146 Kilauea and Manna Loa. 



in these matters to watch for events and report to me. The new eruption began on 

 the fifth of November, and it proved the beginning of the most extensive lava flow that 

 has been recorded from the Hawaiian volcanoes. 



We will return to Mauna Loa, for my expectations, aroused b}- the news of an 

 outbreak in May, although unfulfilled so far as my participation was concerned, still 

 materialized in a most definite manner about six weeks after my return to Boston. 

 Here is the storj- from Mr. Coan about as it came to me: 



Hilo is iu a haze of .sulphur smoke, and we see the sun as through smoked glass. We have a 

 grand volcanic eruption. On the first inst., a little before daylight, a herdsman who lives about two 

 miles out of town, reported that he had seen a light on Mauna Loa. At S p.m. of the same day, my 

 wife called my attention to an unusual light in the direction of the mountain. At first it was partly 

 obscured by clouds, so that we hesitated to pronounce it volcanic. In a few minutes, however, the 

 revelation was clear. The clouds dispersed and the spectacle of a burning mountain opened to our 

 sight. The action was intense. The appearance was as if a vast column of melted rock, a mile in 

 diameter, was being poured out of the mountain with amazing force and vehement heat. Brilliant 

 corruscations shot out in all directions, lighting up the clouds to the apparent height of 30° and 

 spreading out for many miles along the summit of the eastern side of the mountain. The outbreak 

 was in full view from the west side of our house, which was brilliantly lighted up by the fires, while 

 the front part was in a deep shade, rendering the contrast striking. 



This eruption occurring in the night, we were unable to determine at once the exact locality. 

 Some thought it was in the deep summit crater, Mokuaweoweo [as it was]: and others that it was 

 at a point a few miles north of it. Since that night the mountain has been so veiled in clouds and 

 smoke that we have not been able to see the fire. Yesterday flocks of Pele's hair, and light particles 

 of volcanic dust and sand were dropped upon our houses and in our streets, having been borne upon 

 the winds for this great distance. 



Since my former letter, dated June 20, 1879, Kilauea has resumed great activity. Rarely iu 

 its recorded history have the fires been more intense or the filling up more rapid. Lateral streams of 

 liquid rock are bursting through the .scoriaceous sides of Halemauinau and flowing down the declivi- 

 ties into the central depression, adding stratum to stratum, while the great lake boils, and dashes its 

 waves against its walls, and sends its burning spray high into the air. The debris around the high 

 walls of the lake is so hot and brittle that most parties who visit the crater do not venture near the 

 burning cauldron, but mount some quiet eminence about one-quarter of a mile from its margin, where 

 they can witness its ragings, and listen to its splashings and mutterings with safety.'" 



October 2j, 18S0. L- P. Tenney. — Halemaumauisquite active, as is also Kilauea or South Lake. 



November /, rSSo. W. B. Oleson. — The lava is flowing on the west side of the crater [main], 

 and quite perceptibly changing the level. There are three distinct lakes without any other than 

 underground connection. Kilauea is crowded into very small dimensions, while Halemaumau re- 

 mains in outline about as it was a year and a half ago, but not being accessible, no definite idea of 

 its condition could be learned. Apparently the lava has sunken to a great depth, as no sounds could 

 be heard. The special seat of activity was in a new lake toward the southeast, not far removed 



from Halemaumau. Here there was a vigorous activity, though nothing violent I have seen 



two of these lakes when there was a rapid flow of lava alternately from one to the other, and at a 

 time when there seemed to be less activity than at this visit. 



November 12, 1880. W. H. Lentz. — About 9 p.m., November 5th, a flow of lava started 

 from the northern slope of Mauna Loa apparently towards Waimea or Hilo, and is still running. 



'American Journal of Science, xx( July, 1880), 71. [524] 



