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W. T. BRIGHAM ON THE VOLCANIC PHENOMENA 



seen gathering on Mauna Loa. In the evening, lava spouted up violently near the top of 

 the mountain on the north side, and apparently flowed both towards Hilo and towards the 

 west side of the island. This continued but a few minutes, when at a point considerably 

 farther below the top, and farther west, another jet spouted up. 



"Accounts from Hilo say, that on the night of the 23d, it was so light there that fine 

 print could be read without difficulty. After the 23d, the light was much less. At Lahaina, 

 more than one hundred miles distant, the whole heavens in the direction of the eruption 

 were lighted up. 



" Our party started from Honolulu, February 1st, and reached Kealakeakua on the 3d. 

 Here we learned that the stream from the eruption had reached the sea on the 31st of 

 January, at Wainanalii, about forty [sixty] miles from the place of eruption. This makes the 

 average progress of the stream above five [seven] miles per day. After procuring guides, 

 natives, pack-oxen, and mules, we started for the source of the flow on the 5th. About noon 

 we had a view of the source, distant from us, probably, twenty-five miles in an air-line. The 

 crater was about one hundred and fifty feet high, and two hundred feet in diameter (as we 



afterwards estimated). From within 

 this crater, liquid lava was spouting up 

 to the height of three or four hundred 

 feet above the top. In shape and 

 movement it resembled a mighty 

 fountain or jet of water, though more 

 inconstant. At one moment it was 

 uncommonly high and quite narrow 

 at the top, at the next not as high but 

 very broad. At night, and from a 

 good position near, the view of the 

 jet, according to Mr. Faudrey (the 

 only man who reached the crater while the jet was spouting) was grand beyond all 

 description. 



" Owing to an accident which befell one of our party, and the failure of water where it 

 was supposed to be abundant, we were delayed two days and induced to divide our party 

 into two divisions. One part returned to visit the flow at a point some twenty miles below, 

 by another and easier route. The party who went on, consisting of twelve white persons and 

 thirty kanakas, reached the crater Wednesday evening February 9th, and encamped about 

 two miles from it. Here all fears about water were at an end, for we found snow in abun- 

 dance within half a mile of our camping-ground. In the evening the view was magnificent. 

 The jet had ceased to play ; but two craters, about eighty rods apart, were sending up gas 

 and steam, with appearances of flame. This apparent flame, however, we afterwards ascer- 

 tained was only fine particles heated to redness. The noise attending this action was like 

 that of an ascending rocket, very much increased of course, but quite irregular. About 

 half a mile below the lower of the two craters, the stream first made its appearance. For 

 five or six miles its course was well defined, and there were no side streams. From this 

 point the main stream divided more or less, and on the plain, between the three mountains 

 Hualalai, Kea, and Loa, the branches extended over a breadth of three or four miles. Some 

 Df these streams were very broad and sluggish and partially cooled, some were narrow and 



Fig. 35. Views of the Lava Fountain seen February 6th and 7th, 1859. 



