Show tile reather feather mantles of hawaii cawall probably no royal regalia has contained such a priceless treasure as the mamo maine or feather mantle handed down from the time of the great or the conqueror to his successors this gorgeous robe was the result of the labor of chosen artists during the reign of eight monarchs previous lots to Ka meliame lias its length was four feet and it had a spread of eleven and a I 1 half liala feet at bottom the feathers were worked in ona on a groundwork of coarse net and to this the delicate figures were attached with a skill and grace worthy of the most skilled artist of the present lay day the feathers forming the border were reversed the whole presenting a bright yellow color resembling a mantle of gold the birds from which these splendid feathers were plucked were known as ahn tl i or I 1 royal broyal bird and they have but two of the kind one under each wing the species pacifica were captured only by great stratagem and with much risk to life in the mountainous districts of hawaii these feathers were valued at it fifty cents each no less than were expended in this gorgeous and unique mantle looking at it in the light of the scarcity of the materials of which it was con cell posed and the immense time and trouble employed in its production it should rank with the treasures of modern times and be remembered as the shroud of the last of his race Luna lilo the peoples kinge king the erratic beloved and liberal prince bill who was the predecessor of Kala katla husband of crar oi r royal visitor J there is only oily one other cloak of this kind in hawaii the one used to cover the chrono and as the thet birds from aluch the feat feathers liers were obtained are extinct it is beyond price N new york sun |