The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1904-08-13
HAWAIIAN CALABASHES.
EXTRAORDINARY VALUATION OF
THOSE OF GREAT ANTIQUITY.
Wooccn Bowls, Especially If Old and
Patched, Are Very Highly Prized-
Prices Shock Tourists - Natives
Hunt for Calabashes in Caves.

| dent OF the New Ork Herald writes.
| They are the gold and diamonds Of
the Hawaiian people" all old la-
w2iian 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
b2shes which she had lost in the fire.
and not 20 any precious jcwelry or
metals. for there are no minerals to
be found in the islands.
Calahastcs arc placed before any
thing else in the eyes Of the people
| Of Hawaii not only By the natives but
more particularly by the Kamiaincs.
the old timers in the islands. Visit
Ors who come to the island do not ap-
preciatc 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 s. to $500 is a trifie surprised,
and complains to his nearest friend
that the people here have been try
ing to rob the unsuspccting visitor.
And when he goes to second store,
with his heart set on one of the wood
en bowls, and picks out a calabash
that looks worn and patched. in the
hope that 1t will come within the
limit of his pocketbook, he is amazed
and angry when an even higher price
is placed upon it. Fer the people here
much prefer a calabash with patches
as proof of its 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-
waii, They are found in many South
Sea islands. but it is only here that
they arn appreciated as tho "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 arc those of the greatest anti
Guilty. The aboriginal Hawaiian ac-
cOmplshcd wonders with wood in
the use of nothing more than stone.
Il 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
cf the block of tree into a circle
shape. The handiwork was wonder
ful in some of those old calabashes,
the finish being much finer and pret-
tier than on the handsomest piece
of furniture of modern make.
Generally the calabashes were made
il a circular shape. of various sizes.
varying from one inch to three feet
in diameter and of proportionate
depth. Such containers were used
fer serving poi, the larger ones con-
tanning enough of the Hawaiian staff
of life for a 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 ncatness, 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 calahashes are greatly
priced, particularly since Hawaii be-
camc the homo 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 cid caves in which cafabaShes
might be hidden. It was formerly the
custom to bury Hawaiians in caves,
generally inaccessible and guarded
over either by warriors or spirits.
and the personal property of the chief
was buried with him. There are
many of these caves in the islands,
all of volcanic origin and many still
undiscovered. so well did the old ma
tiyes conceal the entrances to the
caves.
At Napoopoo, where Captain Cook
landed upon discovering the islands,
is a series Of caves, the entrance
to which is below the sea level and
along the side of an abrupt cliff Re-
Gently adventurous white men gained
an entrance to the old burial caves
here by means of a rope, and found
many calabashes of great rarity with
in.
One of the finest collection of Gala !.
bashes in the city is owned by Prince
Cupid and Prince David, having for
merly been the property Of King Kala-
kaua. This is valued at $4,000. The
queen has fine collection. as has also
some of the Weather and older resi-
dents Of the city and territory. Many
CT these collections of calabashes
have a historical value, having been
handed down from generation to gen.
Grafton since the time Of the first
Kamahemeha. There is one calabash