214 SANDWICH ISLANDS. 



wished. The altitude of the most elevated point of the moun- 

 tain was measured, and found to be 13,500 feet above the 

 level of the ocean. 



The following observations, extracted from Mr. Eld's 

 journal, will give some idea of the character of the mountain, 

 and of the hardships experienced by our people during their 

 continuance on its summit. He says — 



" I never in all my life have witnessed so perfect a scene 

 of desolation as the upper region of this mountain presents. 

 There is not a tree on it, nor shrub, nor any other kind of vege- 

 tation, to refresh the eye. You behold nothing but a mass of 

 lava that at one period has been ejected in a liquid state from 

 the terminal crater. To appearance it is of different ages, 

 some of very ancient date, though not yet decomposed. In 

 some places it is smooth, in others it appears in the form of 

 clinkers, which occasionally are raised from five to thirty feet 

 above the surface of the surrounding lava. There are several 

 extinct craters in sight, one of which is even larger than that 

 of Kilauea." 



" December 25th. This is the most uncomfortable Christ- 

 mas-day I have ever experienced. The only way we had of 

 keeping warm was to wrap ourselves in pea-coats and blankets. 

 We had not wood enough to cook our food, and I had to con- 

 tent myself with some sea-biscuit and a piece of raw pork." 



" December 27th. The cold this day to our feelings was 

 intense, although the thermometer did not stand lower than 

 26°. All our exertions in carrying stone for the wall which is 

 to surround our tents, for the purpose of protecting them from 

 the violent winds, and other exercises, such as running and 

 jumping, could scarcely keep us from freezing. We also found 

 it very difficult to breathe, on account of the rarified state of 

 the air. On examination it was also found that our pulses 



