The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-12
IT BEATS ALL
THE TOBOGGANS.
The Delights of the Natural Water
Slide in Samoa.
THERE IS ONLY ONE LIKE H.
Peculiar Sensation of Being Nhirieu
Down "a Mountain Stream 'nuer
the Guidance of Native-Tro-
picaI Forest Sport.
THERE IS ONLY ONE LIKE IT.


There are only two places IN ear'h
where il Is possible TO enjoy the ha'ul0'
water slide-Perak, in the Malay fe''in-
spla and Papase'ea. in the Samoan
Jungle. Just a few miles outside oil Ap'a'
Al both these places st. is possible 10 s'l
do,,n I'm a shallow stream on the top OF
LONG rock and slide on the water 10
the bottom of the rock. ending ".ih Il
,,,s,tn, dive into a deep pool. The thing
- every appearance Of being impossl-
BILE. rasping the trst hdu'0 WIZ
over shows IL pracucanie-
II is one of the most oXhuarating OK
rerionces that 10 is possible TO imagine
Z, fact IL is impossible to imagine IT,
doenite the utmost familiarity win water
tobogpans. TO feel the chill or mountain
water I'm the heart of the blazing tropics.
90 slide breathless on a long race OF
rock 10 catch i'm the sudden fi9ht when
the body feels as light as thieucd""h
flashes of rock and stream and waste
of Jungle vegetation. to tu ia' h'7lFll7
with a blending Of b9lms and odors' 10
n0at M Mft out uom 90. '.N ','i'
through the rushing air and then amer
the cold embrace of dark water to dfil
iIv. leisureiy upward CD a green o'Ile
which grows brighter and 10 rest the
ewes again ON chiuks of blue sky TN WaV-
ing bourhs above. All this goes 10 MAKE
mn an experience not easily paralc.el.
Paoaso'ea-the native name means the
sliding rook-les just far enough ONT or
Anita IN serve ass "A III excuse fer q pic
Mic Each NJ the Samoan g.rls thar go
along has an extra supply or me frt-
grant wreathg and garl7nds WIKI when
she Is trimmed and sne Is ready 70
shore them among the party. together
they see 20 it that each rider wears
about tho neck q string ~ the rec nut
lets Of the pandanus strung on fibre. or
at least a lighter garland Of scented
leaves That is an essential The Sa-
moan idea Of merrvWaking is that n IS
not complete without string NJ some
thing that di0uses a strong sweet smell.
They may he tri1e cumbersome, for
tho pandanus ie a heavy fgiit the coco
anut oil with which thoye are dripping
may stain white coats and shirtwaists.
but that rs minor inconvenience which
must be borne
ON THE ROAD.
on the beach road through tho one
sided town OF Apia the cavalc7de must
voud "a straight stretch Of road extends
over level plain and runs back from
the beach between the bitches fU'l OF Tire
broad leaves of the trro -Frting folds
where the srcaro4ue is growing in tr'ck
array. Soon these Fat lands Of Tiger
rav are left behind and the road besins
10 work mp the swelling side ~ Mount
Bae9. past the monastery whose white
buildings CLEAN through ih" trees Stcdd-
fly upward The road passes ny samoan
WIN ages and the plantations Of "ni'e
residents VINO are beginning % see some
hone Of SUCCESS in establishing 1rchdlds
OF coffee and cacao At last. when Loo
t0pa ls reached the road. which has
been broad enough for carriages 10 pass
abreast runs up against wall or TIM
Der and stops short off,
Not exactly $50. Close search shows of
at one side ~ path worn by the ho0fs
of horses. Here the riding party must
go I'm single Gle People can that Indian
file. bur BE- is common to I'D. savage pco-
ulo They never walk side by side. no
matter how wide tine road. their paths
are never moro than wide enough no uut
one foot ahead Of tie other. TIE bushes
hang over the track. and 30 Is only at
rare gaps that it is possible 70 see what
! sort OF going there is under foot. Some
timos the great trees throw their but-
| tr-sses acrosr the path. and IL is ncces-
| earv 10 twist in and ont between them
and to prove that the horse is much
more dcAible animal than is popu' arly
supposed. 10 is but one instant from a
! broad and well-made road into the ho9rt
Of tle jungle. Every view is immediate
| lr closed. The bushes b-cen the path,
| The b0uehs Of lofty trees iatorldce over
! head and block out the sky. the leht
/ . rfsI| f.r|
| trunks and pendent lIaras close every
! prospect with range of vision - le
! reckonod by yards. and by very few Of
/ them. It DIS green everywhere. lieht green
! and dark green. there are no vivid COLI
| orincs. and not n flower is in sight Not
! q single gay bird or butterfly darts
across the vision. IL IS still wonder
| fully stll and lonely this samoan forest
scenery. The only sound chat ore hears
! is the cooling Of dove no more 'aricd
| note than the monOtonous rolling OF a
| distant and muiled drum. Now the
| gorge OF some brawiiug stream. which
"a sudden shower win make an iu pass4-
| bic torrent. now gingeriy picking tho
| way on the very ridge Of a hei5ht be-
| tween streams. the road or trail rises
| steadily upward through the forest for
/ two or three miles. At last BE- passes
| through tangled wall Of trees whose
! low branches seem rightly placed %
| sweep every rider from tho saddle; IL
| opens in a bare spot OF about arr acre
where the grasses grow high enough 90
| hide a horse The air is HE'D with a
! babbing and a brawiing. but no stream
| is FOO s.-ht
The stree m may De n riu or II may be
| q river; that depends on the recent rain
fan on the mountain peaks On the centre
] Oh Nn % ~ q