The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-04-30


Now, as he Poytasb, as well as the young man,
could not leave the islands at present; and had
to make stay Of few days, while waiting for
avessel he advised return of Lajos along with
Poytash, to the ranch of Iviole, to be there his
guest for little while, and he believed that there
| might be developments that would set the mind Of
Lajos at rest, and hasten his return home
The following morning Lono and his men got
ready for sea they launched the stauneh boat
Kalula and having carried on board through
the ripping tide, the master and his two friends
they pulled down channel in order to catch a
wind. Soon they struck the strong trade breeze,
almost ever blowing out of the MOlokai channel
and they went bowling before a freshening gale
that carried them to the opposite coast, then
along shore, around the Point Kamaiki and into
the beautiful Bay of Manele
When the party landed, they found a crowd of
natives assembled around them on the beach
and learned that feast was held here this day on
account of the great yield of water melons that
grow at Manele to such perfection in the sands
among the rocks. Many large calabashes and
other vessels were filled with the fermented Juice
of the fruit; and there was great hilarity among
the people and at this time they were amusing
themselves with true Hawaiian sport of leaping
from precipice into the sea.
Bold bluffs, ranging in height from a few feet
to several hundreds, extend around the coast on
either side of Manele Bay. From several points
along these bluffs, the natives were accustomed
to leap. At one point where the plummet line
had been dropped one hundred and ifty-two
feet, from the top Of the bluff down to the water
some few Of the boldest natives and stoutest
swimmers would leap. LOno and a few
others were the only ones the island who
dared this great leap, and who, without any
dressing, strapping, or protection of any kind,
would spring from this dizzy height into the
gulf below. At another point where the top of
the bluff was about eighty feet high, many of the
strong men and some of the women of the island
would take the leap and sport in the waters
below. But there one favorite place, quite
near the landing, where the crest of bold bluff
overhung about forty-ive feet above the water,
and here every swimmer Of the island OF every
age would readily leap.
On this occasion there were over one hundred
men, women and children assembled. And as
the baOles (foreigners) were anxious to witness
the feats Of leaping and diving, there was a con-
slant train of jumpers. The men were bound
with their malo or breechclOth, and the women
bad arranged a mumu or chemse, as a tight fit
ting pau, short trOuser. There were boys and
girls Of as tender age as seven or eight
years, who readily took this bold leap, and as the
surging tide below would heave them on the
rocky ledge OF the shore beneath the overhanging
bluff, they would Chamber up the face of this
sheer wall to the top again, simply by help of
few JuttiDg pOints Of rock, or crevices to which
they could cling, merely with the ends Of fingers
a lower ledge, near the sea, were gazing with
interest and admiration at this exhibition of
Hawaiian prOwess and daring, they heard the
name, - Kalili - - Kaliii - shouted by many
voices and looking up to the jutting brow of the
precipice. they beheld a figure OF unusual
symmetry and grace of outline The perfect
form OF a beautiful young girl, slightly concealed
by the pau. shOne resplendent on the cliff bur-
nished by the rays Of an afternoon sun. She
waved her hand to LajOs and leaped; passing
J,oir
ing upward, like sky meteor plunging into the
translucent, heavIng sea. Down she went, be-
meath the surface Of the yielding waves, till
the line of light that followed her radiant form
was lost and as the curious and anxious eye OF
LaiOs looked seaward. he beheld the beauty of
the pandanus grove, rise up from foamy crest,
and shake her briny curls away from her pretty
brows and checks. that now glowed and dazzled
like those of a sea born Aphrodite come to claim
her Adonis of the grove. As she moved through
the waves, she made graceful strokes with hands
ard feet and her long streaming hair, hoated
in the Opaline wave like banner of triumph from
a virgin fortress. She glided onward now above,
now below the waves. and she rolled and play
ed in the heaving tide, like mermaid in her won't
ed home. Awhile she swooped down among the
corals, and rays of light flashed from her heels
then upward she came, and the glory of goddess
was upon her dripping brow and curls. She
locked up smilingly at her lover, and gliding
onward playing hand over hand, she came rolling
OO, IN buOIe. Out RIdsptu TUG VI tuO AVOhS
she clambeIed up {; she clung to the slight out
iuttng points of the bluff she braced her toes in
the crevices she was clinging to the face of a |
high wall Overhanging the sea, looking like |
beautious Calypso, scaling the ramparts OF her |
own isle; when she paused, and calling out In /
sweet, and musical tone, exclaimed, g Mr.. Louis, |
dare you come and take leap with me-
Laios sprang from his seat, though struck |
with dart. Poytash took hold of him, and |
said 90 you surely will not follow that girl -? "
- Flaun f1-ag AaGra N
foreigners for our efeminacy. l can leap and |
dive. well as they can"
But you are not practiced in such leaps as
this; urged Poy lash /: - don't try, my boy. 1 |
am afraid you will get hurt"
But the williul youth, seeing Kalili beckon to |
him from the top of the bluff, resolved to go, and
shook off his old friend and the trusty steward of
his home.
The master, who had remained experimenting /
some work at the landing, now came near. He |
heard the determination of LajOs, he saw him |
prepared to leap into the sea He made no re- |
mOnstranee with LajOs; but spoke assuringly to |
POytash, saying '' the sea at the foot of the /
bluff is deep and there will be active swimmers |
near by, if he should be hurt by the plunge in |
any way"
Laios had undressed and put on around his !
loins, small garment, obtained from a native, /
lie stood on the bluff, surrounded by a crowd of /
natives who having heard from Lono something /
Of his changed circumstances, and aristocratic /
quality at home, said - Makau ole ke keiki !
aIIi the young chief is not afraid.
The master came near, and said quickly, /
Louis, jump feet foremost like the natives |
He did NOT heed, but gave smile and nod of (
recognition 10 Kalili, and said - follow you,"
and as she leaped, he stepped forward with his |
hands held out before him, palms touching |
and with his head slightly bowed, he sprang over |
the brink head foremost and downward, and shot |
like an arrow to the depth below,in quest of some
beauteous goddess of the sea who had lured him |
to her coral cave.
Kalili uprose from the top of an inaowing wave; |
but where was he, the wiiful Telemachus, who |
would follow the fascinating Calypso, in spite of
the voice Of his Mentor. 4" Where is the boy !?
cried Poytasb, with fathers feeling, as ne |
scrambled down to the ledge by the sea. The
master was already there, calling out to several
natives, to dive fer LajOs.
But Kalili was foremost in search of the deep |
and soon she reappeared, bearing up with one