The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-06-13

nothing to look at but the ocean and
SKY. Much time YVES spent In reading,
| and there was some amusement in mo-
! ticing the paroquets, monkeys and other
pet animals that had been domesticsted
on board. Do Sundays, as was custo-
mary throughout, all hands were sum-
moned for divine service, just as ut home
In England.
The Society Islands were reached on
November 26. But FIR the rise of coral
reef, these islands " ,uld scarcely have
an existence. This is one III the won
ders of nature. Our autboress is at q
loss TO describe the beauty of hi scene.
Submarine coral forests Of every color,
studded with sea s.oWers, anemones and
echinid@ shoals of the brightest and
swiftest fish darling and flashing in and
oct shells, every one of which was fit to
hcid the place of honor in a concholo-
'gists collection, moving slowly along
with their living Inmates this is whit
we saw when we looked down from the
side of the boat into /, the depths below"
On landing at one of the islands, the
party were Hospitality received by the
natives. Piles of coeoanuts, fish and
fowls were laid down as presents at their
feet From the cocoanuts they we're re-
freshed by o drink of cool milk offered
for their acceptance. For these gifts
there was proper requital. Mrs. Bras.
sey says: "The women were gentle and
kind, and were delighted with some
beads, looking glasses and knives gave
them in return for which they brought
lis quantities of beautiful shells" AT
the Island Tahiti there vas d similar
| exchange Of courtesies. Papiette is de-
scribed as quite town, with a market
aGordiDg an immense choice Of articles
| for eale.' s
The pleasure of tropical cline are
| unfortunately apt TO be marred by Ger.
| tain torments. During the rniny season
water fails in solid masses which no tenn
porary shelter can Withstand that, how
ever, Is nothing in comparison with the
invasion of insects. A small party which
| set out in an American wagon for drive
Of two days round Tahiti, passed the
| night at an inn where the insect pest was
| experienced in an unmistakable way.
The rooms were swarming with cock
reaches "about three inches long," which
climbed the walls and were seen in~every
crevice. "Then there were the mosqui-
toes who hummed and buzzed about Us,
and with whom we were doomed TO have
o closer acquaintance. Our bed was
fitted with the very thickest of calico
mosquito curtains, impervious 70 the air,
but not to the ven0mOus little insects,
who found their way through every tiny
opening.in spite Of all our efforts to ex-
ing heat, in the moonlight, were seen
columns Of nesty brown cockroaches as.
cending the bed posts, crawling along
L ha r,e he susp Il ,,,;k
thud upon the bed, and then descend
ing unable to stand It any longer, Ms.
Brassey arose, emptied her slippers Of
the cockroaches, seized on her germcnts,
aud fed 10 the garden, whence, however,
she was driven back by torrents Of rain.
Such is q picture OF certain incon-
venieuces in these tropical islands. Pro.
digioua beauty of vegetation, flowers
magnificent, all seemingly a Kind ol
paradise--but the plague Of insects.
Making run northwards, the Sun
beam reached Hawaii, one Of the Sand.
wlch Islands, on the 22d OF December.
Here was the same profusion of beauty
Of flowers. The women and girls are
described as being gaily decorated with
wreaths and garlands, and wearing q
dress Of very simple yet not inelegani
fashion, consisting of ga coIored, long
sleeyed, loose gown reaching TO the
feet"-no tying at tho waist, all flowing
and ffse. with no restraint in walking OF
sitting down.
Hawaii, like all tho other islands In
the group, Is of volcanic origin. X.
lauea, which Is still raging, is reckoneo
e 30 tiio largest volcano iu the world
for ita crater is nine miles in circum.
ference This extraordinary volcano
situated at the top of q mountain 6,000
feet above the level of the sea, was visit
ed by Mrs, Brassey, although the journey
to 1t is fatiguing, and the approach to j,
Is attended with some peril. There hap
pens to be comfortable inn near the
brink of the crater, at which travellers
are accommodated and are furnished
with guides to conduct them with safety
to points of interest.
According to Mrs. Brassey's account,
thescene was horribly graud. eve we're
atanding on thu edge of, precipice.
oyerhanging lake Of molten fire, n hum
dred feet below US, and nearly o mile
acrose. Dashing against the cliffa,n the
opposite side, with noise like the roar
OF stormy ocean, waves of blood-red,
fiery, liquid lava hurled their billows
| upon an iron-bouud headland, and then
Ea.shsa up the face of the Soiits5 oiia5 to toss
their CORY sp-ay high In the mir. Tho
restless heaving lake i,oiicd and bhbbled,
never remaining the same sor two min
utes. There was so Island on
one side of tho like, which the fiery
waves seemed TO s.tt4ck iinDS, asiugiy with
relentless fury, f.s IL bent on hnsling it
from Its base. On the other siffeswas q
n