CHAPTER V. INCIPIENT MEASURES.· How to improve the social life of the people. THE KING OF KAUAI. 1821-1824. How to improve the social life of a nation so demoralized and degraded, was a problem not easy of solution. Uncouth manners were to be corrected, and modes of dress and living to be improved. Only married missionaries could do this. Living models of domestic Christian life were indispensable. How great the trial of patience was to the earliest of the female missionaries, is well described by Mr. Bingham. "Just look," he says, "into the straw palace of a Hawaiian queen in the first or second year of our sojourn among them, and see a missionary's wife waiting an hour to get her to turn from her cards to try on a new dress for which she has asked. Then, on trial, hear her laconic and supercilious remarks,-'pilikia -hemo-hana-hou' (too tight-off with it-do it over); then, see her resume her cards, leaving the lady, tired and grieved, but patient to try again; and when successful, to be called on again and again for more. Look again, as another year passes on, and you may see the same woman at her writing-desk, her maidens around her, under the superintendence of the same teacher, learning to ply the scissors and needle, making silk dresses for her majesty, and a A call for patience. ENCOURAGING PROGRESS. 33 pet hog, like a puppy, shaking the folds of the silk for sport, and demonstrating how civilization and barbarism can walk hand in hand, or lie down together in queens' palaces. Within another year, Kamamalu, Kapiolani, Kaahumanu, Ke- Encouraging kauluohi, Kinau, Keopuolani, Kalakua, progress. Kekanonohi, Liliha, Keoua, Kapule, Namahana, and others, threw around them an air of rising consequence, by the increase, not only of foreign articles of clothing, but of furniture, a chair, a table, a workstand, a writing-desk, a bedstead, a glass window, partitions, curtains, etc., noticing, and attempting to imitate what, in the mission families, attracted their attention, or appeared sufficiently pleasing, useful, and available to induce them to copy."1 Yet very few chiefs had the means to purchase the variety of useful articles created by the arts of civilized life; and if farms had been freely given the common people, they had neither the ability to purchase the implements needful for their cultivation, nor the skill and enterprise to make a good use of such implements. sionary The mission was divinely guided in the right way. The ladies had been well educated, not only Value of misin the schools of their native land, but in wives. domestic habits. Their households were an illustration of Christian life. They were a pattern of what Christian wives and mothers ought to be. They showed the native women how to make garments for themselves and for their children, and had the patience to persevere in showing them until those women had learned the art. The presence of wellordered Christian families at central points, was thus 1 Bingham's History, p. 170. 34 TRIALS OF THE MISSION FAMILIES. greatly helpful to the gospel, which was the main agency for elevating the social condition. mission It is due to the mission families earliest on the Trials of the ground, that some of their inconveniences families. should be mentioned. Their first houses were mere thatched huts, like those of natives. A single low room served for parlor, study, receiving room, bedroom, and pantry. The cooking was done in an adjoining shed, or in the open air. The missionaries soon improved upon these houses, enlarging them, dividing them into rooms, laying floors, and making windows and doors; yet it was not until their health had suffered, that they were able to exchange the leaking thatch for sun-burnt brick, stone, or wood. After fourteen years, a majority of the families still lived in thatched houses; and it was only by a very gradual process that the several apartments obtained their appropriate furniture. Yet the progress was doubtless more stimulating to the natives from having been so gradual. For a time, the travelling of the missionaries, if by land, was on foot; if by water, it was generally in crowded, uncomfortable, poorly navigated native vessels. Horses, since become so common on all the islands, had not then been pressed into service. Milk could not be had for several years, even for young children. Salt beef and pork, with hard bread, and flour obtained from ships, were their main dependence. Of course these inconveniences gradually disappeared. Failure of It was perhaps well that the natives educated at the Cornwall School failed as interpreters. interpreters. Having been taught through the medium of the English language only, and knowing far less the force and meaning of English words than was IMPROVEMENT IN PUBLIC WORSHIP. 35 supposed, they had gained but a very few ideas, and many of these were confused and incorrect. The missionaries were thus obliged to apply all their energies to the speedy acquisition of the Hawaiian language, and to communicating thoughts directly through that medium. Efforts were made to instruct a few natives in the English language, but it was soon found best to employ the whole strength of the mission in efforts to save the multitude through the native tongue. ment in pub The missionaries were able to preach in 1823. Mr. Ellis, returning with his family from Tahiti, had the free use of the language; and the two as- Improvesistants he brought with him were soon lic worship. able to exhort, pray, and teach. Changing a few hymns from the Tahitian dialect, Mr. Ellis introduced them into public worship, much to the gratification of the natives. From this time, hymns were in great demand, and were multiplied as fast as possible. The hymn-book went through several editions. The arrival of the second reinforcement gave rise to the inquiry, whether the great island of Hawaii exHawaii should not be occupied. Hence the plored. well-known exploring tour of Messrs. Ellis, Bishop, and Goodrich around that island. The king and his young brother, with twelve chief men and as many chief women, were now Hopeful indilearning to read and write. A little half- cations. sister of the king died, and received Christian burial at his request. In February, Liholiho enjoined upon his prime minister to secure the observance of the Sabbath, and imposed a fine on those who were found working that day. A crier went round on Saturday evening, proclaiming the new law. 36 the king. King of DARING ACT OF THE KING. In the year 1821, Liholiho performed a characterDaring act of istic act of daring, in crossing the channel between Oahu and Kauai, a hundred miles broad and swept by the trade-winds, in an open sailboat, and landing defenseless on what might have proved a hostile territory. He was received, however, with the utmost respect by Kaumualii (Tamoree), the King of Kauai, who went so far as to make a formal surrender to him of the supreme control of the island. After they had visited the several parts of it in company, Liholiho invited Kaumualii on board a vessel which had come to him from Oahu, and they sailed at once for Honolulu. The ruler of Kauai never again saw his native isle, though allowed to retain his title, and to be held in honor. Having discarded Kapule, his wife, on the charge of unfaithfulness, he became the husband of Kaahumanu. Vancouver had been favorably impressed by the promising appearance of Kaumualii while a youth, and he had more than answered the expectations of that intelligent navigator. Sedate, dignified, courteous, and honorable in his dealings, he was respected by foreigners, beloved by his people, and esteemed by all who knew him. He was also a patron, friend, and coadjutor of the mission. length finding himself seriously ill, he settled his worldly business with composure; and, though not exhibiting a high degree of religious joy, he showed that four years of instruction had not been in vain. Messrs. Ellis and Stewart, his spiritual advisers, regarded him as manifesting a becoming humility, and a degree of calm reliance on the Saviour. He died on the 26th of May, 1824; and his remains, in accordance with his request, were His death and burial. At |