The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-09-26
TRIP THROUGH MANOA VALLEY,
How Inspection Work is Carried
On in that District.
Residents willing to Co-oPerate-Paths
Through Lantana and Taro Patches.
inspectors Prefer Walking

In order to gain an adequate
conception of the system carried
out in inspecting the valley dis
tricts during the cholera epidemic,
a representative Of this paper,
through the kindness Of Waiter
Dillingham;, made tour of the
lower portion of Manoa Valley last
Sunday afternoon while the work
of inspection was going on.
None but those who have been In
the district mentioned can possibly
have an idea of the difficulty of
access to such a place. On ap-
preaching from Beretania street,
near the street car terminus, a per-
son is given the impression that
nothing but lantana bushes exist
in the region. A cool breeze from
the valley seems the only redeem
ing feature, but advancing further,
the dwelling houses of natives,
located here and there upon clear
ings, give token of something be-
sides the unpromising fields OF Ian
tana.
The stranger would pause for a
time before attempting to choose a
path in a given direction with the
expectation of reaching a certain
house. There are numerous paths
running in all directions, and to
choose one is simply to do so
blindly, with the additional respon-
sibility Of trusting to luck"
But with the inspectors it is diff
ferent. Every inch of the ground
is known. Every taro patch and
tree seems to have its significance
as a guide post
eyes, it took US quite a time to
get our bearings in these parts ; but
it was necessary that we should"
said one of the inspectors. eve
have to make time; and where
previously it took US four hours or
more to do this particular district,
two hours is sufficient to do the
same amount of work now"
At that the inspector piloted the
party through and between taro
patches and over stone walls with
out the least regard for what might
happen to an inexperienced rider.
All this was done to make time,
and the object was certainly at
tanned.
Arriving at natives house, the
inmates were first saluted with a
pleasant Aloha" and then asked
as to the condition of the house
hold. Each member was asked to
answer to roll call. They seemed
in every case to be willing to do
their part in way of helping the
work of inspection.
Again along a narrow pathway
between the taro patches and an
other stone wall. This time a Chi
nese dwelling house was reached.
The head of the family approached,
leading his wife by the hand and
his child by the queue.
There was no smile on the face
of any of the three. The father
answered the questions as briefly
as possible, and then walked back
into the house with no further COM
ment.
Thus was each one Of the houses
carefully inspected, and In less
time than a person would believe
at first thought. One of the in
spectors, in order to make time,
actually considered IL better to
walk than ride horseback. Climb
ing fences and crawling under
places where horses could not get
saved many minute.
It would not be advisable for a
stranger to attempt a trip through
the district Just named without the
service of a competent guide, such
as the inspectors in charge of the
district. Certainly, for a study of
Hawaiian life no better place could
be cited as being more typical than
that Just described. Here the ma
tives live more as they used TO in
olden times, with their little po-
tato, taro and melon patches, beds
of tobacco, chickens and pigs.
Only that portion of the lantana is
cleared away which is necessary
for raising the necessaries Of
life. The houses are small and
meagrely furnished. The inmates
sit about on the grass during the
day and sing or converse idly,
thinking nothing of the future, but
enjoying thoroughly the present.
In all it is a pleasant life, but I'M
suited of course to those of higher