STRUCTURE OF THE ISLAND. 269 
16,000 feet above the level of the sea,* down to 
the beach, is, according to every observation we 
could make, one complete mass of lava, or other 
volcanic matter, in different stages of decompo¬ 
sition. Perforated with innumerable apertures in 
the shape of craters, the island forms a hollow 
cone over one vast furnace, situated in the heart of 
a stupendous submarine mountain, rising from the 
bottom of the sea; or possibly the fires may rage 
with augmented force beneath the bed of the 
ocean, rearing, through the superincumbent weight 
of water, the base of Hawaii, and, at the same time, 
forming a pyramidal funnel from the furnace to 
the atmosphere. 
* In Cook’s Voyages, Capt. King, speaking of Mouna- 
Kaah, (Kea,) remarks, that it “ may be clearly seen at 
fourteen leagues’ distance.” Describing Mouna-Roa, and 
estimating it according to the tropical line of snow, he 
observes, “This mountain must be at least 16,020 feet 
high, which exceeds the height of the Pico de Tende, or 
Peak of Teneriffe, by 724 feet, according to Dr. Heber- 
den’s computation, or 3680 according to that of Chevalier 
de Borda. The peaks of Mouna Kaah appeared to be 
about half a mile high ; and, as they are entirely covered 
with snow, the altitude of their summits cannot be less 
than 18,400 feet. But it is probable that both these 
mountains may be considerably higher; for, in insular 
situations, the effects of the warm sea air must necessarily 
remove the line of snow, in equal latitudes, to a greater 
height, than where the atmosphere is chilled on all sides 
by an immense tract of perpetual snow.” 
