Hawaii — page 53: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

44 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS—INHABITANTS. with their bodies face downward upon their surf boards. The swimmers keep themselves on the highest edge of the billow, and by dexterously manipulating hand and foot ever seem to slide down the topping wave. On they come, a little ahead of the breaker, and just as you would expect to see them dashed to pieces against the rocks, they quietly vanish, and are out at sea, ready for another perilous ride. The great art attached to this aquatic feat is in mounting the breaker just at the proper time, and to keep exactly in its curl. Old men and young girls often join in this amusement, and are wildly cheered by the spectators. Very often when luncheons are given, and the guests © have assembledd, the question is asked: “ Will you have aswim?” ‘This is nearly always answered in the affirma- tive, and the guests go to rooms, adorn themselves in bathing suits which are provided for them, and take a swim before luncheon is announced. Men and women bathe together after our American fashion, and there is no such prudery regarding this custom as is shown by our English cousins. Another favorite form of amusement is riding out on a moolight night to Waikiki, having a swim, a jolly supper, and arriving home in the “ wee sma’ hours.” An Ameri- can gentleman and his wife occupying a villa at Waikiki gave a ball to the officers of H. M. S. Garnet, and to the officers on board the American cruisers. They danced until midnight, when they all departed to rooms assigned them, and changed their festive gowns and uniforms for bathing dresses. It was a beautiful sight, with a full moon, Eomicbooks.co