Lanai Mormons - Palawai Experiment - Lanai Culture & Heritage ...

Wednesday 4 th April/55.
This morning Bro. Rice started the plow again in order to prepare a piece of ground for
wheat. I have been engaged in fixing up things around the house. Everything looks as
though the man of the house was slovenly and the woman away from home. I am in
hopes that this trouble will soon be over. Sister H. will soon be here to keep our house
and prepare our food. I am afraid that I am making to calculation on the comfort that we
shall take in this change of our situation. Sister H. has labored hard in Lahaina, ever
since she left the valleys of the Saints, and is getting nearly worn out. And as they are
thinking of returning the ensuing season to the valleys of the mountains, it was thought
wisdom by Bro. H. to move his family over here that sister H. might have a season of rest
before they started on so long a journey with a family of small children. They will probably
come over the ensuing week.
Thursday 5 th April/55.
Remained at home. Transplanted a large bed of onions in my garden. The natives are
hoeing out there potatoes near the sea, southward. [page 183]
Friday 6 th April/55.
I have been engaged in planting peas and beans in the garden. The seed was from
Boston and of the finest quality. I have planted many other kinds of seeds today. I intend
to plant every kind that I can get hold of. The market is good here and produce of all
kinds will fetch the cash at a fair price. This people might make themselves rich in a few
years if they were only of a mind to work. There is many of them that would go half
starved and naked before they can be prevailed on to work. They have little or no
calculation and time passes like the wind. Every day is alike with them. If they can’t
accomplish their object today, they think they will tomorrow. If not tomorrow, some other
time is just as well.
Saturday 7 th April/55.
This morning we met with a sad accident as Bro. Rice was finishing a spot of ground
where we were going to sow some Oregon wheat. The plow struck a rock and broke the
shear right in two. Here we are obliged to stop plowing till we can send to Maui and get
another. I have sent one this afternoon, he says that he will wait till tomorrow to go over
the mountain this afternoon then he can take a [illegible] in the morning. I have written to
Bro. Hammond on Maui sent by the barer. This after- [page 184]
noon I have sown five bushels of Oregon wheat. The wheat is much better than that
which is raised here. It is late in the season. I am afraid it will not do very well. The seed
is the main object at present.
Sunday 8 th April/55.
I have not tended meeting today on the account of some writing that I was obliged to
attend to. I have written one letter and written up my Journal, after I had finished my other
job that I had on hand.
Monday 9 th April/55.
I have been to work in my garden all day setting out onions and dressing out the vines.
This is new work for me of late, and when night came I found that I was tired and retired
to rest. I have been used to hard work all my life therefore it is no burden to me. We have
Läna‘i (1853-1864) – A History of the Mormon Mission at Päläwai
Working Manuscript of the Läna‘i Culture & Heritage Center (November 2009) 36