: 7 
* = * 
118 Geological Features of the Island of Owyhee or Hawaii. 
cipices, and formed beautiful stalactites, massive columns and 
striking resemblances to the mountain cascade, whilst in others 
the whole stream has been torn from its original position by some 
mighty convulsion, leaving huge blocks of lava standing erect or 
leaning against others for miles, which present a dreary and des- 
olate appearance. In the early part of 1823, an entire mountain, 
which attained an elevation of six hundred feet, was thrown into 
the sea during the shock of an earthquake, and its fragments mix- 
ed with the ruins of houses-and forest trees were scattered along 
the coast for half a mile, presenting a scene of frightful desolation. 
One impressive feature of this island, ists majestic mountains, 
some of which rise fifteen or twenty thousand* feet above the 
level ofthe sea, and are higher than the Peak of Teneriffe, or the 
summit of Mount Blanc. For several thousand feet, they are 
beautifully decorated with extensive forests and verdant meadows, 
in which immense herds of cattle roam at large, with droves of © 
swine and other animals, but at greater elevations they present 2 
rugged and barren surface. > 
Having given in the few remarks above, some account of the 
geological character of the island, we will proceed to describe the 
great crater of Kirauea, as it appeared on the eighth of May, 1838. 
Early in the morning, on the seventh of May, Captains Chase 
and Parker, in company with several others, left the port at Lord 
Byron’s Bay, for the purpose of visiting the celebrated. volean0 
Kirauea, After travelling a few miles through a delightful coun 
try interspersed with hill and valley, and adorned with clusters © 
trees, hung with the richest foliage, they came to a forest several 
miles in extent, so entangled with shrubs, and interwoven with 
creeping vines, that its passage was extremely difficult. On isst- 
ing from this, the scenery again wore a pleasing aspect, but was 
soon changed intoa dreary waste. Their route was now in the 
direct course of a large stream of lava, thirty miles in length and 
four or five in breadth. 'The lava was of recent formation, with@ 
surface, in some places, so slippery as to endanger falling, and in 
others, so rugged as to render it toilsome and dangerous to pass 
Scattered around, were a few shrubs that had taken root in the 
voleanic sand and scorize, and on each side of the stream grew # 
stinted forest. Mouna Roaand Mouna Kea, were seen in the dis- 
wi ay oS ane 
* Probably the first number may be nearest to the truth.—Eps. 
