Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-02-04

Il years n subject of much in
tercst among scientists. and
active Efforts are now being made to
systematically gather and preserve
the data. which is now rapidly disap-
pcaring. concerning these peoples Of
the Pacific islands. Little is known
of their origin. but their almost abso-
lutte for unknown centuries made their
development Independent of any out.
side influences. and thus all the more
characteristic and remarkable.
The llawaiians were OF the highest
type Of the Polyncsian family. and
their development was probably fully
rs high at the time OF the discovery
OF the islands by the whites. as that
attained by the Aztec Indians OF Cen
trail and South America, whose Won
dsrful works Of architecture and cary
inrs have fascinated anthropologists
for many years. Moreover while the
Aztccs had metals to work with the
absence OF these substances in the
Pacific islands make the accomplish.
ru"nts OF the Iiawaiians. for example.
all the more remarkable.
The work OF the Hawaiians In cngi.
ncerinE and construction. probably ar
fords the most striking evidence OF
the remarkable character Of race
which. through ignorance and confu-
sion with other peoples. has often
been thought OF MS low type sayagcs
and cannibals. Allowing for the DIFF
ference In sizc OF population. the con.
EtTuctiOn OF the great pyramids OF the
Egyptians does not greatly over
shadow the accomplishments OF these
islanders.
The construction OF temples. or he
iaus.'' 10 the numerous deitIcs. the re-
mains OF which are To be found in
every part cf the Hawaiian islands.
probably constituted the larger part
of the works OF the ancient Hawa.
fans These temples were very mum
crous Betwecn 100 and 500 have
been definitely located. and there
wcrr probably n great many. all
traces Of which have been lost They
were built Of stone, either as great en-.
closures. or in the form of truncated
pyramids. and some Of the larger ones
covered from two to FIVE acres OF
ground Walls fifteen to twenty feet
thick. and thirty feet in height. built
Of close rubblc work and from 100 to
300 or 800 feet in length. were not
uncommon. Some of the platform
type wcrc solid rock structures fifteen
10 twenty feet or more in height. Ce.
nent was never used in these struc-
turcs, but In some Of them the stones
wcrc dressed so that the masonry
would compare favorably with modern
work Ct the kind. Blocks Of stone
weighing many tons sometimes enter.
I'd into the construction OF these build
iuEs, though smaller stones werc gen.
orally used.
or all the hundreds of temples
known. probably no two were Of the
same shape or size: but the skill with
which they were laid out shows unus.
nal engineering ability. Some were
perfect squares or parallcloGrams
Some had one or more sides curved.
and in these cases the curves were
always perfect. Walls were in some
cases built tn terraces. and always in
perfect alignment While many Of
these interesting structures are still
tu be found In more or less complete
condition. probably the greater part
W them have been destroyed. the ma
Icriai In many instances going into
lhc construction OF roads. fences. or
modern buildings.
Scarcely less in magnitude than the
hciRus. are tho great sea walls built
iG hundreds q places along the shores
OF all q. tho Islands for iucloSinE FISH
ponds The walls. occasionally q mile
O. mCr1 in length. were sometimes
built across the entrance Of shall
low cove Or inlet: At other times built
In a great seiuicirClC enclosing from
Onr to over 500 acres OF shallow
Natcr. The walls are sometimes eight
or ten fcct high. and often wider At
the base They are built Of loose rock.
and mus; have involved an ireStirn-
able amCuU; Of labor. considering the
Iact that u.timCs the material was
brought from a long distance. and
that the natives had TO beasts Of bur.
den and know nothing q taachlrr-y.
The remains OF irrigation dl;ches
uu a very considerable scale arc SIN
~ be seen in msuy parts o. the isl
suds. and byAr witness to the ability
aud Industry OF the aboriginal Nawa
fans In many localities may Also