My folding camp-knife appears an object of great interest,
and it was handed round, inside and outside the house. When I
retired about seven, the assemblage was still in full session.
The stars were then bright, but when I woke the next morning a
strong breeze was blowing, the surf was roaring so loud as almost to
drown human voices, and rolling up in gigantic surges, and to judge
from appearances, the rain which was falling in torrents had been
falling for some hours. There was much buzzing among the natives
regarding our prospects for the day. I shall always think from
their tone and manner, and the frequent repetition of the names of
the three worst gulches, that the older men tried to dissuade us
from going; but Deborah, who was very anxious to be at home by
Sunday, said that the verdict was that if we started at once for our
ride of twenty-three miles we might reach Onomea before the freshet
came on. This might have been the case had it not been for Kaluna.
Not only was his horse worn out, but nothing would induce him to
lead the mule, and she went off on foraging expeditions continually,
which further detained us. Kaluna had grown quite polite in his
savage way. He always insisted on putting on and taking off my
boots, carried me once through the Waipio river, helped me to pack
the saddle-bags, and even offered to brush my hair! He frequently
brought me guavas on the road, saying, "eat," and often rode up,
saying interrogatively, "tired?" "cold?" D.
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