MAUI FORMERLY TWO ISLAND S. 309 most to unhorse a very experienced horseman. They have sometimes proved destructive to houses, canoes, and even vessels within their reach. The natives call these winds Mu muku. The road leading over the mountains is surrounded with a wild and romantic interest. The traveler frequently passes along the edge of a deep ravine, or climbs along the side of a lofty ascent. He may meet a bare-limbed native mounted on an ill-fed horse, which he is urging at a regular break-neck speed across the fearful ravines. Occasionally a wild bullock may stand in the path, as if about to dispute the horse's passage; but, on nearing him, he is certain to run away at the top of his speed. The continuous ascent of these mountains is very fatiguing-their descent is equally the same. This mountain-region once passed, the traveler enters on the plain or isthmus of Kula. It is a sandy alluvial, constantly changing the configuration of its surface beneath the action of heavy winds. This neck of land has a gradual elevation from the sea-shore on the southwest, to nearly two hundred feet on the northeast, in the region of Wai-lu-ku. In extent it is seven miles by twelve. During three fourths of the year it forms a fine pasture-land for hundreds of cattle that range over its surface. It is not fit for cultivation. west. The island of Maui is geographically divided into east and The physical conformation of the isthmus of Kula, and the configuration of the two divisions of the island, plainly establish the conviction that Maui was formerly two islands. The character of the isthmus is mainly alluvial; but it retains a large quantity of volcanic sand, ashes, and scoriæ, interspersed with huge boulders and projections of lava, which were thrown out of the craters in the neighboring mountains in generations past. The formation of this isthmus has formed a natural unity between the two islands. In its general outline, Maui represents a human bust well defined. The first village of any note on the way to Wai-lu-ku is Wai-ka-pu. It contains a population of about five hundred. Here the forces of KAMEHAMEHA the GREAT once assembled for battle at the sounding of the conch-shell. Wai-ka-pu (water of the conch or trumpet). Hence its name, The district of Wai-lu-ku is composed of upland and valley. The soil is rich and well watered. Wai-lu-ku village stands at the mouth of the valley bearing the same name. This village, like Wai-ka-pu, is somewhat scattered. It once contained the principal female seminary on the group, and thousands of dollars have been expended on its support. One of its leading features once was, "to educate the daughters of Hawaii as wives for the young men who were educated at Lahainaluna,” and to keep them in the institution until they were married. To a limited extent, this avowed design has been carried out. Like the seminary at Lahainaluna, it has proved a grand failure, "and the daughters of Hawaii" have been, in a great measure, abandoned to take care of themselves. Its former lay-teacher, Mr. Bailey, has found a more lucrative occupation under the Hawaiian government. The boasted "Central Female Boarding Seminary" at Wai-lu-ku has dwindled away, or given place to one of more limited capacity, called " Mrs. Gower's Family School." In his Annual Report for 1852, the Minister of Public Instruction states its capacity thus: "Number of scholars, seventeen; ten pure whites, six half whites, one native. The school is supported by the parents; the usual English primary branches are taught pronunciation, spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, and music." There is a substantial church at Wai-lu-ku, built entirely by natives. Its dimensions are one hundred feet by fifty. The walls are composed of vesicular lava. But the valley at the back of the village is the chief object of attraction to the traveler. It is commonly called the " Wailu-ku Pass," and bisects West Maui, terminating in a deep gorge in the precincts of Lahaina. This "Pass" is threaded with much fatigue and some danger, but the tourist is amply repaid for all his toil. Prospects more picturesque and awfully grand are seldom seen by the most universal traveler. Here volcanic action and the subterranean convulsions of Na TERRIFIC BATTLE-GROUND. 313 ture must have been terrific. The sides of the "Pass" are reared perpendicularly to a height of several hundred feet. The River Iao wends its way, with a thousand gentle murmurs, among masses of fallen rock and tropical plants of a highly interesting character, among which I noticed a splendid Lobelia. Up this " Pass" there is a narrow foot-path, winding, in many places, along the very brink of tremendous precipices. This narrow pass was once a battle-field of KAMEHAMEHA the GREAT. The old conqueror sailed from Hawaii to wage war against KAHEKILI, King of Maui, but met the monarch's son, KALANIKUPULE, instead. On the very brink of these precipices the two armies met. Retreat by either party was impossible, and the limited space of the field rendered the conflict desperate. For a long time the fortune of war was dubious. Warrior after warrior, of both parties, and face to face in deadly struggle, or close locked in a mutual embrace, and amid the shouts of victors and the groans of the vanquished, rolled over the brink of the frightful abyss. At length KAMEHAMEHA prevailed. Many of the pursuers and the pursued, in the eagerness of flight and pursuit, fell over the precipice and were dashed to pieces. There were many annihilated by every species of barbaric warfare. Numbers took refuge in the mountains, where they were reduced by starvation. KAHEKILI'S army was annihilated, and Prince KALANIKUPULE fled to Oahu. So terrible was the carnage, that the progress of the River Iao was arrested. It was from this incident that Wai-lu-ku (water of destruction) derived its appellation. This victory left KAMEHAMEHA the undisputed sovereign of Maui, Lanai, and Molokai. For years afterward, this engagement was well known by three appellations: Kapani-wai (stopping the water), Kauau-pali (battle of the precipice), and Iao (the name of the stream). Leaving Wai-lu-ku, and passing along toward the village of Kahului, a distance of three miles, the traveler passes over the old battle-ground named after the village. It is distinctly marked by moving sand-hills, which owe their formation to |