The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-09-06
Letter from Mr. Coan.

1nO 4olAo"lHS +Int6ISoVllIS l0VVSA A@'1-
Coan, dated "Hilo, Hawaii, May 10, 1871,
and published in Herald of August, an
nounces his safe return to his old field:
"We are safely back again in our tropical
emerald bower, for which we bless the Lord.
We left San Francisco on the 8th of April,
in the steamer, Nevada, of the Australian
line, and on the 10th, we were at Honolulu.
Here we waited eight days for passage to
Hilo, our inter-island steamer having been
seriously damaged on the reef at Molokai.
We were eight days from Honolulu to HilO,
in sailing packet, and arrived on the %
instant. Hundreds of people welcomed us
at the Hilo landing, with many demOnstra-
tons of joy; and up to this day they have
not ceased to load us with fish, fowls, eggs,
and vegetables.
''Our house was in the neatest order, and
our foreign ladies brought in all manner of
edibles On our parlor walls we read, in
large letters Of evergreen, Welcome Home.
In the library, Aloha, and in the dormi-
tory, Home, Sweet Home.
son the day following our arrival, a large
conoourse of people, many of them from a
distance, assembled in our church to give US
a welcome greeting and to hear of the Lords
dealings with US during our absence. On
the Sabbath the house of God was crowded,
and the assembly listened with fixed atten-
ton. In the afternoon we ate the Lord
Supper together, with tender remembrance
of Him who died to redeem us, and with
many tears The contribution Of the peo-
pie, for this month, in cash, is $155, besides
liberal gifts of food.
"Hilo is now all aglow with physical
beauty It's fields were never more lovely in
living green; its rills were never more
sparkling, as they leap and laugh along their
pearly beds; its waving palms were never
more graceful the outrageous bread fruit
the beauteous pandanus, the modest habiscus
and the shining candlenut never more beau,
tifully fecked the ground with quiyering
light and dancing shadows. The green
copse, the quiet dell, the shady lawn, and
the tall grove, never sent out sweeter sounds
of rustling leaf, or warbling bird, or more
fragrant aroma of plant and flower. The
long curved line of white foam-the lip o.
the sea-never kissed more tenderly the
crescent shore. The deep blue sea never
rested more calmly, or extended more Him
itably. The great mountains of Hawai-
never lowered in more sublime majesty, with
their glittering corona of Aeecy snow. Al
is now serene upon these lowering heights
where we have so often climbed, where VIZ
have seen the clouds thicken and darken
where we have heard the trumpet sounding
long, where The God of glory thundereth,
where his burning chariot sometimes rolls
along these everlasting hills, where thc
earthquake is born, where the pent fire.
rend the mural walls and reeky roof o
Pele's habitation, where fountains and rivers
of molten rock burst out in devouring &c.
and where fiery tempests rave, and burning
whirlwinds sweep and howl, and scatter ruiz
and desolation over wide and weird realms
Never did our tropical sky reveal pure
cerulean, or our vaulted heavens beam witt
brighter radiance, or marshal more shining
array of glowing planets, and burning suns
and wheeling consultations.
"And never did our people seem dearel
to our hearts, and our lifework sweeter. w,
are girding up our loins for the balance o
our Masters service, and for what remains
of 'the race which is set before US; and oul
motto is, COOKING UNTO JESUS.
owe remember our visit to the United
States with deep and tender interest. We
enjoyed much. Nothing but kindness at
tended us everywhere, and indelible lines Of
gratitude are engraved on our hearts. From
all the officers of the Board, and from Zion
friends we received the kindest attentions
and our prayers will be the more earnest
that God will bless the Board with special
favor, and shine forth upon all parts of our
native land"