Thomas Karren Diary (1)

Mormon History 1830-1844

Thomas Karren Diary (1)

1853—June

Thomas Karren and Nathan Tanner, who cannot speak the language, go to Hawaii with Kahumoku, a young, charismatic convert. Long, difficult journey. Kohumoku converts natives at almost every place they stop. News of epidemic. Karren's compassion. People poor. Chief Napi defies Rev. Bond. Arrested for disturbing school; acquitted.

The original diary is privately owned. The following excerpts were taken from the photocopy at BYU.

	June 1, 1853
Leave for Hawaii Lahaina	There was a great many of The Native Brethren & Sisters Came for to See us Off. The[y] manifested great affection Towards us, and ware Surrey to part With us. I saw some with the tears running down their Cheeks. [Sea sick en route to Maui, calls on Hammond at Lahaina.]
	June 6, 1853
Landfall—no food or water	[Arrives] at Hawaihae. Couldn't get anything to eat or drink; sick, feeble. Could Hardly walk. This part of the Island Is a poor Barren Miserable place. Only a few Misserable Natives living Chifly on fish. My feeling were very Sensitive on This ocation. I could not help but Reflect on Home. I thought I could get Bread and watter enough at any [-] But hear we Could not get a drink of Water.
Set sail again	How ever though the Course of this Day I fell in with an English man From Cumberland who have resided On these Islands for 16 years. [He invites them home for dinner. They find Hilo is farther than they had thought, so they return to the boat, sailing at midnight on the 7th. On account of bad winds it takes 2 days & 2 nights to make 20 miles.]
	June 9, 1853
Landfall Weak	Arrive [at northern tip of the Big Island] . . . went a Shore. When I landed I Could Hardly walk up the Beatch, my Limbs Fearly Trembled with Weakness, having not eat any thing Since Monday night. Now it is Thursday. …
Natives offer poi Unable to stomach it	Soon we ware Surounded by a lot of Natives, poor & Miserable to all a pearance. We felt that Nature was allmost Exhusted. I thought on Home and wished I only head Some of the Butter Milk I Have Seen thrown in the Swell tub. We could get nothing to eat or to drink But Some poe What the natives eat. But my Stomack was so weak and Sick that it would not admit of that Food.
2 chickens	How ever we found some Chickens. We Bought 2. Went to work and Cooked Them. It was very difficult for to doe That for want of fire. We got them Cooked And head a good Supper of Boiled Chickens after which we felt greatly Refreshet. …
Native Mormon	We ware not hear long Before we ware enformed that their Was a Native Bro., a Mormon, living in this Settlement. He was sent For. He came to see us & Invited us To come down to his House. We went and Stopt with him.
Many curious natives	That night [a] Great many came to hear us and to ask Questions a bout our Church through the corse of the Evening and night. We have an Interpreter with us, a Native Elder, a very Smart and Intiligent Native. He can handle the Scriptures well. We a pointed a meeting For tomorrow morning, the first thing.
	June 10, 1853
Kahumoku preaches 2 baptized	Friday the 10th. Before we head got up the head commenced to gatther we Soon Opend our meeting by prayr & Singing. Elder Kahumoku Preached To a very a tentive and well behaved Congration* of natives. At the Close of the Meeting there was 2 Candateates came Forth for Babtism, which was a tended To before Brackfast.
Afternoon confirmation and instruction	In the afternoon We a pointed a nother meeting to a Tend to Conforming and to Instruct them On those principeles. The[y] all felt to Rejoice in the gospel which we teach. There was 2 Babtised and Confirmed This Day in the Church of Jesus Christ.
	June 11, 1853
Kahumoku preaches 2 baptized	Saturday the 11th. We heald a nother Meeting this morning a bout [blank] O Clock. Elder Kahumoku Preached after the Meeting there was 2 came forth For Babtism.
Fulfillment of prophecy	Some of the natives Say That God Caused a Strong Head Wind to blow us into this place, to preach the gospel to them. When the Capt. of The Scooner beard of us Babtising a Good many, he Said that was the Reason he head to put into this place Because he head 3 Jonas on board & head to be landed hear. Indeed I belive that the hand of the Lord is in it in Causing Us to have been driven in to this Place.
