THROUGH HAWAII. 
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different peaks only appeared like so many distinct hills 
at a great distance. The highest peak bore s. w. by s. 
from Humuula. 
The high land over which we passed was generally 
woody, though the trees were not large. The places 
that were free from wood, wore covered with long grass 
and luxuriant ferns. The houses mostly stood singly, 
and were scattered over the face of the country. A 
rich field of potatoes or taro, five or six acres some¬ 
times in extent, or large plantations of sugar-cane and 
bananas, occasionally bordered our path. But though 
the soil was excellent, it was only partially cultivated. 
The population also appeared less than what we had 
seen inhabiting some of the most desolate parts of the 
island. 
About 10 A. m. we reached the pleasant and verdant 
valley of Kaura, which separates the divisions of Hiro 
and Hamakua. 
The geographical divisions of Hawaii, and the other 
islands of the group, are sometimes artificial, and a 
stone image, a line of stones somewhat distant from 
each other, a path, or a stone wall, serves to separate 
the different districts, or larger divisions, from each 
other. They are, however, more frequently natural, as 
in the present instance, where a watercourse, winding 
through the centre of the valley, marked the boundary 
of these two divisions. The boundary of the smaller 
districts, and even the different farms, as well as the 
large divisions, are definitely marked, well understood, 
and permanent. Each division, district, village, and 
farm, and many of the sites of houses, have a distinct 
name, which is often significant of some object or 
quality distinguishing the place. 
