The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-09-19
4 RIDE ErHRoUGHpELE's DoMIxIoxs.
iCoHiiHusd.I


evening chilly and uncomfortable, had given wa,
before morning 10 a clear sky, and though IN,
ar was quite cold, we looked in vain for frost
which abpunds, however, IN the regions still
higher up the mountain. An early breakias
finished, We found ourselves mounted again at "a
y. NJ, and ready for u hard ride over the layl
streams before u.
And here our pen Will fail to serve us in giving
a correct idea OF perhaps the worst road on tie
face Of the earth These lava streams are com
EftrItiyely recent eruptiOus from Muuna LOa
and consist Of clinkcr stones resembling such -
are thrown from blacksmith's forge, but vary
ing IN size from mere pebbles to rocks weighing
tons (called by the natives a. and a. rough,
sharp and imFIssable, ones fancy can picture.
These streams are by no means level, but undu-
late, with valleys, hills, ridges and steep ,uches
over the more recent OF which scarcely any yege-
tatIOn exists. while on other PORTIONS trees, small
shrubs and grass have sprung up. Over these
sharp stones, neither man nor beast travel
well, without having the feet or hOOls badly cut.
The natives a sandal made of bark which
IN a measure protects the feet. Horses not pro-
tectei with shoes, frequently have their feet cut
- badly by these stones, as To bleed freely and
become unable To travel. rude bride path
has been made over these rocky wastes, but IL Is
not much better than no road at all.
It was To travel through this desert Of perhaps
twenty-five miles in extent, that we set OUT on
the morning of August :. Our mules (three in
number) unaccustOmed to these clinkers and un-
shOd, began To show signs of weariness before
noon, and their feet TO exhibit wounds and blood
and soon compelled their riders 10 dismOunt and
share with them the fatigue of the road. This
seemed To afford them little relief, but it was
only temporary. As the declined towards
the horizon, still urged animals, hop
ing To- arrive at some habitatOn or halting-
place. But valley after valley opened before us
aud hill after hill rose, each disclosing Il more
dreiry and uninyiting aspect, till the sun had
sunk beneath the Oceau, leaving us in the midst
of this desOlate waste.
A Might ON the LAVA An.
No weary traveller over Sahara's Desert ever
campe,l more reluctantly on its sandy seI, than
did We that night ON the lava stream of kOna.
We climbed on To an eminence To see If perhaps
house some little oasis might be in sight: but
no house. nor tree, nor sign of living beings,
could be deserted Our mules, too, refused
other steD, having resolved, like General Sigel's
volunteers in Missouri TO stand or die Those
who have ever witnessed two decidedly obstinate
creatures - arguing the point, may imagine our
position in arguing with our mules. But It was
useless We had to give up, and there was no
alternative but for us To sleep here on the rocks,
some twelve miles from WaiUhinu, (kau.) Re
luctantly, unstrapped our saddles, unIOOsed
our baggage. and got out our blankets and spare
clothing. \ pile of rough lava stones served to
break the force Of the chilly winds that came
down from the snOw-ctpped summit of Mauna
LOa. The al. with blanket between 1t and our
few dry crackers and an orange from saddle
bags served us for our supper. Ii was already
dark when we lay down to rest ON our rocky
couch, tO dream that We perhaps, or our mules,
might furnish another skeleton To bleach ON tins
rocky waste We had already passed two or
three skeletons of animals during the day, and
ours might be added u the number. Singularly
enough, passed the night without waking till
the dawn. Our comfortable rest attribute
more 10 the light meal than the sOftness of the
Lava rocks ON which we slept
Over the Lawn Streams nj Last.
IN early but tedious walk in the morning OF
five miles. i continuation Of this rough lava
road brought us 10 4 few houses located ON Ma
huku, tne property of g. G.. Harris, Esq. learn
iur by chance that his Overseer, Mr.. Henry Allen,
lived near by. rode to his house, and obtained
nn excellent breakfast. Our mules had been left
on the road where spent the night, and from
this place we were Obliged 70 send out grass and
water to enable them 10 revive and follow us,
which they did the following day, though we
Were compelled To- abandon them and obtain new
beasts for our further marches. We have thus
,siyeu more particulars of our Journey over this
rough road than might otherwise have done,
were it that IL i srlIOm travelled by strangers
ani those who do travel 1t should know the dill
cuties Of the journey, and be prepared to encoun-
TER it. di-cumtrTtS-
The region from Opilani TO Kahuku Is the most
deSJlatc. mlu-and-beaSt-fors:Iken region To be
found in this group: and though it i possible to
make a good carriage cart road over Its entire
length. it will probably never become habitable.
II i the home Of Peie, and each successive lava
eruption has only rendered it more completely
her soI. and undisputed dominion. If furnished
with strong. well-shOd animals, travellers will
eni3v the ride from kealakeakua Bay to kau,
and can make the trip through in two days.
RahnLu.
This immense estate. comprising 800, ,OOO acres,
or over los square BHles, was purchased about
year ago by our fellow townsman Mr.. Harris for
one cent AN acre. IL Is a most beautiful place,
and were it located any where else or near
L good harhOr. 1t would be very valuable as u
portion of the land through which the road runs
(say 500 acres,) Is very fine and adapted to
farming, wheat growing, or grazing. Tins great
farm commences ut the sea, and runs IN strip,
a mile or two wide, along the lava stream, up
the mountain where it widens, and there embraces
a large extent of rocky woodland covered with
dense forests. Were it possible to bring the
timber down and ship it TO market, a good busI-
ness might be done in IL. and we are not certain
but the gU-ahead enterprise of our Yankee Duke
may yet devise some way 10 mine his estate, and
render it = source If wealth. At present It
serves only for grazing-about $500 goats, with
some sheep and cattle being on the place.
The Road o Nam.
After a hasty rambIe over kahuku and procuring
fresh animals We hasteued on WaiOhinu. which Is
the principal village in the district Of hau. The
ride from kahuku Is pleasant one Of about seven
miles over Il gOoi carriage road, with numerous
houses scattered along the roadside. The village -
located the base Of a semi circle Of green hills,
whose sides dotted with patches Of upland
tarD. AMI groves OF trees, which give II a pIctur-
e~due background Its name (WliOhiuu-the spark
ling l-rfsr) = derived from spring stream
which issues from OF the hills and COWS through
the village. IL i a small stream and the only in
the district; indeed there streams Of water on
the kCnL side from the north point OF this island
down its south point. and thence to the ueighbOr-
hood Of the This absence Of streams Is owing
t. the porous Of the lava rocks and soil
How Man Bea-I Sub.i-f.
The natives living near the drink brackish
water, while thOae living higher up the mountain use
r.ln u-ter Elt Whit IN nnita -.nEnIar- anImal..