a labourer from theSouth Sea Islands, working in Queensland sugar-plantations.The word is Hawaiian (Sandwich Islands). The kindred words aregiven in the following extract from
Fornander's Polynesian Race' (1885), vol. iii. p. 154:
« Kanaka, s. Hawaiian, man, human, mankind, acommon man in distinction from chiefs. Samoan, New Zealand[sc. Maori], Tongan, tangata, man. Tahitian, taata, man.»
In the original word the accent is on the first syllable, whichaccent Mr. Rudyard Kipling preserves (see quotation, 1893),though he has changed the word in his reprint of the poem in`The Seven Seas'; but the usual pronunciation in Australia isto accent the second syllable.
1794. J. J. Jarves, `History of Hawaiian Islands,' printed atHonolulu (1872), p. 82:
«[On 21st Feb. 1794.] A salute was then fired, and the nativesshouted, `Kanaka no Beritane' – – we are men of Britain.»
1852. A. Miller, `Narrative of United States ExploringExpedition,' c. ii. p. 142:
«On Monday (Nov. 16, 1840) our gentlemen formed themselves intotwo parties, and started on horseback for their journey. Oneparty consisted of Messrs. Reade, Rich, and Wall, with eightkanakas and two guides.»
1873. A. Trollope, `Australia and New Zealand,' c. viii.p. 133:
«Queensland at present is supplying itself with labour fromthe South Sea Islands, and the men employed are calledPolynesians, or canakers, or islanders.»
1885. H. Finch-Hatton, `Advance Australia, p. 162:
«The word `kanaka' is really a Maori word, signifying a man,but in Australia it has come to be applied exclusively to theinhabitants of the South Sea Islands.»
1885. R. M. Praed, `Head Station,' p. 9:
«The kanaka reverences women and adores children. He is loyalin heart, affectionate of disposition, and domestic in hishabits.»
1888. H. S. Cooper, `The Islands of the Pacific,' p. 5:
«The kanakas, who at present populate Hawaii, are, as a rule,well made and intelligent. That there is a cross of the Malayand Indian blood in them few can doubt.»
1890. C. Lumholtz, `Among Cannibals,' p. 64:
«Natives of the South Sea Islands, who in Australia are calledkanakas – – a capable and intelligent race, especially to thiskind of work [on plantations], for they are strong, and endurethe tropical heat far better than the whites.»
1892. Gilbert Parker, `Round the Compass in Australia,'p. 298:
«Thus, it is maintained by the planters, the kanaka, necessaryas he is to the conditions of North Queensland, opens upavenues of skilled labour for the European, and makespopulation and commerce possible where otherwise there wouldbe complete stagnation.»
2892. `The Times,' Dec. 28:
«The principal open-air labour of the sugar plantations isfurnished by kanakas, who are the native inhabitants of certaingroups of South Sea Islands not at present under the protectionof any European flag.»
1893. R. L. Stevenson, `Island Night's Entertainments,'p. 41:
«What we want is a man-of-war – – a German, if we could – – they knowhow to manage kanakas.»
1893. Rudyard Kipling, `Banjo Song':
«We've shouted on seven-ounce nuggets,
We've starved on a kanaka's pay.»
1893. C. H. Pearson, `National Life and Character,' p.32:
«In Australasia . . . the Maori, the Kanaka, and the Papuanare dying out. We cannot close our eyes to the fact thatcertain weak races – – even when, like the kanaka, they possesssome very high qualities – – seem to wither away at mere contactwith the European. . . . The kanakas (among whom we may includethe Maories).»