The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-08-06

difficulty, on the lodges which are
nearly continuous under the low cliffs
which line the whole bay. Ascend
zAngwths cliff some forty feet with
difficulty, we came out upon the steep
slopes. These were well covered with
the sweet bunch grass known as
makuikui. Its straight leaves con-
tain hemp-like fibre, which does
not decay, but accumulates under the
bunch for many years. Portions
were thickly covered with lima or
sido, and other small bushes. Two
small groves of palm trees were con-
spicuous, the chief one in the
large eastern valley, the other
in the central one The en-
tire surface was densely crowded
with nests of sea birds, about
$500 to the acre. AS we emerged
upon the slope the older birds rose in
enormous clouds, while their helpless
young remained in their nests, each
with its single companion egg, which
~ 0ANCO III AC
smaller birds nestled in burrows
under the dry bunch grass, and in
the numerous caves and crannies of
the rocks, while many of the larger
nests were fat surfaces of twigs on
small bushes beaten down and matted
together, notably those of the great
frigate bird.
The surface was covered with thin
soil and loose brittle scoriae. The
soil was gray and ashy. The stone
seemed saturated with guano. The
strong Odor of this was very pervading
everywhere. Whether soil that
will permit SO much vegetation can
be rich enough to pay for removal as
fertilizer I do not know, but it
seems worthy of examination. There
must be between $4,000 and 100000
cubic yards of such soil and soft ston e
upon the slopes of Nihoa, most of
which could be easily delivered by
shutes into lighters moOred eff the
low cliffs. I estimate the whole
number of birds whose nests Occu-
pied the southern slopes at not less
than one million, large and small,
and immense numbers besides on the
outer precipice.
Two stations were chosen for base
line, one about 200 feet inland on the
most central ridge at the height of 207
feet, the other across the large cove on
the brow of the cliff, 126 feet high.
The latter station was upon ruined
terrace of stones, probably one of
several house foundations which the
very accurate DIR. Baldwin informs
me that Kamehameha III found on
Nihoa, being not far from the best
landing and the chief water hole. An
accurate telemeter measurement gave
the horizontal length of my base at
l, 1913 feet, from which all my heights
and distances are derived. [ judge
the possible error not to exceed six
feet, or 005. A magnetic azimuth
was employed, circumstances pre-
venting solar observations for true
azimuth. Phe two stations differed
four degrees as to the direction of
the needle. The azimuth of the first
station was adopted, being judged
least subject to local attraction.
\ quite full survey of the coves was
secured by means of depression angles
to the waters edge, verified by few
intersections. Several of the most
prominent peaks overhanging the
outer shore were also well located by
intersections, and heights deter
mined. A large number of careful
sketches, together with Mr.. Villa ms
excellent photograph, supply ample
means for filling out the outer coast
lines and the contours. An outline
of the island, drawn by Mr.. Rowell,
from the SUBMITS, is most valuable
aid. Mr.. Rowelps aneroid measure
ments are quite uniformly so or 20
feet short of my triangulated heights.
But this is fully accounted for by his
acknowledged defective correction for
sea level.
We were proceeding to occupy a
third station above the south point,
making a second base, and expecting
two hours more work whereby to elab-
crate our survey, by the help of many
flags set by Mr.. Rowell on lofty points,
when a fire broke out about 800 feet
above my main station, and spread
with great speed and force in the
masses of dry tindery matter. This
at once filled the island with such
volumes of smoke chat it became I'M
possible to measure an angle on any
flag. The last Of the hundreds of peo-
pie who had landed had already al
disappeared below the cliffs, and were
slowly embarking. We reluctantly
retired from our work, and followed
them. Within an hour my station
had been swept by the flames, which
spread steadily in every direction.
The embarkation was much more
difficult and hazardous than the land