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Jere Krischel at 18:54, 11 December 2005

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628 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
Mr. ALEXANDER. On their backs in bundles. It was a mine of
wealth for the chiefs while it lasted.
The CHAIRMAN. What was their physical stature, strength, and development;
strong, or a weakly race at that time?
Mr. ALEXANDER. I think they averaged pretty well, not quite the
equal of the white race.
The CHAIRMAN. Capable of performing hard labor?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Did a good deal of hard labor. They are the best
boatmen in the world; make good seamen. I suppose that being
obliged to labor for their chiefs was good for them.
The CHAIRMAN. What was the state of morality amongst them at
that time, according to your understanding from your childhood?
Mr. ALEXANDER. It was very low, so far as the sexual relations
were concerned. There were very few crimes of violence, very rare,
and not much stealing. A native will lie; thinks very little of being
charged with a lie, but feels very angry at being charged with stealing;
"and I think that dates from away back. We have not yet got the
habit of locking our doors, and burglaries are generally committed by
Chinamen or professionals from San Francisco or Australia; not by
the natives. They are a kindly race. My father and mother spent
some time in Marquesas Islands. They are a Polynesian race of a
different type. When my father came back he enjoyed a sense of
security that was a great relief. They are a very docile people.
Senator GRAY. Affectionate?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes.
Senator GRAY. Grateful for a kindness?
Mr. ALEXANDER. They have the name for being ungrateful; but I
think it is rather because of their short memories, and impressions do
not last long, either for good or for evil. They are not a revengeful
people. My father was worshiped by the people of that section of the
islands. lie was their physician, adviser, and friend in every possible
way.
The CHAIRMAN. And they were very fond of him?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes. At that time they were very eager to learn,
when everything was fresh and novel. To buy books they would go
into the mountains and collect arrowroot to get means, and my father
has often said that the whole population came to hear him. They were
hungry, as he explained it, eager to drink in what he had to say.
The CHAIRMAN. Did your father speak the Hawaiian tongue?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Preach to them in that tongue and talk to them in it?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. DO you speak the language?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes. I published a grammar of the Hawaiian
language.
The CHAIRMAN. While we are upon that—and it is germane to the
inquiry—I will ask you whether the first instruction of the Hawaiian
people in letters was in the Hawaiian tongue?
Mr. ALEXANDER. When the missionaries first landed they taught
English for a while. They had to learn the Hawaiian language, of
course. In the meantime the first schools were taught in English.
When they had learned the language, reduced it to writing, they
dropped the English.
The CHAIRMAN. Did they prepare schoolbooks in the Hawaiian
tongue?
Mr, ALEXANDER. They did.
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 629
The CHAIRMAN. Did they use the Eoman alphabet?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Adapted the Eoman alphabet.
The CHAIRMAN. NO new characters were adapted to the Hawaiian
tongue?
Mr. ALEXANDER. NO.
The CHAIRMAN. What books did they first publish?
Mr. ALEXANDER. The first books were religious books and schoolbooks.
The CHAIRMAN. Were the schoolbooks numerous, on different subjects?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes; they were.
The CHAIRMAN. Geographies.
Mr. ALEXANDER. Geographies and readers. And then my father
taught in a high school, with books in mathematics, as far as trigonometry,
surveying, and navigation. They had books of general history,
and in fact of political economy, published in their own language.
There was a book on anatomy, a small edition. I think there was a
larger library in their own language than in that of any other group
in the Pacific Ocean.
Senator FRYE. Am I to understand you as saying that the missionaries
for the first time in the islands reduced the Hawaiian language
to letters?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes.
Senator FRYE. They had no written language when the missionaries
went there?
Mr. ALEXANDER. No.
The CHAIRMAN. These books were printed in the United States?
Mr. ALEXANDER. NO, they were printed there; the printing presses
were taken with the missionaries. They afterward published the Pilgrim's
Progress and quite a number of religious works besides the
Bible.
The CHAIRMAN. More recently, if I understand correctly, the instruction
in Hawaii is in the English tongue?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Principally now.
