Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-11-30

blade OF any kind The people had all
escaped, warned by violent earthquakes
which preceded the eruption The sea
was covered with ashes for more than
sixty miles, and the trees and crops al
Navau forty five miles away we're
serou,ly damaged At the time OF the
catastrophe, an American whaling ship,
commanded by Captain Somson, en-.
route Tor Navau, fell IN with, and passed
through thick and heavy shower Of
ashes aud pumice stone. lie reported
his experience as follows:
AT the time we saw the cloud 1t was
double'feeied topsail breeze from the
northeast; but II was a beautiful clear
starlight night AS We approached, il
appeared like n squat; and as soon as
we entered, the eyes of the men on
watch were blinded with fine dust.
Captain Samson put the ship about: but
being convinced that there was no land
near, he again kept his course. When
the sun arose. the dust appeared of a
dark red color, rolling over like great
volumes OF smoke aud presented an
appalling appearance. At IS O'Clock q. m.
II became 50 dark that candles had to
be lighted In the cabin. At II a, m, the
atmosphere began to clear a little, and
the sun was occasionally seen. BY noon
we were clear out OF the cloud, being
then in 1872 as west longitude and az
a south LATITUDE, having sailed through
the shower OF ashes at least ioTy
miles" Captain Cash, OF the sbin
Massachusetts, got into the shower
about the same time. though his c5urse
Jay ~ the vicinity Of Savage Island pro.
NHNaN 40. 4 r
CAPTAIN Samson's position.
Inc absence OF running streams or
rivers Is one Of the characteristics OF the
FRIENDLY Islands. There are only TWO
very insignificant exceptions throughout
'ne Whole group. These occur az Navau
and Eua. That at Navau is an under.
ground stream, and IS reached with
uiihculty, by descending q considerable
depth INTO natural cavern that can un'y
DC explored by the aid OF torches. The
steams ON Eua are very small. For
soft water the inhabitants depend entire.
" upon what is collected from the
clouds, either IN tanks OF day pits called
by the natives lebas. The rainy months
are December January aud February
The average temperature during tie
entire year is 70 L During the hot
months from December to March, the
thermometer frequently RACES at 90 and
even 90 In the shade. TIE Islands are
subject to hurricanes, which seem to
occur with periodical regularity, and
always IN the rainy season from Decem
Der TO March. "The iull force Of the
cyclone tails upon one OF otherof the
three groups At intervals Of about seven
years. writes the Rev. Thomas West.
The hurricane gives but few indications
OF It's approach. The wind rises sudden.
ly, accompanied by heavy rain, and It's
duration, strength and progress, IN any
given locality, depends upon lis being
nearer to, or more remote from the cen.
ter OF the wind circle. No tongue or
pen can possibly convey an ADEQUATE
idea OF these yisitations. Heaven and
earth appear to be on the move: aud as
tor the sea, its grandeur is altogether
understandable. Tue rush Of the irfesis.
iible tempest; the cracking and fall oil
trees on all sides; branches hurled
through the air; cOcoa-nuts torn from
the trees and flung IN all directions with
the velocity OF cannon balls; deluge of
rain, unusual darkness; and the crash OF
falling houses,-all these attendants up.
on hurricane make up one OF the most
dismal and terrific pictures In natural
phenomena. The destruction Of dwell. |
ing houses and other buildings usually |
attended upon these visltatiOns, must. |
however, be attributed not merely TO |
the force OF the wind, but also in great |
measure, TO the torrent OF rain. The |
fact IS, the heavy rain soon saps the |
foundation OF the large posts upon which |
the security OF the building depends |
Gradually the wind sways the super. |
structure to and fro, and at every gust |
opens and widens the earth around the |
sockets OF the posts, until the entire |
fabric loses its equilibrium, and coming
down with crash, all lbs posts and |
beams, however tough and thick, are |
like SO many carrots" During |
a hurricane In Navau many years ago, |
out OF thirly.nine WESLEYAN |
rhapels were blown down, though these
were the very best and strong
est constructed by the people.
All the Islands are subject to earth
luakes, which are both frequent and |
violent. The brethren who are laboring
here now have experienced the peculiar
sensation OF being violently shaken by |
Mother Earth number Of times, but 1
The occurrence OF earthquakes produces
but very little alarm among the natives
whose houses cannot be shaken down
by them.
Like many Of the Polyuesian groups,
he Friendly Islands are entirely Tree
rom noxious snakes and terpents, nor
IRE there any frogs or toads. II seems
hard to determine what were the indi.
genous animals OF the islands. Captain
Cook, when visiting the Islands in I777,
ound hogs and dogs, but IL Is supposed |
BY some that these were left by the
Dutch navigator Tasman, nearly a cen.
Jury before. Horses and cattle were
by the missionaries about
1850. They were first left by Captain
Cook, but became distinct during the
eng series OF wars which succeeded the
period OF his visit. Sheep also were
ldded by the missionaries to the stock
" fine goats that had been introduced
Il an earlier date. The common domes-
ic fowl, the moa Of Polynesia, is Ia
'hickenl plentiful, both IN the abs
home) OF the natives and In all parts of
he bush" The bato or Muscovy duck
Ilso abound, sand there are some tur.
ieys. Geese and English ducks nave
,een introduced, but they do not seem
o thrive. The sea birds comprehend
everal varieties oil gulls, bitterns and
ierons. In Tonga, as in all tropical
Countries, insect lie swarms and luxuTi.
ties, as much as the vegetation. Ants.
black and red, swarm everywhere, and
o do lizards aud beetles OF all kinds.
he ants became SO troublesome al the
Mission home at Mua, that Elder Akin.
on, who ranks as the inventor OF the