They were soon on their way with Ahleka and his friends, to the village, which they reached in about two hours’ time. The village was built at almost the other extreme of the island. After having crossed the hill, where the girls had first seen the natives, they went but a short distance before they came to two canoes, into one of which Ahleka stepped and held out his hand to assist Mabel in. Etta, the captain and Allen were all told to arrange themselves in the same canoe and the three sailors were directed to get into the other, which one of the native boys, whom Ahleka called Kaluha, was directed to manage; the other three natives pushing the canoes out into the water, which seemed to be a long arm of the sea, which extended far into the island, cutting it almost in two. Captain Gray, on seeing that the three natives were to be left behind, exclaimed: “It is too bad for us to eat their breakfast and then take their boats from them. How will they get to the village?” “Have no fear for them,” replied Ahleka, “the village is on that side of the island. We often walk from the village here; indeed it is the shortest way, but by canoe, is the most pleasant.” The canoes seemed to fairly skim over the bright water so rapidly did they go. They had gone swiftly onward for an hour, when the canoes were again headed for the shore. After having landed, there was still quite a distance to walk before reaching the village, but, at last, it was espied embowered in trees of every description; the stately cocoanut and the spreading candlenut tree, with its delicate silver green foliage, contending for supremacy. The houses were built of grass, and were scattered here and there, without any regard for regularity, but seeming as if built wherever a large cluster of trees offered their friendly shade; at the side of most of the houses a sort of trellis had been arranged by sticking one end of long poles in the ground and leaning the other end against the roof of the house. These trellises were covered by flowering vines of great variety and brilliancy, the whole effect being one of exceeding loveliness. Under these flowery bowers, which were open at each end, were spread mats of the finest workmanship, being braided of lohala (a tree possessing a fibre of extreme fineness.) Some had the appearance of goats fleece, so skillfully were they woven, leaving fibres three or four inches in length, loose on the top of the rug; others were braided in a smooth, close surface. Mabel exclaimed, on coming in sight of the village: “How lovely! I never saw anything half so beautiful; it seems like a vision of dreamland.” “And is not your country, that has such beautiful maidens, far more lovely than our land?” broke in Ahleka. “Oh, no! Our country is not one half so enchanting,” said she.