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You are here: Home / General / Farming in the Time of Kamehameha

August 25, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Farming in the Time of Kamehameha

“The flat land along shore is highly cultivated; taro root, yams, and sweet potatoes, are the most common crops; but taro forms the chief object of their husbandry, being the principal article of food amongst every class of inhabitants.”

“The mode of culture is extremely laborious, as it is necessary to have the whole field laid under water; it is raised in small patches, which are seldom above a hundred yards square …”

“… these are surrounded by embankments, generally about six feet high, the sides of which are planted with sugar-canes, with a walk at top …”

“… the fields are intersected by drains or aqueducts, constructed with great labour and ingenuity, for the purpose of supplying the water necessary to cover them.”

“The ground is first carefully dug and levelled with a wooden spade, called maiai, which the labourers use, squatting on their hams and heels. After this, it is firmly beat down by treading it with their feet till it is close enough to contain water.”

“The plants are propagated by planting a small cutting from the upper part of the root with the leaves adhering. The water is then let in, and covers the surface to, the depth of twelve or eighteen inches …”

“… in about nine months they are ready for taking up; each plant sends forth a number of shoots, or suckers, all around.”

“This mode of culture is particularly laborious, and in all the operations those engaged are almost constantly up to the middle in the mud.”

“Notwithstanding this, I have often seen the king working hard in taro patch. I know not whether this was done with a view of setting an example of industry to his subjects.”

“Such exertion could scarcely be thought necessary amongst these islanders, who are certainly the most industrious people I ever saw.”

“The potato and yam grounds are neatly inclosed by stone walls, about eighteen inches high.”

“In addition to these native productions, Indian corn, and a great variety of garden stuffs have been lately introduced, and are cultivated with success, chiefly by the white people.”

“When the islands were discovered, pigs and dogs where the only useful animals they possessed; but Tamaahmaah has paid so much attention to the preservation of the breeds left by Vancouver, and other navigators, that in a short time the stock of horned cattle, horses, sheep, and goats, will be abundant.”

“At Owhyhee I was informed that there were many hundreds of cattle running wild, and several in a domestic state. The king had introduced the breed into Wahoo; and at the time I was there he had a herd of nine or ten upon the north side of the island.”

“Sheep and goats are already very numerous. Several individuals had large flocks of them. The queen had one, consisting of about one hundred and fifty; and Manina had several hundreds on the island in Pearl-river.”

“The king had five horses, of which he was very fond, and used frequently to go out on horseback. I was informed there were still more at Owhyhee.”

“The cattle lately introduced are pastured upon the hills, and those parts of the country not under cultivation, the fences not being sufficient to confine them. The hogs are kept in pens, and fed on taro leaves, sugarcanes, and garbage.”

“The chiefs are the proprietors of the soil, and let the land in small farms to the lower class, who pay them a rent in kind, generally pigs, cloth, or mats, at four terms in the year.” (The entire text is from Archibald Campbell; he arrived in the Islands in 1809.)

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Waipio_Valley-Taro_Loi-(DMYoung)
Waipio_Valley-Taro_Loi-(DMYoung)

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Filed Under: General, Ali'i / Chiefs / Governance, Economy Tagged With: Hawaii, Sweet Potato, Taro, Kamehameha

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