The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1896-02-05

rice these hardy little creatures will carry
up steep mountain sides, or along
shelving rock, where a single false step
would precipiiaie them to the sharp
rocks hundreds of feet below. These
caravans of pack-mules were under the
control of two Cinnamon, one before ADD
one behind. The caravans usually con
tanned eight or twelve pack mules, all
tied together; The Chnsman in front
leading the first mule, and Chnaman
| in the rear lashing the laggards.
Flowers in wild profusion bloomed
along the way; nature has done for this
mountain road what the most skillful
gardener might envy. Just below the
reservoir we came upon some native
women washing Their method was
peculiar the water was in O sort Of
stone basin, and they were kneeling with
their bare knees on the stony earth,
dipping the clothing into the water and
rubbing it on a stone.
The reservoir which supplies Honolulu
with water is fed from the mountain
streams, Of which there are many. A
large board is placed up near the reser
voir, on which is the order OF the
Minister of the Interior, in both English
and Hawaiian, warning people TO neither
fish, wash nor battle in the waters above
that point.
Crossing the bridge over the reservoir
from short distance, we found the as
cent less steep. Wild guava trees grew
in abundance along the road, some hav
ing ripe fruit on them which we ate and
found delicious. The famous g1ava jel-
lies are made of this fruit.
One of the most picturesque and novel
sights on the road was Chinaman
moving. He had his shoulder pole on
his shoulder, on one end of which was
his valise, together with his household
and kitchen furniture. On the other
end was his livestock, consisting of
being cut in the bag for the chickens to
put their heads through. This little
| fellow had come over the Pail and was
going TO Honolulu, carrying all his
earthly possessions on that pole.
ut is nothing for them to carry two
hundred pounds twelve or fifteen miles,
said my guide. ''They are tougher than
mules"
We crossed some Of the plains made
famous by the great battles fought by
| Kamehameha the Great, and reaching q
| plateau, halted at the halfway house TO
get drink of water and allow our
horses drink and rest.
Half a mile or more beyond we met
japanese family of wanderers. The
father of the family was carrying pole
on his shoulder with the household goods
on each end, and the mother, who had
| IL. q al nbNrf Oln,, Aole
and was going barefoot, had baby dashed
to her back, and two or three were walk.
ing. AT the sight of US, the mothers
womanly pride asserted itself and she
stopped and put on her ridiculously
small sandals, and came on limping like
a cripple.
During the entire journey we did not
meet single white person. Wandering
Chinese and Japanese without any home,
or going to the markets, were the only
persons, save the natives, living along
the road side.
AT last the Pail was reached. The path
winds along the pass between two noun
tains through which the wind sweeps
down with such terrific force as TO some
times almost take one from his feet.
The view from the Pail is sublime. On
one side may be seen the sea, with
Honolulu looking like a speck in the
| tiisiance ON the other the piapiu-
| tons aud houses looking also like mere
specks in the dim distance, with the dark
blue sea for background. Gigantic,
grim, and silent as the sphinx, stands the
frowning cliffs on the right, and on the
left sharp cone-like ridge extends so
far away that it is lost in the distance,
while the only possible place OF crossing
the island is at the Pail.
One cannot but admire the military
genius of Kamehameha in securing this
pass. 1t was the Thermopyle of Kalani-
| kupule, the last Oahuau chief. Here
was fought the great battle which made
| Kamehameha, the Hawaiian Napoleon,
master of all the islands.
| Before the battle, Kamehameha, with
fleet OF war canoes and one schooner
and some artillery, appeared off Oahu
and landed at Waial@ Bay, and, after
few days spent in arranging his men, he
marched at Nunana Valley, where Kala-
nikupule had posted his forces.
Kamehamehs had a good general In
an American named John Young, whose
descendants may still be found on the
islands. There were several Americans
In his army, and their skill with artillery
gained Kamehamehs his victories. He
encountered the enemy at Llama and
Puiwa, where the Oahu troops made a
brave resistance until Kaiana, their
leader, was killed by a cannon ball, when
they gave way. They were closely pur-
sued up the valley, some escaping up the
ridges on either eide, while others were
bemmed in and driven over the Nuuanu
Pail, or precipice north of the road,
and dashed to death on the rocks. Their
bones may still be found among the bare
jungles or algeroba forests one thousand
feet below. Kalanikupule wandered for
several months in the Koolau Mountains
until he was finally captured in cave
above Waipio, brought down and offered
In sacrifice to the conquerors' war god at
Moanahua.
two fairy lands. II is pass that could
be made impregnable. A few hundred
men could hold an army of thousands at
bay. On the east side opposite Honolulu
the descent is very steep and rocky.
Two or three hundred feet below the top
spring gushes out from the rocks,
falls into pocket very inviting TO the
thirsty traveller. The road is traversed
almost continually by the energetic
Cinnamon, the wandering Japs, aud the
tourists who are loud in their praise OF
its beauty and grandeur.
JonN r. MusIoK.