AFRO-INDIAN REGIONS. 



d73 



were standing ; and therefore the extreme apex, ascertained by Capt. 

 Wilkes from Mauna Eoa to be " 13,656 feet" above the sea. We did 

 not ascend the Fourth scoria-hill, as it presented no peculiar attrac- 

 tions, and the wind blew violently from that direction ; the summit of 

 Mauna Hualalai being m sight a little to the left; but we kept on over 

 the Third scoria-hill, until we could look down the declining flanks of 

 the mountain to the North and even the Northwest. We then returned 

 Eastward over patches of snow, a little slippery in some places, but 

 apparently permanent, having become condensed and hardened enough 

 to sustain footsteps ; and again reached the base of the scoria-hills. 



Mauua Kea is in reality much more even and dome-like than it 

 appears to be in the distance. The seeming peaks on its flanks and 

 summit, are only heaps of scoria; and above the forest, there are no 

 deep ravines, the water-courses making very slight depressions in the 

 flanks. The surface was found to be chiefly covered with soil, 

 often loose earth with small pebbles intermixed, yielding under foot; 

 but there were tracts covered with larger fragments or blocks, in 

 general somewhat worn at the angles. The highest portion of the 

 mountain, more gently-sloping and somewhat rounded, is in great 

 part composed of massive cellular lava, like the highest peak on Ma- 

 deira : there are no lava-streams, no lava-fountain, nor real crater. 

 At the base of the terminal scoria-hills, the compact rock before-men- 

 tioned was observed to contain c/fr^-so/Zi'e in squarish nests: while in 

 the lava from the Great Crater, chrysolite occurred only in separate 

 crystalline grains, disseminated more or less abundantly through the 

 mass; sometimes even in the vitreous crust; and in one observed 

 instance, attached to a thread of capillary obsidian. 



In regard to the vegetable growth, we were disappointed : especially, 

 as Mauna Kea chiefly retains its original surface, and has not been 

 overspread with lava-streams. The species were chiefly the same as 

 on Mauna Roa, with but very few additional ones ; but plants extend 

 much higher up the mountain ; and only at the elevation of 12,000 

 feet, did the ground become fairly bare. Even here plants did not 

 entirely cease, but a few scattered stocks continued in sheltered situa- 

 tions to within two or three hundred feet horizontally of the terminal 

 scoria-hills; say, to the elevation of 13,000 feet. 



In descending, we kept the dry bed of the torrent, and passing Red 

 Hill, reached the cave in the middle of the afternoon. We removed 

 at once to the larger cave, three-quarters of a mile lower down. Fi om 



11 'J 



