As soon as I get back from Haleakala (pronounced Hally-ekka-lah) I will
sail for Honolulu again and thence to the Island of Hawaii (pronounced
Hah-wy-ye,) to see the greatest active volcano in the world—­that of
Kilauea (pronounced Kee-low-way-ah)—­and from thence back to San
Francisco—­and then, doubtless, to the States.  I have been on this trip
two months, and it will probably be two more before I get back to
California. 
                                   Yrs affy
          
                                   Sam.

He was having a glorious time—­one of the most happy, carefree
adventures of his career.  No form of travel or undertaking could
discountenance Mark Twain at thirty.

To Mrs. Orion Clemens, in Carson City: 

Honolulu, May 22, 1866.  My dear sister,—­I have just got back from a sea voyage—­from the beautiful island of Maui, I have spent five weeks there, riding backwards and forwards among the sugar plantations—­looking up the splendid scenery and visiting the lofty crater of Haleakala.  It has been a perfect jubilee to me in the way of pleasure.

I have not written a single line, and have not once thought of business, or care or human toil or trouble or sorrow or weariness.  Few such months come in a lifetime.

I set sail again, a week hence, for the island of Hawaii, to see the great active volcano of Kilauea.  I shall not get back here for four or five weeks, and shall not reach San Francisco before the latter part of July.

So it is no use to wait for me to go home.  Go on yourselves.

If I were in the east now, I could stop the publication of a piratical book which has stolen some of my sketches.

It is late-good-bye, Mollie,
                                   Yr Bro
          
                                   Sam.

          To Mrs. Jane Clemens and Mrs. Moffett, in St. Louis: 

Honolulu, Sandwich islands, June 21,1866.  My dear mother and sister,—­I have just got back from a hard trip through the Island of Hawaii, begun on the 26th of May and finished on the 18th of June—­only six or seven days at sea—­all the balance horse-back, and the hardest mountain road in the world.  I staid at the volcano about a week and witnessed the greatest eruption that has occurred for years.  I lived well there.  They charge $4 a day for board, and a dollar or two extra for guides and horses.  I had a pretty good time.  They didn’t charge me anything.  I have got back sick—­went to bed as soon as I arrived here—­shall not be strong again for several days yet.  I rushed too fast.  I ought to have taken five or six weeks on that trip.

A week hence I start for the Island of Kauai, to be gone three weeks and then I go back to California.

The Crown Princess is dead and thousands of natives cry and wail and dance and dance for the dead, around the King’s Palace all night and every night.  They will keep it up for a month and then she will be buried.