88 
during which earthquakes were experienced in Tunis, in 
Switzerland, in the Rhine Valley, and in Cornwall. Both 
Etna and Vesuvius have been very active during the last few 
years, especially in 1897 and 1898. 
The Island of Hawaii rises from the floor of the North 
Pacific Ocean, here some twelve thousand feet deep. It con- 
sists mainly of two extinct and two active volcanoes. The 
largest extinct voleano, Mauna Kea, is 13,805 feet high, and 
the largest active crater, Mauna Loa, 13,600 feet above sea 
level; so that the twin peaks attain the truly Himalayan 
altitude of over 25,000 feet. Mauna Kea has not been active 
within historic times, but during the century that has elapsed 
since the discovery of the island by Captain Cook, we have 
a tolerably complete history of the various eruptions of Mauna 
Loa and Kilauea; the earlier portion of which we owe to the 
zealous labours of an American Missionary, the Rev. Dr. Coan. 
The first great eruption on record was in 1789, and was 
attended by fearful earthquakes, terrific darkness, thunder and 
lightning. Others followed in 1823, 1840, 1848, 1851, and 
1855; but the eruption of 1868 was, perhaps, the most terrible 
on record; though those of 1877 and 1880—which last 
continued for nine months—were not far behind in their 
destructive fury. Details were given of some of the most 
remarkable phenomena of these eruptions. Awful as these 
records are, it is to be feared they would have been much worse 
were not Mauna Loa provided with a safety valve in Kilauea, 
sixteen miles §.E., and only four thousand feet above the sea 
level. This crater, called Halé-mau-mau, or the “house of 
everlasting burning,’ by the natives, is nine miles in circum- 
ference, and is a lake of liquid fire. It is never the same for 
three months together, but exhibits an infinite variety of 
changes, some of which the lecturer described and illustrated. 
It does not often overflow, nevertheless it did so in 1888 and 
1890, with most disastrous consequences. Both these craters 
were in violent eruption in 1902, but exact particulars are not 
yet to hand. 
After briefly describing the chain of volcanoes that runs 
through the Islands of the Eastern Archipelago, from 
Barren Island, in the Bay of Bengal, to Nitendi, in tha 
Solomon Islands, the Lecturer gave an account of the terrible 
eruption of Krakatoa in 1883. This enjoys the distinction of 
having been one of the best, if not the very best, studied erup- 
tions that have ever taken place. After lying quiet for 208 
years, the region began to be shaken by violent earthquakes, 
and on May 20th, 1883, the first eruption took place. This 
subsided, but on the 23rd August was renewed with terrific 
