Year: 1871

LHE S1ND HICH ISLANDS.


4 Tour on Hawati- Coast Scenery Town Of
H'lo--A Nntire Sport-An Actire Volcano


HoNoLuLU, Feb. LIST, 1871.


The Sandwich Islands offer to the visitor
one point of interest such as perhaps can be
found nowhere else in the world, that is a
volcanic crater always active and safely ac-
cessible. 1t is an object of SO much grandeur
that no one fails to give it the first place in
his programme of travel in this part Of the
world. The Island Of Hawaii as the largest
gives the name to the whole group. It en-
braces more territory than all the other Is
lands together, having surface of four thou
sand square miles. Visitors to the volcano
generally direct their course to the port of
IIilo, which may be reached by steamer from
Honolulu in thirty-six hours. Sailing vessels
may occupy from two days to two weeks In
the same voyage according to circumstances.
Some compensation for the inevitable dis
comforts Of the trip is found in the fine views
afforded in coasting along the northeastern
shore of Hawaii. In some portions there
faces the sea a wall of rock that often reaches
the height of two thousand feet and even more.
1t is intersected by numerous ravines, thu ough
which flow streams that fall over the preci-
pice into the sea, streaking with silvery
threads the dark surface of rock. At one
point thirteen Of these cascades were visible
at once. They present beautiful variety of
form, some of them descending in winding
course, others by successive leaps, while still
others show q stream falling in a perpendic-
ular line fifteen hundred or two thousand feet.
Narrow valleys open up in this mountain wall,
often presenting glimpses of scenery awful in
grandeur. These valleys are occupied by
native population that finds the situation fa-
vorable for some products on which they sub
sist. On the uplands may be seen occasion
ally the buildings of sugar-making estab-
lishment, surrounded by patches of bright
green that indicate fields of cane. A clump
of trees was pointed out to your correspond
ent as surrounding the residence of one whose
name is familiar to many in Augusta and
Hallowell, Rev. E. Bond, one of the most
laborious and faithful of missionary laborers.
AT frequent intervals along the shore stand
neat little churches TO guard like sentinels this
once heathen land. Far away in the distance
are to be seen the lofty SUBMITS of Mauna
Rea and Mauna Loa, two Of the three great
mountain peaks of the Island, covered with
glistening snow. The voyager is particularly
fortunate who approaches Hilo on the morn
ing of clear day. The little village presents
a sight of rare beauty as it lies at the extrem-
ity of a deep bay, the neat white edifices con-
trasting finely with the abundant verdure of II
tropical region. point of land covered with
the graceful forms of the cocoa-nut palm
forms one side of the bay, and just behind the
town is the regular form of a small crater, one
of three that stand in line near each other:
Hilo was at one time place of considerable
importance as a resort for whaling ships, Of
which as many as fifty have been anchored at
once in the capacious bay. Now hardly one
is seen and the only business is that made by
the sugar plantations. 1t is the seat of sew
eral schools where native youth receive
good education and careful training in hab-
its of order and decorum. small but de-
lightful foreign society welcomes the visitor
with profuse hospitality. Some charming
views of natural scenery are found in the
vicinity of IIilo, but whoever would have ac-
| cess to them ought to be an expert eques-
trian. There are no roads over which car
riage can pass. The first sight of them even
for riders is somewhat appalling. Rainbow
Falls are an object of great beauty. The
Wailuku river passes over ledge which is
followed out behind the water into deep
cave. The ascending spray forms in the sun
light prismatic arch, spanning the stream.
There is occasionally an opportunity to wit
ness at Hilo favorite sport of the natives,
much practised in former times, that is surf
riding. Taking long, narrow board with
pointed ends, they swim out from the beach,
and meeting the wave just where it begins to
curve over, they manage skilltully to mount
upon it with the board and are carried for
ward as if upon the back of a race horse. A
few have the skill to stand erect upon the
surf board, and, owing to the peculiar form
of the beach-line, may be carried a mile upon
the crest of the rushing wave. But we musi
leave Illo and turn towards the volcano
The distance is about thirty miles. Ou,
party received welcome accessions in the
persons of several residents of the town, who
were disposed to embrace the opportunity o
visiting the crater, then exhibiting universe
activity. All were mounted upon strong ant
experienced horses, for only such can make tn,
trip with safety and expedition. Although
the road is one of the Kings highways,
would astonish even those accustomed to tn,
bridle-paths of new country by the comb
nation it offers of all varieties of difficulties


We have late start but are determined t.
accomplish the distance before night. Ii Il
necessary to push on at sharp speed, splash
ing through pools, foundering through bogs
gathering over the rough surface of lava rock
At times the road runs through woods that
present many varieties of strange foliage,
magnificent ferns, luxuriant vines and curl
GUS parasitic plants The first halt is made in q