Fjbiedlaender. — On Neiv Zealand Volcanoes. 507 



The crater of Euapehu, at first sight, does not look hke 

 a crater at all. Closer and reflecting inspection, however, 

 shows that the inner slopes of all the rocky peaks surround- 

 ing the snow-covered plain are much steeper than its outer. 

 This and a smell of sulphuretted hydrogen, that every now 

 and then was brought over by the cold southerly wind, 

 reminded us of the volcanic nature of the mountain. 



After having photographed the panorama from the north 

 peak we descended its steep and partially ice-covered inner 

 slope (it is not advisable for everybody to do this, as it is 

 better to make a detour by going round on the outer slope, 

 saving risk and perhaps time) and crossed the snow-field to 

 the lake. Having photographed the latter, I ascended the 

 south-western peak, on which is a trig, (cross), and took a 

 panoramic view from near its top, the wind being too strong 

 on the very top. Therefore in writing this I can help my 

 memory by two panoramic views taken from two different 

 points. 



It seems to me to be questionable whether the top of 

 Euapehu is one crater only or whether it is two craters. 

 The trouble is that the larger part of its bottom is hidden by 

 neve ; but on account of its enormously elongated shape and 

 its rocky ridges and minor peculiarities I almost feel inclined 

 to believe that there are two adjacent craters, a feature not 

 altogether unknown with volcanoes, though exceptional. But 

 this is hypothesis only. I feel, however, almost certain of 

 the correctness of another interpretation which, I believe, 

 has not yet been pointed out by previous visitors to the top — 

 viz., that the famous lake (which, by-the-by, was steaming 

 slightly and was apparently tepid) is situated not in the main 

 crater (or, if there be two, in the southern of the two craters 

 which cover Euapehu's top), but in a secondary cinder-cone. 

 I think no one who has seen a number of volcanic mountains 

 would doubt this for a moment. The other parts of the rim, 

 however, were almost entirely hidden by neves, the greater 

 part of which started from the south peaks and the south-west 

 peak, and ended at the lake abruptly in very steep ice walls. 

 The nevh hanging down the inner slopes of the south peaks 

 look like real glaciers — i.e., ice-grey. The secondary, or inner, 

 cinder-cone, which on the eastern side is rather high, and 

 even forms a prominent point, visible from the north peak, 

 must be lower or perhaps destroyed on its western parts. 



If we suppose this cinder-cone to be active as an ordinary 

 solfatara— i.e., in quite a similar way and degree to Ngauruhoe 

 — then, I think, we can easily understand the formation and the 

 behaviour of the celebrated lake. Suppose hot water, steam, 

 and sulphuretted hydrogen escaping from the bottom of the 

 secondary cone : if Euapehu did not mount above the snow- 



