The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-02-13

tral1a was awake early, eager
to catch the first glimpse of
land. Our voyage, tho short
one, owing to unfavorable
weather seemed long. We were.
assured it was the worst voy-
age the Australia had made for
years.
1t was the tramping of sail
ors and the creaking of rigging
above that awakened me, and,
altho it was still dark, l has
tened to the upper deck. The
sea was almost smooth, and a
gentle breeze waited us toward
land. Cropping my way to the
bench just forward of the main
sky-light, I seated myself and
looked about over the dark
water. Early as it was, l was
not the first one on deck. The
priest, Father Phamphile, on
his way to give his life to the
lepers of Molokai, had pre-
ceeded me. This venerable man
had spent nearly the entire voy-
age 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 be-
low who were tumbling out of
their berths, and hurriedly
dressing. [ had been sitting
watching Father Phamphile
but short time when two bells
struck. Just then Mr.. Water
house, who had all along been
authority on matters concern
ing the islands, came up and
said we were approaching and
would soon be in sight of
Oahu. He said Molokai was
off on our larboard. During
the night we had been within
three miles of it, but owing to
the darkness 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 a cloud mist on our
left. 1t was difficult at first to
distinguish between the dimly
outlined mountain range and
the clouds. In a few moments
Oahu could be seen ahead of
us. First we decerned the long
needle like point of land called
Kualo Point, and then Mukapu
Point, between which and Ko-
ko Hean lies a valley in which is
the Waimanola Plantation. An
approaching steamer is first
seen from this plantation, and
it's arrival telephoned to Homo
lulu.
So we glided on over the
summer sea, a hundred pairs
of anxious eyes drinking in the
beautiful scene. Some one soft
ly hummed:
Land ahead, it's fruits are waving
Ger the hills of fadeless green. -
The outlines of high noun
tain peaks and low lying beach
against which the restless surf
eternally dashes, at first seemed
a dream, but soon dawning
reality. Nearer and nearer we
glided. The high rock promon-
tory, cloud-capt and sky-pierc-
ing, became boldly outlined. A
pale blue mist lay on the hills
and in the valley, giving to
them a softness which no
painter skill can even approx
mate. AS we drew nearer
these hills changed from blue
mist to red, and then along
their sides appeared a delicate
i green which deepened in its
hue, until, by 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 orange groves
or among waving palms and
other trees of the tropics, the
tall cocoanuts fairly towering
into the sky.
+! A school of dolphins soon
attracted our attention. They
were shooting all about the
| c1;~ oxI co,,11 1o cooro cLi%,,