St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-03-20

ahao valleys, and at about clever
o'clock reached the Hanapepe valley
followingit for FIVE or six miles wher
we came to the end of the carriage
road. Our party, consisting OF DR.
Goodhue and wife, DR.. Crane, Mr.. j
K. Farley, myself, and two servants
then mounted horses and started uE
one of the most picturesque valleysit
has ever been my pleasure to see. The
path wound along the bottom OF the
valley, crossing the stream number
of times. The water, in places, came
quite to the saddle girths, the bottom
covered with stones slippery and dan,
gerous to all horses not very sure
footed. On either side rose perpen-
dicular bluffs to the height OF several
hundred feet.
The scenery along the valley, like
all scenery in Hawai-, is picturesque
and varied, constantly changing like
the views in kaleidoscope. The
rugged cliffs aud hills are ever chang
ing i'll form, and adding new beauty
to the scene. Mr.. Farley, who was
posted in the traditions OF the coun-
try, pointed out the Devils Slide on
Koalalanui Maui to us. According
to tradition here lived one of the
great gods or devils of the ancient
Hawaiians. He had sled on which
he used to coast down the steep
mountain side, at the only place pos
sible for such a feat. Though the
natives never knew what snow was,
coasting was a popular sport. A
place was prepared for the chiefs to
coast down, and short slippery
grass allowed to grow over it. This
demon or god, for he is called both,
used to glide down at night, commit
depredations, and then return to his
stronghold.
We reached the Hanapepe Falls at
noon. The water rushes over prec-
ipice about three hundred feet high,
and falls into a great basin worn in
the rocks below. The scene is sublime
and inspiring. Miniature rainbows
may be seen on the fine spray cast of
from the dashing waters. The whole
is enclosed by precipitous cliffs clothed
with dark green moss. The shadows
of the rock overhang the clear, cold
pool of water which lies beneath.
From this pool the plantation fume
starts, carrying the water at tall OF
only one foot to the thousand, to
irrigate the valley below.
Among the most beautiful scenery
in Kauai is the valley of Houalei,
which we visited two dayslater. The
journey was one continuous picnic.
1t was made by the same party in
carriage and on horseback. The
crossing the ferry at Houalei was
made all the more romantic by the
tradition that our ferryman had been
Chinese pirate; he certainly looked
enough like one.
One of the wonders of Kaui is the
mirage. This wonderful optical de-
fusion will occasionally greet the
traveller three miles beyond Waiwea
The sandy tract that stretches along
the road seems transformed into a
lake of water, where the images oil
cattle are reflected as they appear to
feed upon submerged vegetation
while the trunks of trees seem to rise
out Of the water. The natives have
a tradition that at certain seasons
just before dawn, the old giant, Kan
alImaloa, once a powerful chief o
Maua, is seen rising from the ground
armeu with his spear, and with his
helmet on his head.
Another natural curiosity is The
Barking Sands of Maua. A long line
OF low sand hills is thrown up along
the beach, and as the Traveller walk,
over these mounds, or strikes tn,
sand, growing, barking sound il
produced. This sound seems to be {
property peculiar to these sands
They only bark when dry, and it ;
large quantity is removed and put il
bag, the same barking will be pro
duced by letting the sand suddenl,
fall from one end of the bag to tn
other. | witnessed an exhibition O
this at the home of Mr.. Turner, tn
manager of the ostrich farm.
The ostrich farm is situated on
sandy beach about three miles from
Koloa, shut in on all sides, save one
by mountain ranges. On that side
the ocean. Accompanied by Dl
Crane, mounted on spirited horse
and attended by Portuguese guide
| set out, January II, for the tarn
We reached it in time for lunch. Nj
Turner, the manager, showed u
about the place and told us of tn
habits of the ostrich. According t
Mr.. Turner this giant bird has yer
little sense. He never looks to ste
over or crawl under fence, but wi
tall over it. "Heis such fool" sal
the manager, "thatit the fence aroun
his paddock was removed, he woul