356 CHARLES WILKES. 



inhabitants fled into the interior. The next day a 

 deputation of several old men was sent to crave the 

 pardon of the offended foreigners by whom they 

 had been so severely chastised. Their petition was 

 granted on condition that they would supply the 

 squadron with provisions and water, which they 

 willingly agreed to do. 



Having sailed from these dark abodes of human 

 ferocity and abasement, Captain Wilkes continued 

 his cruise and reached the Sandwich Islands on the 

 30th of September. These are inhabited by a much 

 nobler race, possessing graceful and athletic forms, 

 and minds of superior intelligence. The well-known 

 capital is Honolulu. The peculiarities of this group 

 are so familiar to every reader, that it is unnecessary 

 to dwell on any details, except such as may be 

 directly connected with the expedition. The inte- 

 rior and the shore of the island of Oahoo were 

 explored and surveyed. Hawaii was subjected to a 

 similar scrutiny. The great volcano of the Mount 

 Kilauea was examined. The observations and ad- 

 ventures of the party at this spot are thus described : 



"It is remarkable that this crater should present 

 an external aspect so entirely dissimilar to that of 

 Etna and Vesuvius, or any of the volcanoes of South 

 America. Those are characterized by an elevated 

 cone, out of which are ejected igneous* rocks and 



