The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-13

ers on the islands The criticism on the
part of foreigners could not be under
stood by the natives when first offered
| for the hula girl was to them the poetry
of motion and her every act was the ex-
preston of Hawaiian song.
These girls were trained for their dances
| while yet in the cradle, when women who
were expert in their conyolutions that
would be necessary. twisted their limbs
| ana kneaded the little ones muscles until
they became supple as acrobats.
Kahalis and robes mace from birds
feathers speak of a day when gorgeous
feathered songsters FLIED the trees and
bushes of the islands. But alas for the
vanity of kingsl This species Of fauna,
indigenous to the archipelago. has long
since departed and the birds seen today
are the result Of importation.
One Of the Kamehamchas Is responsible
for the extinction of these members of
the feathefed tribe. When admiring an
oo-oo one day he decreed that he should
be furnished with a royal robe. made
from the golden tufts that shone on the
breasts of the songsters. These tufts
were only fraction Of an inch in dame
ter and the robe maker said that hun
dreds Of thousands of the birds would be
needed to complete the gorgeous gar
ment. 'If it takes every bird in my
kingdom 1 must have the robe" said the
monarch, and forthwith the slaughter be-
gan Probably the most magnificent piece
OF wearing apparel ever worn, even by a
king, was the result But the birds were
$t,ot al q
goodly number, seeing which, and his
vanity being unsatiated, kamehamehas
ordered that cape be made, even as the
robe has been. This time the hunters
were at work for a much longer period
and when they had completed their task
not an oo-oo remained on the islands,
and you hear of them today only in fables
But the garments are in existence
priceless robes of former state. One is
in the British museum, taken there soon
after Liliuokalani S abdication, and the
other is in the government building at
Honolulu. 1t is the latter that will be
seen in st. Louis next summer.
Plumage of larger birds than the oo-oo
was used in forming the kahilis. which
are immense plumes. made of variagated
feathers and used by attendants to wave
flies and other insects from the monarcns
face when he was enjoying an afternoons
siesta. These by the dozens will be
brought to ST Louis, taken from the
room in Honolulu where "reminiscences
of royalty are stored as souvenirs.
But it is the Hawaii o, today that will
interest no less than the Hawaii of the
dark ages. An education is the keynote
of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition so
it is in matters educational that the ISL
anders will make their principal showing.
And il will probably astcnish visitors To
learn from one exhibit that the kanaka
children are the best educated of any
children in the world that is. in proper
ton to the population, more Kanaka
boys and girls read and write and do the
rule of three than in any country on the
face OF the globe. and for that matter any
district, not excepting the New England
states
Again in the agricultural division Ha-
wall will shine, exhibiting n high grade
coffee that is being cultivated on the lee
ward side of the largest island of the
group. And it will be explained that the
lava soil with which the islands are
formed is the richest Of the earth. The
rich sugar cane and the method of crush
ing it viii be a feature, and then there
will be exhibit of fruits and flowers. Ko-
mated beef will be seen in the cattle pens
and also sheep that Craze on the noun
tain tops at an altitude that almost
reaches the snow level. in every depart
In
islanders will be represented. They will
have 10 exhibits of minerals, for there,
dig IS you may, nothing comes in answer
to pick and shovel but lava. lava lava.
Visitors TO the Hawaiian village will
be treated TO native luncheon or luana,
prepared as on the lands that are waved
washed by the Pacific. 1t is not good
form at one of these luncheons TO sit In
a chair, for if you do you will be high
above the table. which is nothing more
than native vines and flowers strewn on
mother earth. So perforce you seat your
self as nature intended.
Soup? There is none. Poi takes its
place This is substance the consistency
of paste and resembling ii in color, which
is prepared from taro root. The natives
mascerate the taro in an earthen bowl,
using a stone, such as a druggist mixes
ingredients with pestle and mortar. There
are two kinds of poi-two-finsered and
one-fingered, the former being thinner
than the latter. To understand, one must
remember that IL is very bad taste to ask
for a spoon when eating poi The digits
must be used and it Is remarkable how
in he
First, stick the forefinger
of the right hand in the substance that
IS placed before you. give il a twirl until
the poi adheres well on all sides. then
with a graceful movement convey that
clings into your mouth Suck the finger
we'll until nothing remains. then repeat
the operation. From this description you
will understand that two-fnGered poi Is
that which could not be ma nipulated read
ly with one finger. II You are in doubt
as TO how many fingers you should use
watch your host and follow his example.
4 most savory dish follows as the piece
de resistance. in the shape OF roast
sucking pig prepared in native style.
Hours before you are b.dden to the luau
for this delicacy were I'M
dcTTay- FIRST. noe was aug IN the
ground. and watching its construction.
ore might remark that il rcserubled an
infants grave. Meanwhile large stones
are being hsated 10 a red. The sucking
pig ready. dressed and cleaned. the bot
tom Of the grave Is lined with hot stones.
these in turn are covered with fragrant
leaves. the pig is placed on its led. mere
leaves are sprinkled over IL. then another
layer OF hot stones. and finally earth Is
thrnw- On Ihera IL. hakes and sizzles