USA > Hawaii > Honolulu: sketches of life, social, political, and religious, in the Hawaiian Islands from 1828 to 1861 > Part 11
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" The king then covered his head with his chapeau in a graceful manner and read his speech, which you will find printed, as well as the reports of the cabinet ministers, which reflect great credit upon them for the liberal spirit they manifested in recommend- ing many useful changes favorably affecting both native and for- eign residents. We have much occasion to rejoice that the chiefs have been so wise as to take into their councils men of such enlarged views, although for them to give satisfaction to all parties is not to be expected.
" After the king's speech the houses appointed a committee to draft a reply, and then adjourned.
"I must confess that gratifying reflections filled my mind upon viewing the well-ordered and appropriate ceremonies of the day,
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Honolulu.
and the absence of all that could be put down as incongruous ; the respect shown by this king, so recently absolute, to constitu- tional forms; to his legislature and people; the reciprocal re- spect on their part; the becoming uniforms, decorations, and dresses of chiefs and people; the quiet, gentlemanly deportment of all ; the ease and eloquence of the speakers ; in short, the tout ensemble of refinement and civilization. Still more gratifying is the reflection that this order has been brought out of disorder and savage barbarism in the short space of twenty years by my countrymen."
I have recorded this letter here, as it is the testimony of a stranger, and may be supposed to be more impar- tial than if it had originated from some one of those be- hind the scenes, who had such a time in gathering, regu- lating, deciding, and putting in order so much of what appeared on the above occasion. I have been the more anxious to give you correct ideas, as it is probably the last scene of the kind in transition from the old to the new order of things.
It was very difficult. for the chiefs to find feathers enough for the two "kahilis," as they are always taken to pieces after the ceremony and packed away in tapa and calabashes. The moths have performed their share in the work of destruction, and the feather tax is ab- rogated.
One of the bright sides of the picture at present is the Sunday evening service, held in the palace drawing- room. The pupils of the Royal School attend, and con- stitute a choir, as they have fine voices. One of the young ladies leads the singing with the melodeon. Mr. Richards usually conducts the service. He understands the language well, and the habits of the people and chiefs, so that he can adapt truth to the heart and understand- ing. The king always attends, and the other evening
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The King's Birthday.
he remarked upon the contrast between this scene and the gross idol-worship of his ancestors.
It has been resolved in privy council that His Majesty was born March 17th. The anniversary of his birthday was accordingly celebrated this year as a national holi- day.
Two hundred guests dined at the king's table, and Mr. Wyllie made a party in the evening at Mauna Kilika. The collation was amply and tastefully arranged, and without wine or spirits of any kind.
During the salute from the fort on Punchbowl, a na- tive was killed, and two more badly injured by the pre- mature discharge of one of the guns. We were stand- ing with the king in the palace yard and saw the explo- sion. The king was much affected, and turning to Dr. Judd, said, " Make haste." A horse was quickly mounted and the hill ascended in front, at its steepest angle-a feat seldom performed.
One poor native was dead, literally blown to pieces, and another died the next day. How I do abhor gun- powder! I am afraid that the monk, who it is said in- vented it, will remain a long time in purgatory before his sins will be expiated. .
The following is an extract from a letter from Mrs. Fidelia Coan :
" HILO, HAWAII, 1845.
" DEAR MRS. JUDD :- You may be sure I watch with the deep- est interest the experiment of training daughters to womanhood in these islands. May the Lord prosper you in your interesting and arduous work, and may your daughters grow up to be mod- els of simplicity and female excellence.
" Home, though it may be an imperfect one, is the heaven- appointed nursery. Science may be required in adult years : but the spells of home must be bound in childhood, if ever. The
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Honolulu.
men of God which we hope our sons may become, can not, in my opinion, be perfected without their feeling during life strong and indelible impressions of the sweets and joys of home.
" Do you not think that married ladies, mothers especially, in the multitude of their cares, are apt to lose sight of that con- stant improvement, that completeness of character to which we may attain'? We have little time to ourselves ; our spirits are often jaded ; our bodies are weary; we are discouraged and be- lieve what we have often been told, that the cares of a family leave no time or strength for intellectual effort. I do not mean that we are to attempt to become great scholars. We can get along very well without a vast deal of learning, but not so well without a good deal of knowledge.
