76 KAUAI AND OAHU. 



diate coast is also good, and receives an abundance of rain for agricul- 

 tural purposes. There are here also several small streams, sufficiently 

 well supplied with water to drive the machinery for sugar-mills. 



The scenery of this district is surpassed by that of few places in 

 beauty, boldness, and variety; stupendous precipices rising some two 

 or three thousand feet, with small streams rushing over and down 

 their sides, resembling so many strings of silver girdling them, and 

 here and there lost among the light and airy foliage. To whichever 

 side the traveller turns himself, he is sure to find something to interest 

 and attract his attention. The Kaluamei waterfall is a very remarka- 

 ble spot, lying deep in the mountain, whither from appearance it has 

 worn its way to the depth of half a mile back. On passing up the bed 

 of the stream, the banks rise almost perpendicularly, and are but a few 

 yards asunder when the foot of the fall is reached ; here the sun pene- 

 trates only for an hour at midday. This is a fit place for the legends 

 of the natives, and it is understood that it was intimately connected 

 with their mythology. This part of the island has now few inhabitants, 

 but from the appearance of the extensive taro-grounds, it is believed to 

 have been formerly densely populated. 



The Koolaulo flat continues further, passing by Kaneohe to the east 

 end of the island, where the arable land decreases very much in 

 width. 



The climate of Waialua, as I am informed by the Rev. Mr. Emer- 

 son, is rather cooler than that of Honolulu, and there is no annoyance 

 from dust. The thermometer ranges from 75° to 80°, and has not 

 fallen below 55° for several years, and rarely below 60°. The climate 

 is usually looked upon as healthy, except during the prevalence of the 

 northwest wind, which is found to affect injuriously those having pul- 

 monary complaints. 



As to industry, the habits of the people are improving, which is dis- 

 cernible in their comparative willingness to labour for hire, and their 

 improvement in dress. Eight years before our visit, there were but 

 two persons who appeared at church in shirts or pantaloons: more 

 than one-half now wear these garments, and the women instead of 

 tapa for the most part wear cloth. Formerly a man laboured with 

 great reluctance later than two or three o'clock in the afternoon, and 

 rarely worked later for the chiefs or themselves; at the time of our 

 visit they would do a full day's work, and this too without superinten- 

 dence. A little improvement is also manifested in their dwellings, a 

 few of which have been constructed of adobes, and whitewashed ; but 

 they for the most part pertinaciously adhere to the materials and mode 

 of building of their ancestors. Some, however, have enlarged their 



