The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-17
A PACIFIC PARADISE.
Interesting Talk About the Hawaiian
Islands.
LECTURE TO The GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY,
The IsIands and Their Variety
of Climate and Negetation-Com-
merciaI Importance.

The assembly hall Of the Cosmos Club never
held a larger or more distinguished and at
tentive audience than it did last night, on the
occasion Of talk to the National Geographic
Society on the subject Of the Hawaiian islands,
their scenery, volcanoes, people, politics ana
trade, by Major G. i. Dutton. of the army,
lately on duty with the geological survey.
Major Dutton spoke in a graceful. off-hand
way for an hour, without any notes or manu-
script. Just taking. as he expressed 1t. a ram
bic through that little paradise Of the Pa
cifco as he called the group of volcanic
islands that mark the map OF the great ocean
like q small speCk in the map.
His visit 10 the islands was made about
nine months ago. and he has always felt that II
he never did ANYTHING else he had done one
thing 10 have made life worth living. lie
then went on TO speak Of the geography and
location of the islands and spent some MIN
utes in describing the volcanoes which fur
nished a text for most interesting chat.
THE VOLCANOES.
There are in the islands. he said. many OK
tinct volcanoes and two that arc stu alive,
which are the main attraction TO travellers IN
the islands They are OF great YOiume ana
quite extraordinary, being somewhat different
nature OF these phenomena of nature. ones
ideas as 20 volcanoes are changed mate
rally when looking upon those of HaWall
and the other islands Maunaloa. IN the island
Of Hawaii. is the main one, and Is one OF
the greatest, If not the greatest ndiVdualzed
mountain masses IN the world. 1t is liOOO
feet above the sea level. but its slopes extend
so far below the level Of the ocean that # the
mountain were measured as It rises from the
bed Of the sea, II would have base area OF
100 miles in diameter and height Of $1,000
feet There are two vents, one 10000 feet
lower than the main one. These vol
canoes are not of the obstreperous
sort that have given a bad name 10 vol
canoes but are very quiet IN their action,
infrequently showing any signs Of explosive
ness and Of that terrible force that character
ICES such mountains as Nesuvus. .ttna and
the East Indian volcanoes. This Is due t. tho
small amount of water and YapOT in the midst
Of the lava that comes forth during an eTup-
ton. The lava of Maunaloa and the other
Hawaiian volcano wells ont quietly and gently
and flows like vast flood of molten rock over
the surface of the country, 50 quietly, indeed,
that the inhabitants are frequently unaware OF
the coming Of the eruption until night comes
and they see the glare in the sky.
MOUNTAIN BUILDING.
This mountain is now in the process Of
building, being constructed by the successive
emulation Of sheet after sheet Of matter
that cOols and hardons and forms rock. The
slopes are very gentle the steepest being
only about seven degrees and hcEentlcst only
four Here and there are 10 be seen great
pits or lakes Of molten lava, but seldom
stirred by ebullition, as the gases from the
center Of the earth come yelling and hurry
ing up from their prisons and throw
masses Of the matter up into the air The AS
cent Of the mountain Is not difficult If one only
knows the way. but otherwise II IL next to i'm
possible. The passage of the traveller Is i'm
peded by great streams of scorated lava
which are absolutely impossible for animals
and next to so for men. ! he way up 10
the summit rs through lanes that have been
formed between thC~e streams There are
no spurs, ravlneS or gOrges to be found
on the mountain. because the mass IS now
forming and the water cannot consequently
lay upon II so as TO make rivers or streams
that will in time wear down the surface of
the lava. When the innumerable assures
through which the rain sinks down al once
into the sea have become cemented up as in
the case Of extinct volcanoes. the waters viii
make rivers and gradually rayines and gorges
will appear There is but one stream on the
mass. and this is between the two mountains
The neighbor of Maunaloa is Maunakaa which
is little higher, but sleeper and with les.
mass. II IL covered with vents, or cinder
cones, which gives II avery rough appearance.
ana has more ScOrlaclOus matter OnltS surface.
This is an extinct volcano and 1t has some
ravines on its windward side, on which the
rains fall these being the result of the trade
winds, which always blow from the east.
VARIETY OF CLIMATE.
For the same reason there is quite a variety
Of climate TO be found on the island. On the
south and southwestern sides the land is very
arid, with little or no rain. and on the east and
northeast it is very moist and rains almost con-