56 



Kilauea and Manna Loa. 



of dazzling light, like a network of lightning, occasioned by the jets in constant play." 

 My old friend, Dr. Charles Pickering, Dana's companion on the exploration, gave him 

 the apt comparison to lightning, and Dana admits that Pickering was "a man of very 



exact observation and measured words." 

 1841 In January, 1841, Dr. Pickering describes several considerable variations in 



the surface of Halemaumau, a hundred feet or more. On January? 17, two of 

 the pools discharged large quantities of lava over the bottom of the pit. The plan of 

 the crater published by Wilkes, as well as the view by Drayton, one of the artists of the 

 expedition, show the appearance of Kilauea at this time^^ (Figs. 44, 45). 



KIG. 45. DRAYTON'S VIEW OF KILAUKA IN I S4 1 . 



I do not quote much from the narrative of the United States Exploring Expe- 

 dition, as Captain Wilkes included much in his story that was of merely personal 

 interest ; but there are a few statements about the condition of Kilauea at this time 

 that should be noticed ; and also, as the crater is generally such an amenable subject 

 that accidents are almost unknown there, and "narrow escapes" seldom occur, it may be 

 well to tell of one that actually occurred. I quote from the published report," although 

 I have heard the substance from Dr. G. P. Judd, who was Wilkes' most useful guide 

 as well as friend. He was in the crater to obtain specimens for the expedition : he had 

 collected gases and was trying to get at the liquid lava: 



'^ Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, vol. iv, p. 178. 

 35 Narrative U. S. Ex. Ex., vol. iv, p. 184, 4to ed. [434 J 



