The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-02-07

Pail and was going to Honolulu, carry
ing all his earthly possessions on that
pole.
alt 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 b,ttles fought by
Kamehameha the Great, and, reaching
a plateau, halted at the halfway house
to get drink OF water and allow our
horses drink and rest.
Halfa 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 taken off those silly, short
wooden sandals and was going bare
foot, had baby lashed 10 her back,
and two or three were walking. At
the sight of US, the mothers womanly
pride asserted itself and she stopped
and put on her ridiculously small SAN
dals, and came on limping like a Grip
pie.
During the entire journey we did
not meet single white person. Wan
dering 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. TIE
path winds along the pass between two
mountains through which the wind
sweeps down with such terrific force as
to sometimes almost take one from his
feet. The view from the Pail is sub
lime. On one side may be seen the
sea, with Honolulu looking like speck
in the distance; On the other are the
plantations and 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 Kali
anikupule, the last Oahnan chief. Here
was fought the great battle which mad e
kamehameha, the Hawaiian Napoleon,
master of all the islands.
Before the battle, Kamehameha, with
a feet Of war canoes and one schooner
and some artillery, appeared off Oahu
and landed at Waiala Bay, and, after
a few days spent in arranging his men
he marched to Nunaha Valley, where
Kalanikupule had posted his forces.
Kamehameha had good general in
an American named John Young
whose defendants may still be found
on the islands. There were severa
Americans in his army, and their skill
with artillery gained Kamehameha his
victories. He encountered the enemy
at Laini and Puiwa, where the OAHU
troops made brave resistance unit
Kaiana, their leader, was killed by a
cannon ball, when they gave way
They were closely pursued up the val
ley, some escaping up the ridges or
either side, while Others we're hemmed
in and driven over the Nunanu Pail
or precipice north OF the road, anC
dashed to death on the rocks. Their
bones may still be found among the
bare jungles or algeroba forests one
thousand feet below. Nalanikupule
wandered for several months in the
Koolau Mountains until he was finally
captured in a cave above Waipo
brought down and offered in sacrifc.
to the conquerors' war god at Moana
hua.
The Pail looks like the gate between
; two fairy lands. 1t is pass that coule
be made impregnable. A few hundred
at bay. On the east side opposite Hon
olulu the descent is very steep ane
rocky. Two or three hundred fee
below the top spring gushes out from
the rocks, falls into pocket very in
viting to the thirsty traveller. Thu
road is travers.d almost continually b,
the energetic Cinnamon, the wander
ing Japs, and the tourists who are loue
in their praise Of its beauty and gran
deur. JOHN R. MUsICK.