GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF HAWAII. 171 



fired feet deep. The bottom was filled with lava and the southwest and north- 

 ern parts of it were one vast flood of liquid fire in a state of terrific ebullition, 

 rolling to and fro its fiery surge of flaming billows. Fifty-one craters of varied 

 form and size rose like so many conical islands from the surface of the burning 

 lake. Twenty-two constantly emitted columns of gray smoke, or pyramids of 

 brilliant flame, and many of them at the same time vomited from their ignited 

 mouths streams of fluid lava which rolled in flaming torrents down their black 

 indented sides into the boiling mass below." That evening, "Itetween nine 

 and ten, the dark clouds and heavy fog that since the setting of the sun had 

 hung over the volcano gradually cleared away. The agitated mass of liquid 

 lava, like a flood of molten metal, raged with tiunultuous whirl. The lively 

 flame that danced over its undulating surface tinged with sulphurous blue or 

 glowing with mineral red, cast a broad glare of dazzling light on the indented 

 sides of the insulated craters whose bellowing mouths, amidst rising flames shot 

 up at frequent intervals with loudest detonations, spherical masses of fusing 

 lava or bright ignited stones." The following year Ellis revisited the crater 

 and remarked on its much abated activity. 



Kapiolani Bre.\ks the Spell of Pele. 



Brief as this sketch must be, I am impelled to interpolate an event that 

 occurred in the history of the islands about a year after the events described 

 by Ellis. Kapiolani," daughter of a great chief of Hilo, was one of the noblest 

 characters of her time. Though intemperate and dissolute in early life, she soon 

 became an example of virtue and refinement to her countrywomen and excelled 

 them all in the readiness w4th which she adopted civilized habits and Christian 

 customs. In December, 1824, four years after the arrival of the missionaries 

 in Hawaii, she determined to break the spell of Pele — the dread goddess of the 

 volcano — to whose mythical power frequent allusions have been made. 



In spite of the opposition of her friends and husband she made a journey 

 of one hundred and fifty miles, mostly on foot, in order to defy tlic wrath I'f 

 Pele in her abode in the crater, and thereby prove to her people that no sueli 

 being existed. 



It is related that as she neared the volcano she was met by an old priestess 

 of Pele who warned her not to go near the brink of the crater, and predicted 

 her death if she \iolated the tabus of the great goddess. 



Undaunted by the warning of the priestess, Kapiolani went foi-ward and 



The captive of He 



Description of Plate. 



1. The sulphur banks near the Volcano House; note the effect of the sulphur fumes on 

 the trees and plants. 2. Kilauea-iki with the floor of smooth shining black lava. In the 

 foreground may be seen the flow that ran into the pit in 1832. 3. Flashlight view in Pele's 

 reception room. The light streams in through an opening in the roof in the farther end of the 

 cave. 4. Wahlron's Ledge near the Volcano House showing the depth of the crater of 

 Kilauea. 



