Volcano of Kirauea. 37k 
tom in a frightful mass ofruin. Here we had been informed, 
the descent into the depth of the crater could be most easily 
made, but without a guide, were at a loss what course to take, 
tll we unexpectedly descried the gentlemen who had 
ded us, re-ascending. . They dissuaded us most strenuously 
from proceeding further, but their lively representations of 
the difficulty and dangers of the way, only strengthened the 
resolution of Lord B. to go down; and knowing that the 
crater had been crossed at this end, we hastened on, notwith- 
standing the refusal of the guide to return with us. The 
descent was as perilous as it had been represented to be, but 
by proceeding with great caution, testing well the safety of 
the site side and made his way over. It was only, how- 
ever di the renewed assurance it gave of the practicability 
of our attempt, for besides being greatly fatigued, he was 
much cut and bruised from a fall—said the bottom was 
*‘ ino, ino roa-kawahi o Debelo”—* very, very bad—the 
place of the Devil.” He could be prevailed on to return 
with us, only by the promise of an ample reward. 
It is difficult to say, whether sensations of admiration or of 
edominated, on reaching the depth of this tremendous 
side rose to the very sky around me, I felt oppressed, for a 
moment, by a sense of confinement to a most unpleasant de- 
sree. Either from the influence of imagination, or from the 
actual effect of the intense power of a vertical sun, added to 
the heated and sulphurous atmosphere of the volcano itself, 
experienced an agitation of spirits, ae pega pear 
= : ra ; 
ration, that made me cast a look pe wet arn oa 
soon passed off, and we began with great spirit gabe 
the enterprize before us. ‘ 
of the bottom of the crater to nothing, ee 
image of it to your mind, than to the appearance the 34 
