The Polynesian., 1840-07-28

our lett.
Half way, the temperature changed sud-
denly, accompanied with a strong breeze and
a cold, driving rain, falling directly in our
faces Night soon shut in, and after an
hours more tedious walking we lost our way
and wandered at random until we reached
some native houses From them, Il guide
was obtained, who soon brought US to pleas
ant roof, but thoroughly drcnched and stiff
with cold Here, for the first time at the
Sandwich Islands, enjoyed the comfort of a
good fire Indeed, much of the time Wal
mea is scarce endurabc without, the average
of the thermometer one season, as Mr. l.. i'll
formed me being $40. Ice forms here during
winter. The native Inhabitants are few and
scattering, but it is the resort of about sixty
foreigners principally bullock catchers and
mechanics. Mr. French has a store here,
aud an extensive establishment for curing
becfand pork. This year he puts up two hun
drcd barrels Of pork and lard. A sugar mill
has been erected in the vicinity, but the su-
gar is poor. 1t would be difficult to conceive
more drcary place than Waimca. 1t is on
ii great plain, composed of gravel, and but
scanty clothed with verdurc. The wind
blows luriously, driving the sands in dense
clouds before it, cutting the face and hands,
while ram squalls come from the mountain
drenching the traveller, with scarcely a warn
ing. Food for the natives is difficult to be
obtained, and is brought from distance Of
twelve miles. Good saddlcry is made here.
and as an anomaly in the culinary art, tolcra-
bic bread from poi and arromroot. A few
miles distant ac the sepulchral caves, which
have been so frequently disturbed by the
cranologlcal propcnsitlcs of travellers that
the natives have taken away the remains of
their chiefs and relatives, and hid them in
some more secure place.
1t was with great difficulty that men could
be procured for our route, which was to as
ccnd Mauna kea, Mauna Loa, thence to
the volcano, new streams of lava and Ililo
The trip to occupy fourteen days After
considerable negotiation, twelve were pro-
cured from the hcadman, and guide, named
lionoa, who protested to know every path
and route upon the island. When they were
mustered a more cut throat looking set never
made their appearance in New Gate or Bride
well. One of them would have set to ad-
vantage for the original of Michael Angeles
Satan. A more dcmonacal head was never
placed upon shoulders; the whole expression
and contour, joined with the ri-idness and
prousencss of his hair rendered him horrible
So strong was the impression that with us he
always was known by the cognomcn of Sa-
tan. Another was the very image of David's
Cain. However, as looks often belle men
we needed them not but divided our loads
which consisted of caabash of food for our-
selves, change of clothes, several blankets
apiece, seven hundred pounds Of poi. one
hundred of fish and dried beef and our wotor
among them, and despatched them ahead
BY twelve O'Clock the ,thirticth of June wo
were mounted and on our way, for we had
taken horses to ascend the mountain ne G,r
as 1t was practicable to 90 with them. The
plain remained quite level tor twelve miles
broken occasionally into cratcr-likc hills
our course at first was Z. F.. then diverroJ
to S. f. by E., until we reached the mountain
The first portion Of ascent was urod,I