202 K I L A U E A. 



the point at Kapoho, very little ground that can be cultivated is to be 

 seen. The country, however, is considered fruitful by those who are 

 acquainted with it, notwithstanding its barren appearance on the 

 roadsides. The inhabitants seemed to have abundance of bread- 

 fruit, bananas, sugar-cane, taro, and sweet-potatoes. The latter, how- 

 ever, are seen to be growing literally among heaps of stones and pieces 

 of lava, with scarcely soil enough to cover them ; yet they are, I am 

 informed, the finest on the island. 



At Puna, there is a large church ; but no appearance of a village, 

 the houses being much scattered. The church, it is said, will contain 

 two or three thousand persons. The Rev. Mr. Coan, I understood, 

 officiates here occasionally. 



Before reaching Nanavalie, we passed through Kanakiki, a small 

 village ; and the sand-hills at the former place were reached before 

 noon, when I was enabled to get the meridian observations. The 

 height of the highest sand-hill was found to be two hundred and fifty 

 feet: it is perpendicular on the side next the sea, which is rapidly 

 washing it away. Here we met several natives, who confirmed the 

 story of the earthquakes, and said that they had been very severe. 

 I have not before stated the fact, that none were felt at Hilo; and 

 indeed earthquakes on Hawaii seem to be local. One was said to 

 have taken place during my visit to Mauna Loa ; but no one of the 

 party felt any shock. 



There are three of these sand-hills, which caused me more astonish- 

 ment, and involved greater difficulties to account for them, than any 

 other phenomenon connected with the eruption. From the accounts 

 given me, the coast at Nanavalie, previous to the eruption, was one 

 continuous lava cliff, of the hard metallic kind, like that which is still 

 found on both sides of the sand-hills for several miles. There was no 

 appearance whatever of sand. At present there are three large hills, 

 composed of sand and gravel of a light yellow hue, with little mixture 

 of lava or scoria. The last unite with the lava plain near the sea, 

 which may be observed in some places to flow under them. 



Beds of sand and gravel, similar to those composing the hills, exist 

 for some distance along the sides of the lava streams. From all 

 accounts, the formation of these took place at the time the lava 

 stream joined the ocean, which must have produced a violent sand- 

 storm, the effects of which are rendered evident for a mile on either 

 side of the stream, by the quantity of sand atid gravel that is lodged 

 in the pandanus and other trees. 



