THE HAWAIIAN PEOPLE. 65 



using- the surplus soil to l)uild strong embankments on jill sides of the pond, 

 which, when necessary, were re-enforced with stones, sugar-cane and cocoanut 

 leaves. The earth in the pond was then carefully manipulated so that the bot- 

 tom and sides could be beaten solid. In early times tlie hai-d end o£ a cocoanut 

 leaf was used as a flail when it was necessary to pack the earth tirmlv to form 

 the walls and bottom into a water-tight basin. When the pond was water-tight 

 the earth was thoroughly spaded and worked over for a couph^ of feet in dcptli. 

 The water was then let into the pond and the earth mixed and stamped wilh 

 the feet until a thin muck was formed. 



The next step was the planting of the ne\\ crop. The leaves cut oCf in a 

 buncli just below the crown of the plant as the ripe roots are harvested, form 

 the Imli. The taro is usually propagated by planting the huli wliile still fresh, 

 in rows eighteen inches to two feet apart. Water is let into the patch, after 

 planting, so as to form a shallow pond and a fresh water supply is constantly 

 kept running into the patch until the roots become mature, when they, are ready 

 for use. 



The taro plants usually recpiire from nine to fifteen months in which to 

 ripen, but they will continue to grow and improve in quality for two years or 

 more. The provident Hawaiian would therefore plant but a small area at a 

 time with the result that the plants would not all l)e ready to harvest on the 

 same date. 



In addition to the common method of pond cultivation just described. several 

 other methods continue to be made use of in the planting and cnltivation of 

 taro, which varj^ more or less in detail. In regions where streams vrere not avail- 

 able and where other conditions were suitable, the land was cleared of weeds 

 and large holes dug in which several plants were set. AVhen necessary the soil was 

 enriched with kukui leaves, ashes and fine earth. The crop, if carefully i)lanted 

 in this way, and tended faithfulh'. would vield abundant returns. 



Description of Plate. 



1. Kahuna pule aiuiana. It was the business of these sorcerers to jn'ooure the deatli of 

 persons obnoxious to themselves, or the chiefs, or their clients, by means of prayers and reli- 

 gious rites. They secured the spittle or some intimate beloncfing of the person whom they 

 wished to destroy and by means of certain rites, coiijuriny and jiraycrs to the gods, so wrought 

 upon the imaoination and superstitious fear of the individual as to almost invariably briug about 

 his death. At the left is showA a large cocoanut hula drum [palm hula] that formerly was 

 only beaten on the occasion of a royal birth. 2. Group designed to show the process of poi 

 pounding. 3. Tapa making; the old woman is shown boating the Itark on the wooden anvil 

 I kua kuku] with a tapa club for the purpose of thinning the wet liark or felting the edges 

 of the sti'ips together. The girl stands by with an umeke of water to sprinkle on the bark 

 from time to time; on the bush beside her are a numl)er of strips roughed out ready to be 

 beaten thin and smooth; behind her a finished sheet is in the process of being ornamented. 

 4. Scraping olona. The long fibers of this useful jilant are hackled out by scraping the 

 bark on a narrow board [laau kahi olona] with a tortoise shell scraper [uhi kahi olona 

 kuahonu]. From the fiber, twine for all purposes, but especially useful in the manufacture of 

 fish nets, was made. In the case behind are shown such fishing apparatus as seins. nets, fish 

 hooks, shrimp baskets, sinkers and all the various articles made use of by the native fisherman. 