The CHAIRMAN. You do not teach in the Hawaiian tongue?
Mr. ALEXANDER. A few schools, probably not more than onetwentieth.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it the English tongue that is spoken in Hawaii?
Mr. ALEXANDER. By the rising generation; not the adults.
The CHAIRMAN. DO they speak it brokenly?
Mr. ALEXANDER. They are trying to give the school children the
pure English, not pigeon English. Not many of the adults can speak
or write correctly.
The CHAIRMAN. Among a great many people, what you call the
pigeon English is in vogue there, as in China?
Mr. ALEXANDER. It is not like China.
The CHAIRMAN. It is filled with a mixture of the English and native
tongue?
Mr. ALEXANDER. NO; I could not say that they mix languages as
they-do in China. The native language is a very easy language to
pick up, and it is understood by all the Chinamen, and the Japs pick
it up. It is easy to learn the language. It is still the language for
the laws. All the laws are published in English and Hawaiian.
The CHAIRMAN. IS there an extensive vocabulary of words?
Mr. ALEXANDER. It is not a rich language. 'Words had to bo
coined for theological purposes, for law purposes, and for mathematics.

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:51, 5 January 2006
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	The {{sc\|Chairman.}} Is there an extensive vocabulary of words?		The {{sc\|Chairman.}} Is there an extensive vocabulary of words?

−	Mr. {{sc\|Alexander.}} It is not a rich language. Words had to bo coined for theological purposes, for law purposes, and for mathematics.	+	Mr. {{sc\|Alexander.}} It is not a rich language. Words had to be coined for theological purposes, for law purposes, and for mathematics.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
+{{p|628}}
 Mr. ALEXANDER. On their backs in bundles. It was a mine of
-wealth for the chiefs while it lasted.
+Mr. ALEXANDER. On their backs in bundles. It was a mine of wealth for the chiefs while it lasted.
 The CHAIRMAN. What was their physical stature, strength, and development;
-strong, or a weakly race at that time?
+The CHAIRMAN. What was their physical stature, strength, and development; strong, or a weakly race at that time?
 Mr. ALEXANDER. I think they averaged pretty well, not quite the
-equal of the white race.
+Mr. ALEXANDER. I think they averaged pretty well, not quite the equal of the white race.
 The CHAIRMAN. Capable of performing hard labor?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. Did a good deal of hard labor. They are the best
+The CHAIRMAN. Capable of performing hard labor?
 boatmen in the world; make good seamen. I suppose that being
-obliged to labor for their chiefs was good for them.
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Did a good deal of hard labor. They are the best boatmen in the world; make good seamen. I suppose that being obliged to labor for their chiefs was good for them.
 The CHAIRMAN. What was the state of morality amongst them at
-that time, according to your understanding from your childhood?
+The CHAIRMAN. What was the state of morality amongst them at that time, according to your understanding from your childhood?
 Mr. ALEXANDER. It was very low, so far as the sexual relations
-were concerned. There were very few crimes of violence, very rare,
+Mr. ALEXANDER. It was very low, so far as the sexual relations were concerned. There were very few crimes of violence, very rare, and not much stealing. A native will lie; thinks very little of being charged with a lie, but feels very angry at being charged with stealing; and I think that dates from away back. We have not yet got the habit of locking our doors, and burglaries are generally committed by Chinamen or professionals from San Francisco or Australia; not by the natives. They are a kindly race. My father and mother spent some time in Marquesas Islands. They are a Polynesian race of a different type. When my father came back he enjoyed a sense of security that was a great relief. They are a very docile people.
 and not much stealing. A native will lie; thinks very little of being
-charged with a lie, but feels very angry at being charged with stealing;
+Senator GRAY. Affectionate?
-"and I think that dates from away back. We have not yet got the
-habit of locking our doors, and burglaries are generally committed by
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes.
