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In the 19th century the Kingsmill Islands applied to all of the Gilbert Islands, it now refers only to the southern group.
While Wilkes' surfriding
reports are no doubt valid, it is possible that his observations were not
based on personal experience:
"The American
narrative, for which he (Wilkes) claimed copyright, borrowed shamelessly,
often without acknowledgement, from the journals of his subordinates.
Wads of material
were lifted from earlier writers to pad out the histories of countries
visited."
- Mawer, Granville
Allen: South by Northwest- The Magnetic Crusade and the Contest for
Antartica.
Wakefield Press,
1 Parade West, Kent Town, South Australia, 2006, pages 133 and 134.
Page 44?
In their navigation
they never, if they could avoid it, subjected themselves to get out of
sight of land, and were never so except by accident.
When they found
this to be the case, they made use of the heavenly bodies, if visible;
and being accurate observers of the weather and atmospheric changes, they
were enabled to find their way back again; for the various changes of weather
about the Hawaiian Islands, and the appearance these changes brought about
in the clouds over and in the vicinity of the land, afforded them a sure
guide.
From all accounts,
it is supposed that but few persons have been lost, by being driven or
sailing off (through mistake) from the land.
Many disasters,
however, have arisen, from the frailty and smallness of their canoes, although
their good management of them was proverbial (?), particularly in
the surf.
Of late, and
since they have possessed foreign vessels, they have lost much of their
skill.
These vessels
they manage after their own way, and although many have been lost by wreck
on the islands, I did not hear of any having been blown off.
Some amusing
anecdotes were told me of their negligence and inability to keep awake
during the night.
They are quite
fearless on the water; all swim, and have little fear of loss of life by
drowning.
They appear quite
as much at home in the water as on land, and many of them more so.
Many remarkable
instances of their patience under this kind of fatigue, were mentioned
to me.
One of them,
which happened the year of our arrival, is well authenticated, and will
also tend to show very great attachment and endurance in the female sex.
As the Hawaiian schooner Kiola, commanded by an American ...
Page 45
... named Thompson,
who was married to Kaiha, a female chief, was going to Hawaii, having on
board many passengers, on getting into the straits between Maui and Hawaii
the schooner foundered, and all on board, forty-five in number, were obliged
to take to swimming for safety.
Thompson could
swim but little, but his wife was quite expert in the art; she promptly
came to his aid, placed him on an oar, and swam for the shore.
The accident
occurred on Sunday about noon, when she with many others began to swim
for the nearest land, which was Kahoolawe.
She continued
to support her husband until Monday morning, when he died from exhaustion,
and she did not succeed in reaching the shore until that afternoon.
She clung to
him to the last, at the imminent risk of her own life, and was thirty hours
in the water; she was met by some fishermen on landing, who took charge
of, and brought her back to Maui.
Page 46
Having little
motive for industry, they expend their physical energies in various athletic
sports.
A favourite amusement
of the chiefs was sliding down hill on a long narrow sled: this was called
holua; it was not unlike our boys' play, when we have snow.
The sled was
made to slide on one runner, and the chiefs prostrated themselves on it.
For this sport
they had a trench dug from the top of a steep hill and down its sides,
to a great distance over the adjoining plain.
This being made
quite smooth, and having dry grass laid on it, they were precipitated with
great velocity down it, and, it is said, were frequently carried a half,
and sometimes a whole mile.
Diamond Hill
and the plain of Waikiki was one of these localities for this pastime.
Playing in the
surf was another of their amusements, and is still much practised.
It is a beautiful
sight to see them coming in on the top of a heavy roller, borne along with
increasing rapidity until they suddenly disappear.
What we should
look upon as the most dangerous surf, is that they most delight in.
The surf-board
which they use ...
Page 47
... is about six
feet in length and eighteen inches wide, made of some light wood.
After they have
passed within the surf, they are seen buffeting the waves, to regain the
outside, whence they again take their course, with almost the speed of
an aerial flight.
They play for
hours in this way, never seeming to tire; and the time to see a Hawaiian
happy, is while he is gambolling and frolicking in the surf.
I have stood
for hours watching their sport with great interest, and, I must say, with
no little envy.
Page 54
I was much struck
with the absence of sports among the boys and children.
On inquiry, I
learned that it had, after mature deliberation and experience, been considered
advisable by the missionaries to deprive them of all their heathenish enjoyments,
rather than allow them to occupy their minds with any thing that might
recall old associations.
The consequence
is, that the Hawaiian boys are staid and demure, having the quiet looks
of old men.
I cannot doubt
that they possess the natural tendency of youth towards frolicksome relaxations;
but the fear of offending keeps a constant restraint over them.
It might be well,
perhaps, to introduce some innocent amusements; and indeed I believe this
has been attempted, for I occasionally saw them flying kites.
The native games formerly practised were all more or less those of hazard, which doubtless gave them their principal zest.
Page 207
An accident also
occurred to the launch, while watering, during our stay. Mr. Vanderford,
who had charge of her, was passing out of the Wailuku river, off the point
of which the boat entered the breakers, and a heavy roller capsized her:
being heavily laden with water, she sunk, and drifted out, leaving those
who were in her in danger of drowning.
Mr. Vanderford
could not swim, but a native came at once to his assistance, who, however,
would do nothing until he was promised two dollars, which of course a drowning
man was not long in doing, when he acted promptly and rescued the officer
from drowning.
In order to give
the native a lesson as to his conduct in demanding money in such a situation,
he was told that he would have received twice as much if he had not made
the demand.
It is due, however,
to this fellow to say, that in all probability he never imagined there
was any danger of loss of life; for if these people are at home any where,
it is certainly in the surf, enjoying as a pleasure what we from our want
of knowledge and confidence in the art of swimming, consider dangerous.
VOLUME V
CHAPTER III
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
OF THE KINGSMILL ISLANDERS.
1841.
Page 79
The Kingsmill Group consists of fifteen islands, of which the geographical positions have been already given in speaking of them separately.
Page 100
There are many
other amusements: among them foot-ball, sailing small canoes, swimming
in the surf, and flying kites.
The kites are
made of the pandanus-leaf reduced to half its thickness, which renders
it lighter than paper; and they are prettily shaped.
In swimming in
the surf, they have a small board like that used by the Sandwich Islanders.
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