Yelcanic Character of the Island of Hawai. 19 
bright variegated lustre, brittle and porous; while the an- 
cient lava was of a gray or reddish colour, compact, and bro- 
ken with difficulty.” 
The heat varied at the surface, which they attributed to the 
varying thickness of the lava, beneath the whole of which, 
the heat was still in great activity, as was evinced by the vol- 
umes of smoke and vapour every where issuing. Of this 
place Mr. Ellis took a drawing.— : 
It appeared from the statement of the guide, that about 
eleven moons ago, the two large chasms were formed, and 
that the great hollow had been formed by the subsidence of 
the earth, about two moons ago, in consequence of an earth- 
quake. The missionaries regarded this as an infant volcano, 
which seems, however, te have remained mainly undisturbed 
for a long time, perhaps for ages ; for “‘ the lava is decompo- 
sed to a considerable depth, and is mingled with prolific soil, 
fertile in vegetation, and profitable to its proprietors.” We 
felt, they observe— a melancholy interest in witnessing th 
first exhibitions of returning action, after so long a repose in 
this mighty agent, whose irresistible energies will probably, 
at no very distant period, spread desolation over a district, 
now smiling in yerdure, repaying the toils and gladdening 
the heart of the industrious cultivator.” The place which the 
missionaries had visited, is about 10 or 12 miles from the sea 
shore, and about 20 from the great volcano, at the foot of 
Mouna Roa, 
As they returned, they ‘ passed several hills, whose broad 
base and irregular tops, showed them originally to have been 
ey must have been very ancient, as they were 
covered with shrubs and trees. From them must have come 
the then molten, but now indurated floods, over which the par- 
” 
ving made every preparation to visit the great crater of 
Kirauea, the party set forward at 5 P. M. of July 31. 
Ata place called Kapuahi, they “ stopped at the entrance 
fragments of lava, without. Although very poor, they im- 
parted to the travellers both fresh water and taro root. 
The progress of the party was new over a most beautiful 
