A great deal of this is certainly harmless, and in some measure
arises from the intimate friendly relations which exist between the
scattered families, but over-indulgence in it destroys the privacy
of individual existence, and is deteriorating in more ways than one.
From the north of Kauai to the south of Hawaii, everybody knows
every other body's affairs, income, expenditure, sales, purchases,
debts, furniture, clothing, comings, goings, borrowings, lendings,
letters, correspondents, and every thing else: and when there is
nothing new to relate on any one of these prolific subjects,
supposed intentions afford abundant matter for speculation. All
gossip is focussed here, being imported from every other district,
and re-exported, with additions and embellishments, by every inter-
island mail. The ingenuity with which nuhou is circulated is worthy
of a better cause.
Some disadvantages arise from the presence on the islands of
heterogeneous and ill-assorted nationalities. The Americans, of
course, predominate, and even those who are Hawaiian born, have, as
elsewhere, a strongly national feeling. The far smaller English
community hangs together in a somewhat cliquish fashion, and
possibly cherishes a latent grudge against the Americans for their
paramount influence in island affairs.
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