Volcanic Character of the Island of Hawaii. 7 
The lava in many places is full of the crystals of augite and 
leucite. The sand — the sea shore in front my house is 
composed chiefly of green crystals, which I suppose to be 
augite. Ihave tried several specimens of the lava, and find 
them fusible by the blow pipe. For further information I 
must refer you to a journal of a tour of this Island that was 
made the summer after my arrival. 
We will now proceed to give, as far as the object 1 in view 
is concerned, an se and analysis of the tour of the m 
sionaries, as drawn up by Mr. Ellis, and although some of the 
facts ame as Pee related by Mr. Goodrich, they are 
presented in such a comnexion, that it _ not be inpleasant 
or unprofitable to have them in part ated. Mr. Good- 
rich’s letter’ contains, however, a Sadia of facts not related in 
the tour. ** The tour, says the North American, (for es 
1826,) was begun at Kairua, a village on the western side 
the island, and the residence of Kuakini, the priicipal chief of 
Hawaii. They proceeded along the coast to the south, east, 
and north, till they had encompassed the island, having occu- 
pied in their rambling, a little more than two months. —They 
made hee eee excursions inland, visited the principal villages, 
th the 7 ched to them « ‘occa- 
sions, and Tallected such information as in the most satisfacto- 
ry manner to answer the ends of the mission. A guide was 
furnished them, called Makoa, a person of asomewhat remark- 
able appearance and ore to judge from his picture, and 
the description of him in the book. But he was o hi 
duty, and the tiareliein were hospitably 1 received, and civilly 
treated wherever they went. 
In the report of the a 1 is — to the nar- 
rative of Mr. Ellis, they remark: ‘We have been enabled to 
collect. considerable information ona variety of © 
natural scenery, productions, geology and curiosities ; the tra- 
——_ legends, superstitions, mecreriid customs, si “In 
the prosecution of our design, to explore and en 
long benighted Hawaii, we have ascended floyd aoajes majes- 
tic mountains, entered its dark patie casi its deep ra- 
vines, and traversed its immense fields of rugged lava. We 
have stood with wonder on the edge of its ancient craters, 
walked tremblingly along the brink of its smoking chasms, 
