114 MAUNA LOA. 



the conviction of the common origin of the inhabitants of the two 

 groups.* 



To one unacquainted with the great height of the mountains of 

 Hawaii, this island might appear of comparatively small elevation, for 

 its surface rises gradually from the sea, uniform and unbroken ; no 

 abrupt spurs or angular peaks are to be seen, and the whole is apparently 

 clothed with a luxuriant vegetation. 



The scene which the island presents as viewed from the anchorage 

 in Hilo Bay, is both novel and splendid : the shores are studded with 

 extensive groves of cocoa-nut and bread-fruit trees, interspersed with 

 plantations of sugar-cane ; through these, numerous streams are seen 

 hurrying to the ocean; to this succeeds a belt of some miles in width, 

 free from woods, but clothed in verdure ; beyond is a wider belt of 

 forest, whose trees, as they rise higher and higher from the sea, change 

 their characters from the vegetation of the tropics to that of polar re- 

 gions; and above all tower the snow-capped summits of the mountains. 



From this point of view, Mauna Kea, distant about thirty-five miles, 

 has the appearance of being by much the highest mountain on the 

 island ; while Mauna Loa, distant sixty miles, and rounded at its sum- 

 mit to the shape of a regular dome, requires an effort of reason to 

 satisfy the observer that it really has as great an elevation. A con- 

 viction that this is the case may be reached by tracing with the eye the 

 edge of the forest that encircles both mountains, and noting how large 

 a portion of the dome of Mauna Loa rises above the woody region. 



No snow was visible to the naked eye on Mauna Loa, but with a 

 telescope it was seen scattered here and there on its rounded summit. 

 The appearance of this mountain is so deceptive, that one would not 

 suppose it to have half its real altitude ; and it might easily be passed 

 unnoticed, so unpretending is its aspect. From Hilo, Mauna Loa looks 

 as if one might walk over its smooth surface without difficulty; there 

 is, indeed, so much optical deception in respect to this mountain, that 

 it served to give us all great encouragement, and we set about making 

 our preparations with a determination to succeed in the attempt to reach 

 its highest summit. The position of the crater of Kilauea was denoted 

 by the silvery cloud which hangs over it by day; which, as evening 

 closed in, was, by the glare of the fires burning beneath, made visible 

 throughout the night. 



My time was now actively employed in establishing the observatory 

 at Waiakea Point, for rating the chronometers, and in arranging the 



* This subject will form a part of the report of Mr. Hale, the Philologist to the Expedi- 

 tion, to which I refer for a full investigation of it, and of its bearing upon the migrations of 

 the Polynesian tribes. 



