84 KAUAI AND OAHC 



one of their ancient customs that is still adhered to on this side of the 

 island. 



These caves are the effect of volcanic action, and were called by the 

 natives Kaualahu. Their guide having provided them with torches of 

 the tutui-nut, they ascended to one of them, two hundred feet above the 

 sea, where, having lighted the torches, they entered to the distance of 

 about one hundred feet. Here they found deposited a number of bones, 

 among which were only two skulls. On another side was a heap of 

 stones, covering more bones and some entire skeletons : to remove these 

 stones would have occupied more time than they had to spare, or than 

 their feeble lights would allow. 



Taking up the two skulls, they returned to their guide's house. 

 Thence they made a visit to two hills, very near to the sea, called 

 Kaalau Pele and Kuamuakuai. These hills are composed of yellow 

 and brown sand, interspersed with pieces of lava, and have a resem- 

 blance in colour and shape to the Punchbowl Hill, back of Honolulu. 



The height of the hill nearest the sea was estimated at five hundred 

 feet. At its base are several old craters, one of which is entirely in the 

 sea, and shows its perpendicular walls on the side next the hill. 



There are also here extensive fish-ponds, belonging to the king, in 

 which the usual fish are kept — mullet. 



There are also a number of ponds where the natives manufacture 

 large quantities of salt. 



Kaneohe is the mission station for the north side of the island ; it is 

 in the district of Pali-Koolau, and includes the eastern part of the north 

 side of the island, about twenty-five miles in extent. Kaneohe is 

 situated in the centre of it, and lies just beneath the Pali, back of Oahu, 

 heretofore spoken of. 



The harbour opposite to Kaneohe is called Waialai, and was sur- 

 veyed at the request of the king. At its entrance it was found to 

 have only nine feet of water, a depth too little except for the small ves- 

 sels of the island. This harbour is formed by the peninsula of Mokapu. 



This district contains four thousand five hundred inhabitants, among 

 whom it was said that a decrease had taken place ; but as this asser- 

 tion seemed unsupported by any satisfactory evidence, it is not entitled 

 to much attention. 



The productions of this district are the same as those of the island 

 generally ; the natives seem to be directing their attention to the raising 

 of sugar and coffee, and being within a short distance of Honolulu, 

 they resort to it with their produce for a market. The climate is cooler 

 by a few degrees than that of the opposite or leeward side of the island. 

 Frequent showers keep up a constant verdure. 



