K I L A U E A. 203 



From the top of the hill I could perceive no appearance of a shoal 

 ha\'ing been formed, for the water appeared quite as blue as in mid- 

 ocean. This point I particularly attended to, for it had been reported 

 to me that such a shoal had been formed. The sand-hills appeared 

 to have encroached upon the line of the coast about one hundred 

 feet. 



'Through the sand that was near the sea-shore chrysolite was disse- 

 minated in greater abundance than it was met with elsewhere, and of 

 larger size. This mineral is found throughout all the lava formation, 

 in greater or less quantities. To account for the presence of greater 

 quantities of it at this place, it may be supposed that the melted lava, 

 coming in contact with the water, has freed the chrysolite, which the 

 sea has thrown on the shore. 



The width of the lava stream was found to be three-fourths of a 

 mile. The portion of it nearest the sand-hills is in a very confused 

 and rugged state, and there are some large accumulations in mounds, 

 that have been forced up by pressure from above and beneath. It is 

 said to have passed over the ancient village of Nanavalie, and left 

 upon its site and cultivated grounds a deep layer of rock. The 

 natives told us that they had remained till the last moment, hoping 

 the torrent might be stayed or turned aside, and thus save their 

 houses. It however swept on, and they had barely time to remove 

 the few articles they possessed. I was somewhat surprised at the 

 natives making so light of these appalling streams of fire, of which 

 the first notice they have is a few shocks of earthquake, and shortly 

 after a distant fire in the woods. 



I was particularly struck with the difference between the old and 

 recent flows of lava : the old looks the most fresh of the two, and has 

 the smooth dark metallic lustre before observed, without any vitreous 

 crust ; it seems to have flowed over the surface when of the consis- 

 tence of tar. The late flow has a decided vitreous character, with 

 chrysolite disseminated through it; it has a dark brown hue, and a 

 reddish scoriaceous appearance. 



The south sand-hill was found to be two hundred and fifty feet 

 high, and commands an extensive view over a scene of complete 

 devastation, heightened in its character of desolation by the sulphurous 

 gases and smoke which were still escaping from the recent stream of 

 lava. The latter, except in its dark colour, resembled a river on 

 whose banks large masses of ice are heaped, which had carried 

 destruction in its course, and had crushed or pulverized every thing 