Kohala	This is the Extream North point of the Island of Hawaii the District of Kohala. While Travling this Morning through the Setlements and Neighbourhood of this place a long the Sea Cost I was reminded of the Sayings Of the prophets when God would Send out fishes and than Hunters to Hunt Out Isreal out of the dens and caves of the Earth and holes of the rocks. …
Chief's invitation	As we Ware returning Back to our Stoping Place, we ware Soluted by a call at some little distance, phraps [perhaps] of some 10 or 15 rods from us. We ware Informed it was the Chieft Calling us. We went up To His house and ware Invited in with all the friendship a maganable. He head Heard Some little a bout the Mormons Before but Could not tell what the[y] ware and wished for to hear them.	Karren spells the chief's name as Napi, Napoi, and Naihe. His name is arbitrarily but consistently spelled Napoi in margin notes.
Chief's hospitality Milk	He Said he head great Joy in seeing us And hearing us talk. He Invited us To eat. But we head Just being eating How ever he Brought us Some Milk Which is the first treat of Milk I have head Since I have left home He manifested a good spirit and Said that he would come to hear us Preach to morrow.
Invites missionaries to stay with him	He allso Said for to Come their and eat while we stopt in this place. We ware very glad Of the Invatation, as Native food is not that of The Best Quality.
	June 12, 1853
Morning meeting, chief attends 4 baptized	June 12, 1853. [The 10 a.m. meeting was crowded but attentive; 4 were baptized.] This Chief was ther allso, as he promised, and nothing would Doe but we must go right of to his Place and Preach.
Kahumoku preaches at chief's Positive reception	We gave a pointment To Preach at his place at one (o) Clock, which we a tended to forth with. There was a good gathering. Elder Kahumoku Preached one hour and a half. The[y] Seem to Rejoice very much with Our Doctrine and Say it is like the Bible. At the Close of the meeting we gave Out & a pointment for Tomorrow Morning For a meeting at 8 (o) Clock and would A tend to Babtising those that ware Ready to Obey the Gospel.
Supper: goat's milk, molasses, fish, sweet potaoes, poi	After meeting Supper was prepared for us which Concists of Goats Milk and Mollasses Fish and Sweet Potatoes and Poe Which was a great treat to us not With Standing the milk was Strained Throug a Stocking.
	June 13, 1853
Chief Napi Kid head for breakfast	Monday 13th we met at the House of Mr. Napi the Chief a greable to a pointment. When we got ther he head a Kid Prepared for us for Breakfast.
4 baptized, including Napi Confirm at water's edge Afternoon instruction	Soon afterwards We Commenced our meeting, after which There was 4 came forth for Babtism which Was a tended to, the Chief was one of the Number. We Confirmed them by the Water Side, and than retired to the House and spent the forenoon In Structing them in the principles of the Gospel.
8 baptized	After Dinner we left to a tend a nother apointment where we Babtised 8 More which makes 12 we have Babtised this day.
People kind, affectionate, believing Need much instruction	This people is very Kind and afectionate And Beliving more so than any people I ever Saw, a cording to the abilites they Have. But the[y] requare a great dale of Teaching.
	June 14, 1853
Schooner leaves Missionaries remain 2 baptized	Tuesday 14th. This morning the Schooner Left hear. The whispering of the spirit To us was to Tarrey hear for a while, How long I dont Know, but I pray to my Father which is in heaven Allways, that I may Know the Voice Of his good Spirit, and walk acording to its dictates. … In the afternoon we Babtised 2 …
	June 15, 1853
Reads, prays for people	Wedensday the 15th. I stopt in the House, The fore noon reading. I Could not Help but pour out my Soul to God In behalf of this people, to see the Kindness the[y] manifest to us In Bringing to us their fish and Potatoes, the Best they have got.
Afternoon organize 2 branches Ordain men	This After noon we met Acording to Apointment to Organize a Branch, the Meeting was opened With Singing and prayr, and then Proceeded to Business. We Ordained 3 priest, 3 Theacers & 2 deacons And as the[y] are some what Scattred We proposed dividing the district In to two Branches.
People have Spirit of God	I never Saw A people feel better in my life. The[y] manifested much of the Spirit Of God. We all felt well.
Teach Utah elders Hawaiian	In the Evening Some of the Natives spent An hour or two with us, teaching Us to speak the Native Language.
