The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-05-20
HAWAIIAN CALABASHES.
EXTRAORDINARY VALUATION OF
THOSE OF GREAT ANTIQUITY.


The Honolulu (HawaiD correspon-
dent of the New York Herald writes:
They are the gold and diamonds OF
the Hawaiian people" an old Ha-
waiian told the Fire Commissioners
who are fixing the value of property
destroyed in the great fire of 1900. The
woman was referring only to the Gala
bashes which she had lost in the fire,
and not to any precious jewelry or
metals, for there are no minerals to
be found in the islands.
Calabashes are placed before any
thing else in the eyes Of the people
Of Hawaii, not only by the natives. but
more particularly by the Kamiaines,
the old timers in the islands. Visit
ors who come to the island do not APP
preciate the value Of the calabashes,
nor can they fathom the cause of the
high prices. The tourist who comes
and tries to buy at a curio store a
wooden bowl highly polished, it is
true and finds that the prices range
from SIS to 5000, is a trifle surprised,
and complains to his nearest friend
that the people here have been try
ing to rob the unsuspecting visitor.
And when he goes to a second store,
with his heart set on one of the wood
en- bowls, and picks out calabash
that looks worn and patched, in the
hope that it will come within the
limit of his pocketbook, he is amazed
and angry when an even higher price
is placed upon it. For the people here
much prefer a calabash with patches
as proof of it's antiquity to the new
ones which the whites are turning
out in large numbers and foisting
upon the public as the genuine article
The calabash is not peculiar to Ha-
wall. They are found in many South
Sea islands, but it is only here that
they are appreciated as the "dia-
monds and gold of Hawaii" There
are some collections here which are
not for sale at any price.
The calabashes which are valued
most are those of the greatest anti
guilty. The aboriginal Hawaiian ac-
COmplished wonders with wood in
the use of nothing more than a stone.
1t is these stone fashioned calabashes
which are now most highly priced.
Blocks of wood, usually taken from
the largest trees, were used in the
manufacture of the calabash, the work
on which required weeks, and some
times months.
A stone adze was used by the dusky
native in following out the interior
of the block of tree into a circle
shape. The handiwork was wonder
full in some Of those old calabashes,
the finish being much finer and pref
tier than on the handsomest piece
Of furniture of modern make.
Generally the calabashes were made
in circular shape, of various sizes,
varying from one inch to three feet
in diameter and of proportionate
depth. Such containers were used
for serving poi, the larger ones con
tanning enough of the Hawaiian staff
Of life for dozen or more people, all
eating from the same bowl. Some of
these ancient calabashes are patched
and worn, the patch, which is made
with remarkable neatness, being hard
ly noticeable after the polish is put
on. The smaller wooden varieties of
circular shape were made to hold Ha-
waiian desserts, and the smallest ones
for salt.
The old calabashes are greatly
priced, particularly since Hawaii be-
came the home Of so many white per-
sons, who prize the beautiful carved
and polished pieces of wood more than
the natives. The demand for the
wooden utensils has increased so rap
idly that there are now natives who
spend their entire time in searching
for old caves in which catabashes
might be hidden. 1t was formerly the