LETTERS FROM HAWAII 



We went over to the steamer again early Friday A.M., 

 had a lovely view of the shores in our trip of six hours, 

 landed about 12.30 (what a scramble!), and found our 

 horses waiting to bring us up here. . . . The road 

 was much better than we had been told, and two and 

 a half hours carried us over the six miles to the half-way 

 house. There we all dismounted to take the ' brakes ' 

 in which we were to finish our trip. . . . We had a 

 lovely drive through a tropical forest, a wonderful growth 

 of ferns shading a good road, and reached this house 

 about 7 P.M. As soon as the light faded, the fires 

 below illuminated the waves of steam rising from the 

 crater, till we could hardly be willing to close our eyes 

 for slumber tired though we were. This is a primitive 

 place, but we are comfortable under the charge of an 

 obliging landlord, and have a pleasant circle about us. 

 We expect to be here a week, then descend by an easy 

 grade to Punaluu for Sunday, and return on the Hall, to 

 reach Honolulu on Tuesday the 23d. 



' The trip to the crater was made in the rain, and all 

 returned soaked. Father and Mr. Emerson were the last 

 to arrive, at four o'clock. The rubber coats had kept 

 them safe, and now, after sending the wet clothes to a 

 drying-room where a big fire is burning, father is dozing 

 till dinner-time. He felt fully repaid for his efforts, but 

 finds the show far less brilliant than in 1840. . . . All 

 around this house the steam rises from the ground in a 

 very suggestive way, and there is a bank near by from 

 which are brought lovely sulphur crystals. The air is 

 pure and fine, there are no mosquitoes, and if the beds 

 are hard, it is easier to sleep than in better ones at a 



lower level. Mr. M is from Brooklyn (N. Y.), and is 



a pleasant host. Our room is on the piazza, has no 

 window, so that last night we left the door (which is half 

 glass) open, guarded by a heavy valise lest any of the 

 dogs should push in. ... Mr. Emerson told me 

 that at the half-way house, on our way up, they said they 

 had orders to give him the best horse in a brake for Mrs. 

 Dana, while Professor Dana and his daughter were to 

 follow. This is but a sample of the way we are 

 treated! . . . 



" This is now Sunday, and once again mist and rain 

 shut down upon us. I woke very early and listened to a 



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