It is very coarse sand,
composed of shells, coral, and lava. When two handfuls are slapped
together, a sound like the barking of a dog ensues, hence its name,
the Barking Sands. It is a common amusement with strangers to slide
their horses down the steep incline, which produces a sound like
subterranean thunder, which terrifies unaccustomed animals. Besides
this phenomenon, the mirage is often seen on the dry, hot soil, and
so perfectly, too, that strangers have been known to attempt to ride
round the large lake which they saw before them.
Pleasant as our mountain trip was, both in itself, and as a specimen
of the way in which foreigners recreate themselves on the islands, I
was glad to get back to the broad Waimea, on which long shadows of
palms reposed themselves in the slant sunshine, and in the short red
twilight to arrive at this breezy height, and be welcomed by a
blazing fire.
Mrs. ---, in speaking of the mode of living here, was telling me
that on a recent visit to England she felt depressed the whole time
by what appeared to her "the scarcity" in the country. I never knew
the meaning of the Old Testament blessing of "plenty" and "bread to
the full" till I was in abundant Victoria, and it is much the same
here.
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