The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-09-04
4 Neal,

rather unsavory, and the fish fresh from the sea, really
delicious. Six boiled eggs looked too tempting tT
omit, and cutting through one, we found We had un'
fortunately taken the wrong one, for our hasty blow
severed a head from the body. Trying another. a
leg most unceremoniously protruded from the broken
shell. and We concluded that a motherly hen had
been ruthlessly disturbed by our arrival. The dish
was ordered away, but it was too late to mend the
theft. Aside from this little episode, the meal was
~relishei, and was certainly creditable to our jovial
host. who. had he the advantages. might make his
mark in some wider sphere.
kapa and Mosquitoes.
An early hour in the evening found US occupying
the fine koa bed, covered with white KAPPA cloth,
which, by the bye, is manufactured in this district
quite abundantly, from the native trauke, an indi-
ginous plant which very much resembles the ramie,
that is attracting so much attention in America just
now. 1t makes a warm and really useful article Of
domestic wear, and for bed spreads is much used by
the natives. But how mortifying TO find, on getting
up, that notwithstanding the inviting mosquito net
ting, these little pests had had full swing throughout
the night, and in the morning swarmed inside the
netting, as though the mosquitoes from the entire
village had collected in it, their bloated forms
giving evidence Of a rare feast. On examination 1t
appeared that the netting did not quite encircle the
whole bed, but economy had left a gap on the back,
which gave free access to these bloodthirsty insects,
which abound throughout this rainy district. For
all this, We told Hiniau we should ~recommend the
Strangers Home to all travellers who pass this
way, and like us, are overtaken by a storm. for it is
not often that so neat, clean and comfortable a rest
ing-place can be found. We have redeemed our
promise, but added full particulars. This
Valley Of Wailuanui
n. ~. - r.--o o.,~. :. Al 1900 ~oroo-4. -,
haps, ON this island. 1t is quite broad, and broken
by ridges or spurs of the mountain into several
vallies or ravines, giving it a different appearance
from most Of those we had ridden through. Up
these little ravines. orange, guava and apple trees
abound, while the pineapple and bananas grow wild
almost everywhere. The coast it abrupt and rocky,
consisting mostly of precipices from twenty to one
thousand feet in height, broken by numerous vallies
and their little streams. Two miles distant from
wailuanui, is the pretty little village of Keanae,
before referred to-a cluster of houses and church,
scattered over what appears to be a delta formed by
the river which here enters the sea. This fiat, which
is a half mile in extent perhaps, is devoted almost
wholly to the cultivation of taro. There is an
anchorage where small coasters and canoes take off
cargo, but there is no safe harbor here or anywhere
along the Koolau coast. For the next four miles,
the road lies over pals and through valles. very
similar to those already passed, the number of which
between Hama and IIamakua is not less than twenty.
The road is in some places bad and neglected, but in
ordinary weather generally passable. till we come to
The HamakHa Swamp,
Which probably has the worst road on these islands.
For the distance of about one mile, it is a perfect bog,
reminding one of the abominable swamp roads in
New York, known as corduroy roads. 1t having
hard the previous day, we had the oppOrtu-
nifty Of seeing this famous road in it's glory. 1t con-
of an unbroken series of ridges formed by the
animals, over which they would slowly and carefully
step, their hoofs sinking into the mud so deep that
their bellies rest on the ridges. The rain had filled
the holes so that little else could be seen but a long
line of ridges, extending across the roadway, some
times over level surface, then the animals would
slowly climb up a slippery ascent, then resting on
heir launches slide down, till their feet fairly stuck
Fast in the bog at the foot of the descent. Two car
,asses of animals near by warned us of the fate
which other travellers had met, of which we cared
little till one of our own at last became embedded
n the bog, unable or unwilling to move. A halt of
lalf an hour, and the aid of a timber to pry him
enabled us to start again and safely escape.
really, this is one of the most wretched roads
N the kingdom, and q disgrace to the government,
or it has been in its present condition about fifteen
,ears, prior to which it was kept in tolerable condi-
ion. A thousand dollars, judiciously spent, would
make q good road again, but it will always be neces-
airy to keep the trees cut down for o hundred feet
side of it, SO that sun and air may help keep it
order. Natives living near by would do this, if
flowed to retain the timber cut, which is the least
hat could be asked. Not long since, a government
ficial started for Hama, via Hamakua, and when he
cached this swamp, and found what it was, turned
is horse back, cursed the abominable road, and
alloped off for Makawao and Honolulu, satisfied
hat the government road to Hama was a hard road
o travel, and that his official duties did not call him
o undertake the task at present. 1t is rumored
an effort is soon to be made to open a good road
trough this swamp.
After leaving this, the traveller enters at once into
more open country of wood and pasture lands,
here the road leads over an undulating surface,
nd is kept in first rate order, improving as it ap-
reaches Makawao, where the public highways are
enerally the best to be found anywhere in the group.
light carriages, carts or any other vehicles can be
riveu from twelve miles east Of Makawao to Wailuku
Waihee, a distance Of twenty-fv miles or more \
Having thus accomplished the long-wished-for 7
,urney around East Maui, and seen a portion of the
land less frequently visited than. perhaps, any other
art of the group. the least that we could do was to
our experiences, that others might profit by
,em. Travellers mounted on strong mules, accom-
anied with q guide, and prepared to rough it, if
ecessary, in sun, wind and rain, will enjoy the trip,
ut more particularly the really beautiful and parA
scenery between Hama and Haiku. We doubt
neither there is any more so in any other country.
week spent between these points will never be
rgotten, and compensate for the discomforts endured.
nd yet we would not advise any females to make
lie trip, unless they are accustomed to mountain
avel, and can endure all that the other sex can. a
n artist visiting Koolau, Maui, will find. scenes to
aint that will well repay n visit, and which can no
here be found to equal them.
We shall next week give a sketch of Haleakala,
lie great crater of East Maui, with various new
,ta concerning it ii. NJ. W. +:
Cuba.
Ii is rumored that General Rodas. despairing Of (
Ibduing the insurgents. has invited Senior Roberts. !