Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-01-13

II was aecompli he'd and we were
away for distant 120 miles
few minutes after eight o'clock
From daylight ill time of starting ma
tives were continually coming aboard
usually carrying all their posse sions
in a cedar-woOd box and large roll OF
mats, all going to Haapi or to Vavau
pronounced Hah-pi and Vah-vow),
the two places the boats call at among
these islands. By the time we started
we had about ESQ on deck in the space
between first cabin and storage cabin,
while their things were piled up every
where. They are great hands to visit,
and l was told every boat, coming or
goinS, has the usual number on board.
A Cocoanut Isle.
Haapai Is small place, on a fiat
island very generally covered with CO
coanut trees and ships more copra
than both the other ports combined.
During the whole day we could see
little islands. each surrounded BY a
coral reef, over which the great roll
ers were constantly breaking and
each densely covered with tall cocoa
nut palms, which gave them a queer
appea- ance, for the islands are gener-
ally o. ly a few feet cat of water. On
/ arriving just at dusk and anchorin;
| hals mile from shore, we were immi-
diately surrounded by swarm of row
and sail boats TO take away the natives
and their things. Then for over two
hours ensued very interesting scene.
Temporary clusters of electric lights
in large cone refiectors were hung all
around and a stair gangway fixed for
the natives TO get from deck down
into the small boats. All were talking
at once, but during the hubub every
one was in the best of humor. How
they ever succeeded in separating
their own stuff from the mass i a
mystery to me. for the boxes and
bundles all looked alike and none
were marked. But they apparently
did, and all got away safely, though 1t
was remarkable some of them did not
get precipitated into the water in get
ting from the foot of the gangway in.
to the bobbing small boats. During all
this time the cargo was being dis
charged and copper received by light
ers on the other side of the ship.
A Great Cave.
We got away some time during the
night and by the middle of the next
afternoon were at Vavau, eighty miles
from Haapi and the last port of call
among the Tongan islands 1t is justly
celebrated for its beauty and for It's
splendid harbor It is a lofty island,
richly wooded and approached by a
long, winding bay of the supremest
loneliness, where shaded inlet, jutting
cape and headland crested with grace
full palms and fairy-like green islets
are wildly contrasted with the mirror
smooth, blue waters of land-locked
ford. Shortly after we began our prog
ress up this winding bay we stopped
and lowered one of the ships largest
boats, which was quickly filled with
first cabin passengers and taken in
tow by the launch and started for the
entrance of large cave in rocky is.
land close at hand. while we re 5umed
our journey. We could see the boat
glide into the entrance out of sight,
followed by the launch to tow it out
later. One of the passengers who went
told me it was sight well worth see
ing, and also said he tried to get me
admitted to the boat, but on account of
being only third class passenger.
they wouldn't break the rule. He and
MS wife with a young lady cousin and
thelr daughter, came to Nukualafa on
this same boat on its trip to Auckland
and during their stay of two weeks al
the hotel ! got well acquainted with
him. He was from the state of Vic.
torla, Australia, a thorough gentle.
man, rich, and had a wife with the
nerves"
In about an hour or so, after twist.
ing and turning, we dropped ashore
near a wharf in course of construc.
tlon, before small, pretty white town
at the head of the bay and all went
ashore in the ships boats. By tbi;
time the launch had arrived with the
boat load of passengers from the cave
gong directly o the landing. After
taxing a turn up and down the main
street which circles the line of shore
ana IS now filled with natives all do.