Honolulu is the only place in which intoxicants are
allowed to be sold; and I have not seen beer, wine, or spirits in
any house. Bananas are an important article of diet, and sliced
guavas, eaten with milk and sugar, are very good. The cooking is
always done in detached cook houses, in and on American cooking
stoves.
As to clothing. I wear my flannel riding dress for both riding and
walking, and a black silk at other times. The resident ladies wear
prints and silks, and the gentlemen black cloth or dark tweed suits.
Flannel is not required, neither are puggarees or white hats or
sunshades at any season. The changes of temperature are very
slight, and there is no chill when the sun goes down. The air is
always like balm; the rain is tepid and does not give cold; in
summer it may be three or four degrees warmer. Windows and doors
stand open the whole year. A blanket is agreeable at night, but not
absolutely necessary. It is a truly delightful climate and mode of
living, with such an abundance of air and sunshine. My health
improves daily, and I do not consider myself an invalid.
Between working, reading aloud, talking, riding, and "loafing," I
have very little time for letter writing; but I must tell you of a
delightful fern-hunting expedition on the margin of the forest that
I took yesterday, accompanied by Mr.
Pages:
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155