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stewart : maui surf-riding, 1824 |
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It is possible that Stewart may have been aware of Lt. King's reports, first published in 1784.
He was certainly
aware ot the work of fellow missionary, Rev. William Ellis.
Ellis' Polynesian
Researches, including an account of surfriding was published by the
same London publisher in 1831.
The two accounts
have some similarities, see Ellis
(1831).
Stewart's work includes
an account in Chapter XI of A Visit to Mr. and Mrs. Ellis,
Pages 232-233?
The Fifth Edition
(Enlarged) of 1839 includes an "Inroduction by the Rev.
William Ellis, from the London Edition' and is dedicated to "the
Honorable Samuel L. Southard, Secretary to the Navy, etc, etc."
Stewart was also
accquainted with Lord Byron of H.M.S. Blonde, present with
Brigham at Byron's reception at the Hawaiian court and the royal funeral
of Kamehamalu and Liholiho, pages 282 to 287 (1829)
Stewart travelled
to the large island, Hawaii with Bryon on the Blonde, where they
extensively explored the island including a trip into the volcanic crater,
then made the return voyage to Ohau, pages 289 to 318 (1829)
At Hilo, Stewart
possibly met David Malo, page 301 (1829).
On Hawaii, on one
occassion travelling between islands on the ship,
Charles Stewart's
cultural and religous perspective is possibly indicated by his comments
on Hawaii in "The Advertisement" (1839 edition). Page ? ...
"It is yet
scarce twenty years since the American churces first projected the enterprise
of introducing the blessings of Christianty and civilization to that people
- then a nation of open and gross idolators, degraded not only by all the
pollutions of paganism, but doubly cursed with vices and scourges of destruction,
imported and widely spread through the population by dissolute and reckless
visiters from Europe and America."
The account
is a specifically dated journal entry that from the context appears to
imply a coastal residence and that the writer is aware of the value of
suitable surf-riding conditions.
It is probable that
the notes are the combined analysis from a number of observations of
surf-riding in various conditions.
A brief, but detailed, account of surf-riding that is notable for the reported board lengths (8ft to 10ft), the early observation that the board's are highly polished and a estimation of the wave heights ridden by native Hawaiians.
The report of surf-riding wave heights is possibly unique in the early literature and bears serious consideration.
Finney
and Houston (1999) note four located (and two unlocated) ancient
surf breaks at Lahaina, Maui, page 30.
Lahaina, 24th January 1824.
Page 255
"The surf
for some days past has been uncommonly heavy, affording a fine opportunity
to the islanders for the enjoyment of their favorite sport of the surf-board.
It is a daily
amusement at all times; but the more terrific the surf, the more delightful
the pastime to those skilled in the management of the board. (1)
For this amusement, a plank of light wood, eight or ten feet long, two feet broad, and three or four inches ...
Page 256
... thick
in the middle, decreasing to a sharp edge at the sides and ends, which
are rounded, and having the whole surface finely polished, is necessary;
and forms an article of personal property among all the chiefs, male and
female, and among many of the common people.
(2)
With this plank
under the arm, they leave the shore, and wade or swim into the surf.
On meeting
a roller, they dive under it with their board, to prevent being carried
back by its power; and thus make their way beyond the reef to the smooth
surface of the sea, -at Lahaina, a quarter of a mile from the beach.
They then
wait the approach of a heavy wave, place themselves at full length flat
upon the board, with the face downward and the head and chest elevated
above the forward end, headed for the shore.
In this attitude
they take the breaker, mount upon its crest as it towers above the reef,
and with the arms and feet skillfully keep their poise in the swell, so
as not to be sufficiently forward to be overwhelmed by its combing, nor
so far behind as to lose its impetus; and are thus hurried, with the velocity
of a racer, on the rolling summit, their erected heads only appearing above
the foam (3) until they are cast on the beach, or slip from the
board in time to escape striking upon the sand.
They then make
their way out again, and return in the same manner.
Hundreds at
a time have been occupied in this way for hours together (4), while
the waves are breaking on the reef apparently twenty or thirty feet high.
(5)
Riding upon
the surf, in a ...
Page 257
... canoe
in a similar manner, is also a common and favorite amusement. (6)
Another pastime of the natives, where a spot of ground adapted to it can be found, is the 'tropical counterpart of a winter sport' of boys in our own country, that of 'sliding down-hill on a sled'.
The smooth sward of a suitable declivity is made to answer, in a good degree, the advantages of ice or snow, for this purpose; and throwing themselves forcibly, at the proper place, in the manner of boys in America, upon a long narrow sledge, having light and highly polished runners, with their brests pressing on the forepart, they often succeed in making a descent of one or two hundred yards at a single slide".
2. "... a plank
of light wood, eight or ten feet long, two feet broad, and three or four
inches thick in the middle, decreasing to a sharp edge at the sides and
ends, which are rounded, and having the whole surface finely polished;
"
A brief but explicit
description of the board dimensions and features, the length is in the
mid range of other reported dimensions.
The thickness of
"three or four inches" is significant.
The thickness is
only indicated in the first edition of 1828, and was apparently deleted
in the1829 and later editions.
See below.
Given the substantial
difference in the respective page numbers (page 255 in 1828, page 196 in
the 1829 and 1939 editions), this is possibly not the only text deleted
from later editions.
Note that these reports
are all from different locations and different surf conditions, an so direct
comparison of dimensions may not be valid.
"light wood"
probably indicates Wili Wili or Breadfruit.