	June 16, 1853
Studies Hawaiian with natives	Thursday the 16th. We remained in The house all day, Studing the Language. The Natives feel very Anxious for us to Learn; the[y] take a great dale of paines To teach us.
Faith of the people	In the afternoon a number Of the Brethren Met to gether, and we Held A meeting; and much of the Spirit Of God was in our midst. I never Saw People in my life express more Joy And cinserity then this people doe.
Napoi Rev. Bond condemns Mormons	Bro. Napoi, he is a man of Some note Among the natives he is a Chief and Is rich. As Soon as he obeyed the Gospel He recived a letter from his priest The Rev. Mr Bond; of the Calvinest order Stating that he was a Quinted with the Mormons, in a Merica and Said That we ware A very Bad people; we Ware thevs & Robers and every thing else That was bad.
Napi refuses to believe him	Bro. Napi Answered Him Back, Saying I dont belive a word You Say; he allso replied I would not Come back, if you would Intreat Of me with tears runing to the ground. I have been fead on your Sower milk Long Enough; these men preach the Same As the Bible teach; and I Know it is True. This is the Import of the answer That he Sent the priest.
People believe the Bible	This people Has great faith in the Bible. It is The only Book the have been thourht to read, And there is Some Great Scriptorians among them; and when the principeles of the Gospel is preached to them in Simplicity the[y] recive it with All their hearts.
Missionaries taught them to read and write	Let the devel have his Due, the missionaries have done some Good; the have learned this people to Read and Write. Ther is Some Smart Scholars a mong them. So far so good.
1 baptized	At the Close of our Meeting this afternoon thear was one candatate for Babtism Which was a tended to.
	June 17, 1853
Rev. Bonds reducing fees	Friday the 17th the first thing this Morning We ware Informed by a School teacher Of the Rev. Mr Bonds that he (Mr Bond) Held a Meeting Yesterday and expresed Great fears of his Members all laving Him and turning to be Mormons. He made proposels to them that The[y] that paid him 30 dollars per Year Should only pay him 10 And all the rest in proportion to What the[y] paid that is reducing 2 Third.
Clergy fear Mormons but are careful	And So it is with all the priest on this Islands. The[y] fear us worse than the[y] doe the Allmighty; the[y] find that their Craft Is in danger. I must acknowledge The[y] have some wit. The[y] hold their Peace; what the[y] doe is in Sacret. The[y] dare not come out Before the Publick. The[y] are a ware. The[y] have sharp Edge tools to handle and are a fraid Of Cutting their fingers.
Letters from home	We recived A letter from Elder Johnson this Morning Informing us of his Reciving 3 Letters from home …
Kahumoku preaches	Elder Kahumoku preached & Priest Paul; there was a good spirit in the Meeting.
	June 18, 1853
With Napi	Saturday the 18th After Breakfast we Went And Spent the day with Bro. Napi reading and Expounding the Scriptures
	June 19, 1853
Napi lives close to Bonds.	Sunday 19th; this morning at 10 (o) Clock We held a Meeting at Bro. Napi, A bout 20 Rods distance from the Reverend Mr Bonds Meeting House
Bonds' congregation comes to listen	Before Our Meeting was Closed, Bonds Congration All came in and Manifested a disposition Like as if the wanted to hear. Elder Kahumoku re opened the Meeting and Delivred a discourse on the first principles Of the Gospel which was very a tentivley Listened to. There Seem to be a moving Of the waters.
1 baptized, many spectators	After meeting we Babtised One. There was a great many Spectators.
People afraid of clergy's opposition Mormonism popular topic	The people say that we teach like the Bible belive what we Say, but a great Many of them are a fraid of the Missionarys and are Backward to obey the Gospel so great is the Influance the are Under. But the Lord is at work a Mong the people; Mormonism is Getting to be the Topic a mong the Islands.
Mamona, Mammon	You cant go any where, nor Turn any Corner, but youre ears is Saluted with Mamona the native Word of Mormon. The Priest[s] Say this Is the Mammon Spoken of in the Scriptures which is on[e] of their greatest Wapons.
Kahumoku baptizes 11	Elder Kahumoku is our Spoaksman. We Sent him in the Afternoon to fill a nother a pointment, after which he babtised all [11?].
Kalama baptizes 1	John Kalama, a Native priest, Babtised One in a nother place, which makes 13 that has been aded to the Church this day.
