The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-10-16

and handed over to the naval or mill.
tary authorities-the only sort of con.
troll under our triumphant democracy
THAT really controls. ~
broad sloping path, well graded,
and bordered by beautiful tropical
shrubs, led to the Governors residencd.
fine, modern house upon a iuttinA
promontory, commanding a magnificent
view of the bay and the environing
mountains. With its polished hard.
wood floors. wide verandas, and per.
feet ventilation, it has been admirably
planned. The Samoans have been con
verted to Christianity by the mission
aries-chiefy those of the London Mis-.
sionary Society, which has large schools
and missions on Tutuila. At night.
fall the families gather in their huts
for prayers and hymn-singing, and as
no two families select the same tune,
the effect is more easily imagined than
described.
The converts have adopted the clothes
of civilization, at least for their church.
going, girls and women wearing the
holoku invented by the New England
missionaries in Hawaii flowing skirt
attached to close-fitting yoke. 1t is
said that when on their way to church.
clad in their best, carrying their Bibles
carefully wrapped in spotless white
pocket -handkerchiefs the interchange
of greetings, shouted back and forth
between the converts of both sexes.
would hardly pass in polite society
an indication that, although professed.
ly Christianized, they are still in effect
true children of nature.
young officer had been relieved,
and was to return to San Francisco
with his family. He had been great
favorite with the natives, and as
tribute to his many excellencies they
composed chant in the Samoan Ian
guage, expressing their affection, re.
citing his virtues, his courage, his kind
ness, their sorrow at parting, and
their desire that the President
might send him back. The family
came out to the steamer in a launch,
escorted by scores of native women
of the better class, all bringing gifts
of tepa, fruit and baskets. many of
them weeping bitterly at parting. The
young officer was rowed off to the ship
in one of the great war canoes. with
more than 80 men at the oars the
leader standing, as is the custom
| amongst the Maoris. The slender, pale
American. in his white clothes, Slated
high in the stern of the canoe, wSs a
conspicuous figure, in contrast With the
brawny, brown Samoans, their dark
skins glistening with perspirati&n,
most picturesque in their lava lavAs
and scarlet headkerchiefs. As them
left the landing stage, at signal from
the leader, the rich voices broke forth,
at first in unison, then the deep notes
of the bass, like the diapason of an
organ, rolling and reverberating across
the water. The effect was thrilling, as
the chanting rose and fell, now sink
ing away, then bursting forth in in
creasing volume of the richest har-
mony. They swept around the ship in
wide circle, and when the chanting
came to an end, escorted the young
officer on board. There the final cere.(
monies of the parting took place-the
making and drinking of kava, which
was passed from hand to hand, and
the rubbing of noses Then, with many
| tears, the Door creatures left the shin,
and the vessel sailed away.