,
which shot up from them as well as from the clefts in the surrounding
precipices.[4] In the island of Late, lying to the west of Vavau, a new
volcano broke out with great violence in 1854; the roar of the volcano
was heard at Lifuka, fifty miles away; the immense pillar of smoke was
visible by day and the fire by night. The central portion of one side of
the mountain (about 2500 feet high) was completely blown out by the
explosion.[5]

[1] Horatio Hale, _U.S. Exploring Expedition, Ethnography and
Philology_ (Philadelphia, 1846), pp. 4 _sq._; F. H. H.
Guillemard, _Australasia_, ii. (London, 1894) pp. 497, 499. As
to the scarcity of running water, see Captain James Cook,
_Voyages_ (London, 1809), iii. 206, v. 389. He was told that
there was a running stream on the high island of Kao. As to the
soil of Tongataboo, see Captain James Wilson, _Missionary Voyage
to the Southern Pacific Ocean_ (London, 1899), p. 280, "The soil
is everywhere prolific, and consists of a fine rich mould, upon
an average about fourteen or fifteen inches deep, free from
stones, except near the beach, where coral rocks appear above
the surface. Beneath this mould is a red loam four or five
inches thick; next is a very strong blue clay in small
quantities; and in some places has been found a black earth,
which emits a very fragrant smell resembling bergamot, but it
soon evaporates when exposed to the air."

[2] Captain James Cook, _Voyages_, v. 277. For descriptions of
the volcano see W. Mariner, _Tonga Islands_, Second Edition
(London, 1818), i. 240 _sq._; and especially Thomas West, _Ten
Years in South-Eastern Polynesia_ (London, 1865), pp. 89 _sqq._
Both these writers ascended the volcano.

[3] Thomas West, _op. cit._ pp. 79 _sqq._; J. E. Erskine,
_Journal of a Cruise among the Islands of the Western Pacific_
(London, 1853), p. 120; F. H. H. Guillemard, _Australasia_, ii.
p. 497.

[4] T. West, _op. cit._ pp. 82 _sqq._; George Brown,
_Melanesians and Polynesians_ (London, 1910), pp. 4 _sq._

[5] T. West, _op. cit._ pp. 88 _sq._

But not only have new volcanoes appeared or long extinct volcanoes
resumed their activity within the last century in the existing islands,
new islands have been formed by volcanic action. One such island,
emitting volumes of fire, smoke, and steam, issued from the surface of
the sea, and was discovered b