The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-02-07
THE PAIL, A PICTURESQUE PASS OVER
The MOUNTAINS, AND A BIT OF HIS

THE PAIL, A PICTURESQUE PASS OfEN
The MOUNTAINS, AND BIT OF HIS
TORY.
One of the most noted spots on the
Island of Oahu is the Pail. Every tou-
rist to the Island visits this historic and
picturesque place. The Pail, or pass,
which is the only road by which trav-
elers can cross the Island, passes over
the brink of a precipice one thousand
feet abo.e the level of the sea. From
this narrow Pail, 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 Hon
olulu there is broad wellbeaten road
leading up to the Pail. Tourists 60 up
in carriages or on horseback. | deci-
ded to make the journey on horseback,
and so mounted on tough little noun
tain pony and accompanied by young
school-teacher as guide, on November
IS, 1895, l left Queen Street, and can
tered through the town, Monka, on
toward the mountains.
1t is long ride through the suburbs
Of the city, dotted with pretty little
homes, adorned as only tropical homes
are. Bright eyes and cherry 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 indus
,rious people seem to be the Chinese.
At all 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 cosmopolitan
person one meets with except Amer-
cans. He wears all sorts Of costumes
from his native Oriental garb to the
white ducking Of a tropical dude. He
sells shoes, makes shoes and clothes,
works in every sort of factory, stand.
in every sort of store, is on every plan
ta,on, 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
everywhere, and under all conditions
and circumstances.
Passing fine apple ranches, tara patch
rs, 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 eleva
ton was a vertable palace. An ave
nue. of palms led from the main road
back up to one ofthe neat little cot
tages some distance in the background
then winding and turning until it was
lost to view in the dense tropical foil
age. After extending long distance
mountalnward, it again came into view
and extended down to the main road
This avenue of palms was wide enoug!
for a broad carriage drive.
When we had assembled the roac
about two miles, we drew rein on !;
level spot, and looked back to catch ;
view of the city and bay. Honolulu,
lay among the trees like pearl in ar
oyster she'll, and the streets seemed
mere threads in the distance, while thu
bay looked like a crystal mirror will
the ships lying quietly at anchor. TIL,
beauty ofthe situation from this eleva
ton is worth going twice the distance
to see.
We were now on higher plain GOV
cred with grass save where there were
clusters Of algerobas or small fields
Growing along the fence l recognized
some old enemies that used to en-
counter on the farm when a boy, tn,
cuckle burrs. Notwithstanding the
Americansm of the Hawaiians, tn,
cuckle burr and taking up collection
in church were the only really famila
features in the country.
AS We walked our horses up a steer
incline, or galloped over level plain
we met some odd and interesting PEG
pie. "A long caravan of PACK mule
was seen coming down the road from
the mountain. They were loaded will
bags of rice. 1t is astonishing thu
amount Of rice these hardy little Great
ures will carry up steep mountain sides
or along a shelving rock, where sin
gle false step would precipitate them t
| the sharp rocks hundreds offeet below
These caravans of pack mules wer,
under the control of two Cinnamon
one before and one behind. The car
avans usually contained eight or twelv
pack mules, all tied together; the China
man in front leading the first mule
and Cnlnaman in the rear lashing tn,
laggards.
Flowers in wild profusion bloomet
along the way; nature has done 70
this mountain road what the most skill
full gardener might envy. Just below
the reservoir we came upon some nativ
women washing. Their method wa
peculiar; the water was in a sort O
stone basin, and they were kneelins
with their bare knees on the s,on,
earth, dipping the clothing into tn,
water and rubbing it on a stone.
| The reservoir which supplies Homo
lulu with water is fed from the noun
tain streams, Of which there are many
A large board is placed up near thu
reservoir, Oh which is the order Of the
Minister Of the Interior, in both Eng
llsh and Hawaiian, warning people tc
neither fish, wash, nor battle in ,hs
waters above that point.
Crossing the bridge over the reser
voir from short distance, we founc