按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
gloom of the cabin and stand under the strong light of the moonin the
centre； as it were； of a glittering sea of liquid silverto see the
broad sails straining in the gale； the ship heeled over on her side； the
angry foam hissing past her lee bulwarks； and sparkling sheets of spray
dashing high over her bows and raining upon her decks； to brace myself
and hang fast to the first object that presented itself； with hat jammed
down and coat tails whipping in the breeze； and feel that exhilaration
that thrills in one's hair and quivers down his back bone when he knows
that every inch of canvas is drawing and the vessel cleaving through the
waves at her utmost speed。 There was no darkness； no dimness； no
obscurity there。 All was brightness； every object was vividly defined。
Every prostrate Kanaka； every coil of rope； every calabash of poi； every
puppy； every seam in the flooring； every bolthead； every object； however
minute； showed sharp and distinct in its every outline； and the shadow of
the broad mainsail lay black as a pall upon the deck； leaving Billings's
white upturned face glorified and his body in a total eclipse。
Monday morning we were close to the island of Hawaii。 Two of its high
mountains were in viewMauna Loa and Hualaiai。
The latter is an imposing peak； but being only ten thousand feet high is
seldom mentioned or heard of。 Mauna Loa is said to be sixteen thousand
feet high。 The rays of glittering snow and ice； that clasped its summit
like a claw； looked refreshing when viewed from the blistering climate we
were in。 One could stand on that mountain （wrapped up in blankets and
furs to keep warm）； and while he nibbled a snowball or an icicle to
quench his thirst he could look down the long sweep of its sides and see
spots where plants are growing that grow only where the bitter cold of
Winter prevails； lower down he could see sections devoted to production
that thrive in the temperate zone alone； and at the bottom of the
mountain he could see the home of the tufted cocoa…palms and other
species of vegetation that grow only in the sultry atmosphere of eternal
Summer。 He could see all the climes of the world at a single glance of
the eye； and that glance would only pass over a distance of four or five
miles as the bird flies！
By and by we took boat and went ashore at Kailua； designing to ride
horseback through the pleasant orange and coffee region of Kona； and
rejoin the vessel at a point some leagues distant。 This journey is well
worth taking。 The trail passes along on high groundsay a thousand feet
above sea leveland usually about a mile distant from the ocean； which
is always in sight； save that occasionally you find yourself buried in
the forest in the midst of a rank tropical vegetation and a dense growth
of trees； whose great bows overarch the road and shut out sun and sea and
everything； and leave you in a dim； shady tunnel； haunted with invisible
singing birds and fragrant with the odor of flowers。 It was pleasant to
ride occasionally in the warm sun； and feast the eye upon the ever…
changing panorama of the forest （beyond and below us）； with its many
tints； its softened lights and shadows； its billowy undulations sweeping
gently down from the mountain to the sea。 It was pleasant also； at
intervals； to leave the sultry sun and pass into the cool； green depths
of this forest and indulge in sentimental reflections under the
inspiration of its brooding twilight and its whispering foliage。
We rode through one orange grove that had ten thousand tree in it！
They were all laden with fruit。
At one farmhouse we got some large peaches of excellent flavor。
This fruit； as a general thing； does not do well in the Sandwich Islands。
It takes a sort of almond shape； and is small and bitter。 It needs
frost； they say； and perhaps it does； if this be so； it will have a good
opportunity to go on needing it； as it will not be likely to get it。
The trees from which the fine fruit I have spoken of； came； had been
planted and replanted sixteen times； and to this treatment the proprietor
of the orchard attributed his…success。
We passed several sugar plantationsnew ones and not very extensive。
The crops were； in most cases； third rattoons。 ＇NOTE。The first crop is
called 〃plant cane；〃 subsequent crops which spring from the original
roots； without replanting； are called 〃rattoons。〃＇ Almost everywhere on
the island of Hawaii sugar…cane matures in twelve months； both rattoons
and plant； and although it ought to be taken off as soon as it tassels；
no doubt； it is not absolutely necessary to do it until about four months
afterward。 In Kona； the average yield of an acre of ground is two tons
of sugar； they say。 This is only a moderate yield for these islands； but
would be astounding for Louisiana and most other sugar growing countries。
The plantations in Kona being on pretty high groundup among the light
and frequent rainsno irrigation whatever is required。
CHAPTER LXX。
We stopped some time at one of the plantations； to rest ourselves and
refresh the horses。 We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen
present； but there was one person； a middle aged man； with an absent look
in his face； who simply glanced up； gave us good…day and lapsed again
into the meditations which our coming had interrupted。 The planters
whispered us not to mind himcrazy。 They said he was in the Islands for
his health； was a preacher； his home； Michigan。 They said that if he
woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had
some time held with Mr。 Greeley about a trifle of some kind； we must
humor him and listen with interest； and we must humor his fancy that this
correspondence was the talk of the world。
It was easy to see that he was a gentle creature and that his madness had
nothing vicious in it。 He looked pale； and a little worn； as if with
perplexing thought and anxiety of mind。 He sat a long time； looking at
the floor； and at intervals muttering to himself and nodding his head
acquiescingly or shaking it in mild protest。 He was lost in his thought；
or in his memories。 We continued our talk with the planters； branching
from subject to subject。 But at last the word 〃circumstance；〃 casually
dropped； in the course of conversation； attracted his attention and
brought an eager look into his countenance。 He faced about in his chair
and said：
〃Circumstance？ What circumstance？ Ah； I knowI know too well。 So you
have heard of it too。〃 ＇With a sigh。＇ 〃Well； no matterall the world
has heard of it。 All the world。 The whole world。 It is a large world；
too； for a thing to travel so far innow isn't it？ Yes； yesthe
Greeley correspondence with Erickson has created the saddest and
bitterest controversy on both sides of the oceanand still they keep it
up！ It makes us famous； but at what a sorrowful sacrifice！ I was so
sorry when I heard that it had caused that bloody and distressful war
over there in Italy。 It was little comfort to me； after so much
bloodshed； to know that the victors sided with me； and the vanquished
with Greeley。It is little comfort to know that Horace Greeley is
responsible for the battle of Sadowa； and not me。
〃Queen Victoria wrote me that she felt just as I did about itshe said
that as much as she was opposed to Greeley and the spirit he showed in
the correspondence with me； she would not have had Sadowa happen for
hundreds of dollars。 I can show you her letter； if you would like to see
it。 But gentlemen； much as you may think you know about that unhappy
correspondence； you cannot know the straight of it till you hear it from
my lips。 It has always been garbled in the journals； and even in
history。 Yes； even in historythink of it！ Let meplease let me； give
you the matter； exactly as it occurred。 I truly will not abuse your
confidence。〃
Then he leaned forward； all interest； all earnestness； and told his
storyand told it appealingly； too； and yet in the simplest and most
unpretentious way； indeed； in such a way as to suggest to one； all the
time； that this was a faithful； honorable witness； giving evidence in the
sacred interest of justice； and under oath。 He sa