The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-05-17

IHE MOhNING AS l.
labor is devoted Great skill is dis
lplayed in irrigating and preparing the
soil; beds being made OF rich, soft
mud, each bed surrounded by q wall
OF earth imperviouS to water The
plant is propagated BY setting out the
tops OF the ripe root; water is then let
in on them and retained until the
planting OF the next crop, ~ square
feet, OF taro will supply food for All
average sized family for u year The
plant flourisheS perennially in the is.
lands and constitutes a chief article
OF diet to thousands OF Chinese and
Japanese laborers in addition to the
majority of kanaka natives, The
latter are most fond Of il when made
into poe, glutinous concoction at
once nuriShiug and pleasing to the
taste. However, taro can be eaten IN
various ways boiled baked or iried
and il is said that all who eat the taro
are never troubled with indigestion
In fact many foreigners have been
cured OF this ailment by the use OF
taro flour, which has been lately M
trouduced from Honolulu,
The coffee crop will eventually
rival sugar in amount and value
This product is the hope OF the conh-
try and is eminently suited to man
with a large family, as the children
make good pickers.
On account OF the limited amount
Of wood on the islands, the question
of rain has become a serious matter
Laws have been passed prohib'tlns
cutting OF trees except for hre wood,
All lumber for building is imported
from Oregon and Washington ou'
a fine building stone OF lava rock ''
available
Song birds are limited to lew
soecies, but many varieties are adorn-
ed with the brilliant plumage OF tne
tropics One of the latter species mas
nrder each wing a small TUT OF ieath
~ of golden yellow color about
one inch in length from which inc
war cloak OF the King was MADE
This cloak is four feet long with a
spread Of lib feet at the bottom ana
90 rare are the feathers composing y
that its formation is said to have oc-
cupied nine successive reigns. Capt
Cook, being thought God, was dc
corated with this priceless mantel
The Hawaiians have many tradi
tions of their origin and one point Is
always agreed upon--the Hawaiian
came from the south far away. They
were carried away by a storm while
endeavoring to reach friendly people,
self expatriated for opposing native
monarch and endeavoring to over
throw the government.
The leaders were OF royal blood.
They came in open boats made from
great trees followed out. They were
out many weeks and after eating all
their food, ate their slaves. Millions
of flying fish filling their boats, saved
the Others until the Hawaiian Islands
were reached.
That the Hawaiian is OF Polynesian
origin there is little doubt There IS
no authenticated history OF the rulers
previous to the ascension OF Kane
hameha ! who wrested the power from
the petty Kings one by one. Kane
hameha | was the father OF two Kings
following his long and splendid reign,
by Keapuolani, known as the queen
who broke the abominable practice Of
denying sacred food, and the kings
person and the abject slavery OF wom-
en- to custom.
kamehameha III ascended the
throne at the age Of l9-March II,
1888. He was an enlightened, just
and good king as is evidenced by the
fact that his birthday and ascension
to the throne March 18th, has been
declared a national holiday.
With Kamehameha V ended the |
Kamehameha dynasty and the next
king was elected by the mobiles and |
representatives and crowned king in |
1873 He reigned but one year, and
nine days after his death Kala Kaua |
was crowned king. He was 81 years
old and an educated liberal minded |
man, but like too many men suddenly |
an unexpectedly become great, he be-
came selfish and grew autocratic and
arbitrary. The missionaries who
placed him in power were scandal
lied by his maintenance Of a notori-
Gus harem, of the restoration Of the
hula hula and superstitious rites Of