 Chinamen or professionals from San Francisco or Australia; not by
-the natives. They are a kindly race. My father and mother spent
+Senator GRAY. Grateful for a kindness?
 some time in Marquesas Islands. They are a Polynesian race of a
-different type. When my father came back he enjoyed a sense of
+Mr. ALEXANDER. They have the name for being ungrateful; but I think it is rather because of their short memories, and impressions do not last long, either for good or for evil. They are not a revengeful people. My father was worshiped by the people of that section of the islands. He was their physician, adviser, and friend in every possible way.
 security that was a great relief. They are a very docile people.
-Senator GRAY. Affectionate?
+The CHAIRMAN. And they were very fond of him?
 Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes.
-Senator GRAY. Grateful for a kindness?
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes. At that time they were very eager to learn, when everything was fresh and novel. To buy books they would go into the mountains and collect arrowroot to get means, and my father has often said that the whole population came to hear him. They were hungry, as he explained it, eager to drink in what he had to say.
 Mr. ALEXANDER. They have the name for being ungrateful; but I
-think it is rather because of their short memories, and impressions do
+The CHAIRMAN. Did your father speak the Hawaiian tongue?
 not last long, either for good or for evil. They are not a revengeful
-people. My father was worshiped by the people of that section of the
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes.
-islands. lie was their physician, adviser, and friend in every possible
-way.
+The CHAIRMAN. Preach to them in that tongue and talk to them in it?
 The CHAIRMAN. And they were very fond of him?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes. At that time they were very eager to learn,
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes.
 when everything was fresh and novel. To buy books they would go
-into the mountains and collect arrowroot to get means, and my father
+The CHAIRMAN. Do you speak the language?
 has often said that the whole population came to hear him. They were
-hungry, as he explained it, eager to drink in what he had to say.
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes. I published a grammar of the Hawaiian language.
 The CHAIRMAN. Did your father speak the Hawaiian tongue?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes.
+The CHAIRMAN. While we are upon that—and it is germane to the inquiry—I will ask you whether the first instruction of the Hawaiian people in letters was in the Hawaiian tongue?
 The CHAIRMAN. Preach to them in that tongue and talk to them in it?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes.
+Mr. ALEXANDER. When the missionaries first landed they taught English for a while. They had to learn the Hawaiian language, of course. In the meantime the first schools were taught in English. When they had learned the language, reduced it to writing, they dropped the English.
-The CHAIRMAN. DO you speak the language?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes. I published a grammar of the Hawaiian
+The CHAIRMAN. Did they prepare schoolbooks in the Hawaiian tongue?
 language.
-The CHAIRMAN. While we are upon that—and it is germane to the
+Mr. ALEXANDER. They did.
 inquiry—I will ask you whether the first instruction of the Hawaiian
-people in letters was in the Hawaiian tongue?
+{{p|629}}
 Mr. ALEXANDER. When the missionaries first landed they taught
-English for a while. They had to learn the Hawaiian language, of
+The CHAIRMAN. Did they use the Roman alphabet?
 course. In the meantime the first schools were taught in English.
-When they had learned the language, reduced it to writing, they
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Adapted the Roman alphabet.
 dropped the English.
-The CHAIRMAN. Did they prepare schoolbooks in the Hawaiian
+The CHAIRMAN. NO new characters were adapted to the Hawaiian tongue?
 tongue?
-Mr, ALEXANDER. They did.
+Mr. ALEXANDER. No.
-HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 629
-The CHAIRMAN. Did they use the Eoman alphabet?
+The CHAIRMAN. What books did they first publish?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. Adapted the Eoman alphabet.
-The CHAIRMAN. NO new characters were adapted to the Hawaiian
+Mr. ALEXANDER. The first books were religious books and schoolbooks.
 tongue?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. NO.
+The CHAIRMAN. Were the schoolbooks numerous, on different subjects?
 The CHAIRMAN. What books did they first publish?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. The first books were religious books and schoolbooks.
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes; they were.
 The CHAIRMAN. Were the schoolbooks numerous, on different subjects?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes; they were.
+The CHAIRMAN. Geographies.
 The CHAIRMAN. Geographies.
