The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-07-15

trial occupied part of several days, during most OF
which time Smith was detained at the station-house,
for want of bail. On Monday, after going back from
the Court, he asked for q cup of tea, which was pro-
cured for him, and carried into the yard by a native
attendant. who soon returned to the Office and re-
ported thai Smith was putting a white powder in his
tea. Mr.. McDuff Immediately ran into the yard, and
as soon as Smith saw him, he tossed of the tea.
Securing the cup. it was found that a large quantity
of a white powder,-afterwards ascertained to be
arsenic, enough to kill a dozen men-remained un-
dissolved in the bottom. DIR. Hoffman, was at once
sent for, and by the exertion of q good deal of force,
Smith was made to swallow antidotes, which had the
desired effect. On being questioned, he stated that
his object was to kill himself. On Thursday, he was
able to appear in the Court, although still weak and
suffering from the effects of the poison. The Magis-
trate, in deciding the case, observed that although it
was one OF peculiar provocation, Kelly being plainly
the aggressor. yet that Smith was not justified in the
course he pursued in retaliation and added that I'M
der the circumstances which had transpired, and con-
sidering the state of mind of the defendant, it would
be unsafe to discharge him at present. He was
therefore sent to the prison for twenty days, where
he could be watched and receive medical reatment
On Thursday also, John Nash, late boatswain of
the ship Beau Monde, was fined S25 for an assault
on Geo. Risdon, late first officer of that ship-the
quarrel originated on shipboard.
6UCK-SHooTING ON OAHU.-For a country where
the occupation of the sportsman is so little followed as
here, those who do occasionally spend a day in its
pursuit are amply rewarded by the sight of the many
beauties of nature of our island. The wild duck is
peculiar in its habits, and loves to haunt the lonely
solitudes of the mountain Businesses during the day
time. coming down at night to visit the streams, the
taro-patches and the sea-shore for food. One of these
noted haunts of the wild duck, which is very seldom
visited and never bas been described in print, lies far
up in the bosom of the mountains, at the head of Pa
lolo valley. 1t is evidently the crater of an ancient
extinct volcano, somewhat in the shape of Leahi, or
Diamond Head, though smaller. Standing on its
steep sides and looking down into the great depres-
sion, the bottom appears covered with luxuriant YER
dure,-an oasis amidst the surrounding hills,-a
lovely paradise walled in from the rest of the world.
Near the centre of the crater is a perpetual spring of
clear cold water, and the surrounding surface of the
ground is a quaking bog. There is a legend to be
learned from the natives, concerning this curious
spot, which is called "Kaauhelemoa.' This was the
name of an akua. or god, half-man and ~halffowl,
who used to inhabit this spot, and dwelt near the
spring, where may be seen to this day, as it is said.
the remains of a stone a~queduct constructed by him.
They show you also the trees on which this feathered
deity was wont to roost. He was famous for his fight
ing proves, and his fame having reached to Hawaii.
another god of the same genus, came hither to fight
him. In the battle which ensued Kaauhelemoa was
conqueror, and ate his antagonist. The feathers of
the defunct god, as they were plucked, fell over the
ferns that grow luxuriantly in the neighborhood,
which accounts for the peculiar shape of their fronds,
the feathers of u chicken. So much for
the legend. In this secluded retreat the ducks very
sensibly pass the hot hours of the day, but the keen
sportsmen find them out. One day this week two of
our fellow townsmen, Messrs. Rawson and Smith, ac-
companied by " Gun" the well-known pointer of the
former gentleman, made a raid on the privacy of the
ducks and brought away twenty in a very short time.
The birds at this season are fat, and from personal
experience we can testify that they are deliciously
favored. 1t may be thought cruel to disturb the
poor creatures in the romantic solitudes they choose
for their hiding places, but Rawson's gun kills them
so quick and easy that it is fair to suppose it is sport
to them, even. That gun, by the way, is we'll worth
examining,,-a perfect beauty, known as Dougall's
Patent Lockfast Breech-Loader, of London make.