THE FEATHER CLOAK OF KAMEHAMEHA, THE FIRST KING OF THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

THIS feather war-cloak of the king occupied nine generations of monarchs in its fabrication. Its length is 4t. And it has a spread of 11 ½ ft. At the bottom. The sacred bird O’o (Melithreptes Pacifica), from which the minute, bright yellow feathers are procured, furnishes only teo, one being found under each wing, so that an inconceivable number of birds must have been caught to provide material for this magnificent mantle, the groundwork of which consists of very fine netting, made from the bark of the oloney [sic], which is almost transparent, and can be separated and reseparated into strands, equal to that of the finest silk thread, ad it is to this that those delicate feathers are attached with a skill and grace worthy of the most civilised art.The time and labour expended in capturing these birds by the natives, and their ingenuity in doing so, must have consumed an unlimited period, and particularly so when it is known that the birds are only found upon volcanic and most mountainous parts of Hawaii, no other specimens having ever been seen in other parts of the group, nor yet on any of the islands in the South Seas. The feathers forming the border of the cloak are reverted, the whole presenting a bright yellow colour, of marvellous beauty. Five of these feathers were valued at 8s. And it is impossible to calculate how many have been consumed in the formation of the robe; but the supposition is that the value of feathers, according to this estimate, would amount to upwards of five millions of pounds sterling. Such a garment would be a fitting portion of the regalia of any Oriental or European monarch. Viewing it in the scarcity of the article of which it is composed,and the immense amount of time, taste, patience, and skill required for the manufacture of this golden mantle,would make it nominal value far more costly than the brightest and purest gems in the crowns of Europe. A sight of the cloak can only be obtained through much inconvenience and difficulty, and it is only upon such occasions as a coronation and the death of a king that the mantle is publicly exhibited. AS far as can be ascertained, the featers were procured through the agency of despotism and superstition, by the heathen priests intimating to the natives that the feather god would pass around the mountain upon a certain night, and visit all the different altars where he expected to find the featherery offering, and also the bark of the oloney [sic], and in the event of being disappointed at any one of those altars the god would call upon the volcano to swallow up and utterly destroy both the natives and villages: and several places are pointed out where this frightful judgement fell upon some villages from their disregard of the solemn advice and warning of Pui-kema-paa. The O’o – or Mamo as he was more frequently called by the natives – is a jet-black bird, and in size not unlike the European jackdaw, though differing very considerable in the expression of the bill, and the feet. G.D.

22 June 1872

44 Feathers

Presented to the Auckland Museum by George Donaldson from Scotland Upon Wednesday the 25 June 1872

“I presented the Feathers

to the Auckland Museum

upon 25 June 1872

Upon my arrival from an [excursion]

in pursuit of Natural History – on

the [Plains & Prairies] of [America]

and also in the islands of

the South seas having been from

[Home,] Scotland for nearly [19/12] years.

George Donaldson

[Sharnee/Thuruce Cottage]

[Mitchell]

Indiana

W.[F/S]. America”