USA > Hawaii > Honolulu: sketches of life, social, political, and religious, in the Hawaiian Islands from 1828 to 1861 > Part 5
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Her funeral was one of great pomp and display. But neither the immense procession, the martial array of royal guards, the band of music, the magnificence of
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Death of Nahienaena.
stately "kahilis," the firing of minute guns, nor the sol- emn toll of the church bell, could stifle the remorse, of drown the sorrow of her royal brother. He appeared deeply affected by this untimely death, and many prayers were offered, that it might be the means of bringing him back to penitence and duty. Not long after the funeral ceremony, the body was taken to Lahaina and placed in the tomb of her mother, Keopuolani. The king then visited Hawaii.
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XVII.
Mr. Richards' First Embassy-The King's Marriage
-The Donation to the Church-Hilo-The Volcans
-Half-way House-Night at the Crater-The De- scent-Stone Church at Honolulu.
HONOLULU, 1837.
HE king is married to his favorite. Kalama, a very sprightly young girl. The nuptial ceremony was . performed in the native church, at the close of the evening service. Since the death of his sister the king appears sober and thoughtful. While absent a few weeks since, he wrote a letter to Dr. Judd, in which he expressed the hope that the " Word of God was budding in his heart."
After the collection of the annual poll tax in January, he appropriated fifteen hundred dollars in cash toward the new stone church, which is to be called the "King's Chapel." He came in person when the money was de- livered to Mr. Bingham, remained to tea, and spent the evening in pleasant conversation. The money is to be forwarded to Boston, for the purchase of windows and lumber.
Mr. and Mrs. Richards were anxious to see the " lion" of Hawaii before sailing for home, and, as Dr. Judd was called to visit Hilo on professional business, we made up a party of four adults and seven children for the visit.
The little schooner Clarion entered the quiet waters of Hilo, or "Byron's" bay, at sunset, and I realized for
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Hilo-An Earthquake.
the first time all my early day-dreams of tropical beauty. While spending a few days in the enjoyment of the society of our friends, our wish to experience an earth- quake was gratified by a slight shock. It was not a pleasant sensation, and we did not ask to have it repeated for our benefit. In a storm at sea, our thoughts naturally turn to the land-the solid earth-for rest; but alas ! when the foundations tremble, rocking hither and thither, ' upheaving and shaking, as if to throw off its burden, there come over me a terror and utter helplessness that can not be described.
Our kind hostess, Mrs. Coan, fitted us off for a trip to the crater, a distance of about thirty miles, with pro- visions for four days ; no small inroad upon the yearly allowance doled out to each family. One miserable jade of a beast was all the town of Hilo possessed in the way of horse-flesh. This served for two gentlemen and three ladies. Don't fancy us all mounted at once.
The ladies were provided with palanquins, extempo rized by fastening two boards together at an obtuse angle, one to sit upon with feet horizontal, and a shorter one to support the back. These were suspended by ropes to a pole borne on men's shoulders. A soap-box, emptied of its contents, with a cushion in it, and a cradle for the children, were carried in the same way. The natives provided themselves with poi and fish for the journey.
The head man of Hilo had deceived us. Instead of providing able-bodied and strong men for our relay of bearers, for whom our husbands had stipulated, and paid extra, we discovered they were sickly fellows, with shoulders already sore from transporting burdens for their task-master. But cheerfulness and resolution will accomplish wonders. The road through the woods, spread with trunks of the tree-fern, made it elastic for
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Honolulu.
the feet, and Mrs. Richards and myself walked many a mile.
We reached the " half-way house" at dark, where we found shelter in a large thatched house, untenanted, without window or door to close it. Our arrival had been anticipated by a company of young people from a neighboring district, who had come to be married, and thus save a journey to Hilo. The ceremony was per- formed by torchlight, and the parties retired in groups to the different parts of the building to wait for day- light, when they could go home. Sleep was out of the question, with the chattering voices, half subdued whis- pers, and merry laughter of the bridal party-and the fleas !
