The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-11-14
U. S. LEGATION, HoNoLULU, Sept l:

u. S. LEGATION, HoNoLULU, Sept Is.
Dear Sister: l will begin your letter,
although it will be three weeks before I
can send it. 1t will be five weeks Tues
day since l arrived here, but the time has
passed so swiftly l cannot realize it. am
succeeding admirably at school, and like
mp pupils better every day. have now
II pupils, and find / get more fatlgued in
this climate than l did at home. Will
tell you something about the natives.
There are about three thousand whites and
ten thousand natives in Honolulu. Their
huts have usually but one room, and is
made of palm leaves, braided together.
They use thick mats to sit and sleep on,
and have very little furniture. They cook
by low fire out of doors. The men u.s.
ually dress similar to the whites the wo-
men wear yoked dress, called "holaku, u
with long necklace, or le, of bright scar
let or yellow flowers, often bare and un.
trammeled feet, and flowing hair. Both
men and women wear large straw hats,
decorated with garland of bright flowers,
also called le. They are fond of bright
colors, and both women and children wear
holakus of bright colors, as well as black.
Their food consists principally of poi and
fish. Poi Is starchy substance, made
from vegetable called taro, which is a
kind Of arum; it grows unlike any other
vegetable, unless it might be rice, entirely
under water. They ara very kind and
harmless people; they were never known tc
steal. We leave our house open day and
night. The natives, and in fast, every one
else, wash their clothes in the streams; dip
them in, then lay them on the stones and
pound them. My class in Botany are
bringing me leaves and flowers, and I am
pressing them. l now have ginger, pep
per, starch, tea, and tamarind leaves; The
class in Zoology are bringin5 me lovely
collection of shells. We called at Puma
hon, boarding school, two miles from
Honolulu. 1t Is beautifully situated il
the valley between Punch Bowl and Dia
mond Head, two extinct volcanoes. The
valley is fully ten miles long and thre'
wide, and is commonly called the plains
At one time this valley vas barren ant
sandy, but it is now covered with ulgarob;
trees, something similar to locust trees
The school was started for the childrel
Of the early missionaries. The childrer
carried their pockets full of seeds, ant
would scatter them as they went to school
hence the trees which make the valley 81
lovely. When the missionaries first cam'
here, there was not tree on the island
and now tho verdure is of all kinds ant
most lovely. The Kings Palace is sur
rounded by high stone wall, and enclose
a large square The shade is so dens
that the houses are not visible from tn
street, although there are five or six occu
pied by His Majesty's family. Very ma
ny build their houses in that way, have
large house and several cottages used 70
; sleeping apartmenes. There is one plac
on Nuonu Avenue I wish you could SEE
1t belongs to an Englishman, and cor
tains all kinds of trees, rare plants an
statuary, and a beautiful fountain. W
called on Mr.. and Mrs. Coney. They liv
in beautiful place, back of the King
, palace. Last Saturday we all went dow
) to the beach at Winpide, which is th
Long Branch of Honolulu, and spent II
| day. We took an elegant lunch, and ha
. delightful day. 1t is three miles frol
Honolulu; has an excellent beach, owne
by citizens who go down and spend seve
oil weeks at time We had the Use
the Hotel Cottage for the day. gathere
: some pretty shells and sea-moss. Cor,
can be purchased here, pink, white an
black, the latter very rare and quite e!
! pensive. Gen. Comfy and wife gave
e large party for the American Consul, an
J.. wife, who are going home. We had
Z very pleasant evening, and very nice r
. freshments, some of which Twill mentio
e to prove to you that we live amongst il
}, telligent people, and these quite up wit
I other countries: Ham beef, la mod
n chicken sailed, potato salad, pressed chic
!. en-, rolls, rice croquette, beef patties, tv
e kinds of ice-cream, splendid cake ar
}, good coffee.
Will look for a number of letters {
g next steamer. 1t is 80 dark I cannot s.
l to write more, so good bye.
LoLLIE A. RITE.