66 KAUAI AND OAHU. 



three-fourths of a mile from its mouth, in boats. The water is used 

 for irrigating the valley, and might also be appropriated to manufac- 

 turing purposes, as there are many excellent mill-seats, and a steady 

 supply of water for such purposes. 



The district in which Waimea is situated, is called Hanapepe, and 

 extends to Napali on the west, and Hanapepe on the east. The 

 former is about twenty miles distant from Waimea, and the latter six. 

 At Napali a part of the central range of mountains meets the sea, 

 and shuts in the plain near the sea-shore by a perpendicular pre- 

 cipice, between fifteen hundred and two thousand feet in height. 



Tlie sandy plain that skirts the southwest side of the island is from 

 one-fourth of a mile to a mile wide, and lies one hundred and fifty 

 feet above the level of the sea ; the ground rises thence gradually 

 to the summit of the mountains. This land is fit for little except 

 the pasturage of goats, and presents a sunburnt appearance, being 

 destitute of trees to the distance of eight or ten miles from the sea. 

 The plain above spoken of, therefore, has little to recommend it. 

 There is a strip of land just before the mountain ascent begins, which 

 has an excellent soil, but for the want of water will probably long 

 remain unproductive. On the low grounds the cocoa-nut tree thrives 

 and bears abundant fruit, which is not the case with those on the 

 other islands. 



The sea-coast bounding this district, is considered the best for 

 fishing, and the manufacture of salt might be extensively carried on. 



The drinking water, except that obtained from the river, is 

 brackish. 



The valley of Hanapepe borders on the eastern part of this district : 

 it has apparently been formed by volcanic action. At its entrance it 

 is about half a mile wide, and decreases in width as it approaches the 

 mountains. At its head is a beautiful waterfall, of which Mr. Ag-ate 

 succeeded in getting a correct drawing. 



The basaltic rocks and strata, as it will be seen, have been much 

 reversed and upturned, and present their columnar structure very 

 distinctly to view, inclining in opposite directions. Although the 

 volume of water in this cascade is not great, yet its form and situation 

 add very much to its beauty : it falls into a quiet basin beneath ; and 

 the spray being driven by the wind upon each bank, atfords nourish- 

 ment to a variety of ferns which grow there. At its foot it forms a 

 small river, which passes down through- the centxe of the valley. This 

 whole scene is very striking, the banks forming a kind of amphi- 



