Volcano of Kirauea. 365 
spread the ground with fresh fern, before laying the mats 
which were to be our beds. : 
Ovr arrival and encampment produced a picturesque and 
lively scene. The natives, who are not fond of such forced 
marches as we had made during the day, were more anaious 
fer repese than ourselves, and as soon as they heard of the 
determination to stop, proceeded with great animation and 
alacrity to make the necessary preparations for the night. 
Some ran for leaves and grass for the huts, some for wood 
for a fire—some for water for our tea, &c. &e. till, in a few 
minutes, every thing was in as much readiness as if we had 
expected at an earlier hour to remain there. The darkness, 
as it gathered round us, rendered more gloomy by a heavily 
clouded sky, made the novelty of our situation still more stri- 
kmg. Lehmd the huts, in the distance, an uplifted torch of 
the blazing tutui nut, here and there indistinetly revealed the 
figures and costume of many of our attendants, spreading 
their couches under the bushes, or in the open air. A large 
lamp suspended from the centre of our rude lodge, which 
was entirely open in front, presented us, in bolder redief, seat- 
eda ia Furgue round Lord Byron, who poured e cup 
that cheers but not inebriates ;” the more curious of our 
dusky companions, both male and female, in the mean time, 
pressing in numbers about our circle, as if anxious “‘ to cotch 
the manners living as they rose.” <A large fire of brush- 
wood exhibited the objects of the fore-ground, in still strong- 
er lights and shadows. Groups of both sexes and all ages 
were seated or standing round, wrap ap, from the chiili- 
ness of the mountain air, in their large mantles of white, 
black, green, yellow and red—some smoking their evening 
pies. ; 
By daylight the next morning, we were on the road again. 
At 9 o’clock we breakfasted-at the last houses put up for eur 
accommodation on the way, and by 11, had arrived within 
three miles of the object of our enriosity. For the last hour, 
the scenery had become more interesting than it had been 
‘during most of the preceding day ; our path was occasien- 
