ERUPTION OF THE HAWAIIAN VOLCANOES. 573 



that surprised us the more, as a bird's-eye view from above had altogether failed to apprise 

 us of its existence. 



" As we had been informed that the principal activity of the crater before the great earth- 

 quake had been in the northwest corner, we proceeded in that direction on leaving the 

 south lake. Having arrived at about the middle of the depression, a considerable rise in 

 the ground presented itself on our left — to the west. Having ascended this, we found 

 ourselves at the brink of a fearful chasm, which fell off on our side with a beetling wall to 

 the depth of several hundred feet, and extended about half a mile from north to south. 

 Very hot air rose from it. Around it, towards its northern extremity, the lava is thrown up 

 into an indescribable confusion ; pile upon pile of aa, gorge and ridge by turns. 



" The caving in of the floor seemed to be still in progression, for twice during our explor- 

 ation of the crater, our nerves were disturbed by a prolonged heavy rumbling and rattling 

 noise, as from a distant platoon-fire of musketry, coming from the northwest corner." 



Poli-o-Keawe, which in 1865 was covered with shrubs on its side and [partly on the] boi> 

 torn, was now overflowed with black, shining lava. It has been free from fire since 1832. 



" Thus far as to what we have seen. Now allow me to relate what I learned from Kaina 

 [the District Judge, and a most intelligent Hawaiian], who has resided near the volcano 

 without interruption for the last five months, and whose strong nerves sustained him during 

 the fearful catastrophe introduced by the earthquake of April 2d. He and the Chinaman 

 who keeps the house, were the only persons who remained at Kilauea. He says that for two 

 months preceding the first shock, namely, from January 20th to March 27th, the crater had 

 been unusually active ; eight lakes being in constant ebullition, and frequently overflowing. 

 During all this time (the date of its first appearance could not be ascertained exactly), 

 there was in the northwest corner a ' blow-hole,' from which, at regular intervals, of a minute 

 or less, with a roaring noise, large masses of vapor were thrown off, as from a steam-engine. 

 This ceased about the 17th of March. At the same time the activity of the lakes became 

 greatly increased, and Kaina anticipated mischief. March 27, the first shock was perceived. 

 Two days later, Mr. Fornancler found the bottom of the crater overflowed with fresh lava, 

 and incandescent. 



"Thursday, April 2d, at a few minutes past four, p. m., the big earthquake occurred, which 

 caused the ground around Kilauea to rock like a ship at sea. At that moment, there com- 

 menced fearful detonations in the crater ; large quantities of lava were thrown up to a great 

 height ; portions of the wall tumbled in. This extraordinary commotion, accompanied with 

 unearthly noise and ceaseless swaying of the ground, continued from that day till Sunday 

 night, April 5th, but from the first the fire began to recede. On Thursday night, it was 

 already confined to the regular lakes ; on Saturday night, it only remained in the great 

 south lake, and on Sunday night there was none at all ; Pele had left Kilauea. The noises 

 now became weaker, and were separated by longer intervals. By Tuesday, quiet reigned 

 in Kilauea. On that afternoon, the lava burst out at a distance of forty miles, southwest, 

 in Kahuku. 



" April 2d, from six to ten, p. m., Kaina observed fire in the direction of Puna, which, at the 

 time, caused him to believe that the lava had found a vent again in that direction, as it did 

 in 1840 ; but he subsequently satisfied himself that it was only a reflection from lava in 

 Poli-o-Keawe. It was not seen afterward. 



" In Kapapala we were told that fire had been seen several nights in a southeast direction, 



MEMUIKS BUST. SOC. NAT HIST. Vol. I, Pt. 4. 144 



