The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-11-27
WHAT CHINESE DO FOR HAWAII.
They Produce Practically All the
Vegetables Grown on tho Islands.

y
Vegetables Grown on tho Islands.
Wherever there is rice field of
any size water buffaloes are to be
round. Their owners take excellent
care of them, and are usually proud
of their condition. On one planta-
tion I found stable in which six OF
these animals were feeding The
buffalo whose chief delight is wad
ing through mud seems to have an
instructive dislike for the whiss race.
and often refuses to work under
their control, and in one or two in
stances white men have been obliged
to seek safety in flight from the re-
bellious disposition Of these beasts.
They seem to understand the Chi
nese language, and know instantly
when Cinnamon are holding the
reins, and under their guidance are
perfectly gentle and obedient to
every command. I saw an example
cf their antipathy for our race, when
q Chinaman allowed white boy to
make an attempt to drive one Of his
animals. The buffalo at first re-
fused to move, and then, stamping
his foot he started of in the wrong
direction and was wholly unmanase-
sble. A few moments later his mas
ter took up the reins and he became
as docile as pet dog. These animals
are healthy and strong and one
working we'll before the plow is
worth 5000.
Birds are q pest in rice culture,
and all sorts Of means are adopted
to keep them off the fields. A China
mans idea of scarecrow, is
pole with q white flag on the top, and
hundreds of these are planted in the
fields. Another mode OF getting rid
of these pests is by beating on tin
cans to frighten them away and
often men will shoot and eat them
out Of sheer revenge. The grass
hopper b also an enemy to he dealt
with, as It attacks the crop while yet
in flower. Every plantation has a
large concrete floor In the open air.
on which 20 dry the crop. After
thrashing the rice from the straw
1t is gathered into rows and dried
while still in the hull. and here the
water buffalo Is used again, by be-
Ing hitched 10 q wooden shorel and
drivea about the floor until the rice
Is piled up ready for baggtng.
At least five thousand Chinese are
employed in the production Of rice
in Hawaii. They also control the
taro patcues from which poi, the
principal Hawaiian food Is made.
Many Chinese are engaged in raising
ducks, while the sole occupation OF
others Is the raising Of chickens. AS
eggs retail from twenty-five to sixty
cents per Uozen. and live chickens
from ten to twelve dollars per dozen.
this business should be proftable;
but there is sometimes considerable
loss due to the ravages Of peculiar
tropical disease, which is fatal to
young chickens. The Chinese pro-
duce practically all Of the vegeta-
bles grown in the islands and sell
them from door to door.
The Chinese are by far the best
workers in the cane fields, are quiet
and peaceable in manner and atten-
tive to duty, giving the overseers lit
tie or no trouble. Less than two
thousands, however, are to be found
ON the sugar plantations at present,
as the Chinese Exclusion act settled
coolie immigration. A number OF
the native born" have become steno-
graphers and IRE employed by Amer
leans. A professional man Of Homo
lulu told me that his secretary, Chi
1esc youth whom he paid thirtyfive
dollars per month, was Simply per-
fect."-Mrs. C. R. Miller in Leslle's
Weekly.