The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-07-04

| lake in miniature is the source of two
large streams which empty themselves
into the ocean on opposite sides of the
island. On the southern bank of the
| Wainiha stream, at short distance
from the lake, there is gently swell
| ing mound on whose summit is laid a
platform of stone ten feet square and
about one foot in height; in the middle
of this structure there stands on end
long, narrow stone which is supposed
to be an embodiment of the guardian
genius of the place. Until within a
few years, it has been customary for
all visitors to WaiaIeale to make a
propitiary offering, consisting generally
of a string of beads, or a piece Of
money, to this idol, which bears the
name of Keawakoo. The earth around
it is thiekly strewed with beads of all
kinds, from the clumsy aboriginal ivory
carving to the fancy article of foreign
importation. With sacrilegious hands
we pecketed a few as relies, to the APP
parent regret, however, Of the natives,
Who looked upon them with kind of
superstitious awe.
rs All the time that we had been on the
summit the clouds Of mistshad not ceas-
ed. todrive past like smoke, rendering
everything indistinet,s and causing a
man at distance of a few rods to loom
up, huge and shadowy, like the ghost
of giant No wonder this realm Of
solitude and fog was peopled by the
aneients with supernatural beings.
If we look off from the brink of the
eastern precipice, whose perpendicular
height is several thousand feet, nothing
was to be seen but an ocean of clouds
SO illuminated by the sun as to appear
like boundiess field of the w,hitest
snow beneath our feet. It was a very
fine spectacle, but it was not what we
had come up to see; so we impatlently
sought for consolation, until proud
Madame Waiafeale should deign to be-
stow a smile upon US, by employing
ourselves in searching for new forms of
vegetation among the numberless va
rieties of ferns and other plants which
here abound. Plants of all kinds seem
to assume new types and characters in,
this elevated climate; this was espe-
cially noticeable in regard to tree
called the Lapalapa On the way up
we had noticed it, a large elegant tree
with wide spreading branches, and very
peculiar shaped, serrate leaves, Of
light glossy green color; the slightest
breeze was sufficient to set these all in
motion, and as one side of the leaves
is of a much lighter shade than the
other, their violent futtering and
vibrating without any apparent cause,
was curious sight. But here on the
top of the mountain this stately tree
had dwindled down to an Insignificant
bush. the shape of the leaves was en-
tirely changed, and eheir serrated edge
had become smooth.
After dinner, which we ate at the
encampment, everything seeming fair,
we again returned to the summit, which
to our immense delight we found per
fectiv clear. A glimpse into Paradise
could not have given us greater pleas
ure than the magn fcent prospect we
now beheld through an unusually clear
atmosphere The. whole of Puma was
spread out like a map before US, and
an exquisiteIy beautiful landscape it
was. SO perfect a combination Of dark
forests, and shimmering streams, and
smooth green plains, ard verdant hills,
and blue ocean is rarely seen; every
thing was in harmony, there was moth
ing to offend the taste Wailua was
directly in front of US. with its grace,
ful ranges of little mountains, and
ronnd-topped hills; the mansion of
"Wailua Falls was barely discover
able among the groves of trees. and the
cattle yards and Hao hedges. of the
piece helped to mark it. Nearer to us
was the Wailua river, shining and flash
ing like polished silver from its stony
bed. On the right lay the emerald
canefelds Of LJhpe, and the round bay
IF Nawiliwili. ard sturdy Hauna with
its range of hills. On cur left, ridge
after ridge stretched away toward the
north. the who dorsey covered with
forest. TO the eytensi~e nature lands of
KeaHa. and bevord to the minute blue
obel;sks of Kaaaloa.