26 ELISHA KENT KANE. 



the crater there are many active peaks or cones, 

 whence constantly issue jets of sulphurous flame; 

 while in the cavities between them there are bodies 

 of boiling green water. 



Into this uninviting pandemonium Dr. Kane de- 

 termined to descend. Attended by suitable guides 

 and assistants, he reached the summit of the crater. 

 His associates, appalled by the spectacle below, did 

 their utmost to persuade him not to venture amid 

 the imminent perils which overhung the attempt; 

 but they reasoned in vain. A long bamboo rope 

 was accordingly procured, fastened round his waist, 

 and the adventurer was slowly lowered down the per- 

 pendicular wall which surrounded the summit of the 

 cone. Having descended two hundred feet by this 

 means, Dr. Kane detached himself from the line, and 

 still proceeded down toward the mouth or centre of 

 the crater, several hundred feet below. Here, while 

 hanging over the central vortex of the volcano, and 

 while compelled to inhale the deadly sulphurous 

 vapor which rolled up from its fiery mouth, he 

 deliberately filled his bottles with the volcanic acid, 

 and gathered geological specimens and sconce, in 

 possession of which he effected his return to the in- 

 valuable rope. But by this time his strength had 

 become nearly exhausted. With great difficulty he 

 succeeded in placing the bamboo again around his 