For example, compare
with ...
George Gilbert,
circa 1779 (see Lt. King
(1779, Edited) Introduction) ...
" ... about
six feet in length, 16 inches in breadth at one end and about nine at the
other; and is four or five inches thick, in the middle tapering down."
and Ellis
(1831) ...
" ... five
or six feet long, and rather more than a foot wide, sometimes flat, but
more frequently slightly convex on both sides. "
It is however shorter
the range of lengths as reported by Knox(1888)
...
"... a thick
plank twelve or fifteen feet long and perhaps thirty inches wide ... made
from the trunk of a bread-fruit tree."
Stewart's dimensions
are within the range of other early accounts and correspond with examples
held in contemporary collections.
See Alaia,
circa 1865.
3. "their erected
heads only appearing above the foam"
Probably indicates
that the riders were prone.
4. "Hundreds
at a time have been occupied in this way for hours together"
Surf-riding in Maui
circa 1820 is, according to Stewart, well patronised.
Regrettably, James Jarvis reported that by the 1840's "... surfing was already a rare sight at Lahaina."
Jarves, James Jackson
(1818-1888) : Scenes and scenery in the Sandwich Islands, and a trip
through Central America : being orbservations, from my note-book during
the years 1837-1842.
J. Munroe &
Co., Boston. Edward Moxon, London. 1884. Page. 298.
De
Vaga (ed, 2004) Page 20.
5. "while the
waves are breaking on the reef apparently twenty or thirty feet high"
The comment appears
to infer that this is the size of the waves ridden.
It is probably an
exaggeration.
It is, possibly,
the first attempt by a western observer to estimate the wave height.
(Note that surfresearch.com.au
wave height calculations are by the Willard
Bascom Method , circa 1945).
The abilty and success of ancient (pre-1800) Hawaiian surfers to ride large surf has been speculated on by some modern commentators.
While any comments on this issue can only ever be speculative, I offer these observations ...
Given the performance of contemporary Boogie board riders in extreme surf conditions, there appears no reason to reject the possibility that similar feats in large, hollow waves were accomplished by skilled Ancient Hawaiian prone surf-riders.
The arrival of clean big surf is rare occurance, even in Hawaii, certainly for Waikiki.
Tom
Blake (1935) notes that ...
"Zero Break"
runs three days each year.
"Zero Break"
is the "beach" name for the largest waves that run.
They usually
occur when earthquakes of extreme consequence are recorded in the Pacific
ocean, be it in California or Japan.
As these swells
reach the Islands they attain a height of about thirty feet. (Page
63)
(Note that Blake is erroneous in sourcing these swells as originating from "earthquakes of extreme consequence" )
Consider an hierarchical
maritime culture that puts great value on surf-riding performance and great
effort and resources into constructing surf-boards.
Assume you are of
the royal house, you posses a large expensive surfboard, the waves are
the largest of the season and you refrain from displaying your prowess.
There is a distinct possibility that, sometime in the future, your royal position may be called into question.
6. "Riding
upon the surf, in a canoe in a similar manner, is also a common and favorite
amusement."
There are many accounts
that report the skill of rurning to the beach through the surf by native
boatmen, but here Stewart indictes that Hawaiian canoe surfriding is a
recreational activity.
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Detailing the Years 1823, 1824 and 1825. Remarks on the Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants; An Account of Lord Byron's Visit in H.M.S.Blonde; and a Description of the Ceremonies Observed at the Interment of the late King and Queen in the Island Of Oahu. By C.S. Stewart, Late American Missionary at the Sandwich Islands. With an Introduction and Additional Notes by William Ellis. London: Fisher, Son and Jackson, Newgatew Street 1828. Title page: Mitchell Library, Sydney. |
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After satisfying
our curiosity here, we rowed down the creek and across the bay, to another
stream on the western side of the harbor, called Wailuku ---river of destruction,
---where the ships get their water.
The entrance
to this river is bightly romantic and beautiful, the banks being precipitous
and rocky, and covered with a variety of vegetation.
About a hundred
yards above the beach, it opens into a still deep basin, encircled by high
cliffs.
Into this
basin the whole stream is projected by two cascades, the upper about twenty
feet, and the lower about eight feet, both rushing over their respective
ledges of rock in unbroken sheets.
A rude bridge
crosses the stream just above the falls; and it is a favorite amusement
of the natives to plunge from it, or from the adjoining rocks, into the
rapids, and pass headforemost over both falls, into the lower basin.
Some of them
were engaged in this sport when we arrived, for the gratification of lieutenants
Keith, Talbot, and Gambier, whom we found there.
The accession
of our party collected a greater crowd, and the cliffs and rocks were quickly
covered with men, women, and children, many of whom not only passed ever
the falls in the mariner described, but jumped also from a height of thirty,
forty, and fifty feet, into the basin, which, though small, is of very
great depth.
Quick access menu:
http://2020ok.com/tags/sandwich.htm
The edited version is also printed in
Dela Vega, Tim (editor)
: 200 Years of Surfing
Literature - An Annotated Bibliography
Published by Timothy
T. Dela Vega.
Produced in
Hanapepe, Kaui, Hawaii. 2004
Pages 27 to 28.
Credited as:
Stewart, Charles
Samuel : A Journal of Residence in the Sandwich Islands
during the Years
1823, 1924 and 1825.
Fisher, Son and
Jackson, London, 1829.
Second Edition (Edited).
Chapter 10, Sports
of the Surf, Pages 196 to 197.
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