6 
MISSIONARY TOUR 
tion, and the peaks of Mouna Kea, in the opinion ot 
those of our number who have ascended its summit, are 
not more than 1000 feet high. But admitting the snow 
to remain permanent on the mountains of the torrid 
zone at the height of 14,600 feet, the altitude of Mouna 
Kea and Mouna Boa is probably not less than 15,000 
feet. 
The base of these mountains, is, at the distance of a 
few miles from the sea shore, covered with trees; higher 
up, their sides are clothed with bushes, ferns, and alpine 
plants; but their summits are formed of lava, partly de¬ 
composed, yet destitute of every kind of verdure. 
There are a few inland settlements on the east and 
north-west parts of the island, but, in general, the in 
terior is an uninhabited wilderness. The heart of 
Hawaii, forming a vast central valley between Mouna 
lloa, Mouna Kea, and Mouna Huararai, is almost un¬ 
known, no road leads across it from the east to the 
western shore, but it is reported, by the natives who 
have entered it, to be “ bristled with forests of ohia,” 
or to exhibit vast tracts of sterile and indurated lava. 
The circumstance of large flocks of wild geese being 
frequently seen in the mountains, would lead to the 
supposition that there must be large ponds or lakes to 
which they resort; but if any exist, they have hitherto 
remained undiscovered. 
The greatest part of the land capable of cultivation, 
is found near the sea shore; along which, the towns 
feet. But it is probable that both these mountains may be con¬ 
siderably higher; for in insular situations, the effects of the warm 
sea air must necessarily remove the line of snow, in equal lati¬ 
tudes, to a greater height, than where the atmosphere is chilled 
on all sides by an immense tract of perpetual snow.” 
