The Hawaiian gazette., 1875-11-17

spikes Of rose crimson blossoms TIC mp the whole
arcade, and the light VI the afternoon sun santed
and trickled through them, dancing In the mirth-
full water, turning Its far down sands TO gold, and
Frightening the many-shaded greens OF eandlenut
and breadiruit ltshone on majestic fern.trees, on
the fragile F6lI>odi'tn fdrndrtscintn which clnng
trvmbhngly To the branches Of the ohio, on the
beautiful lygodium, which adorned the uucouth
| trunk Of the brradiruit; shining banana leaves
and glossy trailing yams on gigantic lianas, which,
climbing TO the tops OF the largest trees, descended
la vast festoons passing from tree to tree, and u
tcrlacng the forest with living network and on
lycopodiums OF every kind, from those which wrap
ped the rocks IN feathery green TO others hardly
distingushablc from ferns. But there were twilight
depths too, where no sunlight penetrated the leaiy
gloom damp and cool: dreamy shades, IN which
the music of the water all too sweet, and the
lOyelness too enhancing, creating that sadness,
hardly "akin 10 pain" which 10 latent In Sl In
tense enjoyment Here and there a tree had fallen
across the river, IRON which grew upwards aud
lniled d0wnwards. tsiryitke semi transparent
aud ferns, all glittering with moisture and
sunshine, aud now and then scarlet tropic bird
heightened the effect by the fash of his plumage
After an hour of wading We emerged into broad
sunny daylight al the home Of the five cascades,
which form semicirculHr precipce into three bl-
sins. II is not, however, possible tn pass from Que
TO the other. This great gull Is grand sight, with
its dark deep basin from which II seemed so for to
look up 10 the heavenly blue. and the water milling
calmly and unhurriedly, amidst innumerable rain
bows from height of 5000 feet The sides were
at tue base the ruek very deeply governed.
enjoyed delicious bath, relying on sun and wind
to dry my clothes, and then reluctantly waded
down the river. At It's confluence with another
stream, still arched by ohids, man and two women
appeared rising out of the water, like vision of
the elder world In the days OF Fauus, aud Naiads,
and Hamaradryads. The water was up to their
wrists, and leis of ohid blossoms and ferns, and
masses OF unbound hair Enthusiastically wreathed with
moss fell over their iauhess forms, and their rich
brown skin CLEANED in tue slant sunshine"
OF the Hanapcpe valley in Kauai which has
been so often described, she says it perhaps ex-
ceeds all others in beauty, and is a species Of
canyon very common on the islands. The era
ter of Kilauea, to which she paid at least three
visits, Haleakala " the most gigantic crater on
the earth," and the SUBMITS of Hualalai,
Mauna Kea, and Mauna Loa, all of which she
ascended, are described in her inimitably vivid
style. Her impressions of the great summit
crater of the latter mountain, Mokuaweoweo,
which she visited in company with Mr.. Green.
the present Minister of Foreign Relations, as
recorded on pages 4U5 to AS, are very faithful
and vivid, as all who have seen it will attest.
Had we the space we might Gull many more
exquisite flowers of Nature, in print, from this
fascinating volume but we must forbear. No
book has ever before been published which
conveys SO correct, so perspicuous, so honest
statement of the present social condition of the
country. The descriptions of the refined and
Christian homes of Hd,cdii Nei bring to mind
Miss Bremer's most charming letters or the
Homes of the New World" But Miss Bird
does not conceal the fact that life here has its
evils. She says with good deal of truth that
gossip is the canker of the foreign society ON
the islands,"
In the two closing chapters we find an in
teresting statement of Hawaiian affairs in
which are given few facts concerning the form
of government, exports Imports, crime, edu-
cation, productions, and prospects of the ISL
ands and an epitome of recent Hawaiian his
tory, which notices the successive kings from
Kamehameha /, down to the accession of His
Majesty King Kalakaua, closing with the earn
est wish, in which we most heartily join, that
under him this people may enjoy peace and
prosperity, and that Hawaii may still remain
the inheritance of Hawaiians.