a 
‘ @ # ‘ : . 
Geologicai Features of the Island of Owyhee or Hawaii, 117 
1018=P—1. Therefore, if we convert ;;!,; into.a decimal frac- © 
tion, the number of decimal places before repeating will be 1018. 
Operating, as in the last example, it would not be difficult to 
find the g, quotient, as well as the r, remainder, be « however 
great, for any prime value of P. 
Utica, October 21, 1840. 
Arr. XII.— Remarks on the Geological Features of the Island of 
Owyhee or Hawaii,* the largest of the group called the Sand- 
wich Islands, with an account of the condition of the Volcano 
of Kirauea, situated in the Southern part of the Island near 
the foot of Mouna Roa. Drawn up from statements made by 
Captain Chase, of the ship Charles Carroll, and Captain Par- 
ker, of the ship Ocean, who visited it in 1838; by Epwarp G. 
Kritry, of Nantucket. (See frontispiece. ) 
Tue Island of Owyhee, like many of the islands in the Pacific 
Ocean, is of volcanic origin. Vast streams of lava have flowed 
over its whole surface, and on every side of its lofty mountains, 
whose summits are covered with perpetual snow. Some of these 
Streams have rolled on for thirty and forty miles over a great ex- 
tent of country, and plunged from the precipitous cliffs which 
skirt the island into the billows of the ocean. A single current 
Which flowed from one of the large craters on the top of Mouna 
Nararai, in the year 1800, filled up an extensive bay, twenty 
miles in length, and formed the present coast. 
The recent formations of lava present a vitreous and dazzling 
surface, without a shrub or spot of grass, while those of ancient 
date have undergone decomposition, until a soil has been formed 
which is capable of bearing the most useful and beautiful veget- 
able productions. Where once the fiery torrent rolled, stretches 
: the verdant forest, and the rude islander sows his seed and plants 
his roots in soil that once glowed like the burning coal. 
The natural senery of the Island of Owhyhee, is sublime and 
interesting ; having for ages, been subject to frequent and pou 5 
ful voleanic eruptions, and rent by the most violent earthquakes. 
fh many places currents of lava have flowed over abrupt pre- 
Se era ae acct 
* For notices on this subject, see this Journal, Vols. x1, p. 1; xx, p. 228. 
* 
