The Hawaiian Archipelago - Six Months Among The Palm Groves, Coral Reefs, And Volcanoes Of The Sandwich Islands By Isabella L. Bird
- Page 93 of 466 - First - Home
Their Houses Combine The Trimness Of New
England, With The Luxuriance Of The Tropics; They Are Cool Retreats,
Embowered Among
Breadfruit, tamarind, and bamboo, through whose
graceful leafage the blue waters of the bay are visible.
Innumerable exotics are domesticated
Round these fair homesteads.
Two of "Father Lyman's" sons are influential residents, one being
the Lieutenant-Governor of the island. Other sons of former
missionaries are settled here in business, and there are a few
strangers who have been attracted hither. Dr. Wetmore, formerly of
the mission, is a typical New Englander of the old orthodox school.
It is pleasant to see him brighten into almost youthful enthusiasm
on the subject of Hawaiian ferns. My host, a genial, social,
intelligent American, is sheriff of Hawaii, postmaster, etc., and
with his charming wife (a missionary's daughter), and some friends
who live with them, make their large house a centre of kindliness,
friendliness, and hospitality. Mr. Thompson, pastor of the foreign
church, is a man of very liberal culture, as well as wide
sympathies. The lady principal of the Government school is a
handsome, talented Vermont girl, and besides being an immense
favourite, well deserves her unusual and lucrative position.
There are hardly any young ladies, and very few young men, but
plenty of rosy, blooming children, who run about barefoot all the
year. Besides the Hilo residents, there are some planters' families
within seven miles, who come in to sewing circles, church, etc.
There is a small class of reprobate white men who have ostracized
themselves by means of drink and bad morals, and are a curse to the
natives.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 93 of 466
Words from 25439 to 25707
of 127766