" Some of that knowledge must come from books; some must be the result of our own observation and reflections. All should tend to make us better, more like our blessed Pattern, who was no more complete in holiness than in every other part of His character.
" My thoughts are running more than usual in this channel of late, for I fear that the ladies of the islands generally are lower- ing instead of raising the standard. I think of you only as in · turmoil, and yet trust, that like Greatheart, you can fight all your battles and still have many hours of calm reflection and joyful looking forward to the land where the weary are at rest.
" My constant prayer is that this nation may live before God, and that those who I am confident are endeavoring to pro- mote its best interests, may have wisdom and grace to do just right." . ..
"You know that the foreigners here have formed a 'Total Ab- stinence Society.' I want some songs for them. You will do me a great favor by sending such as come in your way, particularly the one that Mrs. Calkin played at your house, the chorus of which began-
'Oh, then, resign your ruby wine.'
I apply to you because I know you are interested in the cause, and because your daughters can come to your aid. . ..
" I could fill my sheet on that expression of yours, that you are determined to be happy. There is no reason why you should not be. We may all be happy. We ought to be. I can not under- stand why there is so much restlessness, peevishness, feverish
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Letter from Mrs. Coan.
anxiety, imbecility, and premature decay among Christians. It would seem that they should renew their strength, mount up as on eagles' wings ; their path growing brighter, their hopes higher, as they near the goal. Alas ! we often find the reverse to be true. Where this is the case, there must be something wrong. . . . . Perhaps physical laws have been disregarded, and health and strength sought in ignoble relaxation, when it should be sought in action. Then follow all the evils of Pandora's box without even hope at the bottom.
"We had heard repeatedly, and we hoped correctly, that you were coming to Hawaii. It would do you all good, and cool the fever of your mind, and I have no doubt would enable your good husband to digest something better than ' mush and milk and Government papers.' Believe me, he will not live long on such diet; not that mush and milk is not sufficient to sustain the body, but a physical and mental condition which renders such rigid diet necessary, can not long be endured. This is my opin- ion, -- I do not ask anything for it !
" You inquire, ' Ought I to forgive - - - for those expressions made before the church?' By all means. First, because it is no uncommon thing for anathemas on other men's labors to come from that quarter. And second, because ill-natured criti- cisms are soonest put down by disregarding them. Public men are public marks, but don't mind the missiles ! Do the best you can, and then, in any event, you can fall back upon rectitude of intention, which will be worth more than the applause of the whole world.
" It is truly distressing that what there is of mental and moral energy in the nation must be expended in political strife, instead of civil improvement. I trust it will not always be so. We ardently wish to see every friend of the cause about his appro- priate work; giving his time, his thoughts, and all his energies to the interests of the people. The people must be exalted, or the Government is built upon a foundation of sand.
" Yours, etc., F. C."
Letter from Dr. Judd :
" HONOLULU, March 31, 1845.
" DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER :- It is the anniversary of our landing on these far-off shores, seventeen years ago. You will
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Honolulu.
expect a letter, though with me writing has become very difficult, owing to the entire loss of the sight of one eye. This affection commenced with dimness and giddiness of the head, ringing in my ears, and coldness of the extremities. .... I have been obliged to resign my office as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and turn my attention to business which requires more bodily exercise. This would be a great trial to me, so great is my attachment to the nation I serve, were it not for the fact that I am enabled to resign to a man better qualified than I am to fill the important office.
" I have the general oversight of that department, and all the other offices of Government, as the king and chiefs look to me as the responsible man. I continue to enjoy His Majesty's implicit confidence, and can not be exempted from care and responsibility if I would. If I could see the affairs of this nation prospering, I would prefer to retire and lead a more quiet life. God, who has directed, will continue to direct. Be it mine to follow His will. Your affectionate son, G. P. J."
XXXIV.
Mr. Wyllie's Report for 1844-Arrival of Admiral Hamelin-The $20,000 Returned-Entertainmenta -New Treaties-Statistics-Native Girls-His- tory of Kaili-A Pattern Life.
