Hilo Tlircalcncd. 



153 



found crowds of natives and some foreigners watching the wild scene. We were told that Dr. Wet- 

 more and others were still further on where the main branch was ; we had seen only overflows from 

 that which was filling up a still larger channel. A native volunteered to guide us through the bushes 

 and over the great rocks in the waj', and we soon had sight of the third partj' on quite an eminence 

 who called us to hasten and join them, but we had progressed onl}' a few yards when word came that 

 the stream in the narrow gorge was moving on so fast that our return was likely to be cut off, and 

 Mr. Coan, marking its advance Ijy the smoke that rose, felt that it was not wise to attempt to go to 

 the further side. John, whom we had sent on, being fleet of foot, to see how it was, hastened back 

 exclaiming: "L,ike very much, Mrs. Coan see that!" Meantime the gentlemen, who were already 



Fig. 91. i.Av.\ FLOW OF 18S1 ne;ar hilo. Furneaux. 



there, took note of the warning and retraced their steps : but Mr. W. offered to assist me to a place 

 where I could see it safely ; and what I saw was the most awe-inspiring sight of all, for the mass was 

 far heavier and wider spread, and for speed and fury of motion it was like the rapids of Niagara. 

 But it was all tame to Mr. Coan, who had seen so much more, and tame by comparison to what it 

 must be some miles back, for this is only a picket from the army, and Mr. Coan says it sometimes 

 seems as if it were acting just like military tactics, — this skirmishing on the left wing while the right 

 is holding itself in reserve, and coming down when not watched to bring desolation in the rear. What 

 terrific pouring out of fusion there must be to supplj^ these different streams, — their advanced posts, 

 and to make them so lively so far from the fountain. Why, at night it shows an emblazoned front 

 of four or five miles as estimated. When we went back to the middle one of the three tines of the 

 fork, we tarried long to watch its movements so persistent in pushing by obstacles, checked by 

 nothing, heeding nothing, consuming, destroying, bound for the .sea. 



' [531] 



