1840.] GEOLOGY. 361 



up the slopes of the hills and mountains to the height of two 

 thousand feet ; here the productions of a new climate display 

 their manifold beauties, and the dark foliage of the cone- 

 bearers, and other trees belonging to the lower part of the 

 temperate zone, imborders the loftiest peaks, up to the eleva- 

 tion of six thousand feet; and above all, stretch upward to 

 the region of eternal frost, the magnificent cones, with their 

 fluted sides and perforated summits, like stupendous monu- 

 ments reared by the art of man. 



Numerous small rivers and streams have their sources in 

 the mountainous ridges, and carry off the surplus waters 

 which fall during the frequent rains, to irrigate the low levels, 

 and add freshness and beauty to the diversified landscapes 

 through which they wend their way, or to mingle again with 

 the ocean. Some of these rivers, or brooks, are very consider- 

 able streams, and may be navigated for a short distance in 

 boats. They often form picturesque falls and cascades, 

 where they descend from the elevated plateaus to the coast 

 level ; and in a few instances their utility has been demon- 

 strated by the employment of their waters in propelling ma- 

 chinery. 



Evidences of the volcanic origin and character of this group 

 meet the eye wherever it is turned. Wide fields and plains 

 of lava, regularly piled strata of volcanic rock and cinders, 

 and vast columnar masses of basalt, are scattered everywhere 

 throughout the islands ; although blocks of sandstone, and 

 compact limestone with a stratification of pebbles, may occa- 

 sionally be seen. But the most decisive indications of the 

 geological formation, as well as the most prominent features 

 of the islands, are the numerous conical craters, and the lofty 

 hills of scoriaceous lava evidently poured forth from the 

 bowels of the earth during some volcanic cataclysm. Most 

 of these craters are now silent ; their quaquaversal beds of 

 lava no longer glow with fervent heat ; their fires are slum- 

 bering, perhaps forever, — it may be, to gather new strength, 

 and break out once more with redoubled fury. 



The only active, volcanoes are those of Mauna Loa and 



16 



