1834, JANUARY. MOUNA ROA 315 



activity. The part to the South of the circle, where the outlet of the 

 lava has evidently been, must have enjoyed a long period of repose. 

 Were it not for the dykes on the West end, which show the extent of the 

 ancient cauldron, and the direction of the lava, together with its proximity 

 to the existing volcano, there is little to arrest the eye of the Naturalist 

 over the greater portion of this huge dome, which is a gigantic mass of 

 slag, scoriae, and ashes. The barometer remained stationary during the 

 whole period spent on the summit, nor was there any change in the tem- 

 perature nor in the dew-point to-day. While passing, from eight to nine 

 o'clock, over the ledges of lava of a more compact texture, with small 

 but numerous vesicles, the temperature of the air being 36, 37, and the 

 sun shining powerfully, a sweet musical sound was heard, proceeding 

 from the cracks and small fissures, like the faint sound of musical glasses, 

 but having at the same time, a kind of hissing sound, like a swarm of bees. 

 This may perhaps be owing to some great internal fire escaping or is 

 it rather attributable to the heated air on the surface of the rocks, rarefied 

 by the sun's rays ? In a lower region, this sound might be overlooked, 

 and considered to proceed, by possibility, from the sweet harmony of 

 insects, but in this high altitude it is too powerful and remarkable not 

 to attract attention. Though this day was more tranquil than the 12th, 

 when I ascended Mouna Kuah, I could perceive a great difference in 

 sound ; I could not now hear half so far as I did on that day when the 

 wind was blowing strong. This might be owing to this mountain being 

 covered with snow, whereas, on the 12th, Mouna Kuah was clear of it. 

 Near the top I saw one small bird, about the size of a common sparrow, 

 of a light mixed grey colour, with a faintly yellow beak no other living 

 creature met my view above the woody region. This little creature, 

 which was perched on a block of lava, was so tame as to permit me to 

 catch it with my hand, when I instantly restored it its liberty. I also 

 saw a dead hawk in one of the caves. On the East side of the black ledge 

 of the Great Terminal Crater, is a small conical funnel of scoriae, the only 

 vent-hole of that substance that I observed in the crater. This mountain 

 appears to be differently formed from Mouna Kuah ; it seems to be an 

 endless number of layers of lava, from different overflowings of the great 

 crater. In the deep caves at Kapupala, two thousand feet above the 

 level of the sea, the several strata are well defined, and may be accurately 

 traced, varying in thickness with the intensity of the action, and of the 

 discharge that has taken place. Between many of these strata are layers 

 of earth, containing vegetable substances, some from two feet to two 

 feet seven inches in thickness, which bespeak a long state of repose between 

 the periods of activity in the volcano. It is worthy of notice that the 

 thickest strata are generally the lowest, and they become thinner towards 

 the surface. In some places I counted twenty-seven of these layers, 

 horizontal, and preserving the declination of the mountain. In the 

 caves which I explored near my camp, which are from forty to seventy 

 feet deep, thin strata of earth intervene between the successive beds of 

 lava, but none is found nearer the surface than thirteen layers. No 

 trace of animal, shell or fish, could I detect in any of the craters or caves, 



