﻿Vol. 66.] VOLCANO OP MATAVANU IN SAVAII. 637 



level of the lava vary frequently; and the places where the lava 

 appeared to flow out a few days previously can then be seen to 

 be solid, and the caves into which it seemed to flow to have solid 

 ends. The motion must be due at any rate to convection currents 

 like those in a boiling pot or kettle, but it is still a question whether 

 this is all. 



The movement in Matavanu looks similar but much more active, 

 the waves of liquid basalt are much larger, the splashes remain 

 longer visible when they strike the walls, and the fountains are 

 much larger and generally more active. The molten lava also can 

 be seen to pour like a cataract into the tunnel, and visibly falls 

 into the sea at the other end. Matavanu is therefore certainly a 

 river. Kilauea may be a river, but is more probably a boiling pot. 

 .Does the lava of Kilauea at the times when the lake empties 

 itself periodically, say once in five years, also discharge itself into 

 the sea ? This has been often supposed, but absolute proof has been 

 wanting. The analogy of Matavanu now supports this hypothesis ; 

 and the appearances which I saw, along with Governor Erear of 

 Hawaii, in some enormous cracks and subsidences between Kilauea 

 and the sea give support to the idea. 1 



In conclusion, I wish to tender my thanks to Dr. Solf, Governor 

 of German Samoa, for countenance and introductions; to Vice- 

 Admiral von Coerper of the Imperial German Wavy, and to the- 

 Captain and Officers of S.M.S. Leipzig, especially Capt.-Lieut. von, 

 Luck and Ober-Lieut. von Sastrow for hospitable conveyance on 

 their warship ; and above all to Mr. Eichard Williams, Amtmana 

 of Savan, whom I have so often quoted above, for much hospitality 

 and practical assistance. Thanks are also due to Messrs. Ludwig 

 Sehrceder of Safune and Herbert Edwin Eae of Apia and to 

 Serjeant Suisala (himself a native chief) for practical assistance of 

 various kinds. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATES XLY-LII, 



Plate XL V. 



Fig. 1. Matavanu from the sea—A background of old volcanic mountains - 

 then the new cone of Matavanu, surmounted and partly concealed by 

 a cumulus and a lower stratum of condensed vapour. In front of 

 this are seen the lava-fields covered with a little fleecy vapour and 

 themselves partly surrounding two old cones. Still nearer is the 

 tropical jungle, and then the sea. 

 2. Matavanu: the cone and upper lava-field seen from the 

 south—In the distance is the cone. The lip of the crater extends 

 from a point near the right of the plate to nearly the same distance 

 rom the left edge. The field in front is formed of slaggy l ava 

 (pahoehoe), and appears to have stood originally at a higher level un 

 to the ndge at the foot of the cone. After the formatfon of a ruj 

 the lava beneath it has found a vent and the surface has subsided 

 considerably, especially to the rig ht and centre of the foreground. 



1 A discussion of these subsidences would, however, be premature until all 

 the photographs are developed and can be examined. 



2x2 



