SANDWICH ISLANDS 35 



sible to imagine. Near the city an interesting volcano 

 is to be seen, which goes by the appropriate name of 

 the " Punch Bowl." Honolulu is situated in a valley, 

 and embosomed in trees. Stately palms rear their 

 tufted heads above the low houses, and the perfume 

 from myriads of flowers and sweet-smelling shrubs is 

 wafted to the traveller as he approaches. A line was 

 thrown ashore, and the vessel was slowly worked up 

 to the wharf. I was on the alert, and, when the bow 

 touched, jumped ashore. The rest of the passengers 

 waited until the plank was thrown out. There was 

 a large crowd of jolly-looking, gayly dressed natives on 

 the wharf, and a crew of chocolate-colored boys were 

 diving for pennies, which the passengers threw into 

 the water. The whole scene had a holiday appearance, 

 and the laughing, chattering, flower-laden inhabitants 

 seemed as happy as a group of schoolboys on a picnic. 

 I made my way up-town as fast as was practicable (for 

 the streets were very muddy), and after buying a bag- 

 ful of delicious oranges, and another of the finest 

 bananas I had ever seen, sat down on the curbstone to 

 enjoy them. How I did eat ! The fruit was excellent; 

 and after living on nothing for three days, and soup 

 with tough beef and hard-tack for four more, I was in 

 first-class condition to make good use of it. While 

 peeling a banana, the wreck of what I had eaten lying 

 about, some of the passengers came along, and the 

 expression of their faces was worth noting. They 



