MAUI. 273 



From the summit of the mountain the direction of the lava stream 

 could be perceived, appearing, as it approached the sea, to assume 

 more the shape of a delta. 



From the summit the vi^hole cleft or crater is seen, and could be 

 traced from the highest point between the two coasts, flowing both to 

 the northward and eastward. Volcanic action seems also to have 

 occurred on the southwest side, for a line of scoria hills extends all the 

 way down the mountain, and a lava stream is said to have burst forth 

 about a century ago, which still retains its freshness. The scoria 

 hills on the top very much resemble those of Mauna Kea, but the 

 mountain itself appears wholly unlike either of the two in Hawaii, 

 and sinks into insignificance when compared with them. 



Although I have mentioned lava streams on this mountain, yet they 

 are not to be understood as composed of true lava, as on Mauna Loa ; 

 none of the latter were seen except that spoken of on the southwest 

 side, and none other is believed to exist. No pumice or capillary 

 glass was at any time seen, nor are they known to exist on this island. 

 On the wall of the crater, in places, the compass was so much affected 

 by local attraction as to become useless. 



Near the summit is a small cave, where they observed the silk-worm 

 eggs of Mr. Richards, which were kept here in order to prevent them 

 from hatching at an improper season. The thermometer in the cave 

 stood at 44° ; the temperature at the highest point was 36°, and in the 

 crater 71°. After three days' stay, the party returned to the esta- 

 blishment of Messrs. Lane and Minor, and thence to Wailuku. They 

 were much gratified with their tour. 



On their return to Lahaina, Dr. Pickering and Mr. Brackenridge 

 took the route through the Wailuku Pass, as it is called, which with 

 its rocky peaks shooting upwards several hundred feet directly above 

 them, reminded them of the deep gorges of Madeira. Some fine 

 plants were collected, and unexpectedly among the most conspicuous 

 was a woody Lobelia, which gave its character to the vegetation. 

 The route did not prove so much shorter as was anticipated, owing to 

 the oblique direction of the valley. 



It may now perhaps be as well to say a few words respecting the 

 operation of foreign opinions upon the natives, who are more prone to 

 take knowledge and advice from the books that are circulated among 

 them, than strangers are inclined to believe. Their gambling propen- 

 sities appear to have been very difficult to overcome; yet, from the 

 simple sentence " Do not gamble" having been printed in the first 



VOL. IV. 69 



