Volcanic Character of the Inland of Hawaii. %\$ 



some extensive beds of sulphur at the north-east end. After 

 walking about three quarters of a mile over a tract of decom- 

 posed lava, covered with ohelo bushes, they came to a bank 

 about 150 yards long, and in some places upwards of 30 feet 

 high, formed of volcanic sulphur, with a small proportion of 

 red clay. The ground was hot, its surface rent by fissures ; 

 and they were sometimes completely enveloped in the thick 

 vapours that continually ascended. A number of apertures 

 were visible along the whole extent of the bank of sulphur ; 

 smoke and vapours arose from these fissures ; and the heat 

 around them was more intense than in any other part. They 

 climbed about half way up the bank, and endeavoured to de- 

 tach some parts of the crust, but soon found it too hot to be 

 handled. However, by means of their walking sticks, they 

 broke off some curious specimens. Those procured near the 

 surface were crystallized in beautiful circular prisms of a light 

 yellow colour, while those found three or four inches deep in 

 the bank, were of an orange yellow, generally in single or 

 double tetrahedral pyramids, and full an inch in length. 



A singular hissing and cracking noise was heard among the 

 crystals, whenever the outside crust of sulphur was broken, 

 and the atmospheric air admitted. The same noise was pro- 

 duced among the fragments broken off, until they were quite 

 cold. The adjacent stones and pieces of clay were frequently 

 encrusted, either with sulphate of ammonia, or volcanic sal 

 ammoniac. A considerable quantity was also found in the 

 crevices of some of the neighbouring rocks, which was much 

 more pungent than that exposed to the air. Along the bot- 

 tom of the sulphur bank, they found a number of pieces of 

 tufa, extremely cellular and light. A thick fog now came 

 on, which being followed by a shower of rain, obliged them 

 to leave this interesting laboratory of nature, and return to 

 their companions. 



They saw flocks of wild geese, which came down from the 

 mountains, and settled among the ohelo bushes : they were in- 

 formed that they were numerous in the interior, but were 

 never seen on the coast. 



At sun-setting, although the thermometer was as 69% ex- 

 pecting a cold night upon the mountain, they collected fuel, 



