roughing it-第97章

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　　　　　　man　who　was　ardently　attached　to　the　deceased。　　He　leaped　upon　the
　　　　　　chiefs　who　were　carrying　the　King's　body；　he　desired　to　die　with　him
　　　　　　on　account　of　his　love。　　The　chiefs　drove　him　away。　　He　persisted　in
　　　　　　making　numerous　attempts；　which　were　unavailing。　　Kalaimoka　also　had
　　　　　　it　in　his　heart　to　die　with　him；　but　was　prevented　by　Hookio。

　　　　　　〃The　morning　following　Kamehameha's　death；　Liholiho　and　his　train
　　　　　　departed　for　Kohala；　according　to　the　suggestions　of　the　priest；　to
　　　　　　avoid　the　defilement　occasioned　by　the　dead。　　At　this　time　if　a
　　　　　　chief　died　the　land　was　polluted；　and　the　heirs　sought　a　residence
　　　　　　in　another　part　of　the　country　until　the　corpse　was　dissected　and
　　　　　　the　bones　tied　in　a　bundle；　which　being　done；　the　season　of
　　　　　　defilement　terminated。　　If　the　deceased　were　not　a　chief；　the　house
　　　　　　only　was　defiled　which　became　pure　again　on　the　burial　of　the　body。
　　　　　　Such　were　the　laws　on　this　subject。

　　　　　　〃On　the　morning　on　which　Liholiho　sailed　in　his　canoe　for　Kohala；
　　　　　　the　chiefs　and　people　mourned　after　their　manner　on　occasion　of　a
　　　　　　chief's　death；　conducting　themselves　like　madmen　and　like　beasts。
　　　　　　Their　conduct　was　such　as　to　forbid　description；　The　priests；　also；
　　　　　　put　into　action　the　sorcery　apparatus；　that　the　person　who　had
　　　　　　prayed　the　King　to　death　might　die；　for　it　was　not　believed　that
　　　　　　Kamehameha's　departure　was　the　effect　either　of　sickness　or　old　age。
　　　　　　When　the　sorcerers　set　up　by　their　fire…places　sticks　with　a　strip
　　　　　　of　kapa　flying　at　the　top；　the　chief　Keeaumoku；　Kaahumaun's　brother；
　　　　　　came　in　a　state　of　intoxication　and　broke　the　flag…staff　of　the
　　　　　　sorcerers；　from　which　it　was　inferred　that　Kaahumanu　and　her　friends
　　　　　　had　been　instrumental　in　the　King's　death。　　On　this　account　they
　　　　　　were　subjected　to　abuse。〃

You　have　the　contrast；　now；　and　a　strange　one　it　is。　　This　great　Queen；
Kaahumanu；　who　was　〃subjected　to　abuse〃　during　the　frightful　orgies　that
followed　the　King's　death；　in　accordance　with　ancient　custom；　afterward
became　a　devout　Christian　and　a　steadfast　and　powerful　friend　of　the
missionaries。

Dogs　were；　and　still　are；　reared　and　fattened　for　food；　by　the　natives
hence　the　reference　to　their　value　in　one　of　the　above　paragraphs。

Forty　years　ago　it　was　the　custom　in　the　Islands　to　suspend　all　law　for　a
certain　number　of　days　after　the　death　of　a　royal　personage；　and　then　a
saturnalia　ensued　which　one　may　picture　to　himself　after　a　fashion；　but
not　in　the　full　horror　of　the　reality。　　The　people　shaved　their　heads；
knocked　out　a　tooth　or　two；　plucked　out　an　eye　sometimes；　cut；　bruised；
mutilated　or　burned　their　flesh；　got　drunk；　burned　each　other's　huts；
maimed　or　murdered　one　another　according　to　the　caprice　of　the　moment；
and　both　sexes　gave　themselves　up　to　brutal　and　unbridled　licentiousness。

And　after　it　all；　came　a　torpor　from　which　the　nation　slowly　emerged
bewildered　and　dazed；　as　if　from　a　hideous　half…remembered　nightmare。
They　were　not　the　salt　of　the　earth；　those　〃gentle　children　of　the　sun。〃

The　natives　still　keep　up　an　old　custom　of　theirs　which　cannot　be
comforting　to　an　invalid。　　When　they　think　a　sick　friend　is　going　to　die；
a　couple　of　dozen　neighbors　surround　his　hut　and　keep　up　a　deafening
wailing　night　and　day　till　he　either　dies　or　gets　well。　　No　doubt　this
arrangement　has　helped　many　a　subject　to　a　shroud　before　his　appointed
time。

They　surround　a　hut　and　wail　in　the　same　heart…broken　way　when　its
occupant　returns　from　a　journey。　　This　is　their　dismal　idea　of　a　welcome。
A　very　little　of　it　would　go　a　great　way　with　most　of　us。




CHAPTER　LXIX。

Bound　for　Hawaii　（a　hundred　and　fifty　miles　distant；）　to　visit　the　great
volcano　and　behold　the　other　notable　things　which　distinguish　that　island
above　the　remainder　of　the　group；　we　sailed　from　Honolulu　on　a　certain
Saturday　afternoon；　in　the　good　schooner　Boomerang。

