On the Volcanic Character of the Island of Hawaii. 195 



It was observed that in several places " the sea rushes with 

 violence along the cavities beneath the lava, to a considerable 

 distance, and then, forcing its waters through the apertures in 

 the surface, forms a number of jets d'eau, which falling again 

 on the rocks, roll rapidly back to the ocean." 



In the morning of June 28, 1823, " Messrs. Thurston, 

 Goodrich, and Harwood, walked towards the mountains, to 

 visit the high and cultivated parts of the district. After tra- 

 velling over the lava for about a mile, the hollows in the rocks 

 began to be filled with a light brown soil ; and about half a 

 mile further, the surface was actually covered with a rich 

 mould, formed by decayed vegetation and decomposed lava." 

 The fences were made with the fragments of lava, inclosing 

 small and well cultivated fields, " planted with bananas, sweet 

 potatoes, mountain tard, tapa trees, melons, and sugar-cane, 

 flourishing luxuriantly in every direction." 



After passing three or four miles, through this " delightful 

 region," they found several pools of fresh water, and arrived 

 at the woody region, which extends several miles up the sides 

 of the lofty mountain, that rises immediately behind Kairua. 



This mountain, called Kuararai, is one of the three highest 

 in Hawaii, and it was very natural that the travellers should 

 wish to ascend to its summit. " The varied strongly marked 

 volcanic surface" of the higher parts — " the traditional ac- 

 counts of its eruptions, the thick woods that skirt its base, and 

 the numerous feathered tribes that inhabit them," all conspired 

 to make it an object of high interest. About 8 o'clock, on the 

 morning of July 9th, they commenced the ascent, accompanied 

 by three native guides. After travelling about 12 miles, they 

 arrived at the last house on the western side of the mountain. 

 Their guides were unwilling to proceed any further that night, 

 but the missionaries proceeded without them, and " travelled 

 about six miles over a rough and difficult road, sometimes 

 across streams of lava full of fissures and chasms, at other times 

 through thick brush-wood, or high fern, so closely interwoven 

 as almost to arrest their progress." They passed the night in 

 a temporary hut, erected on the lava, and the morning of the 

 10th was ushered in by the singing of birds. The thermome- 

 ter was 46 deg. on the outside of the hut, — on the sea-shore it 

 is usually about 84 deg. Having united in their morning 

 orisons, they proceeded on their journey ; " their road lying 

 through thick underwood and fern, was wet and fatiguing, for 

 about two miles, when they arrived at an ancient stream of 

 lava, about twenty rods wide, running in a direction nearly 

 west. Ascending upon the hardened surface of this stream, 

 over deep chasms, and huge volcanic stones, a distance of 



2 B 2 three 



