HA WAIIAN O UIDE B OR. 71 



" La Paz," says in one of Ms graphic sketches, " Laupa- 

 hoehoe is a mere leaf of basaltic lava pushed out into 

 the sea from the narrow valley, which formed the path- 

 way for the last volcanic throe of Maunakea. We 

 have no doubt that the name of the village is derived 

 from the shape of the lava point on which it is situated, 

 Lau-pa-hoe-hoe, meaning a leaf of lava. On the other 

 cliff, one mile distant, you discern horsemen and decide 

 that the road to Hilo lies over there, but how to get 

 there. This wall extends inland for miles, a stream 

 rolls down its precipitous valley, plainly one must go 

 down before getting up the other side. At length the 

 ribbon road wound downward on the shelving roof of 

 the valley appears. From twenty minutes to half an 

 hour will be occupied in the descent, according as you 

 risk the neck of horse and rider. More than a score, 

 some say fifty similar valleys, with twice this number 

 of similar ribbon windings, miniature Alpine passes, lie 

 between Laupahoehoe and Hilo village." 



Mountain torrents rush through each of these passes, 

 and one of the wonders of this volcanic country lies in 

 these gulches, with their gothic steeps that disrupt the 

 land for three score miles or less, piercing the land's 

 centre. The number of waterfalls is beyond estimate, 

 their height varies from tens to thousands of feet, 

 and many of the streams literally leap into the sea. A 

 mere sprinkle at the beach often increases, higher up 

 the mountain, to a heavy rain, and the stream may rush 

 in torrents for a mile and then resume the common 

 course of a brook. It is not uncommon for the traveler 

 to be detained by a swollen stream for half a day. 

 In olden times the streams were crossed by stepping 



