216 HAWAII. 



the country for an eminence, where Mr. Castle, (the proprietor of the 

 mill,) formerly had a station. When tliey reached it, they enjoyed a 

 fine view over the distant forest, with the bay of Hilo and the sea 

 beyond : the day being clear, the whole extent was distinctly visible ; 

 even a small vessel, which had sailed for Oahu, was seen going out 

 of the bay. 



They chose their encampment just above this eminence, under a 

 projecting ledge of lava : close by there were several pools of water. 

 Such pools form in the compact lava ; and where this rock occurs, 

 water is to be met with at intervals, while in the porous lava none is 

 to be found. 



On the 13th, they set out at an early hour, and passed a belt where 

 the vegetation became very rich, and the variety great, particularly 

 on the sheltered banks of the ravines. Among the plants were 

 several Compositse, two or three with decussate leaves, Pelargonium 

 Douglasii, five or six species of ferns, several Rubiacese, grasses, and 

 other small plants. 



About three miles beyond this, they reached a cave, where they 

 intended to leave the natives and baggage. It was difficult to induce 

 the former to come up even thus far, on account of the cold; but being 

 here in the vicinity of wood, they were enabled to have a fire to keep 

 themselves warm : water was also at hand. This cave was a conve- 

 nient rendezvous, and sufficiently near the top to allow them time to 

 reach it and return in a day. Some of the natives had gone down to 

 a larger cave, three quarters of a mile below. 



A few wild cattle were to be seen in the distance ; but, according 

 to the report of Dawson, their guide, they ought to have heard from 

 this position cattle lowing in every direction. 



On the 14th, one of their guides was sent off after a bullock, 

 Kanuha, the chief, having granted permission to the party to shoot 

 one. 



Dr. Pickering, Mr. Brackenridge, and Billy Lilly, set out for the 

 summit. When about three miles above their rendezvous, and 

 having the high hill of red scoria to the south, they entered upon a 

 plain, of many miles in extent. On reaching this, the vegetation of 

 temperate climates almost at once disappeared, and an Arctic flora 

 succeeded. This plain is made desolate by stones, gravel, sand, 

 scoria, and boulders : a few scanty blades of two sorts of grasses 

 (Aira and Panicum), and one or two stone-mosses, were all the 

 verdure, if such it may be called, that was seen. The whole plain 