E XTRACT from Mr. Wyllie's first report to the Hawaiian Legislature :
"HONOLULU, May 21, 1845.
" His Majesty the King, in the exercise of those powers secured to him by the Constitution, and of those inherited from his an- cestors, not abrogated by that instrument, deemed it expedient for the good of his kingdom to create the office of Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and appointed to fill that office G. P. Judd, Esq., on the 4th of May, 1843. Mr. Judd had previously served His Majesty as Interpreter. and Recorder, and as his deputy in the commission (British) which administered the gov- ernment of these Islands from the 25th of February to the 31st of July, 1843.
' " After his appointment as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, he had to perform the duties of the Treasury Board, and . exercise many functions belonging to a Minister of the Interior. His eyesight having become impaired, and his general health broken down, under the anxiety and labor of these accumulated trusts, he resigned the seals of the Foreign Office into the hands of His Majesty on the 26th day of March, 1845.
" Under these circumstances His Majesty was graciously pleased to accept the seals and transfer them to the undersigned, but retaining Mr. Judd as head of the Cabinet and Minister of the Interior.
!
"When he took the office, on the 28th of March, the sover- eignty of the Islands was held in pledge. When he left it that sovereignty was acknowledged by the United States, Great Brit-
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Honolulu.
ain, France, and Belgium. The share which the policy of Mr. Judd had in producing these grand results, under circumstances which appeared to bar their possibility, will best appear from the report of Rev. William Richards, one of the surviving commis- sioners."
March 22, 1846, the French frigate Virginie, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Hamelin, anchored in the port of Honolulu.
The admiral took the occasion at once to arrange for the return of the twenty thousand dollars which had been delivered to Captain La Place on the 13th of July, 1839. The money was brought on shore on the 23d, in the original boxes, and under the same seals which had been affixed when delivered to La Place.
" Nothing could exceed the perfect good taste and propriety of manner with which the Rear-Admiral arranged the delicate affair.
"The admiral was very affable and expressed himself much pleased with the apparent harmony existing between French subjects and the Hawaiian Government, through the medium of the French Consul, J. Dudoit, Esq.
" Mrs. Dudoit gave an elegant entertainment in the evening. Their Majesties the king and queen were present, and the young chiefs. The fine band from the Virginie was in attendance, and everybody was in good humor. This expression of confi- dence from the French Government was worth more than twenty · thousand dollars.
"On the 28th the king was received on board the frigate with the honors of manned yards, royal salute, and the band playing «God save the King.' After examining every part of the ship, they sat down to a collation, from which wine was excluded, in compliment to the temperance principles of the royal guest. The king took the occasion to drink (in cold water) the health of their Majesties the king and queen of France, to which the admiral responded by the same honor to the king and queen of the Sandwich Islands.
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Lights and Shadows.
"On the 26th the new treaties were concluded, after an ami cable verbal discussion of four hours. Were foreign Govern- ments and their representatives always just and philanthropic, how many of the difficulties within the last two years might have been avoided."
" The statistics of 1846 show a great and increasing amount of foreign property afloat in our ports. The number of seamen and strangers visiting the kingdom during the year was not less than thirty thousand, and of vessels six hundred !
" We are informed that the population of the island of Molo- kai is on the increase, contrary to the reports from all the other islands of the group. The report gives one hundred and fifty baptisms and only twenty deaths !
"There is a strong public sentiment on the island to prevent children from leaving home, yet figures show that at least one hundred and fifty girls have been enticed away to Lahaina and Honolulu. Legislative and parental authority on this subject are both required, and yet, sad to say, parents can be found who barter away their daughters for infamous purposes !
" A physician was called to a poor young creature the other day in our village in a dying condition. On inquiry, it was found she had been sold by her mother to a traveling stranger for sixty dollars. The brutish mother took the money and forsook her child, who after a few months was again deserted, destitute, sick, and dying. Would to Heaven this were a rare case !
