244 



HAWAII. 



only two feet a minute. It is remarkable that it should not have 

 reached above high-water mark on the south side of the Hawaiian 

 Group. The centre of the wave seems to have passed in a line over 

 Maui. The southern side of that island w'as more affected than that 

 of Oahu, but the wave on the north side seems to have been larger 

 and more destructive, for the small village of Kahului, in the district 

 of Wailuku, was entirely swept away. 



The inhabitants of Kahului, on seeing the sea retiring, rushed to 

 the reefs with great joy to secure the fish, but before they could reach 

 them the sea-wave came rolling in, like an extended wall, to bury 

 and destroy all their habitations, or sw^eep them away. Only two 

 lives, however, were lost there, while at Hilo there were twelve persons 

 missing. The rise at Hilo, according to a mark on the boat-house, 

 was found to be eleven feet above ordinary high-water mark. 



The weather was somewhat similar, and was at both places rather 

 lowering.* 



I afterwards made inquiries on the coast of California whether 

 this rise and fall of the sea had been observed there, but did not 

 succeed in obtaining any information. 



There was a similar phenomenon in the year 1819; but, from all 

 accounts, it appears to have been less violent. 



Earthquakes are quite common on Hawaii : they appear to be, for 

 the most part, local; thus, they are occasionally felt at Maui, but I 

 heard of none at Oahu or Kauai. 



The following are those observed at Hilo since July 1832, which 

 the Rev. Mr. Lyman furnished me from his memorandum, viz. : 



June, 



October 3d, 

 " 18th, 

 February 19th, 



May 14th, 

 August 3d, 



1833. Two slight shoclvs. 



" Shocks in the night ; one slight. 



" At 3 p. M. a smart shock, motion up and down. 



1834. At 6 p. M. a shock which shook down stone walls, stopped 



clocks, upset bottles, threw milk out of pans but half- 

 full. Undulating motion north and south. 



" At 9 p. M. another, but a slight shock. 



" Between 2 and 3 p. m. a severe shock. 



" Between 3 and 4 a. m. a severe shock. 



* On comparing the times of this great rush of waters at the two points, viz. : the 

 Samoan Islands and this group, we find them almost coincident with the earthquake of 

 Chili, that happened on the 7th of November, 1837 ; how far they are to be imputed to 

 it, is a subject of interesting inquiry that it is not in my power to pursue in this place. 