About midnight we were all brought to our feet by the entrance of a huge black hog, with tusks like a rhi- noceros's. It required a vast deal of shouting and shak- ing of kapa to convince the intruder that he had mis- taken his lodgings. We breakfasted at early dawn, and resumed our journey toward Mauna Loa. The air be- came exhilarating and cool, and the ascent was so grad ual as to be almost imperceptible.
Deep crevices, from which issued steam and heated air, warned us of our proximity to the domains of the goddess Péle. We tested their depth by dropping stones into them, but could not hear them strike the bottom.
Suddenly we came to the brink of a pit, eight hun- dred feet deep, and capacious enough to engulf the city of New York. The hut into which the guide led us was built on the very edge of this abyss, so that on entering the bearers swung the cradle quite over it. I was hor- rified with the sensation that we were on the point of tumbling in, and begged to go back to the woods for the night. Alone in my fears, I soon recovered. We
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The Great Volcano.
unpacked our bedding and prepared supper, and domes- ticated ourselves for the night. Our pillows were ar. ranged so that we could command a splendid night-view of the fires below. The air was keenly cold. All our cloaks and blankets were insufficient, but the steam from a crevice close beside our bed supplied, in some meas- ure, the deficiency.
Imprisoned giants forging thunderbolts. could not have made a more unearthly roaring than the confined gases in the caverns below-whistling, bellowing like ten thousand bulls. Strange to say, we enjoyed some refreshing sleep in spite of the awful surroundings.
In the morning we descended into the crater by a sloping path, fringed on one side with ferns growing out of the crevices. On reaching the bottom the lava lay broken and scattered, like the ruins of demolished cas- tles. Every few steps we passed a smoking chimney, throwing off suffocating gases from the subterranean laboratory beneath. The interest became intense, and precluded all sense of fear, and we rushed on with fleet steps, till we came to a broad area of fresh lava. The specimens were very beautiful and scattered around in fantastic shapes, such as might be the work of fairy fingers. A little further on we came to a lake of red, boiling lava, surging and dashing under the opposite ledge like waves on the sea shore. We approached as near as the intense heat would allow, and saw that the center was blackened over. We tried the thickness of the crust by tossing in some bits of lava, when to our astonish- ment the center of the lake broke and threw up a fiery jet of gory red, increasing and rising higher and higher, as we stood fascinated at the sight. The cauldron was filling, and the increased heat warned us to retire. The retreat up the sharp projecting stones was performed
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Honolulu.
with speed quickened by fear. We climbed out of the pit and got back to the forest for refuge and rest a little after sunset, quite satisfied with Madam Pele's entertain- ment and hospitality.
I must here note that the walls of the king's chapel are commenced. and many natives are employed in cut- ting and dragging coral stones from the sea-shore. It is a Herculean task to perform this work without beasts of burden, or the aid of any labor-saving machinery. The nation is still destitute of masons, carpenters, and black- smiths. The only implement used is a narrow spade for agricultural purposes.
When timber is required from the mountain, they form a company and drag it over hill and dale with ropes, at a great waste of human strength and sinew. Horses are scarce and kept only for pleasure-riding. The mission owns a few yoke of working oxen.
The other day it occurred to one of us to try the ex- periment of training a horse to draw stone. A band and collar of coarse canvas were put together, and with a few lessons the animal was trained to the drudgery of useful labor. The natives look on and marvel at the skill of the foreigner. We hope soon to see mules and donkeys relieving men's bleeding shoulders. Patient teaching is required, as " Rome was not built in a day."
XVIII.
Children of Missionaries-How to be Educated- Different Opinions.
I T can not be said of the ladies of the Sandwich Islands Mission that "they lend their graces to the grave, and keep no copy." Most of the number have large families. An idea prevailed in the earlier years of the mission that the children could not be trained here, but must be sent to the fatherland. I shall never forget some of those heart-rending parting scenes. Little chil- dren, aged only six or seven years, were torn away from their parents, and sent the long voyage around Cape Horn, to seek homes among strangers. They have sometimes fared hard during those long voyages, with- out a mother's care, with no one but the rough sons of Ocean to nurse and watch them. They have sometimes fallen into the hands of selfish, exacting guardians, and been unkindly dealt with or sadly neglected. Their pillows have been wet with childhood's tears, as they thought of their far-off homes, and felt the need of pa- rental sympathy and tenderness.
