The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1904-09-10

other for It's base is at the bottom Of
an ocean $4,000 feet deep Both ON iu
east ana west sides this vast dome rises
with uubroken slopes from ocean depths
to its summit through continuous all
titude of $4,000 feet, which Is not true
of any other mountain of earth. unless
a. Doe Of it's sister dome. Mauna Loa.
whose summit IS thirty miles south
west Both mountains wear caps ~
perpetual snow, although in the tJrr,l
zone.
But while uine-tenths OF the surface
Of Mauna Loa is "a dreary waste of re-
cent and rugged lava Maunakea is
mainly clothed with vegetation, much
of it luxuriant All volcanic activity
ceased there probably a thousand CEN
turtles ago, although IL is still a new
mountain compared with the aged eX-
tinct volcanoes Of the islands north
west. Vegetation is particularly rank
on the eastern half Of the mountain
slopes, where lies the larger part OF
the great Parker ranch. There may be
one hundred square miles of woodland,
all Indigenous native timber, chiefly
the tall but crooked ohia, with much Of
the mahogany-like koa. There are
between the bodies Of wood great
grassy slopes, Astounding in wild straw
berries. These slopes are studded with
scattering cattle. often stringing out in
long droves. 1 have an indefinite idea
that there are from $4,000 to 10000 in
all Of these cattle, Much effort has
been made to round up and brand them
/ know not with how much success.
Nor do l know how far has gone any
effort to improve the breed by intro
ducing high-bred bulls 1t must be diff
ficult to produce much improvement
among $4,000 or more Of wild herds,
Astounding in fierce and vigorous bulls.
The original stock was the Mexican
brought from California, and until a
bout forty years ago hardly any beeves
of domestic breeds had been imported.
Now the tame cattle are numerous on
the leeward islands and We have our
Jersey COWS In the old days we saw
only the long-horned cows. whose legs
must be tied before milking and to
to whose teats the calf must be applied
before milk would flow This Mexican
breed could only be handled with las
soes. requiring the Spanish saddle with
it's mighty pommel enabling the horse
to lean back to hold the captured bull
lock. In Australia only the domest-
Gated English breeds have been known
hence the difference between the cali
fornia" and the Australian" saddles
Standardization vaqueros came tC
Hawaii at an early date to handle the
wild cattle, but the natives took a
once to the business, in which they de-
lighted, and became proficient. But tn
name "Paniolo" or Spanard, sim de
signates the cowboy in Hawaii, al
though he Is always a native. TIL
Parker estate must employ many hun
dreds of these "aniolos." It is no small
task to collect scores of these wild fat
cattle and deliver them weekly to thu
coasting steamers at Kawaihae por
Bold and skillful driving is necessary
nor is much to be considered abou
cruelty to animals, especially in tow
ing the animals out to the ship anC
hosting them aboard. Passengers o
tender sympathies do well not to in
! spect such proceedings.
A cattle ranch, at present prices Of
beef, ought to be immensely profitable
Forty years ago people in Honolulu
paid the butcher 6 or cents pound
while in rural districts or cents wa
the price Now we pay Is to is cents
, Undoubtedly the Parker concern is
very good paying affair." and equally
surely it needs very good management
to make the most of it. 1t is quite GER
tain that Sam Parker is not at all the
man himself to direct it, or even per
= haps to choose the managers, although
what is usually called one OF the "bes
, of fellows"