The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1896-01-24
Scenes on Entering Honolulu
The City Itself.

Everybody on board the Australia was
awake early, eager to catch the first glimpse
of land. Our voyage, though short one
owing TO unfavOrable weather seemed long.
We we're assured it was the worst voyage
the Australia had made tor years
1t was the tramping of sailors and the
ereaking of rigging above that awakened
me. and althO it was still dark, fastened
to the upper deck. The sea was almost
smooth, and gentle breeze waited us to-
ward land. Cropping my way to the bench
just forward of the main sky-llght seated
myself, and looked about over the dark
water Early as it was, was not the first
on deck. The priest, Father Pamphile, on
his way to give his life to the lepers of Mol
okai, had preceded me. This venerable
man had spent nearly the entire voyage on
deck The wind rarely blew too hard, and
the waves never rolled too high for him
and some of his followers TO be on the upper
deck
Day dawned slowly, and the dark outlines
of the silent priest became more and more
distinct. A murmur of voices arose from
the passengers below who were tumbllng
out of their births, and hurriedly dressing.
| had been sitting watching Father Pam
phile but short time when two bells struck.
Just then Mr.. Waterhouse who had all
along been authority on matters concerning
the islands, came up and said we were APP
preaching and would soon be in sight of
Oahu He said M0lokai was off on our lar
board. During the night we had been with
in three miles of it, but owing to the dark
ness the captain had put about and stood
out to sea. instead of going in at once.
In little while it was light enough for
us to see Molokai lying like cloud mist on
our left 1t was difficult at first to distin-
guish between the dimly outlined mountain
range and the clouds. In few moments
Oahu could be seen ahead of us. First we
discerned the long needle-like point of land
called Kualoa Point, and then Mukapu
Point, between which and KokO Head lies
valley in which is the WaimanOla Planta-
ton. An approaching steamer is first seen
from this plantation, and its arrival tele-
phoned to Honolulu.
So we glided on over the summer sea, a
hundred pairs of anxious eyes drinking in
the beautiful scene. Some one softly hum
med
"Land ahead, its fruits are waving,
Der the hills of tadeless green"
The outlines of high mountain peaks and
low lying beach against which the restless
surf eternaly dashes, at frat seemed a
dream, but soon a dawning reality. Nearer
and nearer we glided. The high rocky pro-
mOnitory, cloud-c capt and sky-piercing, be-
came boldly outlined. A pale blue mist lay
a softness which no painters skill can even
approximate. AS we drew nearer, those
Mills changed from blue mist to red, and
then along their sides appeared delicate
green winch Q6ep6Ltu Ill llS HuS, uuJll, ny
the aid of our glasses, we could see that they
were clothed with verdure to their very
SUBMITS.
When we came nearer still we could see
the green fields of a sugar plantation in the
valley. This valley from our distance did
not seem over a hundred square rods in
area, tho it really covers several thousand
acres. Like speckS of snow the houses
could be seen nesting in oraage groves or
among waving palms and other trees OF the
tropics, the tall cocoanuts fairly towering
into the sky.
school of dolphins soon attracted our
attention. They were shooting all about
the Ship and could be seen Swimming thrO
the clear water, occasionally leaping en-
tirely out of it, and then plunging head first
back again. A cloud of small flying fish
next appeared trying to escape from the
vessel, or perhaps from the sharks, which
abound in these waters.
Rabbit Island next came into view near
the shore, looking from the ship, like long
barren rock. This island is historically in
teresting as being the place where the arms
were landed in January, 1895, when the
rebels attempted to overthrow the young
republic KokO Head, an extinct volcano,
was passed and, beyond, Diamond Head
lay in plain view. We were told that when
we had passed that we would be able to see
the Bay of Honolulu.
Diamond Head is also an extinct volcano
1t has a crater OF hollow basin, and projects
out to sea in a way that makes it valuable
point to fortify. Properly entrenched, Dia-
mOnd Head would be impregnable. This
mountain also has historic interest In Jan
uary, 1895, the rebels, having been driven
from the valley below, took position in
this stronghold, which they held until forced
out by the soldiers of the republic. From
there they fled to the mountains.
At last our vessel glided around Diamond
Head, and the Pearl of the Pacific burst on
our view,-HonOlulu, the capitol of the
Hawaiian Islands. What Havana is to the
West Indies, and New York is to the United
States, Honolulu is to the little republic OF
the Pacific. At last this city of which
had read so much but had never seen save
in my Dreams lay before me. Smuggling al
the foot of wondrously picturesque hills
which rise abruptly in continuous range
of dark blue background, Tapped by the
waves of perpetual summer sea, the city
as seen from outside the reef, is very beau
tiful in its setting. Diamond Head or Leah
seems like some mighty sphinx or lion cou
chant garding in grim silence the approach
to an earthly paradise. The balmy air, thu
dark outlying hills, the abundant vegeta
ton, the emerald green at the harbor bar
the softness and depth of the blue skies ant
the gorgeous sunshine bathing all the land
scape, greeted us with tropical welcome
Palms waved before us, and the air wa
fragant with magnolia and stephan0tis.
The long. low shore, extending from Dia
mond Head to the city, lay on our right
Tall cOcOanuts and waving palms, dat
trees aud banana plantations. with the ia
receeding hills of fadeless green, formed al
enchanting scene. The pilot boat, "a mer
speck at first was coming toward us, an
growing larger each moment In addition
to the pilot, it brought DIR. Wood. of tn
Board of Health. Since the cholera in Ser
TENDER last, the Board of Health has bee
more than usually careful about incomin
SHIPS. Great caution is taken with vessel
from China and japan especially. On
ship from Japan was detained forty-eigf
hours in quarantine before she was permit
ted to land a single passenger or any pal
of her cargo.
With the pilot boat came several gentle
men To meet their wives and children on Oh
Australia, and there were numerous happ
greetings. -, Al.
voice Of a happy child on the right
1How are you, Charlie ~
"Have you all been well 2"
oWbat sort of a voyage have you had
"Choppy and roughF
A hundred like greetings rang out oV'