There are many, I fear, who can attest, by sad expe- rience, to the bitterness of this heart-crushing system. On one occasion I accompanied some friends to a ship just starting for America. As the vessel moved from the wharf, there was one affectionate little girl, not more than seven years old, standing on the deck and looking
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Honolulu.
at her father on the shore, the distance between them widening every moment. She stretched out her little arms toward him and shrieked with all her strength, " Oh, father, dear father, do take me back!" I turned away from the heart-rending scene, and was thankful that it was Abraham, not Sarah, that was called to Mount Moriah.
Whether such separations were really necessary, was a question upon which different opinions were held. Some parents ran the risk of keeping their children, in the belief that the example of Christian families was of great importance to the heathen people with whom they dwelt. Why had their Heavenly Father entrusted them with the high and holy parental office, if they might thrust it off or delegate it to others ?
We had no schools but such as mothers made in the nursery, for an hour or two in the morning, sometimes gathering the children of neighboring families, in order to economize time and strength. What a host of pleas- ant memories are clustered around those hallowed hours of home instruction, home songs, and home pleasures, all the world shut out by taboo walls around the play- ground! A little walk at sunset by the sea beach or cocoanut grove was the reward of good behavior. The children were always accompanied in these walks by either father or mother. The native language and na- tive intercourse were strictly prohibited. Mothers were often weary and desponding in the effort to teach and train their children with one hand, and to labor for the people with the other, but they toiled on with patience, and watched and prayed, and, like Jochabed, could say :
" With invocations to the living God, I twisted every slender reed together, And with a prayer did every osier weave."
XIX.
Schools for Native Children - School-House - Man terials.
I N 1832 I had the honor of assisting some of the ladies of the mission in organizing the first school for native children. The adult portion of the pop- ulation had been collected into schools by thousands, and were learning to read and write. But the children were not yet tamed, and to catch them even was con- sidered an impossibility. Their parents said they were like the goats on the hills, and had as little idea of sub- jugation. The chivalrous notion prevailed in those olden times as now, that woman's influence was all-powerful, and that whatever ladies undertook was sure to be ac- complished. Higher motives than the meed of human praise stimulated the already overtaxed energies of some of that number in our mission, and induced them to try.
The first effort was made with the children of the church-members, in an unfurnished building. The little urchins were not quite naked, but we did not mind the garments, if so be their skins were clean. Cotton cloth was scarce, and the people poor; but water, thank Heaven, was plenty. We brought the children together, looked into their bright faces, asked their names, sung to them, and induced them to join us. Thus we discov- ered that they possessed the requisites for musical cult -. ure, ear and voice. We made for them drawings in natural history, which were hung where all could see them. A description of each was taught them, in
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Honolulu.
the form of questions and answers. Quick to compre. hend, they repeated readily, and- in concert, moral max- ims, hymns, and portions of the Bible.
These exercises gained their attention, and gave them some idea of order. The singing and pictures attracted other children, and the number increased. Seated to- gether on the mats, it was difficult to keep them quiet, for their tongues and elbows were in constant motion. Some method of seating them separately was a subject of study. Wooden seats were too expensive and not to be thought of; some one suggested rows of adobies (sun-dried bricks), with mat coverings. A bottomless soap-box served for a mold. The parents of the schol- ars were cheerful in the labor, and with the aid of a bright sun this substantial material was soon arranged in several long rows of seats, neatly covered with rush mats braided by the mothers. One step in the ladder of progress was gained, and we could keep them together a longer time, with less fatigue and more profit. Slates and pencils added another charm; the children were delighted with their efforts in copying the pictures that hung on the wall. It might be difficult to distinguish · which was camel, elephant, sheep, or horse ; but no mat- ter, the children were busy and happy.
