The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-09-14
NUMBER l3l.
SANDWICH ISLAND BEAUTIES.

Along the whole eastern face of the Island
|of Hawaii, there are numberless rilIs and
streams that come bounding along from the
Flofty sides Of the gaint mountains, in cat
taracts and cascades, until at last they jump
from the greenclad shores into the salt foam of
i the ocean. One of the largest Of them is
Wailuku No further than league from the
barbor inland is miniature Niagara of more
than hundred feet, which dashes mass of
broken water into the bowl-like basin, flashing
upon either side brilliant rainboWs, from
which the fall takes its name Retracing
our steps towards the Village, the banks of
the little river become less abrupt, and within
a few hundred yards Of the bay the water is di-
verted into a multitude of channels-herc q
torrent boiling over scattered rocks with q
clear sleeping pool beyond; there the white cat
aract plunging swiftly through narrow straits,
and leaping gaily down below, like liquid
portcullis to some massive gateway again,
whirfng eddies playing around rock islets,
until at last by one sparkling effort the wa
ters reunite, and go roaring and struggling
down a steep chasm into the noisy surface OF
the bay.
1t is here the young Of both sexes pass most
of their time. Troops of boys and girls, and
even little ones scarcely able to walk, arc seen
in all directions pcrched on shelving crags and
grassy mounds or still higher up, clinging from
the steep sides and peeping out from amid tho
foliage. On every side they come leaping joy
ously into the rushing watersl There on
blufI-thirty, forty, ayei seventy feet high-a
score of native maidens are following each
other into the limpid pools beneath The mo-
ment before their flight through the air, they
are poised upon the rocky pedestals, like the
Medieian Venus. One buoyant bound-the
right arm is thrown aloft, knees brought up
Al. II.
head falls back, feet dashed straight out
when they enter the pools with the velocity
and elearness of .javelin, shooting away, just
beneath the surface, like a salmon.
| Others again, arc diving in foaming torrents
l-plashing and skirling-laughing, always
MISUNDERSTANDING, swimming, half revealing
their pretty forms before sinking again beneath
the stream. Others still more daring and ex-
pert, go whirling through narrow passages,
thrown from side to side in the white waters,
now completely hidden in the cataracts, anon
rising up in a recumbeht attitude, when away
they arc hurled over cataract oftwenty feet
emerging far below with long tresses swim
ming behind, and with graceful limbs cleaving
the river, like naught of nature moro charming
than themselves,
1t is a sight to make a lover forget his mis-
tress, or a parson his prayers. | know it
would have been my case, had | been so for
tunate as to be either! Here | passed all my
leisure hours, never tired OF beholding the
beautiful panorama of life and water moving
before Inc. And there were others on these
occasions who were wont to mngle bravely in
the spot-portly postcaptains, husbandly lieu
tenants, mad cap REFERS Of course, staid chap
lans, too! but all declared it was pleasant, cx-
Iceedingly pleasant, although mingled with a
few indifferent remarks as to what the good
missionaries might think Of it..
Many Of the aoybeeanes have pretty faces,
expressive black eyes, jet black hair; then
there are others who make good limitations Of
Blenhem spanieIs in the vi5agc; but nearly all
have round, voluptuous forms, perfectly nat
luIal when beautiful and young, with small
hands and feet; but such larks are they for fun
and laughter. with certain air Of sly de-
nfureness that renders them quite bewitching.
In the cool of the afternoon a number of US,
in company with half dozen of these attrac-
tive naiads, would amuse ourselves in sliding
over gentle waterfall that fell into secluded
basin stretching calmly away below; hand in
hand-and verv soft pretty hands they
were-or forming long link one after anoth-
Ter in sitting postureJ we threw ourselves mn
the mercy of the lively En-mm above and ike
lightning dashed over the brink Of the falls
anu we " we're drawn with magic celerity for q
great depth beneath the surface until our ears
tingled and senses reeled with the rushing
noise, when we would again be swept swiftly
by counter current up to the air of heaven,
and carfully stranded on a sand bank near by,
wondering very much how we got there, and
always greeted by the gay laughter of tn
water nymphs around u.s. Nor is it the safest
spot imaginable; for in some of these subma
rine excursions an inexperienced person is
sometm mes given to beat his head or body
against rocks or be carried to. the wrong ed
dies and floated among dangerous straits, to
the great detriment of his breath aud diges-
ton. However, no one need entertain the
slightest fears when attended by one of the
natives. They may, when saving you in the
last gasp Of drowning hold you up in the
coming breakers, and ask, chow much? tree
monee?" with a prospective glance at re
ward But when diverting yourself with
these brown naiads, thy guide you in safety
through perilous labyrinths, and shield you
from all harm LdeH Wise