EVENING DRIVE AND VISIT TO THE VALLEY OF MANOA.

Two evenings since, Mr. Bingham gave Lieut. Stribling and myself a drive as far as Allen's on the plain. It was at a delightful hour of the day; and, as most of the gentry were taking the air, we had an opportunity of judging of the degree of improvement, in point of equipage, &c., made at the metropolis. The vehicle in which we rode is the property of the mission; but, in place of the ox cart and porter's barrow of former years-in both of which I remember you, my dear H, had occasionally the honor of a seat-it is a light painted wagon, of the kind called Dearborn in America, drawn by a good horse, affording a comfortable, and, for this part of the world, a respectable conveyance. Several of these, belonging to the chiefs and residents, were seen at different points of the road, besides numbers of horsemen, both foreigners and natives, genteelly equipt-among the latter of whom, we recognized the general, and his brotherin-law, Kanaina.

The American consul has a country seat on the plain towards Manoa; and a principal equipage met by us belongs to him. It was built at Oahu, and is rather a non-descript-something between a New England pedler's wagon, and a coach, early after

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142 EQUIPAGE OF THE AMERICAN CONSUL

"the birth-day of invention" in that luxury. It is constructed almost exclusively of wood, with Venetian blinds in place of curtains; is swung low, and has a wooden boot in the centre, for the feet, descending almost to the ground. With wheels and carriage of red, body of sky blue, and a red box high in front for a native driver, it makes no inconsiderable display, as it rumbles over the plain. It was drawn by one horse; and contained two or three gentlemen, one of whom I perceived to be our Captain.

Shortly afterwards, a gig without a top, very similar in its style and finish to the preceding, except in something of a tilbury height—and, apparently, of the same manufacture, was seen dashing at full speed up the street. It contained two gayly dressed females in opera hats, with streamers of satin flying far behind -the one on the right bearing the reins, and occasionally flourishing a whip, with all the tact of a leader of the ton, figuring in curricle or phaeton, on a more distinguished drive. As they whirled past, I recognized, in their light complexions and broad faces, the sisters, and Mrs. M

The variety was still kept up, in the appearance behind these, of four fashionables on horseback; two, in bonnets and mantles, mounted on side saddles, in the manner in which ladies ride in America and England; and two â la Peru-astride with pantalets and the Manilla hat: the poncho alone being needed to complete the costume of the coast.

To the picture thus presented in single figures and in groupings, add one or two handsome and well finished gigs, such as are driven by the wealthiest

AND OTHERS TAKING THE AIR.

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gentlemen in our country, and in the scene you will perceive, I think, in contrast with the recollection of by-gone years, evidences of a march of body, if not of "the march of mind."

Allen keeps pace with his neighbors in improvements. All the numerous buildings in his establishment are in good order, and now very conspicuous, both from land and sea, by being stuccoed and whitewashed. From the same cause, the mission houses look less gloomy than they did; and by the whiteness of the stone cottages and printing office opposite the old wooden edifice, throw quite an air of cheerfulness over the nakedness and sterility of that part of the plain.

The valley of Manoa, you recollect, was always a favorite resort of mine-this afternoon Mr. Bingham drove me in a wagon to it. There is now a good carriage road, in that direction, as far as the country house of Kaahumanu, nearly five miles from Honolulu. Her residence is beautifully situated; and the selection of the spot quite in taste. The house is an inferior building, but stands on the height of a gently swelling knoll, commanding, in front, an open and extensive view of all the rich plantations of the valley; of the mountain streams meandering through them, and the humble habitations of the farmer sprinkled around; of the district of Waititi; and of Diamond Hill, and a considerable part of the plain, with the ocean far beyond. On the right, the ground rises rapidly for a few rods, to a thicket of hibiscus and eugenia, at the foot of a magnificent mountain, exhibiting from the base to

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COUNTRY HOUSE OF KAAHUMANU,

its summit-a perpendicular height of a thousand feet-as rich a variety of projecting cliff and wild recess, of dripping rocks and mantling foliage, of graceful creeper, pendant shrub, and splendid flower, as Arcadia itself can boast. On the left, there is a gradual descent, from the house, of two or three hundred feet to the depth of the valley. Here this is half a mile wide, and bounded, at that distance, by a spur of mountain, which, commencing at the entrance of the valley on the plain, two or three miles in front, rises first in uncovered swellings, but rapidly assumes, as it runs inland, a bolder formation, till in several places it presents a succession of broad based and regularly defined pyramids, beautifully verdant and tufted with wood; giving a most peculiar character to that section of the scenery.

Immediately behind the house, and partially flanking it on either side, is a delightful grove of the dark leaved and crimson blossomed Ohia, so thick and so shady as insensibly to remind one of Cowper's Wilderness at Olney--filled with cool and retired walks and natural retreats, and echoing to the cheerful notes of the little songsters, who find security in its shades, to build their nest and lay their young. The view of the head of the valley inland, from the clumps and single trees edging this copse, is very rich and beautiful; presenting a circuit of two or three miles, delightfully variegated by hill and dale, wood and lawn, and inclosed in a sweep of splendid mountains, one of which in the centre rises to a height of three thousand feet.

AND THE PROPHET'S CHAMBER.

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In one edge of this grove, a few rods from the house, stands a little cottage built by Kaahumanu, for the accommodation of the missionaries who visit her when at this residence. It is scarce twelve feet square in the area, and not as many high, but furnished with glazed windows and doors, a bedstead and lounge, a small table and chair, answers, delightfully, as the prophet's chamber in the wall of her habitation; and is very frequently occupied a day or two at a time, by one and another of the families most enervated by the heat and dust, the toil, and various exhausting cares of the establishment at the seashore.

While examining this little retreat, the eventide, with its sober shades and meditative influences, began to approach; and, feeling that we were in a place where prayer is wont to be made, as brethren united by many of the strongest ties, we spent amid the silence and quietude around, one moment before our God, in praise for the past, and in prayer for all that is to come.