1 18 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 

 might}^ 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, is its majestic mountains, 

 some of which rise fifteen or twenty thousand* feet above the - 

 level of the 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 a 

 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 volcano 

 Kirauea. After travelling a few miles through a delightful coun- 

 try interspersed with hill and valley, and adorned witii clusters of 

 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 issu- 

 ing from this, the scenery again wore a pleasing aspect, but was 

 soon changed into a 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 a 

 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, M^ere a ie\Y shrubs that had taken root in the 

 volcanic sand and scoriae, and on each side of the stream grew a 

 stinted forest. Mouna Roaand Mouna Kea, were seen in the dis- 



* Probably the first number may be nearest to the truth, — Eds. 



