Hawaii — page 59: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

50 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS—INHABITANTS. —> let in light and air. It was a common method to bring the people together by the blowing of a conch shell, and that fashion is still in vogue to-day. When schools were first in session, its voice was very powerful. There were nearly one thousand schools at one time, attended in the days of popularity and success by fifty-two thousand pupils, most of whom were adults. Little was taught except reading, writing, simple arith- metic, and geography. In 1832 a geography was printed and bound without maps. This lack was largely over- - come by hanging on the walls large hand drawn maps. The method of instructing the pupils was to have them recite in concert. Imagine the din created by these reci- tations, as their voices were not trained to gentle speak- ing! In twelve years a great deal was accomplished, and thousands could-read. | | Some years ago a native,:who was a fisher maiden, fell in love with a Kauai eentleman of prominence, and the following letter was written to him by her, though it 1s not the usual mode of love making in the island. “To you Mr. Willy R Will you please that Kaianea by my marriage Husband. if you said yes I want him. I heard it was a workman for you and I want him to keep myseli and I to keep his self two. if you are willing you answer my letter 1f you know Said yes you sent back my ietter and you excuse me, and I sorry : com chooks. ee A