The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1896-02-14
The Fourth of a Series OF
Letters by John r. Musick.
Author of 1.-THE Columbian His
tOrical Novels" '.BrOther
Against Brother" etc.
copyright 1896, by Funk & Wa.nalls Company New
York;
The Pail, a Picturesque Pass over
the Mountains, and a Bit
of History.

One OF the noted SpOtS On Ine lSldnu "
Oahu is the Pail. Every tourist to the Is
land visits this historic and picturesque place
The Pail, or pass, which is the only road by
which travellers can cross the island. passes
over the brink of precipice one thOusanc
feet above the level of the sea. From TINS
narrow Pail, not wide enough for two Wag
onS to pass, one can see the ocean on botf
sides of the island. The view is perhaps
uneXcelled from any other point IN the
world From Honolulu there is broad
well-beaten road leading up to the Pail
Tourists go up IN carriages or on horseback
decided to make the journey on horsebacB
and So mounted on a tough little mountain
teacher as guide, on November %, 1895,
. left Queen street. and cantered through the
town, Monka, ON toward the mountains.
1t was a delightful morning. gentle
breeze was blowing, tho my guide assured
nae it would be hot enough before we re-
turned.
"Leave your vest at home," he advised.
"a coat and trousers will be all you will
want
ais it so hot on the mountains ~ | asked.
"No, but we shall get it coming down.
The wind in the pass, however, sometimes
blows so hard that you can hardly keep your
hat ON your head, or hair either, for that
NATTER.
Our coats were light summer ulsters such
as are worn in July and August. While
eantering down the street we sometimes
glanced into the open doors. The houses
Usually have 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.
She has gone vs ;hang my guide lie tbe
world where the telephone is used so much
as it is here. Why the women will ask
Central the time of day rather than go in
the next room and look at the clock. They
often ask Central if is raining instead of
looking out to see. Central is the most
Over-wOrked person on the island"
The telephone system on Oahu is perhaps
the most cOmpletein the world. Every part
of the island is reached by telephone, and up
every rugged mountain path the wires are
stretched
1t is long ride through the suburbs of the
city, dotted with pretty little homes, adorned
rs 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 temporarily deserted. Honolulu
like all cities of the tropics, has a general
air of listless repOse. The most industrious
people seem to be the Chinese. Atall hours
of the day and even late into the night these
little people may be seen carrying loads
large enough to make mule Stagger.
Really, the Chinaman is the most cOSmOp0l
cans. He wears all sorts of costumes from
hi3 native Oriental garb to the white duck
ing of a tropical dude. He sells shoes,
makes shoes and clothes, works in every
sort of factory, stands in every sort of store,
Is on every plantation. is every kind of ser
want, does every kind of business, walks,
rows boats, rides in carriages, carts, on
mules and bicycles, in fact he is met every
where, and under all conditions and circum-
stances.
n
and banana fieldS,We at last struck the main
road. "From here we go up hill every foot"
my guide explained as he drew in his horse
painting from the recent gallop.
On our right just on rising elevation was
veritable palace. An avenue of palms led
from the main road back up to one of the
neat little cottages some distance in the
background, then winding and turning I'M
til it was lost to view In the dense tropical
foliage. After extending a long distance
mOuntainward, 1t again came into view and
extended down to the main road. This
avenue of palms, was wide enough for a
broad carriage drive.
The houses soon became fewer and of a
meaner sort.
"These are mostly inhabited by Kama
kas," said my guide. "Over on our right,
III it were not for that grove of algerObas,
you could see the grass houses of the ma
tives."
"Do many of them still live in grass
houses ?'
"Not many. Some, however, prefer grass
houses yet to houses of wood"
"WhyY'
Because they say mosquitoes won't both
or one in grass"
IL would be willing to live in any sort of
a house to be free of the Hawaiian mosqui-
toes" | answered. "Of all the pests ever
met with they are the worst"
"There are no native Hawaiian mosqui-
toes" he answered.
'Do you mean to say the mosquito is not
Indigenous to the soil?''
"They are not"
"Then how did they get hereP'
"They were imported"
Imported? Why the government ought
TO have had protective tariff as high as the
skies against such importations"
swell, you may think this fish story.
put it's true. Mosquitoes were imported.
Whaling vessels in coming to the islands
brought water from mosquito countries for
drinking purposes, and family of the most
active mosquitoes made their escape to the
islands,"
"This story of the importation of mosqui-
toes | subsequently had verified. There
have been many obnoxious insects and mi
mails imported into the islands, among them
the mOngoOse imported to catch the rats,
which not only only attacked rats but has
made war of determination on the chick
ems, ducks aud all fowls. Toads are being
W utctibg OuSo anu thO
national entomOlOgist is studying all injur-
ious insects and the methods by which they
NAV be destroyed.
When we had assembled the road about
two miles, we drew rein on level spot,
and looked back TO catch a view of the city
and bay. Honolulu lay among the trees
like a pearl in an oyster shell, and the
streets seemed mere threads in the distance,
while the bay looked like a crystal mirror
with the ships lying quietly at anchor. The
beauty of the situation from this elevation
Is worth going twice the distance to see.
We were now on a high plain covered
with grass save where there were clusters
of algerobas or small fields. Growing along
the fence 1 recognized some old enemies |
that used to encounter on the farm when |
q boy. the cuckle burrs. Notwithstanding |
the Americanism of the Hawaiians, the |
euckle burr and taking up a collection in |
church were the only really familiar fea-
lures In the country.
As we walked our horses up steep in
cline, or gallOped over a level pain, we met /
some odd and interesting people A long