MAUI. 255 



pleasure in mentioning it, as I had not before given his majesty credit 

 for the domestic virtues, which I am now satisfied he possesses to a 

 great degree, botli from the tenor of his conversation and the pleasing 

 picture he exhibited in the last interview I had with him. 



His wife is much fairer than the natives usually, and she has not 

 so coarse and disproportionate a figure as seems characteristic of the 

 females of distinction in these islands. Her features, however, were 

 decidedly of the native character. The tone of voice was pleasing 

 and ladylike. 



Wishing to inspect the female seminary of Wailuku, which I had 

 heard much spoken of, I went over to it, in company with Mr. 

 Drayton. One of the chiefs was obliging enough to furnish me with 

 a horse for the occasion. We rode along the south shore of West 

 Maui, as it is here termed. This portion of West Maui is rendered 

 susceptible of cultivation by means of irrigation, supplied by nume- 

 rous small brooks, running from the mountains. A very small 

 portion, however, is thus cultivated ; but I should think it could be 

 made to yield large crops of taro and sugar-cane, with very little care. 



The leeward side of West Maui is similar in climate to Oahu, and, 

 as was to be expected, the plants were the same. 



Most of the habitations we passed were occupied by fishermen. 

 Some large heaps of coral taken froiii the reef were observed along 

 the shore, which were to be transported to Lahaina, in order to be 

 burnt for lime. 



As we approached the east end of West Maui, the mountains kept 

 increasing on the plain, until they formed an abrupt precipice several 

 hundred feet in height at the sea. There the way led up a zigzag 

 road, if road it could be called, which it is difficult for man or horse 

 to pass over. A portion of this path, two or three miles in length, 

 had been worked, and is yet in good repair ; but that on the south 

 side has been suffered to fall entirely into ruin, and is the most 

 difficult part to overcome. 



The rock of the cliflF was basaltic, containing grains of chrysolite, 

 which were also observed in the sand in the beds of the dry streams. 

 No conglomerate was seen. 



The greatest discomfort we experienced in this excursion arose from 

 the violence of the gusts that passed by us : the power of the wind was 

 almost violent enough to unhorse us, as it burst in intermittinor gusts 

 through the ravines every few minutes. After passing this rough 



