OAHU. 
13 
a westerly direction, filled up the sea, and formed 
the present extensive plain ; the soil of its surface 
having been subsequently produced either by the 
decomposition of lava, or the mould and decayed 
vegetable matter washed down from the mountains 
during the rainy season of the year. 
Across this plain, immediately opposite the 
harbour of Honoruru, lies the valley of Anuanu, 
leading to a pass in the mountains, called by the 
natives Ka Pari , the precipice, which is well 
worth the attention of every intelligent foreigner 
visiting Oahu. The mouth of the valley, which 
opens immediately behind the town of Honoruru, 
is a complete garden, carefully kept by its respect¬ 
ive proprietors in a state of high cultivation ; and 
the ground, being irrigated by the water from a 
river that winds rapidly down the valley, is remark¬ 
ably productive. The valley rises with a gradual 
ascent from the shore to the precipice, which is 
seven or eight miles from the town. After walking 
about three miles through one unbroken series of 
plantations, the valley becomes gradually narrower, 
and the mountains rise more steep on either side. 
The scenery is romantic and delightful: the bot¬ 
tom of the valley is gently undulated ; a rapid 
stream takes its serpentine way from one side of the 
valley to the other, sometimes meandering along 
with an unruffled surface, at other times rushing 
down a fall several feet, or dashing and foaming 
among the rocks that interrupt its progress; the 
sides of the hills are clothed with verdure; even 
the barren rocks that project from among the 
bushes are ornamented with pendulous or creeping 
plants of various kinds; and in several places, 
beautiful cascades roll their silvery streams down 
the steep mountain’s side into flowing rivulets 
