84 KAUAI AND OAHU. 



enceinte to work on the roads, may perhaps have had a tendency to 

 cause the commission of this crime. 



Intemperance has again made its appearance within a year in this 

 district, and the introduction of rum, brandy, &c., under the French 

 treaty, has had its effect upon tlie common people ; for althougli 

 these liquors are too dear for them to purchase, they will follow the 

 fashion, and in lieu of spirits use ava, or some a fermented drink 

 made of potatoes, water-melons, or the ti : many bad consequences 

 are the inevitable result. 



Messrs. Rich and Brackenridge, accompanied by Mr. Emerson, 

 made an excursion to reach the top of the Kaala range of moun- 

 tains. They were unfortunate in the selected day ; for shortly after 

 they reached the movintain, it began to rain, which rendered climb- 

 ing on th enarrow ridge very difficult. This was in some places 

 not moi-e than two feet wide, about fifteen hundred feet high, almost 

 perpendicular, and extremely dangerous from its becoming slippery 

 with the wet. The ridge became in a short time so narrow, that they 

 were compelled to go astride and hitch themselves along, until, as 

 they thought, they had attained the altitude of two thousand five 

 hundred feet, when they deemed it impossible to reach the top, and 

 concluded to retrace their steps. As they returned, they collected 

 many interesting plants ; among them a shrubby Viola, about two feet 

 high, with a slightly fragrant white flower ; Exocarpus cupressiformis, 

 the same as the native cherry of New South Wales ; and near the 

 base of the mountain, forests of Erythrina monosperma (of Hooker), 

 the wood of which was used by the natives for making out-riggers for 

 their canoes. 



The next day they proceeded on their way to Honolulu, across the 

 plain between the two ranges of mountains. This plain, in the rainy 

 season, affords abundance of food for cattle in three or four kinds of 

 grasses, and is, as I have before remarked, susceptible of extensive 

 cultivation by irrigation from the several streams that traverse it. 

 The largest of the streams is the Ewa. Scraggy bushes of sandal- 

 wood and other shrubs are now scattered over a soil fit for the culti- 

 vation of sugar-cane and indigo. 



At Ewa they were kindly received by the Reverend Mr. Bishop 

 and lady, who have charge of the station. The district of Ewa com- 

 mences about seven miles to the west of Honolulu, and extends twenty 

 miles along the south shore, or from the hill in the vicinity of the salt 

 lake to beyond Laeloa or Barber's Point. There are no chiefs or 



