Wednesday, July 17, 2013

► Missionary Meals: Maria P. Chamberlain

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Tuesday, January 13, 1959 - "Clarice B. Taylor's Tales about Hawaii"

     The first few months of the married life of Levi Chamberlain and Maria Patton Chamberlain were spent in the frame Mission House which stands of King Street.

     Living in the house at the time were other mission families, among them the Reverend and Mrs. Ephriam W. Clark.

     A peek into their daily lives was given by Mrs. Chamberlain in a letter she wrote to her Mainland sisters.

"Honolulu, Oahu 
December 25, 1828

"My Dear Sisters
" - We are now well supplied with vegetables, - we have cucumbers, cabbage & potatoes in abundance - I believe I wrote rather extravagantly respecting my living shortly after my arrival - the management devolved upon the natives - I could not talk to them in their language, and it was not strange that things were not done in the neatest manner.

DIFFERENT
     "It is different since I came into Mr. Clark's family; Mrs.(C)lark and I go into the kitchen ourselves and have our food prepared as we wish.

     "We are very prudent in the use of flour, seldom set it on the table more than once a day.

     "In the morning we generally have a hash made of some kind of fish and potatoes; - at noon boiled beef with vegetables and sea bread, occasionally we have a present of fresh pork sent in from the chiefs; but recently fresh meat provisions have been scarce.

     "At tea we have cakes of flour shortened with the skimmings of our beef. Sometimes we have fried cakes. Our supply of flour was rather scanty this season, but Captain Sayre Russel & Chester, each gave us a barrel so that we shall be quite comfortable till spring.

GETS BUTTER
     "Captain Sayre gave each of ...


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