New-York tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1841-1842, 1842-01-15
r Il e T RIB U N E +.

The loss Of the T. S.Corvetie Peacock in Colu,n-
bia river No lives we're lost, however: bu, no.
thing else except the Instruments we're saved.
he Journa! OF Commerce publishes an interesting
cxrac; from Sandwich Island paper, containing
a memorandum of the work performed by the Ex-
plotng Expedition. During their stay OF six
months ttie Sandwich stands the coasts, shoals,
&c, have all been accurately surveyed and
great variety OF observations hsve been made The
excursion TO the Surnuli, OF Mauna Loa was
work Of deep interest and difficulty. Upwards of
500 natives we're employed bat the sesmen did
lnostof The work; the natives not being able to with
stand the cold The mountain proved to be Is, 500
feet high The ascent is gradual, over indurat,d
lava. On their arrival at the summit an eHcump
uent Was formed, surrounded by stone wall to
break the force Of the Winds and the American
flag hoisted.
Instead of one large crater on the summit q
miles in circumference there are several. The
eastern bank Of measured 400 feet in depth
the western S46--bot!l almost perpendicular,
though in one place the bank had given way and
formed less prcci,itous descent The bottom
was rough in the extreme; lava piled and broken
UP in multarious forms snd szes-slcam issued
from some Of the crevices, hot enough ut times TO
ighla pipe. But there were ns traces OF any very
rccen, eruptions. The other craters were similar
and more to the westward
After spending three weeks in this wild and
dreary solitude. which nothing that has life can
be found and winch may well be termed the grave
ward of nature muskct was fired, the iiag lo.y-
cred and the last OF the party commenced the
descent. In the hurry Of the moment and the
IL.
tive who had loltcred behind was not immediately
missed. As soon notice of his non-arrval at
Hilo given, men were despatched to search
for him, but they returned unsuccessful tits pre-
sumed that the poor fellow missed his way and
wandered about amid the fogs which frequently
prevail there until he became exhausted, and then
FELL never TO rise again. This was the only casu-
atty that happened during the excursion, which,
considering the danger and fatigue attendant upon
the enterprise at the NEST Indictment season of tie
year, Is q matter of surprise and lhankiulness.-
Went OF water, 1t is said, would prevent any party
from remaining long at the summit during the
summer months.
The volcano of kilauca was then thoroughly ex-
ahmed nights and distances measured, and col
lection OF interesting specimens made. The vol
cano was IN an unusually active state the whole
basin at times being ovcrhowed with LIQUID lava
slngularly terrific spectaclcs imaginable.
Some OF the scientific gentlemen also visited the
highest mountain Maui, remaining five days OK
aiming its bosnnica and geological features Its
high is somewhat short OF 10, 0GG feet. The nl-
=mense crater Which exists upon its summit IS
OF deep gorge than regular shaped basin like
that Mauna LoG. The violent action of the
lava in tormer days probably burst asundcr its
sides, and thus secured passage toritsclf into the
plain beneath.
The brig Porpoise arrived at Honolulu from her
southern cruise on the 25th ult having been ut
I'D days out of 1879 During that time she visited
most of the low islands, Tahn, the Radach chain,
and fixed the position OF several not actually known
before. Aparty with the apparatus for boring into
coral, to discover its structure and formation,
left q month on a small island. The time was
short to allow them to bore deeply, the most diff
cult part of the operation having Just been over
come when they were obliged to leave The depth
obtained Was about "a feet. During their cruise
they experienced much bad weather, and lost sew
cral men by death. Touching at Penny hn's Island,
they met with most hostile reception. The ma
tves attacked them Immediately. bul were fright
ened away hy guns fired over their heads and dis
play OF arms. This island is small and low, abou,
eight miles in diameter. with lagoon i'll the
lrcZIt is we'll wooded with cocoanu, trees he
natives are ttrocious in the extreme, and imnle-
diatey surrounded the brig with their canoes, and
alongside, uterng the most horrible howis.
and making the widest and most frantic gestures.
II would be dangerous for any vessel 10 approach
this island unprcpa,cd to resist an assault
The surveys OF the island. inhabited by warlike
and lcrociou. tribes are ai;cndcd with much ia
usuc and cangcr. Parties are frequently out from
twenty 10 forty days in open boats, exposed to all
the vlcissiudes of weather, from damp, cold and
stormy Nights, when they obliged 10 remain n
their boats tor lear OF surprise from the natives 10
the sculdins heat OF noon-day SUM- when they have
to tramp over sand beaches, or wade the sharp
stones OF the reefs exposed 20 liz tu power. The
thermometer in the srn NJ the knsss Mill group
stood al l59 deg.=F. In addition 70 these laborS,
is the intense anxiety OF mind which IN officer Is
obliged TO endure not only TO perfect N: work,
but 20 preserve the health of his men, and their
lives from any sudden and unexpected attack OF
tue natives. Night and day they must be pre-
pared for no proofs of ttendlincss their part
be relied upon as sincere. The charges OF
climate also ara frequent. All this considered, 1t
speaks Well for The care OF the commanders. ana
theirzar,ansem tina, the general health Q: al
on board has been good since the. let, the United
States. Compared with the cruise of the early
navgators who frequently lbs, ha'f OF their crews
from disease and hiatl!e attacks i. would seem
wonderful, did not the great improvements in ship
building, and the care with which vessels At the
presen,.tmc fitted ou,, and the experience
gained in long VOYAGES fully account for such ia
yorable results. Nobicr hearts and more generous
SPIRITS never bore their country's nag ard the
perlls OF the deep, OF the dangers OF the lanc.
= The store Of Messrs. Hull & Co. a, Mobile
was broken opea and robbed OF large Quantity .:
valuable goods on the 4th inst.
Exow ToBasco-Bv the brig Petersburg, Capt.