The Hawaiian gazette., 1877-06-20
WEDNESDAY. JUNE 20. 1877.
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF HONOLULU,
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
BY W. LAIRD MAcGREGoR.

BY W. LAIRD MAcGREGoR.
year ago left Southampton in search OF
better climate than ! had been able to find dur
ing an experience of twelve years on the shores
of the Mediterranean. or on the banks of the
Nile. 1t is true that in Nubia between the first
and second cataracts, one almost perfect is found,
but an invalid's stay in that region is limited to
q month or Elk weeks by the difficulty OF passing
the first cataract sitter certain season. II he re-
main longer. he must be content to live on shore
among hafcivilized race, and depend entirely
on his own resources for amusement.
Below Assouan found (winter of 1929 the
Egyptian climate cold, often Damp sometimes
wet, the winds strong and penetrating, the varia-
ton between the night and day temperature
most trying. and invaIids generally, that winter
rather worse than better for their sojourn in the
land Of the Pheraohs.
Having improved in health while in Nuba, |
resolved to travel around the world in search Of
climate corresponding as nearly as possible TO
that found on the banks of the Nile between the
parallels OF % , and "a North latitude and in
q locality where some of the agremens' OF So
ciety and comforts of civilized life could be
found.
Bombay, lying under the nineteenth parallel
OF latitude, | tried first arriving there at the
it to suit, went on TO Australia, spending seven
months in these most interesting colonies, with
no better success; the variations of daily tempera-
ture being greater there perhaps than in any
other part of the world.
Leaving Brisbane in jane, Sydney in July.
the depth OF an Australian winter, | arrived at
Honolulu in the height of summer lend of July),
and have spent come three months IN that city
During that time | have kept an accurate regis
ter OF the variations of temperature at Z a. w..
p NJ. and 10 D. m. the result being that the
highest day temperature in my apartment has
been 500, the lowest night 10 9 , the extreme
and only occasional variation being 10 , , the
average 80.
My rooms look to the west, giving, as the
French say, on 10 balcony 10 feet wide. which
shades them from the sun they are y feet
above the level Of the ground, about 20 feet
above sea level.
1t is this slight variation, this imperceptible
gliding of the day temperature into that of night,
of night into that of day, which constitutes the
great value of this climate.
During the past five years, whether on the
shores of the Mediterranean or banks of the
Nile, have always been obliged to carry coat
or plaid to protect myself against change of tenn
perature, even in going FROM one room to ano-
ther; and have led The life of recluse, unable
" 'iSIt vi icSclfc COupuu1, " ~ W CuuICu Vi
TO any place Of amusement, for fear of draught
or chill. Here, from the day of landing. have
discarded overcoats and wraps, and, such is the
equable nature of the climate, that am able to
drive out in an open carriage at any hour of the
day or evening without wearing any extra wrap
to protect me from the night AIR.
But the benefit of this equable temperature is
felt in another and perhaps more important way
One most important TO persons suffering from
diseases of the chest or circulation.
YCu can live and sleep almost wholly in the
open air with impunity; to do so at the Mediter
ranean health resorts, or in Egypt, would pro-
duce colds and fatal complications. Here, glass
windows are seldom or never used, French fold
ing shutters, fitted with venetian blinds, taking
their place, affording the needful privacy and
protection, but freely admitting the air.
The consequence is. that by night or by day
the cool refreshing n. E. trade wind circulates
through every room passage, and corrodor of
every house in the place, afording to invalids a
constant supply OF oxygen, so necessary for the
proper aeratlon of their blood.
About 10 a. m. the y. +. trade sets in, and
continues until p. m. From that hour and un-
til 10 q. m. next day, the evenings and nights
quite calm. The average number of days during
the year when this healthgiving wind blows is
213. On the remaining days, the south wind
lahee It's piaCe, VT luS atmosphere Is CdlU
The force of the wind seldom or never exceeds
or Of the Admiralty standard, and is what is
generally known as moderate breeze. A gale
of wind is unknown.
When rain clouds come up from the sea at the
windward side of the island with the n T.
trades, the moisture is wrung out of them by
contact with the bills behind the town. The
level to which the rainfall descends, about $50 or
300 feet above the sea, is distinctly marked by
the brown aud green color of the vegetation on
the mountain side.
Comparatively little rain falls at Honolulu or
within some miles thereof during nine months of
the year.
Winter, or more correctly speaking, the rainy
season, lasts from the end of October to the end
OF December-a period OF two months. During
that time considerable amount of rain falls, if
measured by inches. In November Cos De-
cember, ll:96 inches; but as the rain is trop
cal rain, great quantity falls in a short space of
time, rapidly finding its way to the sea through
the porous subsoil, SO that the surface of the
ground soon dries up.
1t seldom rains more than AZ hours at time ::
weeks consecutive bad weather is unknown.
During the rain, when the sun is Obscured. the
thermometer stands steadily at 10 aud 70
and the atmosphere is moist and warm 1t is
never cold with rain. The average monthly
temperature from October to March is as follows: