The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-04-01

ing east of Pelekunu-for that especial
purpose. On the way over the pail
from Mapulehu, about half way down
the Wailau trail, half-eaten carcass
of one of these birds was found, under
similar conditions to the one noted from
Pelekunu valley.
At Wailau village / rallied a party
of these experienced native bird catch
ers, with their Uau dogs, for days
hunt on the almost vertical cliffs of
Olokui. For there, well down towards
the sea end of this great pyramid shap-
ed mountain, at an elevation between
$500 and 1000 feet, a colony of these
birds have reared their young each sea-
son for generations. Each year, dur
ing the summer months, the natives
of the valley have formed hunting
parties and have preyed upon the col
ony in search of the young Uau, which
are regarded as an especial delicacy by
all Hawaiians.
Our start was an early and suspicious
one. My men were each provided with
bag which was held on the back,
suspended from the shoulders, in ap-
proved native fashion. Save for my
collecting gun, we were without fire.
arms and unencumbered. The day was
bright, with occasional showers-just
sufficient to keep every leaf in the
moss grown forest soaked and dripping
Only the most hardy and venturesome
natives ever attempt this climb. For
four hours we struggled up the steep
ascent, cutting the trail through the
tangled underground, helping each
other up the cliffs where footholds were
wanting, pulling ourselves mp by our
hands here, slipping back there, pass
ing the dogs over the dangerous places,
encouraging them over the hard ones,
painting, wringing wet, and all but ex-
hausted, we at last reached the top
where the crest of the ridge slopes
down a few hundred feet before it
pitches off for a perpendicular drop to
the floor of the beautiful balloon-shap-
ed valley two or three thousand feet
below. The crest of the ridge, here
as elsewhere, is overgrown with the
usual jungle Of vines, ferns and trees
which hide the steep, broken-often
dangerous-irregulari of the rocks
which it covers.
For the next six hours we ranged
following as best he could, some one
of the dogs. Over the cliffs and down
the valleys they ran in every direction,
shifting here, digging there, until finally
on locating a bird they would bark for
help.
Digging out an Uau is not the easy
and pleasant task one might imagine.
As rule they make their burrows I'M
der the spreading surface roots of trees
sometimes going back under them
Snunral foot bn mouth If q
burrow Occasionally they select
crevice in the broken rock or under
meath boulder that is overgrown with
roots and vines, so as to resemble, in
its essential features, the site just de-
scribed. Rarely almost never-are
they found nesting on the surface of
the ground, even though it be covered
with vines and underground. Having
located the burrow and opened it up
for distance. it is often then difficult
to find the bird, for the holes are usual
ly natural ones that follow the roots
IL various directions, and at most are
only appropriated by the bird and modi
fed to its use. But once the hand
touches the bird there is no further
doubt concerning its whereabouts, for
on being disturbed they bite with their
hooked, pincer-like bills, and kick and
scratch with their feet most savagely.
Once the bird is in hand it is easily de-
spatehed by the native hunter in a neat
and efficient manner The forefnger is
violently forced down the bird s throat.
1t is then slightly bent at the first joint
SO as to catch the heart and lungs,
which are given slight twist and
sharp pull, with the result that the
bird nj oalxy
struggle.
One can, with practise. initiate the
Uau's call very closely. This ruse was
Their efforts would occasionally be an
swered by some unwary bird, thus dis
closing it's whereabouts, but as a rule
they failed to respond. Earlier in the
season, during the actual mating, the
ed by the birds throughout the day,
but by the time of our visit the birds
were mated and sitting together in the
burrows. On several occasions two
birds were pulled from the same bur
row. Later on, [ was informed, when
the single glossy white egg is laid, it
Is common occurrence to find one or
the other parent bird sleeping outside
the burrow, while its mate sits on the
nest within.
July is given as the time when the
egg is laid. The young in the downy
stage, are always taken in late Sep
TENDER and October. October 10 is
the day usually selected by the natives
as the most favorable time for collect
ing the downy young. These are com
monty pulled from the holes by means
of a stick which is split at one end.
The split end is twisted into the down
of the bird and in this manner it is
easily pulled forth. But the adults
must be captured and dragged out by
the hand. As has been said. the young
birds are especially priced as food. In
former times they were reserved for
the chiefs alone, being tabu to the COM
mon people.
As a result of the days expedition,
twenty-one Uau were taken, eighteen
of which were made into skins. Com
pared with former years, this was a
very unsatisfactory bag. In June, 1906,
the same men. with the same dogs,
and with much less effort, secured six
ty-three birds The cause in the de-