THE IIAWAIIAX PEOPLE. 29 



appreciate iu a measure the ditficulties that mnst have beset the Hawaiians in 

 transporting living cuttings of this delicate seedless plant from far off Kahiki 

 to these islands, yet it is practically certain that not only was the breadfruit 

 brought here in this manner but also the banana, the taro, the mountain apple, 

 the sugar-cane and a score or more of their other important economic plants. 

 The wild fowl, the pig and the dog were also brought -with them in the same 

 way, in very early times, and were in a state of common domestication over the 

 group when the islands were first visited by the white race. 



Naturally there were many references in Hawaiian and Polynesian tradi- 

 tion to these long and tempestous voyages. When all the circumstances sur- 

 rounding these rugged feats of daring and adventure are considered, it is not 

 too much to saj- that the race to which the ancient Hawaiians belonged is worthy 

 of a special place among the most daring and skillful navigators of all times. 

 To this day their prowess and aptitude in matters pertaining to the sea is such 

 as to command the admiration and respect of all. 



Double Canoes. 



The making of the large canoes employed in tlieir important journeys by 

 the use of stone tools alone, was by no means an ordinary task. Aside from the 

 descriptions of their canoes handed down to us in their traditions, we know that 

 a century ago thei'e existed in these islands the remains of war canoes, such as 

 we are told were used in those early voyages, that were seventy feet in length 

 by more than three feet in width and depth, capable of carrying seventy per- 

 sons from island to island. "What is still more remarkable the hul) in each cnse 

 was carved from a single giant koa log. 



The selecting of a suitable tree from among its fellows in the mountain 

 forests, the felling and shaping of it by means of the crude stone implements 

 of the time, and the subsequent transporting of the rough-hewn canoe to the 

 sea by main strength, was an undertaking not to be lightly assayed; but the 

 executing of a 2000-mile voyage in such a craft seems almost incredible. In this 

 connection it is well to remember that the early Polynesians made not only 

 single canoes of monstrous proportions, but double ones by lashing two together 

 and rudely decking over the space between them. In this ingenious way they 

 made a craft capable of carrying a large numlier of people and a goodly supply 

 of provisions. 



Provisions for Long Voyages. 



It is probable that in their more extended voyages, especially when they 

 were voluntarily undertaken, the natives used the double canoe and provided 

 the craft with a mast to which they rigged large, durable sails made of mats. 

 The legendary mele telling of the coming of Hawaii-loa states that during five 

 changes of the moon he sailed in such a craft to be rewarded at last by the 

 sight of a new land ever after called Hawaii. 



As to the supply of provisions it is to be remembered that the Polynesians 



