AFRO-INDIAN REGIONS. 



475 



We wtro now surrounded bj frost, on tlie Western flank, at the 

 elevation of 6700 feet; where the ground had become more stony, 

 though still green. A little beyond, after passing the remains of a 

 cattle-pen, the ascent became steeper and rock-surface predominated ; 

 consisting of massive lava, more or less cellular, but the cavities irre- 

 gular in shape and sometimes rather large. Higher up, there was a 

 larger intermixture of soil, and especially of loose gravel in a some- 

 what thick layer. There were no lava- streams on this exterior por- 

 tion of the mountain; which has therefore retained its original surface, 

 resembling in general the higher portion of Mauna Kea, but more 

 clothed with vegetable growth. 



On reaching the crest, at the elevation of 9510 feet," we looked 

 down into the so-called " crater ;" which is simply a valley, open at 

 each end, or a wide crevice extending across the island ; obviously, 

 the unclosed Crevice of formation and eruption. The bottom depressed 

 two thousand feet below our position, yet formed a dividing ridge, 

 with flanks declining in either direction to the sea. We next followed 

 the crest Southward, ascending all the way to the Southwest angle of 

 the wide open crevice ; wdiere, on the highest among several hills of 

 fragmentary scoria, the barometer at p.m. marked 20,896 inches, 

 with the temperature at 361° Fahr. There was a driving snow-storm 

 here, accompanied with sleet; but additional observations were taken 

 on successive days by Mr. Drayton, who verified by levelling the supe- 

 rior height of the spot ; making the elevation of Mauna Haleakala 

 " 10,215" feet above the sea. 



Returning part way down the mountain, we found the natives esta- 

 blished in a cave, sufficiently capacious to shelter the whole party : and 

 a convenient home for us during our stay. At 63 p.m., the sun hardly 

 down, the barometer at the mouth of the cave marked 22,562 inches, 

 with the temperature at 43i° ; and at sunrise or 62 a.m., on the third 

 morning afterwards, 22,660 inches, with the temperature at 44° ; 

 making, with our other observations, the elevation of this cave " 8090 

 feet" above the sea. In our difierent excursions, the following plants 

 were found growing on Mauna Haleakala, at and above the elevation 

 of 8000 feet : Ranunculus, bis, at 8000 feet rare ; gen. Gerauioid, bis, 

 silvery, rare ; Dodonoea, growing at 8000 feet ; gen. Cojfeac. ?, bis, 

 orange-fruited, abundant ; gen. EnpaJxjrioid, bis lower down the moun- 

 tain and the Great Crater, abundant ; gen. Erigerondlke, bis, small ; 

 Argyroxip]iium,hm Mauna Roa, commencing at 9000 feet and extend- 



