On 1 November 1883, my ancestor João Ignacio de Souza, his wife Maria Filomena, and their five children arrived at Honolulu port after a long journey from the town of Matriz on the island of São Miguel, Azores, Portugal. They were brought over to work on the sugar plantations.
The Voyage Aboard the SS Bell Rock
The following is the report of the voyage of the SS Bell Rock, the ship that brought João and his family to Hawaii, written by the ship's captain, James Dumbreck:
"The British steamship Bell Rock, with a troup of Portuguese immigrants was reported as off the coast at five o'clock Wednesday afternoon. She arrived at the port at 7 p.m. of the same evening to anchor near the bell buoy, and was shortly afterward brought into port. She sailed off Ponta Delgada, St Michael's, Azores, after taking her living freight. She sailed again on the 30th of August, 1883, at 4 p.m. with 1,411 passengers, among whom were 530 children of twelve years and under. She crossed the equator on Longitude 29 degrees West on September 8th.
 |
| Photo of the British steamship City of Paris, much like the SS Bell Rock. |
There were strong winds from the Platt River to the Straits of Magellan. The Straits was entered on the 24th of September and cleared it on the 26th. There were strong head winds from the Straits to Lota, Chile. On the 2nd of October, she took in coal and proceeded her voyage on the 6th. She crossed the equator again at 127 degrees West on the 22nd of October. Had moderate North-East and South-East trade winds. Sighted Honolulu at 7 p.m., October 31st, and moved into port on November 2, 1883.
There were five births and eight deaths. Seven of the deaths were children, and one was an old man. There were a few cases of measles, but no deaths from the measles.
On Saturday, the whole of the immigrants by the Steamship, Bell Rock were safely and rapidly landed. The work was begun about 7:30 a.m. and finished by 11 a.m. This is reported to be the shortest time (in proportion to numbers) in which the immigrants have been landed in Kakaako. The contractor did his work well and all concerned appeared to be highly satisfied with his arrangements.
The scene at the depot during the day was bright and lively. The immigrants looked clean and healthy, and were in the best of spirits, delighted, as was natural, to get ashore. Without seeing the little crowd it is not easy to realize from reading the figures we have already published how large is the swarm of young children added to this population by this arrival. As we stated in a former occasion, the Depot was in first rate condition to receive them. There is ample room for all and the change from the necessarily close quarters on shipboard was evidently appreciated by all of them, and by non more so than by the little people.
Senho Canavarro, Mr. A. Hoffnung, Colonel Macfarlane and Messrs. Hassinger and Smithies were busily engaged on board and at the Depot most of the day. His excellency the Minister of the Interior also paid a visit to the place and many other officials and visitors went down Saturday and Sunday. Yesterday afternoon, by His Majesty's command, the Royal Hawaiian Band played a selection of music to cheer the new arrivals.
At the close of the Bell Rock's voyage, the immigrants gave evidence of their satisfaction with the manner in which their comfort had been looked after by all the officers who came more particularly in contact with them, by presenting to Captain Dumbreck, the medical officer, Dr. Fitzsimon, Mr. Aushback the purser, Mr. P. Brown, the immigrant steward, and Mr. R. Podmore, the storekeeper, testimonials as to the manner in which they had been treated on board."
The following is a translation of one of these documents:
"We the undersigned passengers, emigrants just arrived in Honolulu in the steamer Bell Rock from St. Michael's, have the pleasure to declare that the food we have received during the voyage was of a good quality and in the necessary quantity, and that we feel very thankful for the good treatment and kind attention we have received from the master of the said steamer, Captain Dumbreck, from Dr. Fitzsimon, from Purser Aushback, and from other officers, and we wish this statement may be known public in our island of St Michael's."
A Visit by H. R. H. Princess Liliuokalani of the Kingdom of Hawaii
 |
| H.R.H. Princess Liliuokalani, circa 1887 |
In 1883, King David Kalakaua was ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Upon the arrival of the Portuguese immigrants, Kalakaua's sister, Princess Liliuokalani was sent to greet them. My ancestor, João, his wife Maria Filomena, and their 6 oldest children Jose, Antonio, João, Manuel, Jacintho, and Maria Conceiaoi, were in the presence of this beloved princess and future queen of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Her visit is described in the following:
"H. R. H. Princess Liliuokalani visited the immigrants yesterday, as also the Premier and Minister of the Interior, Mr Hoffnung, Captain Dumbreck, and quite a crowd of others, both natives and foreigners. There was also another visitor, less distinguished, but none the less interesting for that - a boy who was born during the day. Mother and child doing well. Mr. Smithies and Mr. Marcos were there most of the day, doing all they could to attend to the wants of the people."
Wedding Bells
With 1405 immigrants on board the ship, it would be no surprise that during the 76 days at sea, relationships would form and couples would fall in love. Upon leaving the ship, twelve of these couples were ready to enter into Holy Matrimony:
"Last Monday afternoon twelve couples of the newly arrived immigrants of the steamer Bell Rock presented themselves to the Secretary of the Interior Department for the purpose of obtaining the necessary documents prior to their being united in Holy Matrimony. They were all dressed for the occasion, and presented an exciting and interesting scene. Colonel J. H. Boyd furnished the ladies and gentlemen with all they required in the usual felicitous manner. The final ceremonies were concluded at the Roman Catholic Church. "
The Value of the Portuguese
At the conclusion, the SS Bell Rock's Captain, James Dumbreck, expresses his opinion of the Portuguese immigrants and their value to the Kingdom of Hawaii:
"Of all the immigrants introduced into this Kingdom, combining the question of labor and re-population, I consider the Portuguese by far the preferable, and I would urge upon the Legislative Assembly to make a liberal appropriation towards their introduction. There may not be many requests at present from the sugar planters for them, as they cannot be procured and fed as cheaply as the Chinese; also, as a rule, having wives and large families. The Government should not hesitate to invest large sums of money in bringing them here, as I consider that the prosperity and even the independence of the Hawaiian Kingdom depends upon the introduction and permanent settlement of industrious and prolific people.
Many of the Portuguese, at the expiration of their contracts, are desirous of obtaining a small piece of land, on which to make a home, an it would be well for His Majesty's Government to devise ways and means for that purpose. In that way they become permanent settlers, and will contribute largely to the agricultural development and revenue of the country. Many applications have already been made by those whose contracts will shortly expire, o Mr. Canavarro, Commissioner for Portugal, inquiring what prospects there were of their obtaining lands for their permanent settlements.
It is by such opportunities offered to numbers of small farmers, that the country will be greatly benefited. At the same time, settlements in the neighborhood of sugar estates would be of great benefit, and furnished a constant supply of labor either by the day or on shares."
Source: Published in the Hawaii Tribune-Herald on Sunday, October 23, 1983.
