The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-14


 Attention Is being given now to the development of crops which can be grown by small planters. those in auv thority recognizing the advantage tof the country of small holdings.
 The labor problem is the most seri- ous one which the people of Hawaii have to meet. At present the manual labor is largely done by Japanese. Chi nest and Koreans--these together con- siderably outnumbering the whites and natives. Several thousand Portuguese have been brought to the islands and have proved an excellent addition to the population. On the day that we were there the Immigration commis- sion authorized the securing of a few Italian families with view to test ing their fitness for the climate. The desire is to develop a homogeneous population suited to the conditions and resources of the islands.
 We returned from the sugar plan- tation in automobiles, stopping at the country home of MT. Damon, which was once a royal habitation.
 The present owner has collected many relics showing the life. habits and arts of the native Hawaiians.
 Still nearer the town we visited two splendid schools. one for native boys, the other for native girls. built from the funds left by the native chiefs. The boys and girls were drawn up in front of one of the buildings and under the direction of their instructor sang the national anthem of the natives. now preserved as the territorial hymn. They were finely proportioned, we'll dressed and intelligent group, and are said to be studious and excellently behaved. Nothing on the islands inter ested us more than these native chill dren. illustrating as they do not only the possibilities of their race, but the immense progress made in little more than hundred years of contact with the whites. The museum. the gift or Mir. Bishop, now of California, who mar ried the widow of one of the native chiefs. is said to contain the best col lection of handwork of the natives of the Pacific islands to be found any wnerc.
 The public reception at the Royal Hawaiian hotel gave us an opportunity to meet not only the prominent Amer ican and native citizens and their wives, but large number of the artisans and laborers of the various races, and we were pleased to note. throughout the day the harmonious feeling which ex- population.
 Political convictions produce the same results here as in the United States, sometimes dividing families. For instance, Prince Cupid, the present territorial representative in congress. is a Republican, while his, brother. Prince Davis, is an enthusiastic Dem- ocrat
 The luncheon prepared by the com mittee included number Of native dishes, cooked according to the recipes which were followed for hundreds or years before the white man set foot upon the island. The health Of the guests was drunk in cocoanut water, nut full of which stood at each plate. Poi. the staple food of the natives, was present in abundance. This is made from a root or tuber known as taro. which grows in swamps and has leaf resembling our plant, commonly known as elephants ear. This tuber is ground to a pulp resembling paste ana IS served in polished wooden bowls, In tbe making of which the natives exhib- 1t great skill. Next in interest came the fish and chicken, wrapped In the leaves of a plant called ti (pronounced like teal, and cooked underground by means of hot stones. The flavor or food thus cooked is excellent. The crowning glory of the feast was roasted pig, also cooked under ground and a toothsome dish 1t was. Be- sides these, there were bread fruit, al- ligator pears and delicacies made from inc meat of the cocoanut. The salt. native product. was salmon eolored. The invited guests were about equal | ly divided between American and na- | tive population. But for the elegant surroundings of the Young hotel, the beautifully appointed table and the modern dress, it was such dinner as might have been served by the na- tives to the whites OH the first Thanks giving after the New England mis- sionaries landed.