West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-03-19
ABSOLUTELY PURE

@ VI the CaTrIdRe TOau. Our party.
consisting of DIR. Goodhue and wife.
DR.. Crane, Mr.. j. K. Farley. my
self, aud two servants. then mount
ed horses and started up one of the
most picturesque valleys 1t has ever
. been my pleasure to see. The path
wound along tho bottom of the val
, ey, crossing the stream number
OF times. The water, in phces,
came quite to the saddIe-glrths
he bottom covered with stones
slippery and dangerous to all horses
not very sure, footed. On either
side rose perpendicular bluffs to the
hight of several hundred feet.
The scenery along the valley, like
all scenery in Hawaii, is picturesque
and varied, constantly changing
like the views In a Kaleidoscope.
The rugged hills and cliffs are ever
changing in form, and adding new
} beauty to the scene. MIR. Farley,
who was posted in the traditions of
the country, pointed out the DEVILS
Slide on Koalalsnui Maui to us.
According to tradition here lived
one of the great gods or devils of
the ancient Hawaiians. lie had
sled on which he used to coast down
tho steep mountain side, at the
only place possible for such feat.
Tho the natives never knew what
snow was, coasting was 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
precipice about three hundred feet
high, and falls into great basin
worn In the rocks below The scene
is sublime and inspiring. Min
lature ralnbows may be seen on the
fine spray cast off from the d ,shing
waters. The whole is enclosed by
PERCEPTIONS 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 tlume
starts, carrying the water ut fall
of only one foot to the thousand, to
irrigate the valley below.
Among the most beautiful scene.
ry in Kauai is the valley of llou
alei, which we visited two drys
later. The journey was one con
tinuous 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 Kauai is
the mirage. The wonderful optical
dolusion will occasionally greet the
traveller three miles beyond Walwea.
The sandy tract that stretches
along the road seems transformed
into lake Of water. where the i'm
ages of cattle are reflected as thew
appear to feed upon submerged
vegetation, while ths trunks of
trees seem to rise out Of the water.
The natives have tradition that at
certain season, just before dawn,
the old giant, Kamalimaloa, once
a powerful chief OF Maua. is seen
rising from the ground, armed with
his spear, and with his helmet on
his head.
Another natural curiosity is the
Barking Sands Of Manua. A long
line of low sand hills IS thrown up
along the bench, and as the traveller
walks over these mounds, or strikes
the sand, growing, barking sound
is produced. This sound seems to
De a property peculiar to these
sands. They only bark when dry
and II large quantity is removed
and put in bag, the same barking
will be produced by letting the
sand suddenly fall from one end of
the bag to the other I witnessed
an exhibition Of this at the home
Of Mr.. Turner, the manager of the
ostrich farm.
The ostrich farm is situated on a
sandy beach about three miles from
holoa, shut in on all sides, save
one, by mountain ranges. On that
side IS the ocean. Accompanied bv
DR.. Crane, mounted on spirited
horses and attended by a Portu
guese guide, set out, January II.
for the farm. We reached IL in
time for lunch. Mr.. Turner. the
manager, showed rs about the
place and told us % the habits Of
the ostrich. According to Mr..
Turner this giant bird has very
, little sense. lie never looks TO step
over or crawl under fence. but
will fall over it. "He is snch a
foo" said the manager, "that II
The fence around his paddock was
removed. he would De three days ia
making the discovery, and then he
would fall over the path"
Mr.. Turner says Che old theory
that the sun matches the eggs Of an
Cafvf~I e..