The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1897-03-02
STORIES OF TRAVEL
Social Science Glib Entertained
BY Chief Justice Judd.
NEUMAKR AND LIEUT.. Stafford
Tell of Experiences in
Guatemala and Samoa.
Interesting Detail Of the Peo-
pie and National
Character.

was held last evening at the residence
of Chief Justice Judd. The first half
hour was devoted TO a discussion of
changes in the Hawaiian language.
and the peculiar construction OF words
to express ideas resulting from asso-
citation with foreigners.
The remainder Of the evening was
well taken up by Paul Neumann and
Lieutenant Stafford Of the Alert. the
former relating his experiences and i'm
pressions in Guatemala. and the latter
telling Of the life and customs of the
SamOans. Mr.. Neumann prefaced his
remarks with the statement that in all
his travels he found himself constantly
sOjourned with the Islands. and he
found that. taking all in all. his
decision was always in favor of Hawaii.
In travelling through Guatemala his
principal interest was in observing the
people, their national characteristics.
habits of life. etc. He found the an
proaches TO Guatemala compared IA
vOrably with the landing ar Kukuiha-
ele; landings were made in boats. and
passengers lifted TO their destination at
the top Of cliffs in cages. There is very
little of interest along the coast, and
the heat, even at the time of his visit
in November, was most oppressive. All
along the lowlands that skirt the coast
the heat is overpowering, and at GER
tain times of the year fevers are prev
alent. The trip on the railway, which
i'm TD1a 70 u, -
Guatemala was exceedingly interesting
and after leaving the lowlands, the
scenery is almost exactly as that in
these Islands. The mountainous sec
tons are broken by immense gulches,
which begin some place and end no.
where
Arriving at Guatemala he found that
the capital city had ali the appliances
OF modern discomfort, including street
cars that are dirtier than those in Ho-
nOlulu. The city is lighted by electric
lights. has many beautiful homes and
everything but good water. The water
supply is very scant, and when bathing
in the beautifully tiled bathrooms the
traveller is often notified that he is
drawing too much water Below the
town, however, there are excellent
baths. where water can be had in abun-
dance, Outside the horrible cookery
Guatemala is q pleasant place to reside
the air is bracing. the city being about
5000 feet elevation. and the climate
generally healthful 1t was a relief
however. to leave Guatemala, with its
barefOOted soldiers. officious police. and
wonderful collection Of homely old no
men and proceed to the ancient capi-
tai or Antigua Guatemala. This was
10 him the most interesting place in the
country. and while going 10 the city
he was pleased 10 see barley field:
along the route. this product of the TEN
perate zone being grown successful
Is al that high level All along the
route were evidences OF thrift, anC
nearly all the arabic land was utilized
Antigua was abandoned by reason O
earthquakes and flow of water man!
years since. which left the town mas
OF ruins. with the exception of sever
streets. now rebuilt In this city h,
found what he ran across in no othe
place-a magnificent climate and plent!
OF good water.
II was in this section that the beau
tifuI- coffee fields were found Mr. Neu
expense and beautiful appearance o
the coffee areas One can travel TO
miles and miles, seeing nothing bu
one great sea of coffee trees stretchinl
away in rows Of perfect regularity, ant
dotted here and there with the silye
oak. which Is planted for shade trees
The dome-shaped trees are a thing o
remarkable beauty in themselves. an
everything throughout the plantation
Is cared for with the utmost neat
ness ana particularly. Mr.. Neumani
comuared those fields with the at
tempts at coffee plantations he ha
seen here He was particularly at
tracted to this industry, because tn
change in that country in the last 1
years has not been equaled anywher
in the world Most of the coffee goe
10 Europe. and most of the machiner
comes from Scotland.
An opportunity was given 10 stud
the different types of people when b
attended one if the horse and cattl
fairs Nj Neumann described minute
IL some OF the characters observed. an
the sights and sounds of this festiva
In the Indian villages he was surprise
10 find an apparently superior people,
whose homes and villages eleanlines
was unsurpassed pleasant contra'
10 the filth and dirt of many Guat'
mala towns. The streets were cleal
men. women and children cleanly
their person. and the yards about Ii
homes showed a careful attention
cleanliness and precise order.
asked the reason, and found that II
Indians we're strict tetotalers. Guat
mala Is under the curse if a Cover
ment interested in the liquor uafi
and so long as the Government deriy,
a revenue from drunkenness there
not much hope for the country. tt
Chief Executive Of the land he four
man Of American education. and oil
who may bring about such reforms tn
the country viii fulfill its destiny