69 



Snow-storm in the tropics. 



Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, the high mountain peaks on Hawaii, and 

 Mount Haleakala, on Maui, are represented as now covered on their sum- 

 mits with beautiful white mantles of snow ; the drifts in the gulches 

 and valleys being often from twenty to thirty feet deep. Although not 

 very cool here in Honolulu, (the thermometer ranging at night from 65^ 

 to 70°,) yet the presence of snow on these mountains indicates cold 

 weather higher up, their altitude being from ten thousand to fourteen 

 thousand feet. There have been several snow-storms on them during 

 the past few weeks, and the scene is represented to be one of indescrib- 

 able grandeur. Those living on the island, where they occur, can sel- 

 dom see these storms so well as those who chance to be passing in 

 schooners. To the former the scene is generally obscured by clouds over- 

 head, but to the latter the sight at a distance is magnificient, as the dark 

 heavy masses of clouds roll and tumble over and around the lofty summit, 

 they drop their snow mantles, which lower down turn into rain or melt away 

 as fast as it touches the surface. On some occasions the lightning, darting 

 around, from the cold upper strata of clouds, three or four miles high, to 

 the lower and warmer ones, is said to be splendid, and unequalled in any 

 other country or latitude. Snow-storms in the tropics are among the most 

 beautiful sights imaginable, and the few who are privileged to see them 

 witness some of nature's grandest exhibitions. — ( Commercial Advertiser, 

 Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, January 28.) 



Hourly observations of thermometer at Fort Laramie, Idaho Territory, from 

 4^. m., January 4, to 4 p. m., January 7, 1864. 



Providence, Rhode Island. — The mean temperature this month, 2T.3°, is 

 exactly the average of January for thirty-three years. The warmest Jan- 

 uary in thirty-three years was that of 1843, mean temperature 34.2°; the 



