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


ing lively business in disposing of
their wares to passengers. l struck of
back and TO one ,ide and finally
reached the summit of Talu hill, 45@
feet above the bay. The view from
there is one of undeniable beauty. The
whole of the winding harbor lies be-
low. silent and glossy still. The col
ors of the bay, produced by the under
lying coral reefs are both wonderfui
and unusual.
Orange Covered Hill.
Returning then followed a splendid
road leading into the country. for an
hour or so. One of the most remark
able sights | ever witnessed was here
presented to view. 1t was hill just
back of the toy 4 about 100 feet high
the hape of an inverted bow. and so
denseIy and completely covered with
orange trees and the trees so loaded
with ripe fruit that from distance the
whole hill took on the color Of orange
One of the first things that attracted
my attention on landing was the ex-
traordinary number of large orange
trees in every direction, all loaded
with large, ripe fruit, while the ground
under every tree was completely COW
cred with them On this road Owe
which ! walked, as far as went, were
orange trees growing wild, all loaded
with delicious, large oranges. From as
careful an estimate as | could make, /
frly l., l.. ;eI,T al
going to waste because their only mar
ket is Auckland, N. T.. and some in
spector there thought he saw a bug or
two in a shipment one season, and to
protect the couple of dozen trees
scattered about the north island of the
country, law was passed excluding
| them. Passengers bought kits, de-
liyered on board, holding about a
bushel for pence (12 cents).
AS soon as supper was over on
board hired .. boatilan to row me
over to an American threemasted
barque from San Francisco, on an an.
nual visit to these islands with lumber
and copra back. The ship was at Nu-
kualafa'when arrived and l got ac-
quainted with the cantain there. Ar.
irving on board / was shown 10 mis-
cabin and after half an hours pleas
ant conversation, he rowed me ashore.
/ accompanied him to the postoffice
where he had some letters to mail.
Shortly after he returned to his ship
while | took another look about the
town by artificial light, before return
ing. Had / known before what a
charmingly situated and nice little
place it was think should have
tried to arrange matters SO I could
nave passed two weeks there instead
OF the whole four at Nukualofa.
Off For Apia.
On arising next morning we were
out of sight of land, on our way to
Apia, the capital of Samoa, situated on
the island of Upolu, SAT miles from
Vavau. and only 10 degrees south Of
the equator. The sea was beautiful,
but the sun was hot and hands sought
hade under the awnings, while many
slept on deck that night for comfort.
Early next morning we were in sight
OF the high mountains forming the
center of Upolu. BY the time breakfast
was over we were near enough to see
the curious checkerboard tower that
stands out as signal to ships.
also the larger square white towers of
the catholic cathedral. Then the pic
turesque turret of the Tivoli hotel,
where travellers find real island com
fort and learn, as l did, how to enjoy
life on the great, leaf-ahaded verandas
which take the place of domestic
hearths in the south seas.