SANDWICH ISLANDS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 709, 19 May 1852, Page 4

SANDWICH ISLANDS.

[From the Em fire, May I.] The Jessie, which vessel called at Honolulu, has brought us a file of the Polynesian to the 20th of March. The thirty-ninth anniversary of King Kamehamah 111, which occurred on the 17th March, was observed with more than the .usual demonstrations ;. Royal salutes were fired from the Punchbowl and the ships in harbour, and the occasion was generally observed as a holiday. We take the following interesting account of the eruption of the volcano at Hilo, from the Polynesian, of March 20th: — THE LATE ERUPTION. Hilo, Feb. 18tb, 1852, About four o’clock in the morning we heard footsteps in our verandah, then a gentle tap on the window. On enquiring who was there, “there is an eruption of the volcano on Mauna Loa.” This brought us to our feet, and as quick as possible to the door. As we entered the bath room a bright light was shining in at the window, like that of a full moon. On the opening the door, I exclaimed, “ the whole mountain is in a blaze.’’ I thought T had never seen the like, but probably it was because it burst upon me so suddenly. A little reflection convinced us that it was in the same place of the one in 1843, and similar to it. I hastened to awaken the children, all of whom gazed with wonder and astonishment. We took onr station on the roof, where there was nothing to obstruct our view, where we remained till it faded away into the bright light of day. Nothing could surpass the grandeur of the scene. With the naked eye, we could see the jets of . lava very distinctly, but with the aid of our spyglass we could see it playing like a fountain. There was apparently a crater, several miles in diameter, spouting lava in every part. At the south end there was ail immense jet throwing up from 300 to 500 feet probably, parting at the top precisely like a fountain. At the north end, we could see a flood : of liquid lava rolling over the rim, down the side'of the mountain, at the rate of a dozen miles an hour. , As I sat looking through the glass and watching the intense action, I could, in imagination, bear those terrific sounds which broke on onr ears at Kilanea, years ago. “Oh ! how grand,” every ’one exclaimed, on looking with'the glass. We were much gratified with the view we had of it (it being so far off, we could not apprehend danger) but it was the general impression that we saw but a small' part of the action ; there were many things to show that it was too much on the other slope of the mountain for.us to see all. Over the whole there was s superb perpendicular column of. smoke, which, after rising to a great height, parted at the top, and spread out far to t}ie north and south. Before daylight, the heavens were illuminated to the zenith, and the light strongly reflected from all surrounding objects. During the day, the clouds rested on the mountain, but near sun-set I-got a view, and the lava wa‘S still spouting. Rut to the disappointment of all, the clouds shut in at. evening, and though We. looked repeatedly, we could see nothing. During the night, there was a severe thunder-storm oh the mountains; arid in the morning their tops were covered with sriow ; we, could see nothing of the eruption, blit the smoke, rising slowly, as if from ruins. 19th. No light this evening, and no smoke. We have heard from the ships in the that the eruption commenced at.three o’clock in the morning.

20th. At early dawn I was called with the startling remark, that a volcano had broke out on this side of the mountain. I was on tlie roof as soon as possible, aud sure enougti ihe smoke and lava, were shooting up from two conical.

mounds, nearly half way from' : the woods to the top of the mountain .arid right over against us. We gazeiLwith intense interest, and as we gazed «e saw the molten lava flowing down the side of the mountain directly towards us. . After flowing an hour or so, it turned to the right and towards: the north. At eight o’clock it was so low down as to be hidden by .the woods, arid apparently moving parallel to the woods. We watched its progress with solicitude. It is now ten o’clock, we have spent much time in looking at that dreadful./fiery flood, which has its origin in a great glowing furnace that spouts lavatremendously. The scene is grand beyond description, but the uncertainty, as to final results, excites a feeling of uneasiness. But he who rides upon the wings of the wind, can control the volcano as well as the storm. Our trust is in Him. It does not now appear to he advancing to the north, perhaps it is making progress in the woods; Saturday evening.—The furnace still burns with great brifliriricy, and the lava stream is still red, to its apparent junction with the woods. Then for several miles there is much sriioke and light. As we were looking at it to night, a large dense column of smoke rose from it, unlike anything we had seen before, which excited our wonder greatly. Soon, there was a tremendous eruption of lava, and red-bot storiesi &c., which shot up far above the trees. In a few moments this was succeeded by another similar to it, and then a great blaze flashed up and -disappeared instantly, and then it resumed its former aspect. The light is more strongly reflected from surrounding objects than it was last night. Monday, 23.—Yesterday and last night the mountain was obscured by clouds. At an early hour this morning I was informed that the clouds had dispersed, and I hastened to the lookout, where, with the glass, I bad an excellent view (the atmosphere being uncommonly clear.) The upper craters, (the two being so nearly in a line as to look, most of the time like one) were playing splendidly, neither those nor the streath having changed at all since the first day.

Just above the woods it seems to remain stationary. Perhaps there is an immense crater there, though with all our conjectures we cannot decide anything definitely enough to entirely allay my fears. Our town has been sprinkled with Pele’shair, but it is too delicate and scarce to be able to procure it in any quantities. I send you a little which was gathered, some from the roof of onr house, some from the coffee trees and some from the road.

March 2nd. This morning we were called by the remark “it is grand and on reaching the look-out, lo “it was grand.’’ More luminous than usual, the crater considerably enlarged and tremendously active. A new channel was formed a little higher up the mountain in which a stream of liquid lava was flowing a long distance towards Mauna Kea. Since we last had a good view, which was Friday evening, two large hills have formed in front of the crater, and the lava spouts far, far above them, occasionally falling over on to them causing them to increase in size.

All these changes have occurred within the space of eight days. For a whole week the jet of lava exhibited no .particular difference in its phase. But changes have commenced, and there is no predicting where they will end. The children are getting quite a crop of Pele’s hair this morniDg, and we occasionally find cinders. We measured one of the hairs and it was 28 inches in length, S. J.L.