In this way, quite a colony of
them had become settled at San Diego, as their headquarters. Some of
these had recently gone off in the Ayacucho and Loriotte, and the
Pilgrim had taken Mr. Mannini and three others, so that there were not
more than twenty left. Of these, four were on pay at the Ayacucho's
house, four more working with us, and the rest were living at the oven
in a quiet way; for their money was nearly gone, and they must make it
last until some other vessel came down to employ them.
During the four months that I lived here, I got well acquainted with
all of them, and took the greatest pains to become familiar with their
language, habits, and characters. Their language, I could only
learn, orally, for they had not any books among them, though many of
them had been taught to read and write by the missionaries at home.
They spoke a little English, and by a sort of compromise, a mixed
language was used on the beach, which could be understood by all.
The long name of Sandwich Islanders is dropped, and they are called by
the whites, all over the Pacific ocean, "Kanakas," from a word in
their own language which they apply to themselves, and to all South
Sea Islanders, in distinction from whites, whom they call "Haole.
Pages:
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258