OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 



125 



Fig. 42. Outline of the south end of Kilauea. 



south-east is much smaller than Poli o-Keawe. Its walls are quite perpendicular on tne side 

 towards Kilauea, and the depth is greater than that of the main crater. The bottom is 

 gravelly, level, and a small mound rises near the northern side. Near the edge of Kilauea 

 was a ledo-e of sandstone much split into parallel vertical plates, and evidently formed by 

 the cementation of the volcanic sand common on the banks on this side. There were many 

 curious circular depressions in the hard gravelly soil, about three feet in diameter and from 

 six to eight inches deep, which I did not at first understand. I soon found that they were 

 over cracks in the subjacent rock, and the sand, which is quite loose a foot below the surface, 

 had settled into these small fissures, causing the depression in the sandstone above, 

 which is almost as flexible as Itacolumite. There were evidences of severe showers over 

 this plain, as the torrent channels were numerous and deep, and always emptied into the 

 crater. 



At the edge of Kilauea iki, as it was late in the afternoon, my kanakas built a stone house 

 to shelter the instruments, and we decided to cross Kilauea as the easiest way home. We 

 climbed down a steep gravel bank 

 formed by the action of sulphurous 

 vapors on the rock of the walls, 

 crossed a small sulphur bed from 

 which steam was issuing, and con- 

 tinued our way over the portion of 

 Kilauea which was overflowed the 

 year before. It was very disagree- 

 able walking, as the crust was quite 

 thin and brittle, and we constantly cracked through, only a foot perhaps, but there was a 

 constant feeling of insecurity, for we could not know but that the breaking crust covered 

 a deep crack in the harder lava beneath. Half way across we found a cone three or four 

 feet high covered with spatters of lava of various colors. Crossing the crater again the next 

 morning in the rain we found it difficult to find our way owing to the steam, but finally 

 reached the bank. It was two o'clock before the mist cleared away enough to permit the 

 use of the theodolite. The large sulphur bank near this side of Kilauea was of a bright 

 green color owing to a large proportion of sulphate of protoxide of iron which seemed to be 

 constantly forming. The sulphur is much of it in large amorphous masses, as if melted. 



The ground on this side of the crater is smooth, free from stones, and so terraced and 

 sloped that it is difficult to define the boundaries of Kilauea. As no rock is visible it is 

 impossible to determine the direction of the disturbing forces, but the present condition of 

 the bank seems to indicate a falling in of the wall in several places, probably over one or 

 more of the subterranean streams that have deluged Puna. The soil of the mountain is 

 thinner here than elsewhere, and most of the subterranean eruptions have forced their way 

 through it, forming a line of craters to the sea. One of Wilkes' signal posts was found rotted 

 off at the base, but otherwise sound. 



On the south-west side the smoke from the Halemaumau was very suffocating, and I was 

 obliged to pass through it with a wetted handkerchief to my face which was quickly dried 

 by the smoke, which was wonderfully free from aqueous vapor. The ground was covered 

 with Pele's hair which collected on the leeward side of the ridges and stones, and also ex- 

 tensive beds of the Hawaiian pumice or " limu." This limu is identical with that seen on 



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