258 James D. Dana, Esq., on 



foot or two. The drift-sand rock of Koloa appears to be a 

 proof of elevation, from its resemblance to those of Northern 

 Oahu ; but if so, there must have been a subsidence since, 

 as it now forms a cliff on the shore that is gradually wearing 

 away. 



Molokai, according to information from the Rev. Mr An- 

 drews, has coral upon its declivities three hundred feet 

 above the sea. The same gentleman informed us, that 

 on the western peninsula of Maui, coral occurs in some 

 places eight hundred feet above the sea ; and specimens of 

 well-defined coral were obtained at a height of five hundred 

 feet. These islands were not visited by the writer. 



With regard to Molokai, Mr Andrews informed the author 

 that the coral occurs " upon the acclivity of the eastern or 

 highest part of the island, over a surface of more than twenty 

 or thirty acres, and extends almost to the sea. We had no 

 means of accurately measuring the height; but the speci- 

 mens were obtained at least three hundred feet above the 

 level of the sea, and probably four hundred. The specimens 

 have distinctly the structure of coral. The distance from the 

 sea was two to three miles." 



Mr Andrews, who appears to doubt the connection of the 

 supposed coral on Maui with reefs, writes to the author as 

 follows : — " In no case have I seen the coral in a rocky ledge ; 

 it is generally mixed with the lava rock, to which it adheres. 

 It has usually the appearance of burnt lime ; and thus, large 

 stones and rocks seem as though they had been whitewashed 

 several times over, and sometimes it amounts to an inch in 

 thickness, or an inch and a half. At other times the white- 

 wash has found its way into cracks in the stones. Some- 

 times only one side of a stone is whitened by it, or only a 

 corner of it. It is sometimes soft and crumbly, and at other 

 times quite hard ; and again it is mixed with the earth." 

 From this description it appears to resemble the line in crust- 

 ations and seams of Diamond Hill, Punchbowl, and Koko 

 Head, Oahu, which occur at the same height, but most cer- 

 tainly give no evidence of elevation, as they have proceeded 

 beyond doubt from aqueous eruptions carrying lime in solu- 

 tion. Fragments of coral, it will be remembered, occur in 



