SANDWICH ISLANDS. 193 



our use by an order from the king. There were numbers of 

 persons still employed in leveling off the ground around it, 

 and in platting down the grass with which it is covered. 



Dec. 11th and 12th. These two days have been spent in 

 making preparations for the excursion to the top of Mauna Loa. 



On the 14th, Captain Wilkes and party left for Manua 

 Loa. The expedition set out from the Observatory, and, be- 

 sides Captain W., consisted of Messrs. Budd, Eld, Pickering, 

 Judd, Brinsmade, Brackenbridge, and Elliott, Serg. Stearns, 

 twelve of the crew, and one hundred and fifty natives, or kana- 

 kas. It was Captain Wilkes's intention to have started at 

 a much earlier hour, but in this he was disappointed by a cir- 

 cumstance which could not be foreseen. No sooner was the 

 order to march given than thirty of the natives laid down their 

 loads and declared they were sick, and could not go the 

 excursion. Others were engaged to take their place, but not 

 without much persuasion and great additional expense. They 

 positively refused to go unless they received double the pay 

 which had been offered those whom they were to relieve — that 

 is, eight dollars. 



The party will spend one night in the vicinity of Kilauei, 

 which will be on their way. On reaching the summit of 

 Mauna Loa, they will immediately go on erecting the tents. 

 This done, the natives are to be discharged, with orders to re- 

 turn again when their services are needed. As soon as the 

 instruments are up, Captain Wilkes and Messrs. Budcl and 

 Eld will proceed with the observations, and continue them 

 until a sufficient number are obtained to form the data from 

 which the proper results are to be obtained. Such are the 

 objects of this enterprise, and we do most sincerely wish it all 

 the success imaginable. No observations, we believe, have as 

 yet been made by any one at so great an altitude with instru- 



