641 



THE GEOLOGY OF SAMOA, AND THE ERUPTIONS 

 IN SAVAII. 



By H. I. Jensen, B.Sc, Linnean Macleay Fellow of the 

 Society is Geology. 



(Plate liv.-lxiv.) 



1, Introduction. 



In March and April last upon the receipt of news bearing on 

 the gigantic eruptions then in progress in the island of Savaii, 

 Professor David expressed a desire that I should pay a visit to 

 the island to report on these phenomena. Accordingly, the 

 Council of this Society having granted me the necessary leave of 

 absence in order to pursue investigations on the Samoan volcano, 

 I left Sydney on Ma3 r 29th, and arrived in Samoa on June 10th. 

 My stay there lasted one month. Without entering into unneces- 

 sary details I will proceed to give an account of the results of 

 my observations there. First, however, I wish to express my 

 cordial thanks to Mr. R. Williams, the Administrator (Amtmann) 

 of Savaii, the Rev. Pere Mennel, Roman Catholic Missionary at 

 Safotu, and Mr. von der Heide, the courageous planter, who, 

 throughout the period of volcanic violence, remained on his estate 

 (Olenono) less than four miles from the crater. These gentlemen, 

 living close to the scene of activity, have generously given me 

 the benefit of the facts and observations they have collected. To 

 Dr. Schultz, Acting Governor of Samoa, Dr. Linke, astronomer 

 and meteorologist at Apia, Dr. Funke, and the Deutscher Handels 

 und Plantagengesellschaft I am indebted for many acts of kind- 

 ness and courtesy. I have also to thank Capt. Allan, of the s.s. 

 ' Maori,' and Mr. Tattersall, photographer, Apia, for permission 

 to copy the photographs which appear in Plates i. to iv. of this 

 paper. 



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