450 



DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS. 



We stopped for the night at the houses of some natives, about two 

 miles beyond Kiau, 



On the 21st, we continued Eastward upon the sea-clifF ; and at 

 noon, arrived at the canoe-house ; Nanavali bejond having been over- 

 whelmed by the new lava as it entered the sea. On approaching the 

 enormous blackened pile of rock, the first thought was, of the easy 

 process that had laid it upon the top of the country ; all within the 

 space of a few hours. Towards the sea, a considerable amount of 

 territory had been added to the island; with a sand-beach lining the 

 shore, where sand was previously unknown. Having been accustomed 

 to look upon sand and gravel as a sedimentary deposit, I was unpre- 

 pared for their production on this grand scale; by the mere pouring 

 of molten rock into the sea. Here was "dryland" formed anew, 

 gravel, sand, fragmentary blocks or stones, and solid rock, with fine 

 earth soon to follow. It was almost like witnessing creation's dawn ; 

 and the cooling of the globe itself from a similar molten state. 



Before the fire was out, practical man knew what to do : and we 

 found crops of sweet-potatoes already in an advanced and flourishing 

 condition. Other plants had spontaneously fastened upon the recently 

 "liquid fire," as Dig ita via, and some Couvolvidi: the Pandanus trees 

 outside of the margin standing scorched and dead as far back as a 

 hundred yards ; and the living ones beyond loaded with sand, to the 

 distance of two miles from the seat of the sand-storm at the sea-margin. 

 The new lava-cliff entirely resembled the old one adjoining : and with 

 the disappearance of freshness from the blackened surface, will become 

 hardly distinguishable from the ancient lava-streams around, from the 

 ordinary lava-covered portion of the island. 



The new lava had entered the sea in a stream more than a mile wide : 

 and about midway, were three conspicuous sand-hills, close to the edge 

 of the lava-cliff ; their outer portion deficient, as though by sliding 

 into the water. They consisted of impure and mixed sand and gravel, 

 and fragmentary lava, accumulated to the height of a hundred feet 

 or more, and altogether resembled some of the hillocks on the upper 

 portion of Mauna Kea : in further conformity, the material of these 

 sand-hills, according to the testimony of eye-witnesses, was thrown 

 upwards and outwards from the centre of the heap. Ascending the 

 highest, I obtained a fine view of the desolated landscape in the track 

 of the new lava-stream. 



On the 22d, leaving the coast, we proceeded inland along the 



