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. The half whites, among whom "Bill Ragsdale" is the leading
spirit, are not numerous. Hilo has no carriage roads and no
carriages: every one must ride or travel in a litter. People are
very kind to each other. Horses, dresses, patterns, books, and
articles of domestic use, are lent and borrowed continually.
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