Native women assisted in teaching reading; and oral lessons in geography, with the aid of outline maps, were given them. The elements of arithmetic also were taught in the same simple method. As the children had never before seen a map of the world, they were quite astonished at the comparative littleness of their own islands.
It is not boasting to say that some of the best busi- ness men in the nation can be pointed out as once pupils in this first school for native children.
XX.
Reinforcements - Household Duties- Discussions -. Location-A Maternal Association-More Discus. sions - A New School-room - School for Young Chiefs-Birth of a Princess-Prince Alexander- English Finery-November Weather.
HONOLULU, 1837.
F IVE reinforcements have been added to the Mission since our arrival. These all land in Honolulu, and are distributed among the different families until after the general annual meeting, when all the members from other islands and stations assemble here.
A good deal of preparation is necessary for this emer- gency, in repairing, house-cleaning, sewing, etc. - It is no trifle to set a table for fifteen or twenty for a period of six weeks, although the fare be simple. It is an object to secure as many hours as possible from household du- ties to attend the sessions, since many of the discussions are important, the debates animated and interesting. The ladies take their children and amuse them with sew- ing, sketching, and cutting paper.
As the Mission is now so large, and nearly every State in the Union has its representative, it is not strange that opinions of duty and economy should conflict at times. There are a few radicals among the number who would divide up the mission and marshal each clan under lead- ers, in some specific reform; others plead with equal earnestness for a concentration of all the strength and
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Honolulu.
energy at command in carrying forward the great work of evangelizing the people, the work we were sent here to do, falling back upon the old motto, "In union is strength."
One of the vexed questions is the "common stock system," which assigns an equal division of every article in the mission depository to each individual member. Rigid notions of self-denial and economy would incline some to refuse their allotted portion, but this only leaves a surplus for the careless, less conscientious member to appropriate and waste. Presents and aid from personal friends are sometimes an occasion for envy or jealousy.
Location is another question difficult to divest of self- ishness. Prepossession in favor of, or prejudice against, a certain field of labor, partiality for this or that associ- ate, are severe tests of disinterestedness and amiability. In some instances where these predilections have been gratified, one year's experience has taught the important lesson, that often-
"Our very wishes give us not our wish."
. Whenever the debate grows stormy, or threatening even, the sessions are suspended, and a day appointed for prayer and religious exercises, which is observed by all the families. These meetings for prayer, conference, and confession of sin are always precious seasons, and do not fail to secure the desired blessing. The brethren resume business, and, if possible, agree; if not, agree to differ, and go on harmoniously.
The ladies have formed a Maternal Association, em- bracing every mother and every child in the mission. Meetings are frequent during the general meeting, in which essays are read on various practical subjects. The difficulties in training properly the children in the islands,
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The "General Meeting."
are freely and confidentially discussed with mutual sym pathy and prayer. The name and age of each child is registered, and each is in turn the subject of special prayer. The Lord hearkens and hears, and we trust a book of remembrance is written.
The business finished, the general meeting adjourns to another year. We meet for the last time, and sing,
" Blest be the tie that binds."
After procuring their supplies for the year, the families, new and old, embark for their various homes by the ear- liest opportunity.
It takes time to recover from the fatigue and excite- ment of these annual gatherings. One is reminded of a ship at sea after a gale, rolling hither and thither, with canvas flapping, unable to make any progress. The sys- tematic arrangements of the household are necessarily interrupted during these seasons. The children are the sufferers ; wildness and insubordination are the natural fruits of so much company and so much time for play. New faults are discovered, and each mother is inclined to regard her own child as the victim, and not the ag- gressor. In due time, however, equilibrium is restored, with perceptible gain of wisdom and energy.
While the season for the general meeting is always in Spring time, the Fall is the period when' returning fam- ilies embark for a voyage around Cape Horn. Outfits of warm clothing for the cold weather, and garments to last the children during the fine weather, without wash- ing, are something of a tax to prepare, and the families of Honolulu have the privilege of doing this extra work.
We have made some pleasant acquaintances among the Methodist brethren (who labor in Oregon Territory) as they go and come by way of the Islands.
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Honolulu.
