GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF HAWAII. 161 



weoweo. The liyht first seen on May 1st disappeared, however, and nothing' of 

 note occnrrcd until November 5th, wiien a How started from the northeast slope 

 of Mauna Loa at a point in the vieinity of the source of the flow of 1855. It 

 proved to be one of the most important eruptions and flows on reeord in the 

 islands. Although the amount of lava poured out did not eqiial that of the 

 '55 flow, the distance covered was greater than that of any flow from any island 

 volcano. 



From an opening- in the side of tlie mountain at an altitude of aliout 11,000 

 feet the stream soon divided into three branches. The first branch, known as 

 the Kea stream, ran in the direction of that mountain and terminated in the 

 flat between the two mountains. The second, the Kan stream, ran in the direc- 

 tion of Kilauea and was plainly seen from the Volcano House. The main stream, 

 however, continued in the direction of Hilo, where on August 10, 1881, it finally 

 stopped at a point only three-quarters of a mile from the town, after flowing in 

 a tortuous course more than thirty-five miles in length. As the stream slowly 

 but surely worked its way nearer and nearer the town, excitement was intense, 

 not only in Hilo but throughout the group. But at last, after nine months of 

 activity, the flow finally stopped, leaving the city unharmed. 



In December of the year 1886, earthquakes became frequent and violent on 

 the opposite side of the mountain; about Kahukii they increased in frequency 

 until from three to six hundred were noted by ditferent observers in tlie two or 

 three days between January 17th and January 19th, 1887. Light was seen 

 at the summit several times during this period, but it was on the afternoon of 

 the 18th that the outbreak occurred at 6,500 feet elevation and at a i)oint twenty 

 miles from the sea on the Kahuku side of JMauna Loa. 



Tlie following day by noon the lava stream had reached the sea at a point 

 four miles west of the flov.- of 1868. By noon of the 24th the flow ceased, but 

 not until more lava had been poured forth than during the earlier flow. 



Activity was renewed in 1899 on the north slope of ]\Iauna Loa at what 

 was called the Dewey Crater, out of compliment to the distingviished admiral 

 whose achievement at Manila Bay was coincident with that of the eruption. On 

 June 20th earth shocks were felt in Hawaii, and on July 1st light was to be 

 seen over the pit in the top of the mountain. On July 5th there came an out- 

 break of lava on the slopes six miles northeast of Mokuaweoweo. The point of 

 eruption was at an elevation of near 11.000 feet, a short distance above the 

 point of origin of the 1880 flow. Fountains of fire eould be seen spouting high 

 in air, and parties started at once from Hilo and the Volcano House to visit 

 the source of the flow. It was found that two fountains were in operation 

 almost a mile apart, but later the upper one died down and a third became 

 active near the second. The streams from these fountains united and flowed 

 towards JMauna Kea. The lava continued to flow until July 26th, running 

 fifteen miles from its source in a stream which was a mile in width at the widest 

 part. 



Eight years jiassed before ]\[auna Loa again gave forth an eruptive flow. 



