THE SANDWICH ISLANDS 



311 



Three of the smaller islands are each about the size of 

 Hertfordshire or Bedfordshire, and the Avhole group 

 stretches from north-Avest to south-east for a distance of 

 about 350 miles. Though so extensive, the entire archi- 

 pelago is volcanic, and the largest island is rendered 



MAP OF TIIIC SANDWICH ISLANE:- 



Tlie light tint shows wliere the sea is less than 1,000 fathoms deeii, 

 The figrres show the dejith in fathoms. 



sterile and comparatively uninhabitable by its three active 

 volcanoes and their widespread deposits of lava. 



The ocean de23ths by which these islands are sej^arated 

 from the nearest continents are enormous. North, east, 

 and south, soundings have been obtained a little over or 

 under three thousand fathoms, and these profound deeps 

 extend over a large part of the North Pacific. We may 



