190 HAWATIAN ISLANDS. 
thrown up in clouds that darkened the sky, and fell like a storm of 
hail over the surrounding country. ‘‘Vast columns of steam and 
vapours rolled off before the wind, whirling in ceaseless agitation, and 
the reflected glare of the lavas formed a fiery firmament over head. 
For three weeks this terrific river disgorged itself into the sea with 
ttle abatement. Night was converted into day on all eastern Hawaii. 
The light rose and spread like the morning upon the mountains, and 
its glare was seen on the opposite side of the island. It was distinctly 
visible for more than one hundred miles at sea; and at the distance of 
forty miles fine print could be read at midnight.” 
At three spots on the coast, probably over three opened fissures 
whence lavas issued, the sands continued to be thrown up, until as many 
rounded or nearly conical elevations were formed, the largest of which 
SAND-HILLS, NANAWALE. 
was found to be two hundred and fifty feet in height, and the smallest 
about one hundred and fifty feet. The coast is said to have been 
extended by the eruption nearly a quarter of a mile beyond its former 
limits. 
The stream, as it appeared in November, consisted in its different por- 
tions of all the kinds of lava tracts we have mentioned. In some portions, 
especially the upper, there were fields of the smoother variety, (the 
pahoihoi,) with the usual ropings and twistings in the surface; and 
there were some miniature cones, a few yards in height, out of which 
the lavas spouted for a while after the rest had become quiet. Large 
tracts were covered with sand; and walking over them, the feet often 
broke through into steaming chambers, suggesting caution to the 
traveller. Other large portions consisted of clinkers, a fact which 
might have been inferred from the description given of the varying 
rate of the moving lavas. In some portions they were in huge angular 
blocks; in others in slabs laid with much regularity against one 
another. There were numerous caverns and fissures still sending 
up clouds of steam; and in many the rocks were yet glowing within 
a few feet of the surface. A piece of paper was instantly ignited. 
Small sulphur-banks, with deposits of alum and other salts, were met 
with in several places. 
