The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-09-09
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
written for the Pacific Commercial Adver.issr.)
2ife in tbe Hauaiim ISLANDS. $40.
\ TRIP TO MAUNA LOA.

in August, 1856, being on a visit to the district OF
Kons, Hawaii, it was proposed by some of the very
h~ospitable foreign residents of that beautiful spot to
make up q party for the purpose of visiting the great
mountain Of Mama Los, which lies in a S. W. direc-
ton from Kealakekua, distant about sixty miles Ac-
cordingly, on the morning of August 18th, having
procured the services of q native pilot and two native
carriers, and packed some little matters in the way Of
provisions on q jackass and q bullock, our party,
numbering three white men. started on horseback
from the coffee plantation of Mr.. Chas- Hall, ut Kali
na!iu, Oh cur way to the mountain. This plantation
i situated IN q beautiful hillside country, about four
miles from Capt Cummings residence at Kealakekua,
and has an elevation of some 1900 feet. The air here
was mild and humid, and everything was covered
with q rank growth Of vegeta0n. As we rode along
IN the bracing morning breeze, we noticed on either
hand numerous patches of coffee trees, in many in
stances growing much too close together, and often
ehoked with weeds. Some of the trees had reached a
height OF fourteen TO fifteen feet, and even under these
circumstances were thickly covered with the bright
scarlet berries. Taro here grows to a very large size.
some os the roots measuring a foot in length by six
inches thick II is the upland variety, and grows on
q dry soil, and by many is considered to be prefera-
bic 10 the other kinds. Orange, peach, banana,
bread-fruit and other trees were plenty. The vi has
also lately been intrC-1uceu from lhQltl, anu PROMISES
80 flourish well.
On starting, the hour being seven, A NJ, the mer-
eury stood at CSC. We proceeded directly inland,
following an old cart-road, partly overgrown with
grass. and running through a gently rising ground
Oyergrown with fern, familiarity called { brakes, - the
presence Of which indicates a humid soil. In a few
moments we came to the kOa woods and passed the
Saw pit Of Mr.. Atkins, one of the Oldest residents of
fhfs distriS. who SAYS hs last visit IN Honolulu Was
some thirty years ago. He was engaged in getting
out logs to saw up into shingles for a new house
which he is building for himself on the main road.
Our path now diverged to the left, when, after a
short ride. We came up to the native packers who had
PRECEDED US, and ON due deiiberation il was decided
to send back the horses and proceed on foot, as, on
account OF the thick underbrush and overhanging
boSgbs, it lad become u difficult task to sit ON horse
back without having ones clothes torn from his back.
Our guide, after enjoying the national refreshmenr of
= ." Puhi 6dka," (smoke.) led the way, bush-knife in
hand, and showed himself quite expert in cutting
dom young saplings and clearing the way for Us
three haoies who followed on foot, single file; after us
came the native packers, with the bullock and jack
a@, carrying our creature comforts. We had not
Travelled far thus when we we're saluted with the we'll
known voice Of the bird so noted for a pulling corn
-cGtc, cap! One OF our number, being armed with
his sharp-shooter, made at once in the direction from
whence proceeded this unearthly noise, but on ac-
count Of the thick bushes, failed to get near enough
for q shot, which was perhaps a lucky enough circum-
stance. as from my previous acquaintance of the gen.
tisman's shooting abilities, I would much rather have
been the crow on the tree than in a position near the
hreech Of his gun. On We trudged, pushing our way
through the forest, sometimes up a steep hill, then
again plungins into deep rasines; the sun already
dsrkened By the rank growth Of vines and under
wood; again ascending on to an open grass plot, with
here and there a clurnp Of neutrality-suspicious. a
good sized tree, growing right cut of q bed of decom-
posed lava ~climpers. On these spots we would sit
down to rest, in order to give the packers time to
come up with US. Along the route we frequently
saw thrifty groves Of young kos trees, with here and
there a large one-some of the latter we thought
would measure nine feet in diameter. and whose
branches, spreading over a large surface, shaded and
helped the growth Of many young and tender plants.
The E0G makes a fine furniture wood, its grain being
thought By many superior to the mahogany, and sus-
SePubls Of q beautiful polish-the best of charcoal,
100, Is made from koa. Here we frequently saw the