Many
of the old settlers are dead, and others have drifted to regions
beyond restraining influences, but still "the Waimea crowd" is not
considered up to the mark. Most of the present set of foreigners
are Englishmen who have married native women. It was in such
quarters as this that the great antagonistic influence to the
complete Christianization of the natives was created, and it is from
such suspicious sources that the aspersions on missionary work are
usually derived.
Waimea has its own beauty--the grand breezy plain, the gigantic
sweep of the mountain curves, the incessant changes of colour, and
the morning view of Mauna Kea, with the pure snow on its ragged
dome, rose-flushed in the early sunlight. I don't agree with
Disraeli that "happiness is atmosphere;" yet constant sunshine, and
a climate which never threatens one with discomfort or ills,
certainly conduce to equable cheerfulness.
I am quite interested with a native lady here, the first I have met
with who has been able to express her ideas in English. She is
extremely shrewd and intelligent, very satirical, and a great mimic.
She very cleverly burlesques the way in which white people express
their admiration of scenery, and, in fact, ridicules admiration of
scenery for itself.
Pages:
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276