The　Boomerang　was　about　as　long　as　two　street　cars；　and　about　as　wide　as
one。　　She　was　so　small　（though　she　was　larger　than　the　majority　of　the
inter…island　coasters）　that　when　I　stood　on　her　deck　I　felt　but　little
smaller　than　the　Colossus　of　Rhodes　must　have　felt　when　he　had　a　man…of…
war　under　him。　　I　could　reach　the　water　when　she　lay　over　under　a　strong
breeze。　　When　the　Captain　and　my　comrade　（a　Mr。　Billings）；　myself　and
four　other　persons　were　all　assembled　on　the　little　after　portion　of　the
deck　which　is　sacred　to　the　cabin　passengers；　it　was　fullthere　was　not
room　for　any　more　quality　folks。　　Another　section　of　the　deck；　twice　as
large　as　ours；　was　full　of　natives　of　both　sexes；　with　their　customary
dogs；　mats；　blankets；　pipes；　calabashes　of　poi；　fleas；　and　other　luxuries
and　baggage　of　minor　importance。　　As　soon　as　we　set　sail　the　natives　all
lay　down　on　the　deck　as　thick　as　negroes　in　a　slave…pen；　and　smoked；
conversed；　and　spit　on　each　other；　and　were　truly　sociable。

The　little　low…ceiled　cabin　below　was　rather　larger　than　a　hearse；　and　as
dark　as　a　vault。　　It　had　two　coffins　on　each　sideI　mean　two　bunks。
A　small　table；　capable　of　accommodating　three　persons　at　dinner；　stood
against　the　forward　bulkhead；　and　over　it　hung　the　dingiest　whale　oil
lantern　that　ever　peopled　the　obscurity　of　a　dungeon　with　ghostly　shapes。
The　floor　room　unoccupied　was　not　extensive。　　One　might　swing　a　cat　in
it；　perhaps；　but　not　a　long　cat。　　The　hold　forward　of　the　bulkhead　had
but　little　freight　in　it；　and　from　morning　till　night　a　portly　old
rooster；　with　a　voice　like　Baalam's　ass；　and　the　same　disposition　to　use
it；　strutted　up　and　down　in　that　part　of　the　vessel　and　crowed。　　He
usually　took　dinner　at　six　o'clock；　and　then；　after　an　hour　devoted　to
meditation；　he　mounted　a　barrel　and　crowed　a　good　part　of　the　night。
He　got　hoarser　all　the　time；　but　he　scorned　to　allow　any　personal
consideration　to　interfere　with　his　duty；　and　kept　up　his　labors　in
defiance　of　threatened　diphtheria。

Sleeping　was　out　of　the　question　when　he　was　on　watch。　　He　was　a　source
of　genuine　aggravation　and　annoyance。　　It　was　worse　than　useless　to　shout
at　him　or　apply　offensive　epithets　to　himhe　only　took　these　things　for
applause；　and　strained　himself　to　make　more　noise。　　Occasionally；　during
the　day；　I　threw　potatoes　at　him　through　an　aperture　in　the　bulkhead；　but
he　only　dodged　and　went　on　crowing。

The　first　night；　as　I　lay　in　my　coffin；　idly　watching　the　dim　lamp
swinging　to　the　rolling　of　the　ship；　and　snuffing　the　nauseous　odors　of
bilge　water；　I　felt　something　gallop　over　me。　　I　turned　out　promptly。
However；　I　turned　in　again　when　I　found　it　was　only　a　rat。　　Presently
something　galloped　over　me　once　more。　　I　knew　it　was　not　a　rat　this　time；
and　I　thought　it　might　be　a　centipede；　because　the　Captain　had　killed　one
on　deck　in　the　afternoon。　　I　turned　out。　　The　first　glance　at　the　pillow
showed　me　repulsive　sentinel　perched　upon　each　end　of　itcockroaches　as
large　as　peach　leavesfellows　with　long；　quivering　antennae　and　fiery；
malignant　eyes。　　They　were　grating　their　teeth　like　tobacco　worms；　and
appeared　to　be　dissatisfied　about　something。　　I　had　often　heard　that
these　reptiles　were　in　the　habit　of　eating　off　sleeping　sailors'　toe
nails　down　to　the　quick；　and　I　would　not　get　in　the　bunk　any　more。　　I　lay
down　on　the　floor。　　But　a　rat　came　and　bothered　me；　and　shortly　afterward
a　procession　of　cockroaches　arrived　and　camped　in　my　hair。　　In　a　few
moments　the　rooster　was　crowing　with　uncommon　spirit　and　a　party　of　fleas
were　throwing　double　somersaults　about　my　person　in　the　wildest　disorder；
and　taking　a　bite　every　time　they　struck。　　I　was　beginning　to　feel　really
annoyed。　　I　got　up　and　put　my　clothes　on　and　went　on　deck。

The　above　is　not　overdrawn；　it　is　a　truthful　sketch　of　inter…island
schooner　life。　　There　is　no　such　thing　as　keeping　a　vessel　in　elegant
condition；　when　she　carries　molasses　and　Kanakas。

It　was　compensation　for　my　sufferings　to　come　unexpectedly　upon　so
beautiful　a　scene　as　met　my　eyeto　step　suddenly　out　of　the　sepulchral
gloom　of　the　cabin　and　stand　under　the　strong　light　of　the　moonin　the
centre；　as　it　were；　of　a　glitteri