinesS