, 1873-01-05

lava from 1t6 snNIM1, lnas tHa SHOCKS
would cease, Day after day passed
the whole islsnd trembling and shaking
almost continuously
At length, on the night Of the 7th OF April,
THE FLOW OF LAVA COMMENCED.
From vessel at anchor OF the coast OF anoth-
mountain about midnight. Flashes Like chain,
! lightning thot up into the clouds. and every.
1hing indicated Q great eruption. This proved
to be the case The fire hn1 broken out in 4
new crater on the aouthern eide Of the noun
tain, while the crater Of Ki1aueA became
uncommouly active. 4 portion Of 1t had, On
the I'd of April, sunk several hundred feet; 9TH
er portions fell in from the sides; while the
south lake, already fully described, became ter
ribly active, and, for several days, enlarged rap"
idly.
The lhocks Of earthquake then ceased.
From that time to the present, the fires OF
Mauna Loa have been continually burning
sometimes from the sides, sometimes from tha
summit, ,-alWays from the grand old crater OF
Kilauea.
The formation Of the whole group Of islands
and there IL little doubt that, within few
Thousand years, they we're thrown up from tho
sea,-she northainnost frst, then those more
in process Of formation. The immense lava
flows which have occurred within the last forty
years are probably but continuation Of the
process By which Ill the ialanda were formed.
The principal flows within thst period are fve
in number, corresponding with four Of the
eruptions already referred to, and occurred III
1S40, 1852, 1866, 1889, and 1868.
THE FLOW OF 1910
was from Klauea. It broke out some five OF
six miles east OF the crater, and after proceed
ing mile or two, disappeared and flowed under
ground about 20 1ni1ea. It then reappeared in
larger volume, and flowed on to the sea,-a dis
tance Of about II miles. This flow, where it
reached the aea, was only IS miles from Hilo,
and gave great alarm to it's inhabitants
N 1852 THE FLOW
Eas from the northeast slope Of the mountain.
The current Of lava, about q mile in length, ex-
tended some Is or so miles in q northeasterly
direction, but failed to reach the Sea.
THE FLOW OF 1866
Was s,, much the largest OF any. It's greatest
current Of fiery lava continued to flow
for more than year. extending, during that
time, more than 60 miles. The area covered by
the eruption exceeded 800 square miles. It was
from the north side OF the mountain near the
Mauna Kea. After reaching the base Of that
mountain. it turned directly toward Hilo. The
inhabitants were in consternation, and for
months, as they marked the progross OF tho
mighty river, they we're making preparations to
oyerwheImed. But. Fortunately % % tho dow ceased s cd
about Z miles from Hilo, and that beautiful
town took another lease of life.
TIE FLOW OF 1859
WAS nearly as long, bat not So large. It's course
was northwest, and it succeeded in reaching the
sea after travelling over 40 miles.
TEE FLOW OF 1868,
the last one, extended about Is miles.
Thus is Nature, from her atorehouses OF rock
and fire, manufacturing now lands continually,
about one-tenth Of the whole island having been
covered by these flows within the last forty
years.
TIE ISLANDS.
The inhabitants Of the is1ands are about nine
tenths natives. OF the 81 foreigne1s," SO called,
more are from the United States than from any
other quarter. But there ere people here from
all parts OF the earth
Tho climate is WARM, but not oppressive, e1-
cept In certain localities. The trade winds
which prevail hero furnish an almost constant
breeze in most p1aces.
I ind much Of interest In the islands, but
what may have to say upon other topics must
be reserved for other letters.
DEATH or KAHEHAMEHA =.
Since writing the above, q very important
event has occurred, the death Of KarnchnmehA
=, King OF Hawai-hei {the Sandwich Islands).
He died On the 11th.of this month, which vas his
42d birthday,
The Legislature is to elect q successor On The
8th of January. There are four candidates for
the vacant Throne, two men and two women
There is a1Bo q strong undercurrent in favor OF
q republican form Of government.
Stirring events are pending, Of the progroes
Of which will keep you advised ".