The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-07-27

way % the lett. giving evidence Of a former
large population. The country appeared green
and fertile towards the mountains, and one large
tract, near the sea, would make an excellent
sugar or rice plantation. After crossing stream
with quiek-sand bottom, We arose ON the high
lands, and soon came to on ancient reservoir on
the summit of the ridge, where the water ditch
that led t. it was distinctly defined. Evidences
Of great industry and hydraulic knowledge were
exhibited. The old IIawaiians were "a great peo-
pie and excellent practical engineers.
\ drizzling rain commenced falling, and were
not our friend Titcomb one of the most sOciable
of companions, we should have felt gloomy as the
evening. but he checrel us all the way with his
interesting conyerzg,tion-the legends of the coun-
try. the manners and customs of the people thirty
years ago the story of his pioneer life, his tolls
and struggles, and history of the country gen
orally. His narrative never tagged, and in
tcrest was always awake. The evening one
of cloud and storm. but, soon from the summit Of
a ridge, high up towards AnahOla mountain en-
powered IN the woods, we could discern dnly
through the mists the residence Of Ernest Krull,
Esq, famed for politcness and hospitality. De
sccnding the ridge crossed foaming noun
tain torrent, deep and rapid, the water reaching
more than half way up saddles. The valley
of this stream, though narrow, was one of great
beauty. On every hand were dried up taro
patches, and traces of irrigating canals, but the
silence of death broOdcd over them The pOpula-
tiOn all gone. Foundations of houses could
be traced, but they, like those who reared them,
were things of the past. We assembled the hill
rapidly and soon found ourselves at the hOspitabe
mansion of our friend Krull, where received
warm welcome. We found several visitors. and
our kind cicerone. Titeomb, anxious to arrive at
home. would not remain, but spurrcd on through
mud, rain and darkness.
y warm and cheerful supper, and social even
ing, gave us an appetite for sleep, and next
ing we arose revived, refreshed and invigorgtcd,
and ready to resume our trip to Hanalei.
1t had rlined all night and the roads were
very slippery. Our companion for the morning
was an intelligent young German of HaDnlei,
Frank Bindt. We mounted, pushed on as best
we could, but paused to look ut an ancient fish
pond on the brow Of the bluff, below Mr.
E-'II's s..D,i. Uf 'iie sAIIi "r .i
ancient natives. Looking up towards the bold
landmark Of the Anahola mountain, with its
obelistic peak, we saw aperture natural
tunnel through the mountain-large enough for
any railroad purposes. The breach in the noun
tain was greater than any of Tromclin's French
guns could have made, even if he had possessed
Louis Napoleon's new purclrnsc-tLc iron-clad
DuHdeTbuIg.
We were struck by the dead forests Of koa trees
around Mr.. Krulls, and ON the road to Anahola.
The scred and withcred branches of the trees re-
minded Us Of the dclthlike appearance of beeches
and oaks amid n forest Of pines, in mid-winier,
standing a they did, frequently scattered among
other green trees of the forest. The disease
which II destroying the koa trees seems only To
extend to Il certain elevation. The line of dead
koa CEASES about 500 feet above the level Of the
sea. There i n marked uniformity IN the line.
Immense quantities Of the best of frcwOod III the
Hawaiian Islands are rottng in these dead koa
forests, while the green timber i being cut for
that purpose. Wha; a shOrt-sightcd and dcstruc-
tive policy.
We reached the quiet little native village of
Anahola. after the slippery descent of the hill,
and fording the river which dashcs through
rocky channel we assembled the highlands beyond.
\ wide. green. grassy plain spread before us from
the mountains To the sea. Passing over this, we
crossed another stream and assembled another elc-
vatiou where was ancient irrigs,ting ditch that
appeared 10 have carried the water up hill. The
Iand was called MDlpaa. and j. owned by large
ipint stock company Of natives-no cultivation
it is used only for grnzins purposes. From this
point we could the kukui grove ut Berthe
Inaun's. and commenced % descend towards the
Moloaa river. and descent it would have been
had We not descended from our horses. Once
di-mountci. AMI gathering the brides of our
horses We slipped, slid. zig1gscd right, left and
q
tnuaI dread Of our horses sliding down upon us
until We reached the narruw valley below. In
that descent we performed every variety of cvolu-
ton Of which the human form i capable. but
kept our footing.
There j. just nom enough in the valley for
saw mill, which placed there for the purpose
Of saving the koa timber brought down from the
mountains There i abundant water in the
stream and IL j. the purc>t and freshest We have
seen in the Islands The scenery of the deep
mountain gorge grand and beautiful. We
ccndcl the slippery mountain path 20 the house
of Mr.. Bcrtlcnann. an extensive grazicr and beef
packer, where we expected To meet our friend
Titcumb with n wagon. But be not forth
coming the rain of the preceding night and the
consequent mud prevented it. -. refreshing
Ourselves with dairy tccr-cool. fresh Luttcrmilk
we rr,ccc,lc,i On our rad. passed 4 church To
the left went over 4 rich open plain covered with
indigo. entered some wnlds of kukui AMI few
other tres. where we noticed a fine body Of the
host cotton growing lands. and wl'crc are several
fine streams f,r irrigation. If needed. We enter
c,i thiek lauhala gruyc and scon cImc upon the
lan,l. ur Mr. Ti,cOmb. I'm cXc,l"ut wicr fence e.
the right of the rad indicated his line. and along
/.
house Ilcrc cnirycd hi- hospitality. viewed
the sccnery about biz premises, which Il certainly
very bcuutirul-csTc,ially the NAM cascades and