412 HONOLULU. 



ever convenient they may be, certainly do not improve either the 

 beauty or comforts of Honolulu ; being suffered to fall into decay, 

 they, in so dry a climate, add not a little to the discomforts of the 

 inhabitants, from the quantity of fine dust that the trade-winds put 

 into circulation for a few hours each day. But these dusty roads and 

 barren plains can, in a few minutes, be exchanged for one of the most 

 agreeable and delightful climates in the world, by a short ride to the 

 valley of Nuuanu. The contrast is like passing from the torrid to 

 the temperate zone. In this valley a number of the gentlemen of 

 Honolulu have cottages, that form pleasant retreats during the hot 

 season. 



The valley of Nuuanu is formed by a break in the central volcanic 

 ridge of Oahu; it ascends gradually from behind the town, and is about 

 seven miles long, by half a mile wide at its entrance; it contracts 

 until it reaches the northern side of the ridge, where it suddenly ter- 

 minates in a deep precipice of eleven hundred feet, called the Pali. 

 Here the trade-wind rushes through, between the two high peaks, 

 fifteen hundred feet above, with violence, while their tops condense 

 the clouds, whose waters are descending constantly in small silver 

 rills, that leap from rock to rock on all sides, unite in the middle of 

 the valley, and form a large brook, which is again distributed by the 

 natives, to give fertility and luxuriance to part of the plain below. 



The beauty of the valley, when passing into it, is at times striking, 

 from the effect of the light and shade produced by the clouds, which 

 are occasionally seen lowering on the mountain peaks, and are, as it 

 were, held in check by them. The clouds now and then escape and 

 pass above the peaks, and again burst by with renewed and accu- 

 mulated strength, sweeping through the valley, and carrying ferti- 

 lizing showers over it, with every variety of rainbow, while the 

 whole western sky is one glorious sunlight. The sunbeams now 

 and then gain possession of the valley, thus causing a constant and 

 rapid succession of showers and sunshine. 



The ride to the Pali is a most agreeable one. There is a tolerable 

 horse-path three-fourths of the way ; the remainder would be con- 

 sidered impracticable for horses by those unaccustomed to their per- 

 formances in a mountain country ; but, however frightful the road 

 may appear, I would recommend all those who attempt it, to keep to 

 the horse's back, and trust to his getting them over the steep knolls, 

 and through the miry places. On reaching the Pali, beware of losing 

 not only your hat, but yourself; for when the trade-wind is blowing 



