190 On the Volcanic Character of the Island of Hawaii. 



meter stood at 27 cleg. 5 below the freezing point. I passed 

 over several banks of snow, that lay to the northward of the 

 highest peaks, (this mountain rises much more abruptly than 

 Mouna lioa,) and the change was so great in passing from a 

 torrid to a frigid zone, that I was under the necessity of tra- 

 velling all the time I was up there to prevent freezing. The 

 second time that I ascended was in April last. There appear 

 to be three or four different regions in passing from the sea- 

 shore to the summit. The first occupies five or six miles, 

 where cultivation is carried on, in a degree, and might be to 

 almost any extent ; but as yet, not one twentieth part is culti- 

 vated. The next is a sandy region, that is impassable, except 

 in a few foot-paths. Brakes, a species of fern, here grow to 

 the size of trees; the bodies of some of them are eighteen 

 inches in diameter. The woody region extends between ten 

 and twenty miles in width. The region higher up produces 

 grass, principally of the bent kind. Strawberries, raspberries, 

 as large as butternuts, and whortleberries flourish in this re- 

 gion, and herds of wild cattle are seen grazing. It is entirely 

 broken up by hills and valleys, composed of lava, with a very 

 shallow soil. The upper region is composed of lava in almost 

 every form, from huge rocks to volcanic sand of the coarser 

 kind. Some of the peaks are composed of coarse sand, and 

 others of loose stones and pebbles. I found a few specimens 

 that I should not hesitate to pronounce fragments of granite. 

 I also found fragments of lava, bearing a near resemblance 

 to a geode, filled with green crystals, which I suppose to be 

 aumte. 



Very near to the summit, upon one of the peaks I found 

 eight or ten dead sheep; they probably fled up there to seek a 

 refuge from the wild dogs ; I have heard that there are many 

 wild dogs, sheep and goats. Dogs and goats I have never 

 seen. 



I was upon the summit about 2 o'clock P.M., the wind 

 S.W., much resembling the cold blustering winds of March 

 with you, the air being so rare that it produced a severe pain 

 in my head, that left me as I descended. Much more might 

 be said, that I must omit for want of room. The volcano that 

 I before mentioned is by far the greatest curiosity in the islands. 

 I presume that it is the largest known ; at least it is by far the 

 largest of any of whose dimensions I have seen an account. I 

 have made four visits to the volcano. The last time, I mea- 

 sured the circumference with a line, and found it to be seven 

 and a half miles. Some part of the way I measured within 

 the crater, where the wall was 300 or 400 feet above us. I 

 counted twelve different places where lava was red hot, and 



ihrce 



