St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-01-17

the cholera IN september last, the
Board of Health has been more than
usually careful about incoming ships:
With the pilot boat came several
gentlemen to meet their wives and
children on the Australia, and there
were numerous happy greetings.
The United States man-of-war Ben
nington lay in the harbor, at the time
the only warship at the islands.
There were number of other vessels,
however, which gave tothe city quite
the appearance of seaport town.
Native canoes were darling all over
the harbor. These canoes are long
slender boats with a small runner
like keel attached to the side to bal
ance them, the two connected by
strips of wood or iron. Many OF the
natives were amusing themselves
with toy ships, which, with sails set,
were gliding over the harbor, while
their proud owners watched them
from their little boats.
At last we came alongside the dock,
and it seemed as if the whole town
had turned out to meet us; the dock
was literally lined with people; sea
of faces, most of them OF the dark
skinned Kanaka, were upturned
toward us. Continuous shouts and
yelis came from below, and when the
gang plank was thrown out, the
people came rushing on board to greet
relatives and friends.
Those who expected to 60 ashore
at once were doomed to disappoint-
ment. The tide OF humanity rushed
on board, and we were driven back
to our staterooms. Then came
long worry over baggage.
When the excitement which fol-
lowed our arrival had somewhat
subsidized, l determined to try to
make my way on shore. With my
arctic overcoat on my arm descend
ed from the gang plank, wiping the
perspiration from my face, and APP
preached the overworked custom
house officials. There were a hun
dred or more people present, each
anxious to have his or her trunk,
handbag, or valise inspected first.
The officers were busy opening every
sort of satchel and travelling conven-
fence, and plunging their hands into
soiled linen, superannuated neckties,
and other sacred articles OF apparel.
After a long, wearisome wait, the
inspection of my own baggage came.
This trying ordeal over, | passed
through the street, where | met
Kanaka coachman who asked:
"Wantee la carriage?"
Eyes, take me to the Arlington" |
answered, and, jumping into his one
horse surrey, l was driven to the
hotel, through an avenue of palm,
date and fig trees. l seemed to have
suddenly entered an immense flower
garden. Alighting asked the driver
his fare. He answered:
1.-TWO bits"
Shillings, quarters, and cents are
never used in Hawaii. Twenty-Five
cents is two bits, fifty cents four bits,
and seventy-6ve cents, six bits.
No one had yet appeared to well
come me. | saw some people on the
lama or porch, and some monkeys
in a cage, but none seemed to have
any special interest in my arrival. |
stepped upon the lama and then
lady appeared and called China
man, telling him to take me to Mum.
Der Sixteen. The almond-eyed cees-
tial picked up my valise and gave my
overcoat a stare. That overcoat
was as much curiosity in the city
as a native Samoan in full dress
would be in New York or Chicago.
We had only gone as far as the
passageway between the two houses
when a Japanese girl, with hair
pulled and feet bare, came running
toward US chattering like monkey.
She took my valise, and John China
man disappeared. The lady Jap
then went out into vast court laid
out in regular walks bordered by tall
palms, cocoanut trees, banana plants,
and every variety of bright foliage
and Towering shrub of the tropics.
1t seemed more of a park than a
hotel. On either side were rows of
neat little cottages, all belonging to
the hotel, and all embowered in the
verdure of the tropics.
My female escort, carrying my
valse, walked down the lawn path,
l following. We soon passed through
a gate into the street. Turning
abruptly to the left, she entered
another building, and assembled a
flight of stairs. In q wide corridor
above, we were met by another Jap
anese called Tito, who took my valise
to room Number Sixteen.
My apartment was large and sun
nv. A great window opened on the
porch on the west, and sank into
a seat, for few moments gazing out
upon rear court. The scene was