228 HAWAII. 



would prove that the wave must have proceeded from south to north 

 at the rate of nine hundred miles an hour. It would also go to prove 

 that the wave which was felt at Hilo, and on the north side of Maui, 

 was a returning wave, the difference of time having been an hour ; 

 and what is remarkable, its extent seems to have been confined to a 

 very small belt, as it does not appear to have been felt at Kauai. 

 There was no recoil or return wave on the north side of Tutuila. Its 

 breadth, therefore, would seem not to have extended beyond one 

 hundred miles. 



By comparing the velocity of its rise and fall, we find that at Tu- 

 tuila it exceeded that at Oahu. At the former place the rise and fall 

 was nine and a half feet in two minutes, while at the latter it was 

 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 was 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 sweep 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. : 



* 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. 