" Molokai has no harbor for ships, and is free from the corrupt- ing influences which commerce, with all its blessings, is sure to leave in its train among such a people. As an offset to this dark side of the moral picture, is the following obituary of Kaili, which, though written by her husband, a foreigner, is, I believe, perfectly truthful :
""' I became acquainted with her in the early part of 1843, when she was but a little girl. (She was born June 17, 1832). In an attempt to talk with her, she gave me to understand she was a church-member. With my then imperfect knowledge of the language and prejudged opinion of the people, I supposed that but a cloak, a desecrated garment to cover iniquity. But she soon convinced me she was not to be trifled with-and with a tone
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Honolulu.
of voice and expression of countenance I shall not soon forget I have ever since respected such professions. Our acquaintance continued for three years, when we were married. Through this period I never saw or heard aught to spot her character. . . . Since then I have known every secret of her heart, and a better one, it seems to me, impossible. She made me secretly ashamed of my own, and I wondered how a human one could be so single and so pure.
" ' Religion, or a sense of her relation to her Maker, as taught in the Scriptures, was the prominent feeling in her heart. This I know; for never a day passed while we lived together without unequivocal manifestation of it. All her actions confirmed it. She never boasted of her piety-far from it. She always felt herself to be unworthy. This religious consistency told wonder- fully upon me. From admiring it alone, I came to love it and sincerely desire it.
""'This quality, coupled with great natural endowments, ac- quired that ascendency over me, and all of us, which she justly deserved ; and, in fact, she became the head, and her advice was sought in everything of importance, and we always thought our- selves bettered when we followed it. She was always right. In abilities, from circumstances, I was her superior; but in moral integrity and all that was good, she was immeasurably above me.
""' Nothing could persuade her into evil. She was firm as a rock. Her unqualified exemption from all bad habits, so preva- lent among her people, was truly remarkable. She never used tobacco, nor gave her consent to its use in the house. In fact, she persuaded me from its use, as she did from other vicious and idle habits, which a single and careless man is apt to contract.
""' She never went into the street to see people pass; never romped or went to festivals, other than religious ones or school celebrations. I never heard her chant a native song, or chatter nonsense or gossip with her people. She detested gewgaws and finery, and would never consent to my getting for her more than decency required. Shortly after the birth of her child, I tried to persuade her to wear jewelry, telling her I was proud of her and would purchase such as she wished, as she had well earned it. She replied that God had sent her a jewel that pleased her more than all the trifles (mea lapuwale) that I could purchase.
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A Young Matron.
This reminded me of Cornelia, and I told her the story. Her admiration was unbounded, and I could get no rest until 1 told her more of those noble Roman matrons.
""' Such was the vein of her mind she loved conversation, when the topic was a noble one; if not, she listened with impatience. She loved her people and deplored their condition. She looked back with peculiar horror on the degradation of her ancestors, and forever wondered that the present generation did not more generally take advantage of the terms now offered them.
"' She could never excuse any one for licentiousness or wick- edness of any kind on the plea of ignorance ; her reason being a simple and forcible one, viz : there was not a Hawaiian but had had the same advantages of education with herself, and that she always knew better.
""'I was absent when she died; but her mother tells me she gathered to her all her beauties in her death, and passed away without a struggle.'"
XXXV.
Remove to a New House-The Bridges Gone-Going to Church-Nuuanu Road-A Grand Celebration, July 31-Eatables-The New Commissioner-The New United States Consul-King's Address-Mr. Brinsmade returned-More Trouble-The Arbi- tration-Mr. Richards Sick-Mr. Ricord resigns -Fudge Lee-Changes among the Missionaries- New Buildings and Old Ones-Embarrassments- Death of Mr. Richards-Funeral.
NUUANU VALLEY, 1847.
O NE earnest wish of my heart is gratified. We have a quiet home of our own in this lovely val- ley. I have felt for the last two years that one of two things must be done : my husband must allow me to take the children to the United States, where they could be educated, or I must have a more retired home for them. So much anxiety and so much company unfit me for maternal duty.
Our house is located on the first hill after crossing the Nuuanu stream, and commands a beautiful view of the town, extending from the Mission premises on the left to Barber's Point and Waianae mountains on the right. The rooms are smaller and less elegant than those we have occupied the last four years, but there is an air of home comfort and convenience that pleases me. The house has a chimney and a kitchen within, which is an anomaly in Hawaiian architecture.
