The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-05-04

! with our guides from kapapala, on tuesday
January llth. Judge Hitchcock, Of Hilo, wa
kind enough to join us, and, being well acquainte
with the country, took the lead of our little ex
] pedition.
The vegetation on Mauna Loa is not yer
kluxuriant Want of water is one OF the princi
pal causes. Travelling all day over rather rougl
ground, partly overgrown With Ohia, Mamani
and Koa, we encamped that night at the uppe
line of the forest at elevation of nearly l000l
feet. With wood enough to keep fire burning
all night at the entrance of our tent, we founC
the night cool but pleasant, with the thermome
ter at SO Fahrenheit. Next morning. bavint
breakfasted before daybreak, we left the encamp
ment when the first light of dawn struck the
upper mountain regions. 1t was glorious morn
ing The sun rose over sea of silver-cloud:
! lying below us, like belt all round the mountain
Our mules carried us safely higher and higher
over cimpers and lava-hows over hills and valleys
passing precipices and dangerous passages o.
various kinds. About noon, we reached the
edge OF the plateau which forms the top of Mauna
A%O~f "HN'S w 'SaS eui uuiiiaies duu pEOCttutu
on foot through the desert of rocks which covers
the top of the mountain. We travelled over a
large fiat, many miles in extent, with sharp-point
ed climpers of enormous size, scattered about in
the widest confusion. Our advance was neces.
sarily slow and wearisome, but by persevering
we reached, about l o'clock P. NJ, the edge Of
Mokuaweoweo-a crater of nearly the size OF
Kiauea and at an elevation of 1880. feet
The most remarkable spot we ever visited in
our travels, is this mountain top of Mauna Loa.
The stiffness of the place. the purity of the at
mosphere, the brightness of the sunshine, a per-
feet ocean of light, the total absence of all vege-
table and animal life, and the enormous crater
before us, awakened sensations and thoughts of a
deep nature in all of us. 1t was Sabbath hour
spent in that seldom visited spot.
From the depth of the crater of Mokuaweoweo,
vapors were rising at different places, but we
could not see any lava of recent date, at least.
not fresh enough to have been in connection with
the last outbreak of Kilauea 1t can be said
with certainty, that this summit crater of Mauna
Loa, did not contain any liquid lava at the time
OF the latest eruption. The temperature at the
top of Mauna Loa was 5So Fahrenheit in the
sunshine, whereas, in the shade, in large fssure
running down into the crater it was at tie freez-
ing point Standing at the edge of the crater,
one sees nothing of the island or the sea- except
the snow covered peaks of Mauna Kea. The
plateau being so extensive, it gives the top of
Mauna Loa its own horizon. Returning over the
fiat, the writer Of this took different direction
from the rest of the party. Following the edge
of the crater for some distance he came to place
where pieces of frewoOd and coal, and broken
poi-ponnder indicated the site of an old encamp-
ment Thence, crossing the fiat to rejoin the
party and keeping an entirely southern course,
he found new route by which all the difficulties
of the one by which we had approached the era
ter were avoided so easy and free from danger
that even ladies who have courage enough to un-
dertake the ascent of the mountain, may do so
with perfect safety and arrive at the crater with
out alighting from their horses.
Descending the mountain, we were taught the
lesson that going down is not done any quicker
than going up Darkness overlook us, ere we
had reached the line of vegetation. 1t became
very chilly. and night closed in upon desert of
black lava rocks. No grass nor shrub, nor a par
ticle of wood to kindle fire with could be found
The animals stopped of their own accord unable
to see their way. Finally, the moon rose, aud
her gentle light guided the wearied travellers
among the rocks safely back to their encamp-
ment
Having so far only referred to rocks, ava-hows
and the destruction by volcanic action, feel it
4 duty to say few words about the romance and
beauty of scenery and vegetation in many parts
Of Hawaii. 1t is remarkable fact that, with !
every thousand feet of elevation, the features of
The country and character of the climate appear
1iferent. In fact. every climate on the face of
The globe may be found on the Island of Hawaii. |
Equatorial heat at Kawaihae and along the sea |
beach of Kona snow and ice at the top of Mauna |
Loa and the peaks of Mapna Kea. In the dis
rict of Hilo we find the most luxuriant vegeta-
ion. Virgin forests, ferns of every description,
yigantic in size, beautiful and graceful in appear
lnee, delight the traveller on every SIDE. Hun
lreds Of streams Of fresh water coming down
rom the high lands and mountains. enliyen the
cenery and the roar of cascades resounds through
he valleys. There the landscape painter may
ind many subjects for his pencil, and valuable
uggestions for his studio.
Passing through Puma, along the shore, we
ravel for days through extensive cocoa-nut
roves. Many tradition of ancient Hawaiian
ods, full of wit and humor, derives from Puma,
nd its shady groves. Leaning their heads to-
ether, as if whispering about olden times, the
all trees wave to and fro in the evening breeze.
Few travellers visit Puma, ignorant of what they
Mss by the omission.
The climate of KobaIa and Bamakua ls most
leasant, and that of the latter remarkable for its
quabilty. A suficiency of soil offers great ad-
antages to cultivation in both districts. There
! hardly fruit in the world which could not be
aised in that part of Hawaii.
Waipio Valley is highly praised by all travel
RS who have visited it. There is another valley
D the north west corner Of Hamakua, fairer still,
ut very little known, and hardly ever visited by
ravelers. 1t is the valley of Waimanu. Excel
ng in beauty and grandeur of scenery, this valley
urpasses everything that can be seen on Hawaii.
t is out of the way. A somewhat difficult, per-
49, o,.o., Jon1o-o,,e Et.lo r,orn.a.r sbo