74 



While at this camp I experienced a slight earthquake, which was 

 felt stronger at Huehue. On June 9, the ascent was made to 

 Honuaulu, the highest peak of Hualalai, 8273 feet, of which I 

 shall give a general account and description of the country 

 traversed. 



At 2000 feet elevation commences the lower forest zone, with 

 valuable pasture lands extending up to about 3500 feet, beyond 

 which the soil is black and muddy and covered by a forest mainly 

 composed of Ohia lehua, Kolea (Myrsine Lessertiana) , Byronia 

 Sandwicensis and Acacia Koa, forming the middle forest zone. 

 Most of these Koa trees are nearly smothered beneath great 

 masses of runners of the wild raspberry (Rubus macraei), the 

 stems of which are sometimes over two inches thick and 25 feet 

 long, thus forming impenetrable thickets. 



From 5000 to 6000 feet the vegetation is stunted, the most 

 prevailing trees being again Ohia lehua and Kolea. Above it 

 the vegetation gives place to lava fields of rough a-a, which 

 gradually pass into a small, dismal plain composed of Pahoehoe 

 and gravelly sand. Here is the home of Geranium cuneatum, the 

 wild strawberry (Fragaria chilensis), species of Raillardia and 

 Coprosnia ernodeoides or Kukaineenee, whose black berries are 

 eaten by the native geese (Bernicla sandwicensis) . 



The vegetation now takes a different character. A legumi- 

 nous tree, the Mamani of the natives (Sophora chrysophylla), 

 and the Naio (Myoporum sandzvicense) , which forms here a tree 

 of 25 to 30 feet in height, are abundant, while at lower elevations 

 both are small, 5 to 6 feet high, and branching from the base. 

 The plain above as well as the forest beneath is intersected by 

 lava streams. Here and there in the extensive lava fields are 

 beautiful green hills covered with old giants of Acacia Koa, 

 which, from their elevation, escaped destruction by the fiery 

 streams, and now appear like oases in a desert. From here to 

 about 7400 feet, within which lies the upper forest zone, Mamani 

 and Naio seem to be the only trees, while Dodonaea eriocarpa, 

 Cyathodes tameiameia, and Coprosma Menziesii form the scrub 

 vegetation up to the summit. 



The summit itself is composed of a number of large craters, 

 some 200 to 500 feet deep by 3000 feet in circumference Ho- 

 nuaulu forming, as before mentioned, the highest point, 8273 

 feet above sea level. The walls of the craters are solid and al- 

 most perpendicular, the bottoms flat and gravelly. Some of the 

 craters were full of lava blocks which have fallen from the steep 

 walls. 



Northwest from Honoaulu, a half mile distant, are a series of 

 craters and cones, one being especially remarkable for its un- 

 fathomable depth. It is a veritable chimney about 100 feet high, 



