SAMOAN ISLANDS. 335 
CONCLUDING REMARKS. 
The Samoan, like the Tahitian Group, appears from the account 
-here given to be a series of volcanic islands, proceeding from vents 
opened along two separate lines having the common trend of the 
Pacific groups. In Savaii, the westernmost, we find evidence of the 
most recent fires, both in the lavas of the island and the traditions of 
the natives; and the comparatively unbroken surface of the great 
mountain cone is another proof of the same fact. Going eastward, 
Upolu has distinct craters on its east and west extremities, while a 
small part just east of the centre, has the deep gorges, columnar cliffs, 
and compact rocks of Tahiti. The great length of Upolu, as well 
as the line of craters along the summit, indicates that here several 
vents on one fissure have been active in producing the island. ‘They 
were earliest extinct about the centre, and here were soonest turned 
over to denuding agents; while either side of the centre the volcanic 
effects, which tend more to build up than to pull down, have kept the 
slopes in many parts nearly unbroken, so lately have the fires ceased 
action. ‘Tutuila, farther east, has the fewest indications of recent 
lava streams, and the most of denudation. It is hence evident, that 
the fires were soonest extinct to the east, and burnt longest and to the 
latest period on the western island, Savaii. 
The fact of a coincidence between the earthquake that destroyed 
Valdivia (Chili), September 7th, 1837, and unusual agitations of the 
sea at the Gambier and Samoan Islands, has been noticed by Dumou- 
lin.* Minute particulars with regard to the successive tides at 
Tutuila, harbour of Pango-pango, were obtained by Captain Wilkes, 
while at that island, from the Rev. W. Mills, and they are published 
in the second volume of the Narrative, Appendix VIII. p. 427. The 
observations were made by Mr. George Burader. 
At 2h. 20’, Nov. 7, the sea rose suddenly two feet above high 
water mark, spring tide; in ten minutes it sunk again to low water 
mark, neap tide ; in five minutes rose to the same height as before ; in 
another five minutes (2h. 40’) sunk to low water mark, spring tide; 
then rushed in with violence, and in two minutes was three feet above 
its greatest previous height, after which it receded again, and at 
* Compt. Rend., vol. vil. p. 75, 1838. 
