{"id":"01KG8AKT6RMFHXY3TD9EBZQ05T","cid":"bafkreihdydxp2b2c7zeqtj7bn5yawvzbpx3lslybkfyes7rl7qwyxcc3ke","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":7671,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:15.153Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 2","source_file":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","start_line":7594,"text":"with streams of fire several impious adventurers. Near Hilo, a\r\njet-black cliff is shown, with the vitreous torrent apparently pouring\r\nover into the sea: just as it cooled after one of these supernatural\r\neruptions.\r\n\r\nTo these inland valleys, and the adjoining hillsides, which are clothed\r\nin the most luxuriant vegetation, Vancouver’s bullocks soon wandered;\r\nand unmolested for a long period, multiplied in vast herds.\r\n\r\nSome twelve or fifteen years ago, the natives lost sight of their\r\nsuperstitions, and learning the value of the hides in commerce, began\r\nhunting the creatures that wore them; but being very fearful and\r\nawkward in a business so novel, their success was small; and it was not\r\nuntil the arrival of a party of Spanish hunters, men regularly trained\r\nto their calling upon the plains of California, that the work of\r\nslaughter was fairly begun.\r\n\r\nThe Spaniards were showy fellows, tricked out in gay blankets, leggings\r\nworked with porcupine quills, and jingling spurs. Mounted upon trained\r\nIndian mares, these heroes pursued their prey up to the very base of\r\nthe burning mountains; making the profoundest solitudes ring with their\r\nshouts, and flinging the lasso under the very nose of the vixen goddess\r\nPelee. Hilo, a village upon the coast, was their place of resort; and\r\nthither flocked roving whites from all the islands of the group. As\r\npupils of the dashing Spaniards, many of these dissipated fellows,\r\nquaffing too freely of the stirrup-cup, and riding headlong after the\r\nherds, when they reeled in the saddle, were unhorsed and killed.\r\n\r\nThis was about the year 1835, when the present king, Tammahamaha III.,\r\nwas a lad. With royal impudence laying claim to the sole property of\r\nthe cattle, he was delighted with the idea of receiving one of every\r\ntwo silver dollars paid down for their hides; so, with no thought for\r\nthe future, the work of extermination went madly on. In three years’\r\ntime, eighteen thousand bullocks were slain, almost entirely upon the\r\nsingle island of Hawaii.\r\n\r\nThe herds being thus nearly destroyed, the sagacious young prince\r\nimposed a rigorous “taboo” upon the few surviving cattle, which was to\r\nremain in force for ten years. During this period—not yet expired—all\r\nhunting is forbidden, unless directly authorized by the king.\r\n\r\nThe massacre of the cattle extended to the hapless goats. In one year,\r\nthree thousand of their skins were sold to the merchants of Honolulu,\r\nfetching a quartila, or a shilling sterling apiece.\r\n\r\nAfter this digression, it is time to run on after Tonoi and the Yankee.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nCHAPTER LV.\r\nA HUNTING RAMBLE WITH ZEKE\r\n\r\n\r\nAt the foot of the mountain, a steep path went up among rocks and\r\nclefts mantled with verdure. Here and there were green gulfs, down\r\nwhich it made one giddy to peep. At last we gained an overhanging,\r\nwooded shelf of land which crowned the heights; and along this, the\r\npath, well shaded, ran like a gallery.\r\n\r\nIn every direction the scenery was enchanting. There was a low,\r\nrustling breeze; and below, in the vale, the leaves were quivering; the\r\nsea lay, blue and serene, in the distance; and inland the surface\r\nswelled up, ridge after ridge, and peak upon peak, all bathed in the\r\nIndian haze of the Tropics, and dreamy to look upon. Still valleys,\r\nleagues away, reposed in the deep shadows of the mountains; and here\r\nand there, waterfalls lifted up their voices in the solitude. High\r\nabove all, and central, the “Marling-spike” lifted its finger. Upon the\r\nhillsides, small groups of bullocks were seen; some quietly browsing;\r\nothers slowly winding into the valleys.\r\n\r\nWe went on, directing our course for a slope of these hills, a mile or\r\ntwo further, where the nearest bullocks were seen.\r\n\r\nWe were cautious in keeping to the windward of them; their sense of\r\nsmell and hearing being, like those of all wild creatures, exceedingly\r\nacute.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 2"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJM0X5X1TW97VPMKQ49XM","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKT6NCS1B06480CE1X7CS","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AKT6R2VFX1MNZFTJ3VH3F","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:16.600Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:30.114Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}