The National tribune., 1899-11-16

renowned, an6 with no disadvantage:
usually found in tropical lands.
Upon the Island of Hawaii you may ge
any climate desired, from the heat of Sum
mer to real actual Winter IN the ranges
Mauna Loa or Mama Kea. 1t is neces
sarily health-giying locality.
The Northeast trades blow for abou
nine months in the year, and are the pre-
vailing winds. The islands are outside tn,
cyclone belt, and even thunder showers are
quite rarity. The usual average annual
rainfall at Hilo, Hawaii, is about so inches
i though in some seasons it is almost twice
this amount. AT Honolulu the average is
about SO inches. 1t will be observed the
heaviest fall of rain is on the windward side
| of the islands.
LOWER ORDERS PLENTIFUL.
When Cook and Vancouver landed in
| the group they found only dogs, rats, and
hogs. Now the islands are the home Of
these, and, besides, bats, lizards, cent?
pedes, and tarantulas. To illustrate the
fearlessness of the natives from the latter
two species | will say have seen one take
centipede and plague 1t for some time
until the animal would bite, VIXEN the
native would kill it, and rub the liquid
extracted from it upon the wound l have
known of many soldiers being bitten 10th
by centipedes and tarantulas in the Islands,
but there were no unpleasant effects. /
have been informed the reason of these not
being poisonous there is because no min
eral matter can be obtained by them, while
in this country their bite is almost instant
death. The trees and fruit in these islands
are almost sure to be covered by these
animals, but their bite produces about the
same effect there as that Of our musketo.
Cattle, goats, and hogs, together with
horses, run wild i'll many portions of the
group. In Hawaii large pastures are
given to the exclusive use of merino sheep
and Jersey cattle.
There are 53 discovered species of birds
in the islands. The Royal Robe of Ha-
waii, Of which we hear and read so
much nowadays, is made of the gay
feathers taken from the species drepd1ur
and moho. According to native authority
only two feathers can be taken from under
each wing of each bird, so that the great
cost of the robe may be imagined, as there
are only few OF this species left. Only
one of these robes is now in the islands, and
was worn by kalakau at his coronation.
This robe formed part of every ceremony
until it drared the bier Of the dead Eody
of the King while lying in state at the
tomb in 1891. This cloaF is the insignia
of royal power in Hawaii, and was made
of woven canvas, by the natives, to which
these tiny yellow feathers were fastened
to form velvety surface.
It,was formerly the cloak Of Kamehame-
ha L., and nine generations Of chiefs were
busy in the making Of it. The length Of
this robe is four and one-half feet, and it
spreads nearly u feet at the bottom.
COLOR AND FOLIAGE.
While the leeward sides of the islands
are quite bare, the windward is a floral
paradise. Though the far-famed sandal
wood is now quite gone, there are many
clnilenut trees and hundreds Of species Of
palms. The former tree furnishes nuts
from which the native forms his 'leis" of
beads, and also gave them their light during
the past generations.
The city of Honolulu is palace Of color
and foliage. The homes Of its residents
attract attention from every one. King
street and Nuusnu avenue are grand
boulevards; on either side is a wealth
Of vines, flowers, and palms. / have in
mind now large wall around the yard Of
one residence covered with the night-bloom-
ing cereus, and at the early evening no
more beautiful spot could be found in the