244 Volcanic Eruptions of Hawaii. 
\ 
In a letter subsequently received by the author from Mr. Coan 
he states: —“ The angle of descent down which the lavas flowed 
from the summit to the northern base of Mauna Loa is 6°; but 
there are many places on the side of the mountain where the in- 
clination is 10°, 15°, or 25°, and even down these local declivi- 
ties of half a mile to two miles in extent, the lava flowed ina 
continuous stream. This was the fact not only during the flow 
of several weeks upon the surface, but also in that wonderful flow 
in the subterranean duct, described in the Missionary Herald. 
» There was no insurmountable barrier in the way of the flow 
from the summit of Mauna Loa to the base of Mauna Kea, a dis- 
tance of twenty-five or thirty miles. The stream sometimes 
4 
pressions were filled up by the lava as it passed down the slope 
ve f the mountain, and between the two mountains. In conclu- 
~** sion, I remark, that the stream was continuous for more than 
P Ph. twenty-five miles, with an average breadth of one and a half 
eo? miles, and flowed down a declivity varying from 25° to. 1°.” 
g all this time, Kilauea, on th 
wes 0,900 feet below, was in its usual active condition, an 
ee -as’an observer says, it showed not the least signs of sympathy. 
». Phe crater is an opening 34 miles in length; and within tt, ap 
ea 1500 and.1000 feet in its diameters, was at the time In cone 
distughed ebullition..: °° OS, , 
fhere has been another eruption from the summit, 
an éarly account from the island to give our 
e the past year, and was as remarkable as 
3 ar 
* 
its uietness of progress, and its exten 
; «o's Diagn 
* aga. le 
* 