I must not forget to mention the visit of Friend Dan iel Wheeler and his son Charles, a few months ago. They are making missionary visits around the world in their own little yacht, the Henry Freeling. They spent six months among us, visiting all the stations. The old gentleman has resided some years in St. Petersburg, although an Englishman by birth. He preached two hours to our native congregation, with Mr. B- for in- terpreter. The sentences were so long, and the thought wrapped in so much mystification, that it did not make a great impression, except upon one's patience. The na- tives are keen to detect peculiarities, and inquire what is the difference between our religions. I undertook the other day to explain to my scholars the different denom- inations. "Have you different gods ?" "No, we all worship the same living and true God." " Do you have different Bibles?" "Oh, no, there is but one Bible, the Holy Scriptures contained in the Old and New Testa- ments, written by men divinely inspired." "Have you all the same Saviour?" "Yes, the same." "Well, then, with the same God, with the same Bible, and the same Saviour, we can not understand why you differ." I was ashamed to tell them that the mode of baptism with water was one cause of division ; and another, the method of church government; and another, whether prayers should be read from a book, or offered as the heart prompted ; that the wisest and best of Christians, minis- ters of the Gospel even, were very decided in their opin- ions on these subjects. And so I touched the matter lightly, telling them the time is near when there will be one fold and one shepherd.
Now about our new school-room. Captain B -- gave a lot of old bricks to Dr. Judd, with which he paved the basement of our dwelling-house. He cut through the 1
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School for Children of the Chiefs.
wall in front, made a door and flight of steps, which, with two glazed windows, makes a fine dispensary and school- room. I have selected four promising boys from the children's school, who come four days in the week to learn arithmetic and geography, preparatory to admission to the High School at Lahainaluna. One of them will probably study medicine. In addition to this duty, in which I take great delight, the teachers in the children's school come daily for an hour's instruction. It is a great saving of time to have a place so near, neatly fitted up with seats, desks, and mats.
At the general meeting in 1838, as a reinforcement of school-teachers had just been welcomed to the islands, one of the most important questions was in regard to a school for the children of the chiefs. A request had been presented for one of the new families to be set apart for this work. The pupils were to reside in the family, and the instruction was to be given in the English language. Some advocated the democratic principle, that chiefs and people should be educated in the same school and on the same footing. Others argued that there was great need that the future rulers of the nation should have special pains taken with them, and be edu- cated with reference to their position and prospective duties. The debate ended in the appointment of Mr. and Mrs. Cooke to commence a family boarding-school for this class of pupils. The chiefs were liberal in their appropriations, a site was selected in the rear of the palace grounds, and the buildings in process of erection before the year closed.
November 1, 1838.
The state carriage is again at the door. A young princess is added to the interesting family of our queen,
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Honolulu.
Kinau, already blessed with four sons, although "one is not." She now rejoices in the long-desired boon, a daughter of her own, and her bliss is perfect.
The child is to be called Kamamalu, the name of the queen who died in England, to which we have suggested the addition of Victoria. Strange to say, the mother is to keep and nurse this child herself-an anomaly in the annals of Hawaiian aristocracy. Governor Adams has put in a claim, but it is overruled by argument and per- suasion.
One of the ladies of the Oregon Mission, detained here for some months, is teaching a little school of the Mission children in a small thatched house in our garden. Sev- eral scholars from the foreign families in town attend also. Prince Alexander comes daily, accompanied by two attendants, to learn English. The king has re- quested us to take him into our family, and train him as we do our own children, which we would gladly do, if it were possible to detach him from such a retinue of nurses and servants. He is sprightly and attractive, and is this moment on my bed, playing "hide and seek" with the children. He just now inquired for " Music," a name he has given to a gentleman in the family who sings and plays the accordeon.
November 3d.
After dressing the little princess to-day, I was sent for by her aunt, to look over some of the old treasures brought from England in the Blonde with the royal party, and to select whatever could be remodeled for the little heiress. There is one court dress of white satin, with ample train, and richly embroidered with silver. It is still brilliant and untarnished. Another of maroon- colored velvet, with satin trimming of the same shade;
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