WATK.INS VOLCANOES OF THE SANDWICH ISLANDS. 25 



about five hundred miles south-east from Hawaii. It was also noticed 

 that, at about the dates thus mentioned, "tidal waves" of enormous 

 size and power washed both shores of the Pacific almost simulta- 

 neously, thus manifestly originating at a common central point, which, 

 as near as could be estimated, was not far from the region of the 

 above-reported sub-marine volcano. 



The specific point to which, it seems to me, intelligent attention 

 might appropriately be directed, is as to whether the indications and 

 disturbances thus known during at least forty years, taken in consid- 

 eration with the recent disappearance of the lava lake at Kilauea, and 

 with the herein described formation system of the existing islands, 

 justify the suspicion that the Sandwich Island group may, at no distant 

 day, have an addition to its number. If so, it may then be of scientific 

 interest to have an accurate investigation of the points I have herein 

 called attention'to, as to the comparative and successive increase in size 

 and distance of each island. However, at this time I am only "placing 

 on file" this rough exhibit. Many years may pass before the^subterra- 

 nean machinery will make another chapter of this history possible. 



And now, in conclusion, while on this subject, I may state another 

 puzzling feature, though of a philosophical and speculative, rather than 

 of a scientific, character. I must, as a prelude, say that I was on the 

 Islands on a roving tour, about three months, and acquired quite a 

 mastery of the simple language of the islanders (eighteen letters com- 

 pose their entire working alphabet), and thus got much information di- 

 rect from the natives. One story I found so unvaryingly told in all the 

 Islands that there can be no doubt as to its antiquity. It was this: 

 "The volcanic outbursts at Kilauea are caused by the ebullitions of 

 "wrath of the goddess Pele — the long, fine, grass-like substances thrown 

 "out at such times are ' Pele's hairs,' torn by the angry goddess from the 

 "heads of those of her subterranean subjects that she at such times gets 

 "her hands on. This goddess Pele was once a queen in Heaven, but, 

 "having got into a row with the head of the family, was, after a series of 

 "revolutionary conflicts, conquered and ignominiously banished to the 

 "lower regions, etc., etc." Captain Cook found this tradition prevailing 

 at the time of his discovery of the Islands, and it is still firmly believed. 

 It really seems that John Milton's patent on the central idea of Para- 

 dise Lost could be successfully contested by the king of the Sandwich 

 Islands as heir to the belongings of his Kanaka ancestors. 



I have only to add that, writing from memory of the rambling obser- 

 vations made thirty-two years ago, I cannot aver that the directions 

 and dimensions herein given are closely accurate. The outline feat- 

 ures, however, as I have stated them, are unquestionably, in a general 

 way, correct. 



[Peoc. D. A. N. S., Vol. V.'J 4 [July 27, 1886.] 



