Over you, and to fill the
very distinguished office which I now occupy. (Cheers.) You are
parents to me, and I will be your Father. (Tremendous cheering.)
Formerly, in the days of our departed ancestors, you were not
permitted to approach them; they and you were kept apart; but now we
meet and associate together. (Cheers.) I urge you all to persevere
in the right, to forsake the ignorant ways of the olden time. There
is but one God, whom it is our duty to obey. Let us forsake every
kind of idolatry.
"In the year 1820 Rev. Messrs. Bingham, Thurston, and others came to
these Islands and proclaimed the Word of God. It is their teachings
which have enabled you to be what you are to-day. Now they have all
gone to that spirit land, and only Mrs. Thurston remains. We are
greatly indebted to them. (Cheers.) There are also among us here
(alluding to Revs. Coan and Lyman) old and grey-haired fathers,
whose examples we should endeavour to imitate, and obey their
teachings.
"I am very glad to see the young men of the present time so well
instructed in knowledge - perhaps some of them are your children.
You must persevere in your search of wisdom and in habits of
morality. Do not be indolent. (Cheers.) Those who have striven
hard after knowledge and good character, are the ones who deserve
and shall receive places of trust hereafter under the government.
"At the present time I have four foreigners as my ministerial
advisers. But if, among these young men now standing before me, and
under this flag, there are any who shall qualify themselves to fill
these positions, then I will select them to fill their places.
(Loud cheers.) Aloha to you all."
His manner as a speaker was extremely good, with sufficient
gesticulation for the emphasis of particular points. The address
was frequently interrupted by applause, and when at its conclusion
he bowed gracefully to the crowd and said, "My aloha to you all,"
the cheering and enthusiasm were absolutely unbounded. And so the
great hookupu ended, and the assemblage broke up into knots to
discuss the royal speech and the day's doings.
I.L.B.
LETTER XIV.
HILO. HAWAII.
The king "signified his intention to honour Mr. and Mrs. Severance
with his company" on the evening of the day after the reception, and
this involved a regular party and supper. You can hardly imagine
the difficulties connected with "refreshments," where few, if any,
of the materials which we consider necessary for dishes suitable for
such occasions can be procured at the stores, and even milk and
butter are scarce commodities. I had won a reputation as a cook by
making a much appreciated Bengal curry, and an English "roly-poly"
pudding, and when I offered my services, Mrs. S. kindly accepted
them, and she and I, with the Chinese cook and a Chinese prisoner to
assist us, have been cooking for a day and a half.