-Mr. ALEXANDER. Geographies and readers. And then my father
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Geographies and readers. And then my father taught in a high school, with books in mathematics, as far as trigonometry, surveying, and navigation. They had books of general history, and in fact of political economy, published in their own language. There was a book on anatomy, a small edition. I think there was a larger library in their own language than in that of any other group in the Pacific Ocean.
 taught in a high school, with books in mathematics, as far as trigonometry,
-surveying, and navigation. They had books of general history,
+Senator FRYE. Am I to understand you as saying that the missionaries for the first time in the islands reduced the Hawaiian language to letters?
 and in fact of political economy, published in their own language.
-There was a book on anatomy, a small edition. I think there was a
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes.
 larger library in their own language than in that of any other group
-in the Pacific Ocean.
+Senator FRYE. They had no written language when the missionaries went there?
 Senator FRYE. Am I to understand you as saying that the missionaries
-for the first time in the islands reduced the Hawaiian language
+Mr. ALEXANDER. No.
 to letters?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes.
+The CHAIRMAN. These books were printed in the United States?
 Senator FRYE. They had no written language when the missionaries
-went there?
+Mr. ALEXANDER. No, they were printed there; the printing presses were taken with the missionaries. They afterward published the Pilgrim's Progress and quite a number of religious works besides the Bible.
 Mr. ALEXANDER. No.
-The CHAIRMAN. These books were printed in the United States?
+The CHAIRMAN. More recently, if I understand correctly, the instruction in Hawaii is in the English tongue?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. NO, they were printed there; the printing presses
-were taken with the missionaries. They afterward published the Pilgrim's
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Principally now.
 Progress and quite a number of religious works besides the
-Bible.
+The CHAIRMAN. You do not teach in the Hawaiian tongue?
 The CHAIRMAN. More recently, if I understand correctly, the instruction
-in Hawaii is in the English tongue?
+Mr. ALEXANDER. A few schools, probably not more than one-twentieth.
 Mr. ALEXANDER. Principally now.
-The CHAIRMAN. You do not teach in the Hawaiian tongue?
+The CHAIRMAN. Is it the English tongue that is spoken in Hawaii?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. A few schools, probably not more than onetwentieth.
-The CHAIRMAN. Is it the English tongue that is spoken in Hawaii?
+Mr. ALEXANDER. By the rising generation; not the adults.
 Mr. ALEXANDER. By the rising generation; not the adults.
-The CHAIRMAN. DO they speak it brokenly?
+The CHAIRMAN. Do they speak it brokenly?
 Mr. ALEXANDER. They are trying to give the school children the
-pure English, not pigeon English. Not many of the adults can speak
+Mr. ALEXANDER. They are trying to give the school children the pure English, not pigeon English. Not many of the adults can speak or write correctly.
 or write correctly.
-The CHAIRMAN. Among a great many people, what you call the
+The CHAIRMAN. Among a great many people, what you call the pigeon English is in vogue there, as in China?
 pigeon English is in vogue there, as in China?
 Mr. ALEXANDER. It is not like China.
 The CHAIRMAN. It is filled with a mixture of the English and native
-tongue?
+The CHAIRMAN. It is filled with a mixture of the English and native tongue?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. NO; I could not say that they mix languages as
-they-do in China. The native language is a very easy language to
+Mr. ALEXANDER. No; I could not say that they mix languages as they-do in China. The native language is a very easy language to pick up, and it is understood by all the Chinamen, and the Japs pick it up. It is easy to learn the language. It is still the language for the laws. All the laws are published in English and Hawaiian.
 pick up, and it is understood by all the Chinamen, and the Japs pick
-it up. It is easy to learn the language. It is still the language for
+The CHAIRMAN. Is there an extensive vocabulary of words?
 the laws. All the laws are published in English and Hawaiian.
-The CHAIRMAN. IS there an extensive vocabulary of words?
+Mr. ALEXANDER. It is not a rich language. Words had to bo coined for theological purposes, for law purposes, and for mathematics.