	June 20, 1853
Writes letter	Monday the 20th I spent the fore part of the day in writing. As I fell in Company With a Scotch man that was Costing round The Island and was going direct to The cost of California, I thought I would Improve The Oppertunity and Send some Letters By him. I roat a lengthy letter …
Afternoon blesses children	Afternoon I a tended a meeting to Bless Children.
	June 22, 1853
News of epidemic	Wednsday 22nd … [News from Honolulu] Informs us of the Small pox making Great Havock in that place. From 2 to 3 hundred has been Slain by The hand of the destroyer through that Plague Sence we left, which is Only a bout 3 Weeks. It is very fatal In every Case, with a Very few Exceptions, But it Rejoyces me to See the faith of the Saints and the Power of God that is made manifest In their midst. I have not heard Of any deaths a mong the Brethren As yet all dough there has been Many cases.
Natives only want the Elders	All the aid the[y] want Is the Elders to administer to them. I never Saw as much faith in my life A mong any people as there is Manifested a mong these Natives.
Petition government	One of our Native Elders has petitioned Goverment Signed by all The member To Grant them the Privilage of there own Doctors. The[y] wanted no Medical men near Them. All the[y] wanted was the Elders Of the Church of Jesus Christ to Administer to them and to pray With them and Anointing them In the Name of the Lord.
Laws require doctors and vaccination Expects exemption	When the Small pox first made its apearance there was an Act Passed, that every afected person Should be Taken to the Hospital; and Certen Docters aponted to take care of them, And allso a fine of 5 dollars if the[y] neglected To be a vasenated. But the plague Is becoming fearfull and Spreading Death and devastation, on every hand. I sepose the[y] are willing to grant the Saints there request.
Clergy and doctors now administering with oil	Priest Smith, When he was accused by Some of his Members for not doing as the Mormons done, telling him that The[y] done like the Bible, he Said it was right and went to work and laid his Hands on Several of them. So it is With the Docters; the[y] have comenced Anointing with Oile Saying it Is the Best Cure for the S pox seeing The Mormons are very Successful in There administrations.
	It is now as It has been in all ages of the world. The[y] Will a plie to any thing Before the truth. I supose the[y] think Because we use Oile In our administrations that is the medium through which the Sick is Healed. O how Dark is the mind of man.
	June 23, 1853
No wood, water, food	Thursday 23rd. [Begin looking for new places to preach in.] The place we have been labouring in this last fortnight is a poor miserable place, and are not able to Keep us. There Is not a morsel of wood to Cook a potato for us, neather is there a Drop of fresh water that we can Get to drink. There is nothing of any discription That grows here. The natives live on fishing. All to gether we have head prety hard time Since we have been hear. There is nothing But a sense of Duty that would Induce us to Stop hear, And that of the Strictest Sort.
Scarcity	Our living is not only poor and dirty but is Very Scanty at that; we can hardly get a nough At times to Sustain Natiour, and a Great deale of the food that we get nothing But Hunger would Induce us to eat it.
1 sweet potato for two yesterday Bad poi	Yesterday morning Bro. Tanner and my Self Got 1 Sweet potato for our Breackfast. We felt Satisfyed. We Knew it was the Best the[y] head and all the[y] head. That was All we head that day. At night we got Some hard poe that was half rotten and Moldy. Hunger compeled us to eat, but Ill a sure you it was but very little.
Natives give their best	Know me Knows the Sancation of feeling That we have to Indure at times. Only they that has passed through the Experiance that Can have any Idea. After all The[y] treat us the Best the Know how.
Compassion	When We see the Kind disposition the manifest Towards us we cant help but Simpathithes For them. Our hearts is moved with Compassion Towards them. We feel to Indure all privations That we may win them to Christ.
Native hut	After we Traveled 5 or 6 miles this morning we came To a House where there was a Native Bro Lived. He Kindly Invited us in. The House Was Small. We head to Stoop on our Knees to get in. He got dinner for us, Which Consisted of pork and poe and Some fruit. I felt greatly refreshed as I was very weak before.
	He Invited us to call When we came back and Stop over Night with him And he would The people of that place for to have a meeting.
	We traveled a few miles Further and put up for the night.