We had been collecting the materials for two years, a little here and a little there, as we could command the means of payment. The doors, floors, and gates were
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Our Valley Home.
made in Copenhagen and sent out for sale, and my hus- band purchased them at auction for much less than we could get them made. The windows, glazed, and blinds already painted were sent out from Boston.
I have a woolen carpet, and walls papered in our par- lor, which I fancied, when completed, would remind me of one in a far-off land. But, alas for my fancied pict- ure ! The damp from the coral stones, of which the walls are made, has defaced and spoiled the pretty paper, and it must all come off.
In a few days after our removal there was a heavy rain- "fall, and the torrents from the hill-sides rushed together, so that the little modest stream that I used to cross on the stones in search of stray scholars was turned into a muddy, turbulent river, which rushed down to the sea with such violence as to sweep away all the bridges in its course. This is a serious inconvenience to the fam- ilies that live in the valley, but will lead to the erection of substantial stone bridges.
We find plenty of pleasant work in putting the grounds in order around our new home. As the lot has been used for a banana field, it is full of dried stock, with mustard-trees and thistles.
We still attend the services at the stone church, and the English service at the Bethel, though it is a mile and a half away. The children walk, but I have a little wagon with low wheels, made here, and my husband has pur- chased the donkey which Mr. C -- trained. Sometimes he goes very well, but he has a habit of turning into his old haunts; and I am obliged to wait before a hotel or store his donkeyship's pleasure, and then he very quietly resumes his accustomed pace. A horse is in the training process, which I hope to have the courage to drive, but that narrow escape in 1843 made a great coward of me.
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Honolulu.
The Nuuanu road is extended to the Pali, starting from the premises of Ladd & Co., and is in good repair. The king has a retreat built near the cascade, and adjoin- ing that disputed lot given by the old Governor of Kauai to Captain Hinkley, and sold by him to Mr. Pelly, an Englishman, who claimed it in fee simple, ignoring the native custom of resuming such gifts at pleasure. '
This year the king said he would have a celebration on the 31st of July, worthy of the event it commemo- rated, and fulfill the doctor's dream in Lord George's time, viz : the kingdom restored, and all the road to the Pali filled with a procession bearing little Hawaiian flags.
You never saw such a company of equestrians in all your life. Men were stationed in different places to count them as they passed." There were nearly four thousand, and ever so many carriages and multitudes on foot.
The king and queen rode for the first time in the car- riage which he lately purchased of Pomare, Queen of Tahiti. It was presented to her by Queen Victoria, but since her kingdom is despoiled by the French, she felt herself too poor to keep it, and sent it up here for sale. It was drawn on this grand occasion by four gray horses gaily caparisoned.
The feast of the natives was prepared by the Governor and Paki, and was spread on the ground in the grove of koa trees, three miles and over from the town. There were 271 pigs baked, 500 calabashes of poi, 600 fowls, three oxen, two barrels of salt pork cooked with taro leaves (luau), two barrels of bread, 5,000 fishes, ten barrels of potatoes, fifty-five ducks, eighty turkeys, 4,000 roots of taro (kalo), eighteen bunches of bananas, fifty pine-apples, with cabbage, onions, cocoanuts, etc., sufficient to feed
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A Great Feast.
twelve thousand native guests. There was also a table in the king's cottage for all the foreign ladies and gentle- men, spread with every luxury, native and foreign, in- cluding hot tea and coffee.
With such a host on foot, on horseback, and in car- riages, there was no rudeness, no confusion, nor a single accident in going or returning. This is certainly very remarkable, and must be put to the credit of the strict temperance principles which were observed throughout. If there was one drop of strong drink on the ground, it was smuggled there.
In the evening there were religious services at the king's chapel-a sermon and several addresses, with fine singing by the Johnson brothers and Mr. J. F. B. Mar- shall. The king and chiefs, officers of Government, many foreigners, and crowds of natives attended.
On the arrival of the new American Commissioner, Mr. Ten Eyck, and family, Mr. Brown took leave of us. He sailed for home via China, and there is every reason to fear that the vessel went down in a typhoon, as noth- ing is yet heard of it.
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