410 
MISSIONARY TOUR 
mountain appeared to be formed of decomposed lava, 
of a reddish brown colour. The peak in the centre, and 
that on the western side, are the highest.* 
In the native language, the word kea, though seldom 
used now, formerly meant, white. Some white men, 
who are said to have resided inland, and to have come 
down to the sea shore frequently in the evening, and to 
have frightened the people, were called na kea, (the 
whites.) 
The snow on the summit of the mountain, in all 
*The following observations respecting a subsequent visit to this 
mountain from Waiakea, contained in a letter from Mr. Good¬ 
rich to Professor Silliman, of New Haven, are copied from the 
Philosophical Magazine for September 1826. 
“ There appear to be three or four different regions in passing 
from the sea-shore to the summit. The first occupies five or six 
miles, where cultivation is carried on in a degree, and might be 
to almost any extent; but, as yet, not one twentieth part is culti¬ 
vated. The next is a sandy region, that is impassable, except in 
a few foot-paths. Brakes, a species of tall fern, here grow to 
the size of trees ; the bodies of some of them are eighteen inches 
in diameter. The woody region extends between ten and twenty 
miles in width. The region higher up produces grass, princi¬ 
pally of the bent kind. Strawberries, raspberries, and whortle¬ 
berries flourish in this region, and herds of wild cattle are seen 
grazing. It is entirely broken up by hills and valleys, composed 
of lava, with a very shallow soil. The upper region is composed 
of lava in almost every form, from huge rocks to volcanic sand 
of the coarser kind. Some of the peaks are composed of coarse 
sand, and others of loose stones and pebbles. I found a few 
specimens, that I should not hesitate to pronounce fragments of 
granite. I also found fragments of lava, bearing a near resem¬ 
blance to a geode, filled with green crystals, which I suppose to be 
augite. Very near to the summit, upon one of the peaks, I found 
eight or ten dead sheep; they probably fled up there to seek a 
refuge from the wild dogs; I have heard that there are many 
wild dogs, sheep, and goats. Dogs and goats I have never seen. 
I was upon the summit about 2 o’clock p. m., the wind s. w., 
much resembling the cold blustering winds of March, the air being 
so rare produced a severe pain in my head, that left me as I de¬ 
scended.” 
