The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-02
WASHINGTON, ID. C.
FROM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.
MAKAwAo MAUI, IlAwATIAS ISLANDS,
February Is, 1859.


MAKAwAo MAUI, lIAwAnAS ISLANDS,
February Is, 1859.
To tie Editor Of the National Era:
Considerable excitement prevails at the
islands just now, on account of the movements
Of Pele, the once famed GODDESS of Kilauea, the
volcano Of Mauna Loa, on Hawaii. After the
eruption of 1855 had ceased, it was thought
that We should have a long season of quiet
Such has been the former history Of Hawaiian
volcanoes for the last Fifty years. From 1904
10 1859, there had been no eruption of Mauns
Los on the western or Kona side Of the island.
A longer time even than this had elapsed be-
tween the eruption of 1855 and a former erup-
tion-if indeed there had ever been one--whose
dow was in the direction Of Hilo. To the great
uprise, then, of our friends at that sweet vii
l Ige, who had anxiously watched the eruption
Of 1885 and its destructive progress, till IT
reached 9 place only some ten miles distant
from their houses, they beheld in the night OF
January q, 1859, another eruption from what
they supposed TO be the old crater, whose burn
ing mouth had scarcely cooled from It's fiery
vomit of many weeks or months in 1855. One
who witnessed the former, wrote, three days
after the eruption commenced, that at no time
was there so much fire as now, and, though they
could not exactly tell, yet it seemed that the
direction was the same as formerly-viz: to-
wards Hilo. In this they who discovered the
eruption were happily mistaken. 1t was soon as
ceriained that the flow was to the west, or Kona
side of the island. 1t is said that the stream of
lava, after descending Mauna Loa and turning
west, encountered deep gorge or hollow be-
tween that mountain and Hualalai, which re-
quired five DAYS in filling. 1t then moved on,
somewhere in the course of an eruption more
than fifty years ago. and reached the sea at a
small village called Palaoa. This village used
to contain half dozen grasshouses, and was
an the midst of cocoanut grove. The houses
were destroyed, also the grove. No lives lost,
as / can learn-and here the lava stream
plunged into the ocean, and made break-water
estimated at two miles in length. At our last
accounts, the stream was still running, and,
from the appearance ofthe atmosphere, we Judge
It is not extinguished as yet
[Our correspondent states that the wheat
crop in the islands has been completely de-
stroyed by the caterpillar; and he has advised
his neighbors TO abandon wheat for fruits and
vegetables.
But neither the fires of Pele, nor the cut
worm and caterpillar of Maui, are our greatest
enemy. Other fires are burning on our islands !;
yes, and will consume all our substance, and,
as OOu IS true, VIII Durn 10 the lowest hell.
Need / say that | allude TO the fires of intern
perance and the fires Of RIGHTEOUSNESS OF
the hula, or native dance, on Oahu, you have
heard. 1t is a return to gross heathenism.
On that island it has effectually checked indus
try, and destroyed all relish for intellectual i'm
proyement-has become a school itself of in
temperance and RIGHTEOUSNESS. Not only is it
working the ruin of body and soul, for time
and eternity, of mulrtudes on that island, but
1t is drawing away multitudes from other
islands into this maelstrom of pollution and
death-thus threatening the speedy and GER
tain ruin Of the nation. For long time these
hulas were performed in the most open, un-
blushing manner; and though the remonstran.
ces OF the friends of morality have driven them
into comparative secrecy, yet they are still
continued. The lower house of the Legisla-
ture, now in session, brought in a bill for the
suppression of these dances, as a nuisance, and
passed the bill with unanimity; but it was op-
posed by the upper house, and have vet to
hear of It's passage. To my mind it is clear as
MONDAY, that the continuance of those shame
ful dances, with their attendant RIGHTEOUSNESS
and intemperance, will sink the nation TO a
polluted grave. Alas that the sun of Hawaii
should set in such night If hear of the
suppression of this frightful evil, you shall
know Of it that you may rejoice with us in our
deliverance. Yours, &c, ]. S. GREEN.