Nuhou, Volume I, Number 2, 28 February 1873 — The Hookupu. [ARTICLE]

The Hookupu.

On sevcral occasions during fche lasfc two weeks. processions of natives in .single flle 3 composed of tnen 3 women and children 5 have J>een secn wending their way towards the Palaee. ~Some proccs- ; sions hāve numbered 150 persons 5 and eaeh _one carricd ā bimch 6f taro, or a ncfc of Bweefcj3otatoes, ,a bupch of onione, a lofc,of ontnges, a sfcem of bananas, some yams, a pig, a p.up, a turkey, or a ehieken ; so that the' esfcendcd line looked like a long string of markcfc produce, whieh filed infco the Palaee yard, and bcfbre fchc courfceous King, who was on his balcony ready fco receive the simple ofierings of his people; and as eaeh one jfaBsed and saluted, tliey deposited their o!Tering of firsi friiifcs afc fchc o feefc of their chief, unfcil a mound of 3oving tribute rose up before him. This was the rude tasation of the olden timc, bcfore the pale faces and cash had eome hcre. But many now wished to give of the latfcer arfcicle too ; and they presēnted pieces of money to the King. This llis Majesty declined at firsfc, saying he had no need of it. Thereupon thcre was a hui or meeting of natives, and resolutions passed and presented to the King, setting forth that whereas he receivcd a great'deal of money, his revenue from thc foreigners, they his native people would feel thafc he did not love thcm ? if he would not reccivc from their own hands a contribution of cash fbr his supporfc,—and so hc, feāring to oflend his artless people, kindly accepfced their little personal cash donations. The simplicity oP"®any of thcse native people leads them to fcel thafc money passed from their hānds into that of the Sovereign eaa be appreciated as a genuine native contribution; and thni, Tnoney 7 thnngh pii.id hy in t.Ke way of taxation had acquired a foreign characfcei in passing through the channels of the treasury. Thus, as anofcher illustration of their artlcssncss and lifceraiiBm, in making contributions for thc erection of a building, we liavc, sccn parcels of money marked as contribufcions for lumber, door, sashes, or decorations, and the native agents would scrupulously apply the spccificd cash for ifcs particular purpose, and for no otlier; and would not allow door money to pay for sashes. This Bimplicifcy country traders obscrvc when thcy give credifc, Payments will be made upon a particular article; and yoii cannofc induce some kanakas to make a paymcnt upon an aeeouni; bufc thcy will havc with ihem in fche several corsers of an o!d handkerchicf seperafce sums for pants, jackcfc, shirfc or hafc; and eaeli arfciclc Jias to be crcdifced scpcratcly. . It was plēii§ant to notc thc simple devotion of this people ; many of whom eame a distancc of thirty milcs from the other sidc of thc island; and to think that nofc one of all this loving, giffc oficring throng eame in quest of an offiee. \Tould not President Granfc appreciate sueh a disinter--lesfced crowd; who did jiofc cvcn want to bothcr him with a shakc of thc lmnd.