September 30,1878, the first shipload of Portuguese arrived on the
Hawaiian
islands to reinforce the plantation workfields. The Portuguese
contracts
allowed the men to bring their large families. The Portuguese immigrant
groups were Christian who brought with them the traditions of the "Fiesta".
The main festivity is the procession of the virgins carrying trays with
30
loaves of bread atop their heads. Traditionally, these loaves were
distributed
to the people in fulfillment of their promises to the Holy Spirit.
Whenever the
Portuguese settled, they planted potatoes and grapes - food
for the stomach
and drink for the spirit.
The Portuguese also brought with them home remedies passed on by Vovos
(grandmothers). Healing practices that are passed on for generations.
Here are some examples:
A
treatment
for infected hair follicles, skin infections (cellulitis), and boils:
Heat up a pot of milk. Soak bread with hot milk and place on the
infection; as hot as can be
tolerated. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes at a time. Repeat as
necessary, until infection is gone. It is believed that this draws out
the pus and heals the infection.
Another
remedy for boils:
Place raw bacon fat on top of the boil. Change two times per day.
It is believed that the
salt in the bacon draws out the pus.
Vinegar
is widely used in
cooking, it is put in all foods left on the table after a
meal. It is believed that this kills the bacteria, and prevents the
food from spoiling.
Vinegar was also used as a
solution, for women's vaginal troubles or infections.
1 part water to 1 part vinegars, sit in a bowl or tub 3 times per
day.
For
children or adults, with
symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, or not being able to eat, there
is a home remedy called "Boosh".
Warm oil is poured on the stomach, the healer uses his/her thumbs
and massages the person from
the chest, downward, and from the back ribs toward the stomach. Firm
pressure is applied because
it is believed that the stomach was turned upside down. While this is
going on, prayers are being
said. After the procedure, the healer gets an article of clothing from
the person in ill health and
prays over it for 3 days.
A person suffering from
listlessness, sadness, and a general lack of physical well being, was
taken to a healer, (agida detta/fautsetta), to be healed from
another persons "Qubrans", or jealousies.
The healer would kiss the forehead, lick his/her tongue at the same
time. If the taste is salty, the
healer would pray for 3 days and nights. If the healer was a "good
one", he/she would know who
was 'putting on the Qubrans'. After the 3rd day it
was believed that the 'spell' was broken, and the
person was brought back to good health.
The last Portuguese healing
practice is for malaise, unable to eat and vomiting.
A short lit candle is placed on a persons' chest, at the center
point from the ribs above te stomach. A clear eyeglass is placed over
it. After a few minutes, a popping noise is heard and it is said that
the
stomach pops back up and the person is healed. While the process is
happening, the healer prays
for the person.
Lyman Museum, Hilo, Hawai'i
Hawai'i County Library
Pei, M. & Prista, A. Getting Along in Portuguese,
Harper & Bros. Publishers, New York.
Williams, E.B.(1942) An Introduction, Portuguese Grammar,
F.S. Crofts & Co.,
New York.
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