198 Kilmiea and Manna Loa. 



seen to the south of the main crater, probabl}' from the already described cracks common 

 in that region. There was a crack in the crater floor roughly parallel to the western 

 wall, west of the major axis of the pit, from which steam jets in considerable number, 

 but not of much activity, were the onlj' signs of any eruption. The floor was much like 

 that of Kilauea, and no traces of the lake of the jDrevious eruption are mentioned. 

 Making their camp where they reached Mokuaweoweo, Mr. Ingalls with a few com- 

 panions passed around the northern end of the crater, and by a difificult trail descended 

 the mountain slope some three or four thousand feet to the source of the outbreak. 

 The cone from which much of the lava was flowing is shown in Fig. 124. As near as 

 they could estimate, the fountain was one hundred and fifty feet high. On the return 

 to camp they met an unexpected danger. To quote Mr. Ingalls : 



Having remained by the crater several hours, we began to retrace our steps to our camping 

 place, ten or twelve miles distant on the summit of the mountain. We had proceeded but a short 

 distance when we noticed that the wind had shifted around iSo^.^and that the fumes from the upper 

 pile were drifting down and across our former trail, and also far off to the northwest were hovering 

 down upon the slopes of the movintain. This caused me a little anxiety as soon as I saw it, but we 

 tramped along until we encountered the fumes. Then anxiet}- became acute ; the sulphurous fumes 

 were dense and strong. We attempted to pass through, but could not do so, either close to the base 

 of the cone or farther away to the northwest. The choking sensation in the lungs, and irritation iu 

 the nostrils could not be endured. 



The situation looked serious : to cross the hot aa between the lower and upper crater and 

 thus gain the windward side of the upper crater was absolutely impossible. We tried it. To attempt 

 retreat down the mountain towards Hilo was out of the question. The general direction to Hilo was 

 down the slope over the barren lava to the forest, and then a two days trip through the jungle, unless 

 we might accidentally strike a trail, and worse than all that, we had no water for such a trip; every 



canteen was dry Just then the wind shifted 10° more, crowding us toward the hot aa. At this 



moment we began to utterly depair of ever reaching civilization Then one ot the party, study- 

 ing the cloud of fumes, saw near the top of the cone a patch of blue sk}- through a rent in the smoke. 

 This less dense portion was slowly drifting along with the rest. Brief calculation from its motion 

 indicated about where it would settle down upon the rocks to the north. "Fellows, there's oui 

 chance ! Come on ! " Snatching up packs and canteens we ran with all speed to the spot, made a 

 dash through the vapors, which choked us terribly and irritated both eyes and nostrils. The boy 

 with the heavy camera plates falls down, overcome. Grabbing his pack I pushed him up and urged 

 him on a few steps farther. They closed in behind us, but we were on the upper side of them now, 

 and were safe. Never again, as we looked back on those vapors during the night, did we see another 

 break iu them. The remainder of that night and part of the ne.xt morning were occupied in making 

 the ascent of the slopes and reaching again our summit camp. Without water, with sore feet and 

 painful steps, with aching muscles, with hands beiuimbed with the cold, freezing air, up over the 

 shoe-cutting aa we stumbled along, picking our way as best we could by the glare from the volcanic 

 fires and the dim light of a quarter moon. Someone, exhausted, dropped down ; we all rested a little; 

 then up again until another dropped exhausted. After a time exhaustion became so great that to sit 

 down to rest meant to immediately' fall asleep ; but the freezing wind piercing our garments chilled us 

 to the bone, and presently we would awake with chattering teeth and quivering limbs. Thus the 

 night passed. Morning began to dawn; the sun lighted up the distant clouds below us, and the 

 smoke of the volcano, still drifting off to the north, hung like a claret-colored scarf against the 

 feathery whiteness of the clouds beyond. A cheerful warmth iu the sunbeams was very welcome. 



[576I 



