Adventure of Dr. G. P. Jitdd. 57 



Dr. Judd then sought for a place where he might dip up some of the recent and yet fluid lava, 

 but found none sufficiently liquid for the purpose. Failing here he proceeded toward the great fiery 

 lake at the southern extremity of the crater. He found that the ascent toward this was rapid because 

 the successive flowings of the lava had formed crusts which lapped over each other [see the forma- 

 tion in Pis. L, and LII]. This rock was so dark in colour as to be almost black, and so hot as to act 



upon spittle just as iron, heated nearly to redness, would have done At this time they were very 



near the great lake but could not see its surface, which was still about twenty feet higher than the 



spot where they stood On his return the party passed the small crater which has been spoken of: 



and which by comparison with the larger one appeared cool. Smoke and a little igneous matter 

 were issuing from a small cone in the centre : but with this exception, a crust of solid lava covered 

 the bottom. 



On the sides of this crater Dr. Judd saw some fine specimens of capillary glass, "Pele's hair," 

 which he was anxious to obtain for our collection. He therefore, by the aid of the hand of one of the 

 natives, descended and began to collect specimens. When fairly down he was in danger of falling, 

 in consequence of the narrowness of the footing : but in spite of this difficulty, his anxiety to collect 

 the best specimens enticed him onwards. While thus advancing, he saw and heard a slight move- 

 ment in the lava about fifty feet from him, which was twice repeated, and curiosity led him to turn 

 to approach the place where the motion occurred. In an instant the crust was broken asunder by a 

 terrific heave, and a jet of molten lava full fifteen feet in diameter rose to a height of about forty-five 

 feet, with a most appalling noise. He instantly turned for the purpose of escaping : but found that 

 he was now under a projecting ledge which opposed his ascent, and that the place where he had 

 descended was some feet distant. The heat was already too great to permit him to turn his face 

 towards it, and was every moment increasing, while the violence of the throes, which shook the rock 

 beneath his feet, augmented. Although he considered his life as lost, he did not omit the means for 

 preserving it, but offering a mental prayer for the Divine aid, he .strove, although in vain to scale 

 the projecting rock. While thus engaged he called in Knglish upon his native attendants for aid: 

 and looking upwards, saw the friendly hand of Kalumo- ••• extended towards him. Ere he could 

 grasp it, the fiery jet again rose above their heads, and Kalumo shrank back scorched and terrified, 

 until excited by a second appeal, he again stretched forth his hand, and seizing Dr. Judd's with a 



giant's grasp, their joint efforts placed him on the ledge In looking for the natives they were 



seen some hundreds of yards distant running as fast as their legs could carry them. On his calling 



to them, however, they returned Dr. Judd now found that he had no time to lose, for the lava 



was flowing so rapidly to the north, that their retreat might be cut off, and the whole party be 

 destroyed. They therefore at once took leave of the spot and only effected their escape by running. 

 .... The crater had previously been measured hy Dr. Judd and was found to be thirty-eight feet deep 

 by two hundred feet in diameter. The rapidity of its filling (in twelve minutes) will give some idea 

 of the quantity of the fluid mass. 



In February, 1842, Mr. Coan writes as follows: 



When within four or five rods of the great lake, unaware of our near proximity to it, we saw 

 directly before us a vast area of what we had supposed to be solid lava moving off to the right and 

 left. We were at first a little startled, not knowing but all was about to float away beneath us, 

 especiall)- as the lavas for a mile back were almost insupportably hot, and gases and steam were 



escaping from numerous openings. On looking again, we perceived that the whole sur- 

 1842 i2i.Qi^ of the lake was from six to fifteen feet above the level of the surrounding lava, 



although at my last visit, it was from sixty to seventy feet below. Within six feet of this 

 embankment we could see nothing of the lake, and in order to examine it we climbed the precipice 

 some fifty feet. The explanation of this strange condition of things, is this : when the liquid con- 

 tents of the lake had risen to a level with the brim, there was a constant and gradual boiling over of 



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