West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-02-06
HAWAII, THE PEARL OF
THE PACIFIC"
The Fourth or "A Series Of Letters by
John X. Musick.
Author Of "The Columbian Eistori
cal Novels. Brother Against
Brother" ETC.. etc.
The Pali. Picturesque Pass over the
Mountains, and Bit Of History.
Copyright, 1895. by FUNK & wAoSALLs Cox-
PAsY New York;

PASr New York;
Special Contribution for TnE ARous
One of the noted spots on the
leland of Oahu is the Pali. Every
tourist to the island visits this his
torlc and picturesque place. The
Pali, or pass, which is the only
road by which travellers can cross
the island, passes over the brink
of a preciplce one thousand feet
above the level of the sea. FROM
this narrow Pail, not wide enough
for two wagons to pass. one can
see the ocean on both sides of the
island. The view is perhaps unex.
celled from any other point in the
world. From Honolulu there is a
broad, we'll beaten road leading
mp to the Pail. Tourists go up in
carriages or on horseback. l de-
cided to make thu journey on
horseback, and so, mounted on a
tough little mountain pony, and
accompanied by a young school.
teocher as guide, on November 25,
1895, left Queen Street, and can.
tered through the town, Monka, on
toward the mountains.
1t was a delightful morning. A
gentle breeze was blowing, tho my
guide assured me it would be hot
enough before we returned.
"Leave your vest ut home" he
advised. "a coat and trousers
will be all you will want"
"Is it so hot on the mountains P"
l asked.
"No, but we will get 1T coming
down. The wind in the pass, how.
ever, sometimes blows so hard that
you can hardly keep your hat on
your head, or hair either, for that
matter.
Our coats were light summer
ulsters such as are worn in July
and August. While cantering down
the street we sometimes glanced
into the open doors. The houses
usually have q deserted appearance
as the inmates prefer the cool lanai
to the parlor. But, as we passed
one house, we saw lady at the
telephone gossiping with some lady
friend in distant part Of the
island.
"Sho has gone visiting" my
guide explained. "Perhaps there
is no place in the world where the
telephone is used so much as it Is
here. Why the women will ask
Central the time Of day rather
than 60 to the next room and look
at the clock. They often ask
Central if it is raining instead of
looking out to see. Central is the
most overworked person OH the
island"
The telephone system on Oahu IS
perhaps the most complete in the
world. Every part Of the island is
reached by telephone, :and mp every
rugged mountain path the wires are
stretched.
1t is long ride through the su-
burbs Of the city, dotted with
pretty little homes, adorned as only
tropical homes are. Bright eyes
and CHEEKY faces met us on every
side. Some people were busy in
their gardens or lawns, but most Of
the places seemed to have been tenn.
porarily deserted. Honolulu like
all cities Of the tropics, has gen.
eral air Of listless repose. The
most industrious people seem to be
the Chinese. At all hours OF the
day and even late into night these
little people may be seen carrying
loads large enough tc make a mule
stagger. Really tho Cbinamau is
the most cosmopolitan person one
meets with except Americans. lie
wears all sorts Of costumes from his
native Oriental garb to the white
duckIng OF tropical dude. lie
sells shoes, makes shoes and clothes,
works ia every sort Of factory,
stands in every sort Of store, is on
every plantation, is every kind Of
servant, .does-eyery kind OF bust =
ness, walks, rows boats, rides in
carriages, carts, on mules, and bi.