Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-02-05
Special Correspondence Herald and:Tribune
HAWAII, THE "PEARL OF
THE PACIFIC"
The Pail, a Picturesque Pass Over the
Mountains, and Bit of History.
Copyright. 1896, by Funk & Wagnalls Com
pany, New York. 0o'-

esque place. The Pail, or pass, which is
the only road by which travellers can
cross the island, passes over the brink
or precipice one thousand feet above
the level of the sea. From this narrow
ran, not wide enough for two wagons
TO pass, one can see the ocean on
both sides of the island. The view is
perhaps uneXcelled from any other
point in the world. From Honolulu
there is broad well beaten road lead
ing up to the Pail. Tourists go up in
carriages or on horseback. ! decided to
make the journey on horseback, and so,
mounted on a tough little mountain
pony and accompanied by young
school teacher as guido, Oh November 25,
1885, left queen Street, and cantered
through the town, Monka, on toward the
mountains.
1t was delightful morning. A gentle
breeze was blowing, tho my guide as
sured me it would be hot enough before
we returned.
Leave your vest at home,n he adj
vised. "a coat and trousers will be all
you will want"
SIS it so hot on the mopntains9n I
asked,
mo, but we will get 1t coming down,
The wind in the pass, however, some.
times blows so hard that you can hardly
keep your hat on your head, or hair
either, for that matter"
Our coats were light summer ulsters
such as are worn in July and August.
While cantering down the street we
sometimes glanced into the open doors.
The houses usually have deserted ap-
pearance 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 a
distant part of the island.
"She has gone visiting" my guide ex-
planned. perhaps there is no place in
the world where the telephone is used
so much as it is here. Why the women
VIII ask Central the time of day rather
than go in the next room and look at
the clock. They often ask Central if it
Is raining instead of looking out to see.
Central is the most overwoked person
on the island.n
The telephone system on Oahu is per-
haps the most complete in the world.
Every part of the island is reached by
telephone, and up every rugged noun
tain path the wires are stretched
Its long ride through the suburbs
OF the city, dotted with pretty little
homes, adorned as only tropical homes
are. Bright eyes and CHEEKY faces meet
us on either side. Some people were
busy in their gardens or lawns, but most
OF the places seemed to have been tenn
porarily deserted. Honolulu, like all
cities of the tropics, has general air of
listless repose. The most industrious
people seem to be Chinese, Atall hours
of the day and even late into night these
little people may be seen CARRYING loads
large enough to make a mule stagger.
Really, the Chinaman is the most cos
mopolitan person one meets with except
Americans. He wears all sorts of cos
tunes from his native Oriental garb to
the white ducking of tropical dude.
He sells shoes, makes shoes and clothes.
works in every sort of factory, stands in
every sort of store, is on every planta-
ton, is every kind of servant. 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 cir
cumstances.
Passing fine apples ranches, ira patches
and banana fields, we at last struck the
main road. "From here we 90 up hill
every foot" my guide explained, as he
drew in his horse, painting from the re-
cent 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 wind
ing and turning until this was lost to |
view in the dense tropical foliage. After
extending long distance mountain
ward, 1t again came into view and ex- |
tended 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,
If it were not for that grove of algero-
bas, you could see the grass houses of
the natives.'
"Do many of them still live in grass
houses?"
"Not many. Some, however, prefer
grass houses yet to houses of wood"
"Why%
because they say mosquitoes won't
bother one in grass house.r
81 would be willing to live in any sort
Of house to be free Of the Hawaiian
l answered. "Of all the
pests l ever met with they are the
worst.r
"They are no native Hawaiian mos
quitoes," he answered.
"Do you mean to Say the mosquito is
not indigenous to the soil?"
"They are not"
"Then how did they get here?'
"They were imported.D
"Imported? Why the government
ought to have had a protective tariff as
high as the skies against such importa-
tions.
"Well, you may think this fish story,
but it's true. Mosquitoes were imported.
vessels in coming to the islands
brought water from mosquito countries
for drinking purposes, and a family of |
the most active mosquitoes made their
escape to the islands,
This story of the imDortatisn If MAJ