The Hawaiian gazette., 1885-09-16
The Lnvn Troo-Casts of Puma, hawaii.

Enron G AZfrrE In Puma, Hawaii and form
ing > distinct groups, the first one some : miles
distant from Kapoho the present residence OF
Capt John Eldarts and the second some miles,
are quite large number of hollow pillars, in some
Of which, charcoal has been found, capable, after
having been dried, of ignition the pillars OF the
first group in general 6, and 10 feet IN height, p
4, 6 and inches in thickness from outside TO IN
side the casing being invariably the thIckest IN
the mauka side tho inside diameter OF each Pill
lar the same as the diameter OF an ordinary tree
trunk, and the inside surface moulded, as IL the
plastic lava forming 1t, had cooled around the tree
trunk as pattern the top of each pillar too, when
not broken in, covered with coating of lava,
somewhat thinner than the coating OF the sldesi
Tire above descriptive features belonging to the
group Of lava columns miles from hapoho,
while tho columns of the other group, the one :
miles from Kapoho, are IN general like those OF
the first group, only very much taller from top TO
bottom and thicker from inside to outside, be-
sides being armed at the summit with huge pro-
icctioIs or capitals; the appearance OF the whole
being that OF obelislls holding aloft in air, the CO
lossal pediments, which should be al the bottom
and hold them aloft-
These two groups of lava. columns seem to afford
foundation on which 10 re2t the following prop
ostions, affirming the agencies and the method OF
their operation, by and according TO which, the
transformations in question we're brought into e1-
istence, viz:
lst huge and slowly moving mass of molten
lava of a vertical thickness of 6, S and 10 feet
poured into and through forest of trees the
satpy greenness of the tree trunks having the i'm
mediate effect to cool coating of lava Just around
these same trunks; while the mass OF the lava out
side these several coatings remained still molten.
2nd. The motion of the lava stream being from
mauka to makai, more particles Of not lava would
| be brought III contact with the GOODNESS induced
by the green wood of the trees standing here and
| there in the molten mass, on the HdhEd SIDE OF
these several tree trunks, than on the Bdkdi SIDE,
| in lust the same way as more OF moisture sur
charged air Is brought in contact with the GOODNESS
of a mountain range, on the windward side of that
In side. fla result being
| that, in the case of a air stream and mountain
range, there is greater deposition OF moisture on
| the wiudward side than on the leeward, as also,
| in the case of molten lava stream and trunks,
/ a greater deposition of cooled lava on the mauka
/ side than on the makai.
3rd The fire of molten lava stream howlng
among forest Trees would necessarily burn oil the
trce-trunks at or near the surface OF the stream
| while il would not burn them off lower down; and
tbis for the reason, that, at the surface of the
| stream oxygen from the atmosphere would come
in contact with the caloric of the molten lava en-
| abnr it to consume the wood 1t had begulled ana
seized: while beneath the surface, the carbon OF
the wood and the calOric of the molten lava seek
| ing TO devour it, would be so unsheathed as to be
eEeCtually cut off from the oxygen OF the atmos,
| phere the only resort thus left the imprisoned
| wood being, to slowly CHAIR through long years
| perhaps even ages. m
| 4tb. While the lower group of Puma pillars
clearly show that long ago a lava stream ran iol
| while among forest trees then subsidized, leaving
the lava eucased tree-trunks standing upright al
the height reached by the surface of the stream
| the upper group indicate the formation among
forest trees long ago. of a reservoir OF lava, OF q
depth of 10, - or % feet; which, remaining un
| disturbed long enough to permit the formation
upou its surface of a crust of considerable thick
ness. subsequently, broke away, leaving the pillal
shared castings formed around the trees and stand
inr in the midst of it. loaded with and holding III
large masses of the surface crust, adhering to ant
resting on the supports beneath them. Of all thu
PORTIONS of an ancient lava stream or reservoir i
Is the surface of it that transmits the most EN-
phatic and surest evidence of its own former exis
Iteuce and whereabouts The height of the pillar
shaped tree castings of Puma, Hawaii, show tn
elevation reached by the lava reservoir or stream
which gave birth to those formations; while tn
shreds of lava adhering, (at height of and
feet above the ground) to trees rooted in tn
mountain side above knhuku, Hawaii indicate
tie heinht reached by the lava stream, which II
1865. ran violently down the steep declivity; tn
scum borne on tue surface of the stream, becom
ing lava shreds adhering to the trees the liqul
fire ran around and past. Near by one OF tn
huge lava pillars of Puma upper group IS small
upright of lava, indicating tree stump, winch
| originally immersed in the burning material, be
came eucasCd all over in petrifaction, until til
trpe trunks became encased all round in the SAINT
No clue has ever been obtained by which I
de,armine the number of historic years durin
| winch the Puma pillars have been standing: Q
When any ante-historic lava flow has existed IN
soiidIiisd condition the surface of the earth.
HEpHAIsTos.