On the Volcanic Character of the Island of Hawaii. 189 



On my arrival at these islands, I landed at Oahu, and spent 

 two or three months there. The rocks that I examined there 

 are decidedly volcanic, yet many bear a near resemblance to 

 the trap rock. The soil, in many places, is quite red, and is 

 used by some for red paint ; and for any thing that I know, 

 answers every purpose of Spanish brown. The soil is the 

 same on Tuuai (Atooi). From what I have seen and heard 

 of all the islands, there is no doubt, in my mind, that they are 

 all volcanic. 



The summer after my arrival, I spent about ten weeks in 

 making a tour of this island, in company with several other 

 members of the mission family. A journal of that tour will 

 probably be published in America. The island of Hawaii, 

 from the north point to the southern, including all the west 

 side of the island, is little else than one entire mass or sheet 

 of lava, which has run down from the mountains at different 

 periods. Some of the currents of lava are so recent, that there 

 is no vegetation to be seen upon them ; but others are of a 

 much more ancient date, so that bushes and even trees have 

 sprung up among the beds of lava. Most of the land on the 

 western side of the island four or five miles from the shore is 

 high, probably not far from 3000 feet above the level of the 

 sea. In several places, the lava, as it ran down from the 

 mountains, fell over precipices from 20 to 100 feet in height; 

 sometimes presenting the form of stalactites, and at others of 

 stalagmites, and sometimes an entire sheet, like the falling of 

 water over a mill dam, except that the lava was more viscid. 



The most remarkable place is eight or ten miles to the south 

 of Kearakekua, which place is to the southward of the mid- 

 dle of the island. There are four high mountains in the island, 

 one back of Toaehae, and another back of Kairua, upwards 

 of 7000 feet high, called Hualulae : the two others are vastly 

 higher; namely, Mouna Kea, to the northward and eastward 

 part of the island, estimated to be upwards of 18,000 feet 

 high, and Mouna Roa, in the south-western part, probably 

 near the same height. I have been twice to the summit of 

 Mouna Kea. The first time I was at the highest peak about 

 three o'clock at night, in the month of August ; the thermo- 



about two years hence. Capt. B. expects to come here next fall, and like- 

 wise the spring following, on board of whom it is my expectation to put a 

 box of minerals for you, unless I have an opportunity short of that time. 

 I might now send it down to Oahu, the port from which almost all vessels 

 clear out for America. Should I send it down there, it would be uncertain 

 in what vessel they would be shipped, or at what port in America they 

 would arrive. It would then be altogether uncertain whether you would 

 ever receive them. I think it preferable to wait for a good opportunity. 



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