The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-04-18

1t closei up again. In one place IT closed twenty feet
from where il opened. These assures make it dan
gerous to travel in the dark. Everywhere the roads
are broken up and it Will take much money and labor
to restore them to their old condition.
The new Government road made by sIr. Martin has
not been injured, the lava not being within n mile Of
its south extremity.
As the KoRa Pocket was passing the south Point
Of the island, about three miles from the shore. a
conical island, four hundred feet high, rose out Of the
sea, midway between the vessel and the land, emitting
a column Of steam and smoke. The lava river flows
into the sea at this island and has extended the shore
out to it one mile at least, so that is is now on the
main land. The packet was so near when this island
burst up, that the mud was spattered on the mas,s
and sails of the vessel.
The scene at the eruption was n most melancho-
ly one to witness. There were hundreds of fine
cattle grazing around the farm houses. when the
lava streams surrounded them and hemmed them in.
The poor animals seemed aware Of the danger, but
saw no way to escape. The fiery lava drew nearer
and nearer till the heat made them restless, but
they would not run. They bravely looked the
fiery foe in the face. stood firm till it reached
them. then fell in the stream-a sudden cloud of
smoke followed and not a sign remained. Thus
one after another fell till over two hundred were
consumed.
\ fine horse was fastened with a rope to a stake.
when the lava approached. burnt the rope. and the
animal, with almost human instinct escaped between
two lava streams. and was saved To lis owner.
An incident which ought not to be omitted is the
shower of ashes which preceded the eruption.
During Monday night. prior to the eruption. the
ground throughout the district was covered with n
coating of fine sand and light pumice stone, of a
light yellowish color. Where this shower of sand
and pumice stone came from is as yet unknown,
but probably from some vent hole near the crater.
The sufIerings and alarm experienced by the resi-
dents of Kau during the two weeks that The earth
quakes and eruption continued prior to their leaving,
appear to have been great. Night after night, they
were compelled TO sleep on the mountain ridge back
Of the village, exposed to the cold and damp winds
and rain from the sea, subsisting on taro and fishes
when they could get these, or fasting when they could
not.
The whole distric, is in ruins, a field Of Oscillation,
and probably FIVE hundred thousand dollars would
not restore it TO what it was a month ago. 1t is no
wonder that the foreigners are leaving the place, with
tine intention of never returning to it again.
The number of deaths will be between eighty and
one hundred, rs stated in my last letter. The exact
number may nos be known for some time, rs some
persons arc missing whose absence may yet be ac-
counted for. The loss of life is melancholy indeed,
and the sympathy of the Hawaiian people, 1 trust,
viii be deeply expressed in some way to the mourning
and bereaved families of Kau, whose tender ties have
been so suddenly and keenly severed by the hand of
God.
The tidal wave referred to in my last was much
greater than then stated. 1t rolled in over the tops
OF the cocoanut trees, probably sixty feet high Mt
least, and drove the floating rubbish, timber, &C., in
land a distance of Il quarter of n mile in some places,
taking with it when it returned to sea, houses, men,
women, and almost everything movable.
But l must close this letter in order to get it on
board the ROaa Packet, now ready to start.
Adieu, ii. Nj. W.