West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-02-06


patches, and banana fields, we at
last struck the main road. "From
here we 90 up hill every foot" my
guide explained. ss he drew in his
horse, painting from the recent
gallop.
On our right just on rising
elevation was a 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 until it was lost to
view in the dense tropical foliage.
After extending long distance
mountainward, it again came to
view and extended down to the
main road. This avenue Of palms
was wide enough for broad car
riage drive.
The houses soon became fewer
and of meaner sort.
"These are mostly inhabited by
Kanakas," said my guide. "0ver
on our right, il it were not for that
grove of algorobas, you could see
the grass houses of the natives"
"Do many of them still live in
grass houses ?"
mot many. Some, however,
prefer grass houses yet to houses Of
wood"
"Why ?"
because they say mosquitoes
won't bother one in grass house. 4"
"I would be willing to live in
any sort of house to be free of
the Hawaiian mosquitoes" l an
swered. "0f all the pests l ever
met with they are the worst"
'There are no native Hawaiian
mosquitoes" he answered.
"Do you mean to say the mos
quito is not indigenous to the soil ?"
"rhey are not"
"Then how did they get here ?"
"Phcy were imported"
"Imported Why the govern
ment ought to have had protective
tariff as high as the skies against
such importatIons."
"Well, you may think this fish
story, but It's true. Mosquitoes
were imported. Whaling vessels IN
coming to the islands brought
water from the mosquito countries
for drinking purposes, and a family
of the most active mosquitoes made
their escape to the islands.
This story of the importation OF
mosquitoes / su bsequently had ver-
flied. There have been many OBJ
noxious insects and animals i'm.
ported to the islands, among
them mongoose, imported to
catch rats, which not only at
tackled rats, but has made
war of determination on the chick
ems, ducks, and all fowls. Toads
are being imported to destroy OBJ
noxious bugs, and the national
entomologist is studying all inju.
rious insects and the methods by
which they may be destroyed.
When we had ascended the road
about two miles, we drew rein on
level spot, and looked back to catch
a view of the city and bay. Homo
lulu lay among the trees like
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 ly-
ing quietly at anchor. The beau
ty Of the situation from this eleva.
ton is worth going twice the dis
tance to sec.
We we're now on a higher plain
covered with grass save whore there
we're clusters Of algerobas or small
fields. Growing along the fence /
recognized some old enemies that I
used to encounter on the farm when
boy, the cuckle burrs. Notwith-
standing the Americanism Of the
Hawaiians, the cucklo burr and
taking mp a collection in church
we're the only really familiar fea-
lures in the country.
As we walked our horses up q
steep incline, or galloped over
level plain, we met some odd and
interesting people. A long cara.
van OF pack.mules was seen coming
down the road from the mountain.
They we're loaded with bags Of rice.
IL is astonishing the amount Of rice
these hardy LITTLE creatures will