Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-04
AN AMERICAN TOWN IN THE
sss , TROPICS.
Honolulu and It's Surroundings.

Honolulu. and It. surrounding.
Voyages OF THE EAcHCsETT FROM SAN FRANCISCO
TO THEsSANDWIcH ISLANDS THE voLC ANIC
ISLAND O1sOAHU SCENES IN HONOLULU A
HORSEBACK RIDE UP THE NUuANNA VALLEY
STARTLING TRANSFORMATION SCENE - THE
VOLCANIC CLIFFS KNOWN AS THE PALI DE-
FEATED. cANHIBALs WHO DIED SOONER THAN
SURRENDER AND BE EATEN.
The following letter, received by resi-
dent of this city q few days since
from his son, is interesting as giving
| the Impressions made on young Washington
Ian on his first visit to one Of the most noted Of
| the wonderful islands in the Pacific ocean which
constitute the kingdom of our late royal visitor,
| King Kalakaua:
US. q. WACHusETT, AT HONOLULU, Feb. g. 1885,
We arrived here last Saturday. the 3d. after a
very pleasant passage of fourteen days We left
san francisco, or rather Mare Island, on the
2Oth OF January. as expected, and steamed right
out to sea, not stopping at San Francisco at ALL
1t was real cold morning when we departed
leave the good old place. A number of the
people, including some young ladies. were down
on the docks to give us parting wave Of their
hands-a silent God speed" We were out Of
oSht Vi istHu w p. III VI Tie SUCn. ana steamed
Tor three days; then set sail and sale south to
| catch the northeast trade winds, and were fort
innate enough to catch them as far north as so
degrees latitude; we then had good strong fair
WIND Tor week, and made good time straight
Tor our destination. Three days before we ar
rived mere we got up steam again, and sighted
land about pm. the 18th day after leaving the
continent. We had a delightful passage all the
way. The weather gradually grew warmer and
warmer as we come south, which, Of course. ne
cessltated our gradually shedding the thick
clOtheS that We wore In California.
AT ANCHOR IN THE CRATER OF AN EXTINCT
VOLCANO.
The first land that we sighted was the big
volcano. Mauna Loa, 1900 feet high, on the
Island of Hawaii. Soon afterwards we began
to see the other islands, and shaped our course
for OAHU the one on which Honoluuis situated.
The islands present wild and bold appearance,
and are apparently very barren as viewed from
OH shore; but as we are now anchored we look
right up the Nuianna valley, as beautiful and
fertile valley as one can see anywhere. The
harbor Is very small and is well filed with YES
sells OF all nations There are four memo war
in here-an English French and two United
States ships-all moOred side by side. and not
more than ships length apart. and but an
eighth OF mile or so from the wharf landing,
SO we can get on shore very easily. The Null
anna valley is formed by two ranges of very alb
rupt mountains running directly back from the
beach, and Honolulu Is at the mouth, 80 to
speak, of the valley. Nearly every peak around
ls an extinct volcano. There are no living ones
on the island, and the big one before mentioned
the largest in the worlds about $50 miles
from here. The harbor in which we are an
chored is the crater of an extinct volcano. The
coral forms reef between us and the ocean,
thus making splendid little round haven.
TROPICAL FRUITS AND FLOWERS IN HONOLULU.
The trees are so thick in the valley that YOU
can see only the taller buildings of the town l
went ashore few hours after we anchored, and
looked around, and was greatly surprised to
lind such nice town. It has about $4,000 in
habitants, mostly Americans; in fact, although
there are a great many natives and Cinnamon
mere, 1T is regular American town in the trop-
les. There is a good hotel a great many Nice
stores, &c. All along the streets you can see all
the tropical fruits growing, and beautiful tropi-
cal flowers in the large yards around the houses
have seen for the first time bread fruit trees,
Out no fruit as YETI cOcOanuts growing; also
almonds dates, &c: beside the fan palm. thatch
and bamboo aud other species OF tropical trees
There are great many acacia trees, which bear
flower called the royal purple acacia. The
flowers are very brilliant purple, and the whole
tree looks like one big flower, the blossoms
are SO thick.
KING KALAKAUA's BAND.
The first afternoon was on shore the kings
under banana tree all full of fruit, and listened
to all the latest airs that had been hearing in
the United States. The band is fine one, of Sc
pieces and the musicians all natives, except the
leader, who is German. In the evening
heard it play in front of the hotel
TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER.
1t is the rainy season now, but 1t rains only
by spells, there being number Of showers each
n "a hao int nd II III
time, but seldom so steadily in the harbor. |
While was sitting on the veranda of the hotel
Saturday l saw very peculiar sight The sun
was shining brightly and as far as 1 could see
there were no clouds. but it was Just pouring
down raining on one side Of the hotel grounds
and not drop falling on the other, On the
shower side you could see wel-defned line of
raln-drOpS, or rather streams. The temperature
here ranges from about $50 to 75o the year
around; 30 they always have summer weather
We all wear linen clothing and white caps or
straw hats. Tuesday evening the ladies Of che
hotel gave hop, and met many very nice peO-
ple-Amercans, French and others.
A HORSEBACK RIDE UP THE NUIIANNA VALLEY.
-Four of us went out on horseback day before
yesterday, and had a grand time. We started
from here at about IL o'clock. We had
rather hard looking little horses, but
they were made OF good metal, and they stood
the journey bravery. We rode right out the |
Nuianna valley. The first mile or SO was
good macadamized road, bordered on
each side by the residences of the rich people OF
the place. The houses are low and not very at |
tractive, but the grounds are very pretty When |
we got outside of the city we found the road
rough and full Of stones. There We're no more |
trees of much size, but the ground was all cov-
cred with either beautiful green meadows or a |
thick growth Of underbrush and vines There
is vine which grows in great quantities and
makes with the dwarf trees and brush an APP
parently impenetrabe mass. The road runs
nearly straight up the valley. gradually rising
as you advance. On either side of the road |
there is beautiful mountain stream Occasion |
ally you will find them crossing the road, when
they are spanned by bridges The mountains
rise on each side, about a half mile from the
road, apparently to the height of two or three
thousand feet They are very rugged, looking
as though they were upheaved by some internal
power and are majestic in appearance, though
devoid Of all symmetry.
WONDERFUL TRANSFORMATION sCENE.
After riding for six miles in this way you sud-
denly are stopped by great tall rocks, appar-
emily all the way across the road On advanc-
ing closer you see place to pass through
narrow opening, through which the wind is