Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-08-04
THE KINGDOM OF HAWAII.
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS
BY sAoRAMENFAN.
The Wonderful volcanoes-Luxuriant Veg
citation, Habits and Industries
Of the People.
HoxoLuLu CT. u, July 10. 1883.

past. and thought perhaps some of you
readers would be interested in descrip
ton of the kingdom of Kalakua. an
stopping in Honolulu, the capital of tht
kingdom 1t is city of $4,000 inhabi
tants, and presents very pretty appear
ance. There are quite large number o.
beautiful residences and public buildings
The town is not cOmpactly built, but scat
tered over large area, which adds much
to the beauty of the place. There are two
main business streets in the city, one Of
which is occupied almost exclusively BY
Chinese. They seem to be doing large
business in the manufacture of goods,
wares, ETC., besides competing closely with
the white merchants in most every line OF
| traffic. The natives exhibit little or no
interest in any kind of business.
There are several papers published here
both in Hawiisn and American, which
vary in size from l2xS inches to the ordi
nary. sized Journal, with enough of reading
matter to occupy your time at the break
fast table while the waiter is getting you
rare steak.
Business is totally suspended here at
P. NJ, and all the stores close, giving g
chance to employees and employers to spend
the balance Of the evening in recreation OF
promenading through the various places
surrounding the city, which are indeed
very beautiful, with their rows Of magniti
cent shade trees overhanging the sidewalks
and avenues wherever you stroll. Most Of
the business men live outside the city,
where can be seen some very handsome
cottages, each having a nice garden with
walks and play grounds, ornamented with
the palm, cocoanut, bread-fruit, pineapple,
and several other choice trees, while
beneath grow flowers of every description,
which in comparison would make some Of
our California hot, houses blush for shame
THE DRIVES.
There are many favorite drives extend
ing few miles around The roads ara
good, especially along the sea coast tc
Waikiki, about three and half miles east
and is the bathing place of the island. i
is a pretty little bay, shaded on one side
by a grove of palm and cocoanut trees, and
on the other by Diamond Head, which
seems to be the remains of an old volcanic
crater, reaching several feet over the
ocean, its base extending gradually toward
| the mountain in the rear, forming valley
unequalled for its beauty.
Another drive is that leading TO the Pail,
| about six miles distant, and ending at a
| frightful precipice. The road for about
( half way is good, which leads up through
a valley with a mountain ON either side,
ascending gradually for some distance, and
1 then becoming almost perpendicular, reach.
ing distance of about 1000 feet. Ma.
ture seems to have tried to exhaust
herself il identifying this place,
for the gardens in the city are
more than equalled by the
variety of flowers, growths of ferns,
and delicious wild fruit that grow here
wild and uncultivated. Here and there
can be seen native cottages, built OF bam-
boo, matched with moss or grass, and very
neat from outward appearance. As we
drew near the top we were compelled to
walk, the road being very rough, but
finally reached the top, on which there Is
placed an iron railing to prevent the trav'
eler from falling down the craggy preci'
pice, and leaning over
WE GAZED DOWN THE STEEP EAIBANKMEN1
For about /, 500 feet. Below lies valley,
reaching out TO the ocean, which is about
five or six miles wide and eight miles long
covered chiefly by sugar seane aud rice
For time we sat on the cliff, and viewed
| for miles around the wonders of nature
Picking some wild fruit. and refreshing
ourselves otherwise, we reluctantly turned
! toward the city, which we could see be
meath US in the distance, satisfied with oul
drive, which we have repeated on severa
| occasions since.
Time passes very slowly here, for yor
i see every thing of interest in a few days
and nothing to amuse you, save to go tt
church, which seems to be INDUCED in by
great many. If you do not attend
church, you are looked upon as a pool
member of society; for what they call the
missionary element predominates, and you
are soon branded if you are not found tc
adhere to their principles. The next and
last place of amusement-there being only
two-is saloons, which charge % cents fol-
their beverages. The latter being too ex
pensive, although acceptable once in awhile
have to be abandoned, SO by this time
am quite church member. But whether
from fervent prayer, the hot weather
home sickness, or other causes, became
tired here, and took passage on the steamer
Likeiike, bound for the Island of Hawaii
where the great crater Kilauea is situated
| the largest of active volcanoes on the islands
Seemingly I was MOI tne only one going
there, for on board formed the acquaint
ance of dozen or more going on the same
errand. We landed at Hilo after pas
sage of nearly two days. After a hearty
breakfast we engaged horses for the trip
equipped ourselves with a rubber coat, hat
and leggings, which we found afterwsrd;
to be very necessary, for though the sur
pours down it's rays
HOT ENOUGH TO MELT THE BUCKLE
On the saddle girth, the rain came dowr
occasionally in heavy showers when least
expected. 1t is understood that it takes
ten hours to make the trip, a distance o.
thirty miles, and started with well-in
formed Hawaiian for guide, who assured
US he would show US all the places of in
terest. The road is exceedingly poor
which makes it disagreeable, but the
scenery is beautiful, which helped to xii
the monotony of the trip. The horse
seems to be as well acquainted with the
trails as the native guide, for he winds hi'
way with care round cliffs and rocks OF
other occasions. while going through {
grove of trees intermingled with dense
growth Of under-b brush, he would benC
down or lean over to preserve the rider
who was laying fat to keep from being
torn by the branches.
We reached the Halfway House in time
to have lunch, which consisted Of a piece
of ierked beef, bread, coffee and poi-the
latter a native delicacy placed on the cen
ter Of the table in a large bowl-shaped
wooden vessel, and is eaten by sticking
the foretinger and thumb into it, substi
tuting them for spoons, much to the dis
gust Of those who did not partake of it
Having had good rest for horse and mar
we continued our journey, and reached
the Volcano House, having made tbs
trip quicker than we expected
A native in attendance at the hotel per
formed the operation he called Lummy
lummy," or rubbing the limbs and sinews
which get somewhat contracted during tht
tedious ride. As soon as revived we com
menced looking round to see where the
dining.room was situated. for we could
hear the gong, which sounded very musica
in our ears about this time, aud 30 woulC
anything with the sound of call to din
ner. We did ample justice to the supper
prepared for US by the polite manager
An hour or so was spent In the spacious
reading-room, before large fire, which
| --.5e %h;,rz oornfortahia around for bx