CHAPTER II. 



KAUAI AND OAHU. 

 1840. 



Saturday in Honolulu is a gala day, and all ages of both sexes 

 devote themselves to amusement. Towards the afternoon, they may 

 be seen wending their way towards the east end of the town, in every 

 variety of costume, and borne along in every possible manner. All 

 who have health enough must engage in this day's sport, and every 

 horse is m requisition. The national taste, if I may so speak, is 

 riding horses ; and the more break-neck and furious the animal is, the 

 better. Nicety of equipment is not thought of; any thing answers 

 for a saddle and bridle, and as for stirrups, they are considered quite 

 unnecessary. By four o'clock the crowd is well collected, and feats 

 of horsemanship are practised, consisting generally in those in- 

 voluntary tumblings that inexpert riders are wont to indulge in. 

 The great gathering is on the eastern plain, the road to which is well 

 covered with dust. The whole looks, when the crowd has possession 

 of It, not unlike a rag fair, the predominant colour beino- yellow 

 They are generally well behaved, and the only sufferers are°the poor 

 horses, who are kept running, not races only, but for the amusement 

 of the riders, whose great delight is to ride at full speed. At times 

 there are races, in which case the crowd is increased by the addition 

 of the foreigners, many of whom are in a state of intoxication. The 

 uproar is proportionably great, and the natives are less conspicuous, 

 their places being occupied by those whose morals and enjoyments 

 are far from being as nniocent. When his majesty and suite are 

 present, much more order and decorum are observed, and the whole 

 affords a pleasing and amusing sight. The returning throno- is 



