HAWAII. 203 



summit, they took shelter under a pile of stones — the same that Doug- 

 lass speaks of. They were unfortunate in the weather, as a cold, 

 cutting, and strong wind blew from the southwest, sweeping over these 

 peaks with great force. The water in the bags froze in a few minutes 

 in the bright sunshine. Their man Dawson, alias Billy Lilly, soon 

 became weary and exhausted : he was so stiff, that it was with diffi- 

 culty they could get him to move down to the base of the mountain. 

 The lee side of the mountain, was a sheet of ice for several hundred 

 feet down the peaks ; the weather side on the contrary, was covered 

 with minute icicles pointing to the wind, which, on being walked over, 

 were detached in numbers. 



In the early part of the day, Mauna Loa was in sight; but when 

 they reached the summit, the atmosphere became hazy, and conse- 

 quently their view of the country around was very indistinct. The 

 terminal crater of Mauna Loa, however, was still perceptible. 



The highest peak of Mauna Kea is the southernmost; but our 

 gentlemen did not visit it, proceeding to the western side of the moun- 

 tain, until they obtained a view of the slope to the northwest and north. 

 The lake spoken of by Mr. Goodrich, which lies in the direction of the 

 highest peak, was not visited. 



Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea differ essentially, both in form and 

 apparent composition. Mauna Loa, as has been seen, is one mass of 

 lava streams for the distance of four or five thousand feet from its 

 summit; while Mauna Kea is found to consist almost entirely of 

 scoria without any craters, unless the conical hills spoken of can be 

 so considered ; which is probable, for they are represented as cup- 

 shaped on top. Vegetation on the one ceases at about seven thousand 

 feet; while on the other it is continued to twelve thousand, and a few 

 scattered plants may even be found within a few hundred feet of the 

 top of Mauna Kea. The plants also differ : the mamanee occupies a 

 belt eleven thousand feet high, while none of this plant is to be found 

 on Mauna Loa. 



On their return, they determined to proceed to the lower cave, 

 where the natives had taken refuge. 



On the 15th, they concluded to descend, after making a tour on 

 this same level, where they found the ground as barren as on the route 

 by which they had ascended. Small herds of cattle were seen, but at 

 a great distance apart : these have now become shy, from having been 

 hunted by Spaniards with horses from California, which were imported 

 for the express purpose of carrying on systematically the business of 

 killing the cattle for their hides. These hunters would soon have 

 exterminated them. 



