Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-02-02
IN The ISLANDS.
Three Hundred Earthquakes-A Trip with
King and Queen.
Special Correspondence of the RECORD us1oxI

a King and Queen.
Special Correspondence of the RECORD USIoXJ
HONOLULU, H. l., January l6, 1882
The Kings party has returned here from
tour OF Hawaii, where l accompanied it
part of the way. Heavy rains prevailed
during the first part of the trip, and little
enjoyment was derived, unless the traveller
could ignore drenching to the skin, and
abandon himself to the romance of his sur.
roundings as he galloped in the royal caval-
cade through wild tropic scenery and
amid mountains capped with the glare of
volcanic fire or Arctic snow-itting access
series of weird and more immediate envi-
ronment, where every intermediate shade
of green, from shades that were white to
shades that were black, abound in moses,
grasses, shrubs, and ferns that were fragile
weeds TO ferns that were lofty trees, and
other trees, from tender twigs to forest
kings-a sylvan medley of loneliness.
At Laupahoehoe. some thirty miles
north of Hllo, the chief city of the island,
mountain torrents barred the way to far
Their progress for week. A schooner was
finally chartered at Hilo and sent for the
royal party The King and Queen, how
ever, with few friends, made the trip in
whale boat, sailing the distance in four
hours in waves feather white, a trifie sport
i've and too familiar. A seat upon
whales back could not have been wetter,
nor perhaps more exciting. From Hilo
the party crossed the island westward, and
then sailed round the southern cape,
formed, ia part, by the lava flow of 1865
the upshot of several hundred earthquakes,
of which plantation manager told me he
counted 300, and then got SO scared he
could count no more. Here they entered
Kau district, where generous reception
was extended.
The managers of two of the largest plan.
tations turned out personally to meet his
Majesty, while others contributed literally
toward defraying the expenses of the occa-
sion. A cavalry company had been organ
lied, the men being chiefly Naalehu plan
tation hands, who for some time previous
to the reception were allowed to quit work
early every afternoon to drill. The even.
ing before Kalakaua's expected arrival they
went down to the beach, seven miles away,
and camped. Toward morning they were
followed by few ladies and gentlemen,
who were only partially repaid by sun
rise of prismatic grandeur. The King did
not come that day, and several returned
home. Those remaining spent the night in
amusing themselves at the Sheriff's ex-
pense. That functionary, who lacks but a
few inches of being seven cadaverous feet
io,, aud tho yhueinnpnunxr nf n
very intelligent 9uadruman, would hesitate
knew how to perform it. The Kings adj
vent was an overwhelming event,
and being confessedly ignorant of
even the rudiments of court etiquette,
he longed for information, and the boys"
were only too willing to oblige him. One
sat enthroned representing the King, who
he addressed most devoutly as 'your Ma
jesty )" "your august Majesty "your
most august Majesty" etc., while he
bowed profoundly, being careful always to
face the King, even though he walked side
ways or backward in SO doing, and his salu-
tations grew in extravaganza as he receded
from the presumed royal presence. Much
time was devoted to the elaboration of this
proceeding, which was conducted with ut
most solemnity. His first words to Kala-
kaua were " Your most gracious Majesty,
|, your unworthy servant, am at the head
of the district police, and anything your
most august Majesty may demand at their
hands shall be done instantly. With pro-
foundest humiliation, l am your most
exalted Majesty's most loyal and devoted
servant to command" all of which was
accompanied by an amount and variety of
salaming unequaled in uniqueness and
originality. In the evening he handed
Kalakaua cigar stump he had been
smoking, saying "Will your sovereign
majesty deign to accept this cigar which /,
your most unworthy subject, have aspired
to light for your most sublime majesty ,"
and Kalahaua was too happy to see the
fraud. Subsequently the poor fellow was
enticed into room to play poker. 'iust
for fun" He won and was easily induced
to bet two bits" when, according to ar
rangement, one of his own officers entered,
arrested him for gambling, and locked him
up in his own jail. When the King had
put out in his boat for the steamer for Kona
district, the Sheriff rushed to the land
ing breathless and shouting, liking, King
Here's letter for you" His Majesty,
smiling, put about, but before he reached
the shore his excited subject had dropped
the letter into the bay, and, losing his bal
ance, followed after. Both were fshed
out. The Sherif's first audible words
were: go, King I'm late"
On the eve of his departure from kau,
Kalakaua conferred the honor of knight
hood upon j. A. Buck, of Orlandt & Buck,
San Francisco, who hereafter is to be
known and designated as Sir John A.
Buck, First Knight of the Royal Order of
the Golden Crown Of Hawaii. kalakaua
being crownless King, will not affect the
title of Sir John. The event was cele-
brated by royal dog feast. RECORD
UNION readers may be grati6ed to learn
that this dish tastes more like rabbit than
anything else know. The King says it
resembles roast young pig. Natives abhor
rabbit, and would as soon think of eating
a cat.
The King and Queen, with few others,
were escorted to Waiobinu springs, the
mountain source of Mr.. Bucks plantation
water supply. Queen Kapiolani slakedher
thirst at these cold perennial streams as
they gurgled from the solid rock, her cup
being primitive vessel, made from
banana leaf. She also sprinkled some upon
her royal crown, and carried away several
bottlesful for good luck. Natives enter
tain many superstitions about these en-
chanted waters. Hence the party sailed
to Kona district and home, where they
settled quietly down. There is a good deal
of electioneering in progress. The election
for legislative representatives will take
place on February lst, and they will be
called to deliberate upon the nations
affairs toward the end of April. PoU.