188 On the Volcanic Character af the Island of Hawaii. 



Soon after the arrival of this second missionary family, a 

 tour round the island was resolved upon, with particular re- 

 ference to the great objects of the mission. Messrs. Ellis *, 

 Harwood, Thurston, Stewart, Bishop, and Goodrich, were 

 charged with the execution of this duty, which they performed 

 with zeal and ability. The result of their observations is de- 

 tailed in a little volume, ably drawn up by Mr. Ellis, and en- 

 titled " A Journal of a Tour around Hawaii, the largest of the 

 Sandwich Islands." Besides many interesting statements re- 

 lative to the paramount objects of the enterprise, it contains a 

 great number more relating to the natural history of the island. 

 From this part of the work, we intend to quote the most im- 

 portant passages; and we conceive that we cannot better in- 

 troduce them than by the following letter from Mr. Goodrich 

 to the Editor, which, although dated a year ago, has been re- 

 ceived only within a few days. 



Letter from Mr. Joseph Goodrich, one of the American Mission- 

 aries in the Sandwich Islands. 



To Professor Silliman, New-Haven, (Connecticut). 



My dear Sir, Waiakea (Hawaii), April 20, 1825. 



1 confess I have remained silent quite too long, in not an- 

 swering your kind re*quest on the eve of my embarkation, al- 

 though I am better able to state facts now than at any former 

 period. The station which I am called to occupy, is on the 

 N.E. side of Hawaii, (pronounced Harwye,) at the head of a 

 safe and commodious harbour, yet but little known to foreign- 

 ers. About forty miles in the interior, in a south-westerly di- 

 rection, is a burning volcano, that has been in a state of acti- 

 vity from time immemorial. The oldest natives can give no 

 account of a time when it was not burning : they say it is more 

 active now than it was twelve or fifteen years since f. 



On 



member of Yale College, applied himself with diligence to the study of mi- 

 neralogy and geology, with particular reference to more extended useful- 

 ness as a missionary, he having already resolved on devoting himself to that 

 object. 



Mr. Goodrich made very considerable acquirements in this way j and 

 being endowed with a vigorous frame, and peculiar hardihood and equani- 

 mity, he was well qualified for the vicissitudes of a missionary life in a bar- 

 barous country. 



The letter annexed, contains so many interesting notices, that I have 

 given it with little abridgement or alteration. Mr. Thurston and Mr. 

 Whitney were also from Yale College, and possessed, in a high degree, the 

 requisite traits of character. 



* An English missionary then on a visit at Hawaii. 



T There is now a whaling ship in this port, the Dawn, of New-York, 

 Captain Butler, seven and a half months out, which will probably return 



about 



