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

IooTuaEJ 4, AoJO.
The Island of Kauai is sometimes
called the Garden Island of the
group. 1t is one vast flower gar
den between ninety and one hun
dred miles in circumference. Vege-
tables, however, are not grown very
successfully there. The island is
said to be the oldest of the group.
One thing is certain, Kauai has
better roads than any of the other
islands, and after wandering
through tho stony, painless forests
of Hawaii, one finds the roads Of
Kauai delightful garden paths.
On January 6, 1896, the little
steamer Mikahola lay at her dock
IN Honolulu Harbor. At 4 p. m,
alighted from the carriage, walked
mp the gangway, and took my po-
81 ion on the captains bridge to
watch the process of loading mules.
This is an interesting sight.
The vessel has derrick rugged on
the deck, and broad belt is pissed
under the mule to which hook is
attached above his back. AS the
engine starts, the mule is lifted
from his feet and landed on deck.
much to his disgust. One of the
most amusing incidents ! have ever
witnessed was getting a vicious mule
on board this vessel.
This mule was brimful of his
Satanic majesty, and flashed more
birthstone from his eyes than the
great volcano is doing to- day. His
heels were light and played with
the rapidly of lightning about
among the natives, and when they
began to put the belt under his
body, he smiled in his sardonic way
and seemed to be saying "Just
watch me buck when they tighten
that cinch - He seemed to labor
under the delusion that a saddle
was being placed on him. At last
the belt was fixed, the hook insert
ed in the rug, and the mate blew
his whistle to start the engine.
"Puff, puff-rattle, rattle" the
belt began to tighten and the mule
thought 1t time to "buck." He
elevated bis back until it grew
round and all four of his feet left
the ground az the same moment.
Now came the surprise. He expect.
ed TO land fat. footed in such = way
as to completely paralyse every
thing, but the cinch frightened and
his muleship swung high in the air,
until such look of disgust and
amazement came over his counte
nance as would make fortune for
farce comedian. HIS gyrations,
kicks, and struggles in mid-air soon
ceased, and he was gently lowered
TO the deck. He seemed to "hsve
1T in Tor" the mate, for every time
that parsonage came in sight the
mules heels flew out like springs
toward him.
Before we reached Diamond Head
the supper gonS sounded, and the
passengers hurried down to finish
the meal before we entered the
cbaDnel as the chances were we
would not enjoy it an hour later.
The channels between the islands
are never smooth, and seem to be
more dreaded by the inhabitants
OF the islands than voyage to
Japan or San Francisco. The yes.
sells which ply between the islands
are small, the sea, "choppy," and
" one can make the tour Of the
islands in them without getting
seasick, he is proof against that
mtlady. ] bad made seven ocean
voyages without feeling any OF the
disagresable effects Of seasickness
and had begun to boast myself a
born sailor, hut, alas, the channel
between Kauai and Oahu took the
eonceit out Of me.
AZ three o'clock in the moruiog
The steward raped on the door Of
my siateroom and said we we're
entering The port Of Nawiliwili. ]
h'd not the slightest idea we're ]
was TO land, but somehow instinct
lively felt that this must be my des.
tn1tion. awoke sleepy and
cross dressed hurriedly, seized nv
travelling bag aud artists portfolio,
and left the stateroom Just a. the
anchor Was dropped.
Three ladies. myself. seven jap