	June 24, 1853
	Friday the 24th. Very wet and Stormy this morning. … [Leave at noon, travel 4 or 5 miles; put up at] a Sister Mormon House. Her Husband was A Calvinist, but we ware warmly recived she went to work and preapared a good Supper for us … [Children come in, give missionaries apples that are more like "Pares" but very "read." There is a little water and wood here, small groves of shrubs. Spent the night.]
	June 25, 1853
Good breakfast Pololu Perpendicular cliffs Narrow valley	Saturday the 25th. [Have a good breakfast with milk and poi "which was a choice dish to us." Travel 2 mi. to very deep valley (Pololu) on the coast; singular appearance.] You cant See it untill you Are right perpenticular over it. [Go down 3/4 mile to bottom; valley no larger than common size farm and at least 100 natives living in it.]
Received coldly. Warned against the Mormons No food	When we first maid our Apearance amoung them we ware Looked upon as Some Strange Beings That head Come from the upper Worlds. Yet we ware Recived very Coldly. The Catholics and Calvinest Influence is Very Strong in this place. The[y] have been Instructed And [- ] against the Mormons. How ever we Spent the day trying to get an opening To preach. Evry thing Seemed Very dark. I felt my self like as if the Heavens Were Brass; evry thing was discurageing The people [were] poor & Miserable and no Signs for any thing to Eat.
Preach in afternoon 8 baptized	We perservered And got to preach to a few in the Afternoon, after which there was 8 Came forth for Babtism. I Could not Help but feel Condemned for my littleness Of faith. How ever we felt greatly Incuraged And Give an a pointment to preach Tomorrow morning at 10 o Clock.
	June 26, 1853
People gather	Sunday the 26th. The first thing after Breckfast the people Commenced To gether. I felt to pour out my Soul Before God in prayr in behalf of this people. …
Kahumoku preaches powerfully	Elder Kahumoku Spoak with power. The spirit of God rested upon him. It a peared that Every Mouth was Open And every Eye Stadfast. The[y] never Heard the like before.
Only know to pay clergy and quit smoking	One man Said that He never Knew that there was any thing required Of him in the Bible but to pay the Preiest and Quit Smoaking; that Is the most of the teaching, the[y] have Ever heard.
20 baptized 2 baotuzed Ordinations	After meeting there was 20 Came forth for Babtism which Was a tended to forthwith. We held a meeting a gain at 1 o Clock after Which we Babtised 2; we allso Ordained 2 teachers and 1 deacon and gave a pointment for next Sabath To Organize a Branch and a Invatation For all the neighbourhoood to Come and hear us.
	June 27, 1853
Summons for disturbing school	Monday the 27th. We left to return Back to our Stoping place which is About 15 miles. We had not Travled More than 2 or 3 miles before up Comes A Constable and But [Put] A Summons Into Our hand to A pear before the District Judge to Stand Trial for disturbing One of their Schools, which was a fals Accusation. How ever it will have a good Teandancy; it will preach a loud Sermon.
Escorted by hundreds	Before we got to the Coart House we Were Escorted by Some 4 or 5 Hundred People; it but [put] me in mind before us Now when I have Seen Margreys go Throug[h] the town.
Crowded court house Acquitted	The Court House Was Crow[d]ed to Excess every eye was up on us. The charges that head been laid a gainst us was proven fals. We are To have a rehearing on next friday.
Potatoes, sugar cane Poi, salt	We have Traveled Some 15 Miles to day and very poor fead. We head only a little Potatoes and Salt for Breckfast. We plucked Some Sugar Cain on the way Side and Eat after Traveling that distance, when we got to Our Stoping place the Best the[y] Could Give Us was poe and Salt.
	June 28, 1853
Fish and poi They do the best they can	[Fish & poi for breakfast.] I find no fault with the People. I feel to Bless them; the[y] doe the Best The[y] Know how. If the[y] had better we would Get it. [Studies.]
	June 29, 1853
Writes Dennis	[Writes Brother Dennis, visits the brethren.]
	June 30, 1853
Bananas, chicken Sleep on mats	[Start for upper country to fill an appointment. Feels weak. Native sells them bananas (Tanner has 25 cents). Put up for the night in a native hut owned by a member of church who cooks them a chicken. They sleep "Indian Fashion" on mats on ground.]
	Thomas Karren Diary 2 Francis A. Hammond Diary Smallpox in Paradise Biographical Sketches