Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-13

command Of the trading schooner
Ebon, q staunch and handsome two
A master Of SO tons, there was opened
to me . new world. I saw another
phase Of the South Seas, one intermediate, as
IL WERE between the barbarous New Hebrides
and westerni2ed industrialized Hawaii; natives
,lazy and hospitable, who had not yet received
sufacient impact Of Occidental civilization to
alter their primitive life to any degree.
had left Moses and the Chinese boy and
Jorgensen, the Dane. my two companions on
open boat, at Mile.
On my first call at Kusaie, Eastern Caro-
lines, was greeted In Port Lele, one of the
three harbors Of the island, by former sailor
of mine, who had been q donkeyman on a
Hawaiian steamer under my command. Good
Lord, Charley!" calculated. What you
doing on Kusaie?"
"I am King Of Kusaie" That was, to say
the least, interesting.
At his house-nay, palace pleasing struc-
ture made Of island materials was welcomed
by Queen Kenie 8 handsome though tawny
damsel of Is Summers who could pour a
drink with grace that the British Victoria
might have envied. Then the king spoke:
"Where are you from, captain?" From Jaluit.
Charley trading for Crawford 81 Co. Just
dropped in: never expected to see an old
shipmate. Come on board, though; bring your
wife, and you may tell me how you became
king. I'll have to address you as Your Majesty
hereafter" Charley frowned stop that
captain; I'll always be Charley to you" 'Then
you," said I, must drop the captain with me-"
A FTER dinner on the Ebon Charley related
the details of his transformation from
donkeyman to monarch. Although he came of
the ruling family of Kusaie, he had ventured
forth into the wide world seeking cash and
experience as a sailor. During his absence the
former king had died. and Charley, as nearest
heir, succeeded, but he had departed from
Hawaii and could not be found despite careful
search, until Hawaiian sailor formerly OF the
missionary brig Morning Star, recognized him
on board a ship-where, Of all places? In
Philadelphia. Informed by this Hawaiian Of
the somewhat extraordinary change in his
status. Charley returned home to take up his
billet as king.
Charley, then, once donkeyman vas king;
was yet q mere captain, and was, besides,
as our English friends put it, lin trade" Very
well; what about trading with his majesty's
people? Charley not only granted me per-
mission, but also promised to hold for me all
the islands copra. Thus we destroyed
nopoly that the German firm had enjoyed for
many years.
Charley had taken an oath of allegiance to
the Queen Of Spain and on a subsequent
voyage I found Ponape in q state of war.
Angered at the construction Of Notifications
by the Spaniards, the natives had rebelled.
Notwithstanding their modern weapons and
disciplined soldiers, the Spaniards were meet
ing severe reverses; while the rebels were well
supplied with rifles ammunition and food and
were securely intrenched In the mountains.
Arms the natives had, but they grasped an
opportunity to obtain more Nothing loath
to make a profitable deal, sold them both
rifles and cartridges. in payment for which
] received box Of gold.
This money, learned afterward, had been
captured from Spanish outpost; consequently
it constituted extraordinary damning evidence
Of my transactions. That fact might have made
me go circumspectly thereafter. Instead
thrust my neck into the moose, and that de-
spite the warnings of friend, Capt. Narruhu.
which was dinned into my ears when West
Indian named Christian boarded my vessel and
fingered an entire day. He came ostensibly
to trade. in reality to spy on me; y.& per-
United him to remain
FsstEsg 81 "a. lat rl9aA .Iegl9.a .gs.t