856 Tranmctioiu. — Geoioyy. 



occasional shocks of earthquake were liable to precipitate the 

 overhanging portions to the bottom. The depth from the lip to 

 the water was estimated at about 350 feet, and the length about 

 200 yards, with a width at the lips of 100 yards. 



The second crater to the north was rather more active, 

 sending up columns of steam, through which occasionally an 

 uprush of stones and mud was discernible. Owing to a heavy 

 slip of earth into this crater, a terrace had been formed about 

 50 feet below the lip, and with a little effort it was possible to 

 obtain an excellent view from this place, not only of the crater 

 in question, but of the steam-jets in the third crater. (The 

 second and third craters here referred to subsequently became 

 joined in one, called " Echo Lake Crater.") These, to the 

 number of five, rose in unbroken columns to the height of about 

 40 feet, sending up stones in large numbers, some of which 

 reached above the surface. The roar of the escaping steam from 

 this crater was very great. Passing round to the north, it was 

 possible to cross the line by a narrow passage between the third 

 and fourtli craters ; and fi'om this point an excellent view could 

 be obtained of the energy displayed by the escaping steam, 

 which sent up showers of stones to within a few feet of us. 



Looking north from the passage on which we stood, the 

 fourtli crater (since called the "Inferno") displayed a very 

 peculiar form. It had the appearance of an immense cutting 

 through a long hill, and this was actually the method of its 

 formation : the disruptive force havmg been exerted under the 

 centre of a long spur, had removed the centre of the hill 

 throughout its entire length, and deposited portions of the 

 material on its sides. It was noticeable that in each of the 

 craters already described, the forces had been exerted in the 

 same manner, the crater having been formed in a hill, the 

 material of which had been ejected to a considerable distance 

 on each side. In the most southerly crater the formation was 

 most distinctly shown, as the surface soil was marked by a 

 ragged fringe of dead fern and ti-tree, which extended all round 

 the side from about 10 to 25 feet below the lip (if the crater, the 

 ejected material taking the usual outward slope characteristic 

 of volcanic cones. The natural contour of all the land covered 

 in this vicinity, notwitlistanding the tremendous forces which 

 had been at work, was very little altered, and in one instance, 

 on a steep sloi^e which faced the westward, the fern and ti-tree 

 was still visible. Still proceeding to the north, the tit'th or 

 Black Crater was reached, and this was certainly the most 

 active in the line. After a toilsome ascent, a position was 

 obtained from which the activity could be witnessed with 

 comparative safety. This cone was the highest of all, and 

 far above the level of its edges were thrown immense quantities 

 of stones, mud, and water, the majority of which fell back 



