Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-03-04
MISCELLANEOUS.
Island of 0wyhee or Hawaii.


ISLAND OF OwYHEE OR HAWAII, THE LARGEST
THE GROUP CALLED THE SANDWICH ISLANDS,
WITH AN ACCOUNT THE CONDITION OF THE
VoLcAso OF KRAUEA, SITUATED IN THE
SOUTHERN PART OF THE ISLAND MAR THE
FOOT OF MoUNA RoA. DRAWN UP FROM
STATEMENTS MADE BY CAPTAIN CHASE, OF TnE
SHIP CHARLES CARROLL, AND CAPTAIN PAR
KER, OF THE SHIP OCEAN, WHO VISITED IT IL
1888; by EDWARD G. KELLEY, of Nantucket
The Island of Owyhee, like many of the islands
in the Pacific Ocean, is of volcanic origin. Vast
streams of lava have flowed over its whole sur
face, and on every side of its lofty mountains
whose submits are covered with perpetual SNOW
Some of these streams have rolled on for thirty
and forty miles over great extent Of country
and plunged from the precpitous cliffs which
skirt the island into the pillows of the ocean.
single current which flowed from of the
large craters on the top of Mouna Huarara, in
the year 1900, filed up an extensive bay, twenty
miles in length, and formed the present coast.
The recent formations of lava present vitreous
and dazzling surface, without shrub or spot of
grass, while those of ancient date have undergone
decomposition, until soil has been formed which
is capable of bearing the most useful and beaut-
full vegetable productions. Where once the fiery
torrent rolled, stretches the verdant forest, and
the rude islander sows his seed and plants his
roots in soil that once glowed like the burning
coal.
The natural scenery of the Island of Owyhee,
is sublime and interestingly having for ages, been
subject to frequent and powerful volcanic erup-
| tons, and rent by the most violent earthquakes.
In many places currents of lava have flowed
over abrupt precipices. and formed beautiful
salactites massive conlmns and striking resemb-
lances to the mountain cascade, whilst in others
the whole stream has been torn from its original
position by some mighty CONFUSION, leaving
huge blocks Of lava standing erect or leaning
against others for miles, which present a dreary
and desolate appearance. In the early part of
1929 an entire mountain, which attained an ele-
walton of six hundred feet, was thrown into the
sea during the shock Of an earthquake, and its
fragments mixed with the ruins of houses and
forest trees scattered along the coast for half
a mile, presenting scene Of frightiul desola-
ton.
One impressive feature Of this island, is its
majestic mountains, some Of which rise fifteen
or twenty thousand feet above the level of the
sea, and are higher than the Peak of Tcnerfe,
or the summit Of Mount Blanc For several
thousand feet, they beautifully decorated
with extensive forests and verdant meadows, in
which immense herds of cattle roam at large,
with droves of swine and other animals, but at
greater elevations they present a rugged and
barren surface.
Having given in the few remarks above, some
account of the geological character Of the island,
we will proceed to describe the great crater of
Krauea, as it appeared on the eighth of May,
1888.
Early in the morning, on the seventh of May,
Captains Chase and Parker, in company with
several others, left the port at Lord Byrons Bay,
for the purpose of visiting the celebrated volcano
Kirauea. After travelling few miles through a
delightful country interspersed with hill and
valley and adorned with clusters of trees, hung
with the richest foliage, they came to forest
several miles in extent, entangled with shrubs,
and nterwoyen with creeping vines, that its
passage was extremely difficult. On issuing
from this, the scenery again wore pleasing as
pect but W as soon changed into a dreary waste.
Their rout was now in the direct course Of a
large stream of lava, thirty miles in length and
four or five in breadth. The lava was of recent
formation, with a surface, in some places, so
slippery as to endanger falling, and in others, so
| rugged as to render it tolsome and dangerous to
pass Scattered around, were a few shrubs that
had taken root in the volcanic sand and scorie,
and on each side of the stream grew stinted
forest. Mouna Roa and Mouna Kea, were seen
in the distance, and on either side stretched the
broad expanse of the ocean, mingling with the
far horizon The party had travelled nearly the
whole extent of the current of lava before sunset
they were, however, much fatigued and gladly
took possession of rude hut erected by the
islanders, where they slept soundly through the
night.
| Early the next morning, ere the sun rose, they
resumed their Journey, and soon beautiful land
| scape broke upon their view, but its delightful
scenery detained them only few moments, for
the smoke of the volcano was seen rising grace
fully in the distance. Quickening their march,
thew arrived soon after nine o'clock at a smoking
lake of sulphur and scoriG, from which they
collected some delicate specimens Of crystallized
| sProbably the first number may be the nearest
] 10 the truth.-EDs.