202 VISIT TO THE GREAT VOLCANO. 



gathered around the fire, and, after comfortably warming our- 

 selves, retired for the night. 



January 26th. At 8 o'clock we resumed our journey. It 

 was a bright sunny morning, and the neighboring woods were 

 enlivened with songsters of various colors and species. Few 

 birds are to be seen along the shore, but in the interior of the 

 island they are numerous, and the notes of three or four kinds 

 are exceedingly sweet. 



Between 11 and 12 we reached the two shanties situated 

 about eight miles from the volcano. Here we halted for the 

 baggage men to come up. Scarcely had we got seated when 

 a girl about sixteen years of age, entered, and took a seat by 

 us. Upon inquiry she informed us that she belonged to the 

 opposite side of the island and was going to visit some of her 

 friends who were residing near Hilo. She was evidently one 

 of the lower class, yet her manners were pleasing and even 

 graceful. Perceiving she was without provisions, we offered 

 her some of our own, but she declined the offer, and shortly 

 after rose up and proceeded on her journey. 



The scantiness of vegetation, the presence of disrupted 

 volcanic masses, and the appearance of columns of steam is- 

 suing from the rents intersecting the ground over which we 

 were passsing, convinced us that we must be near the crater 

 Kilauea. 



At length, about 4 o'clock, we came in sight of the mo- 

 narch of all volcanoes but the light of day, robbed it of much 

 of its splendor ; still the eye of man never beheld a more 

 sublime and terrific scene. Before us was a cavity between 

 six and seven miles in circumference and upwards of a thou- 

 sand feet in depth ; within this were to be seen lakes of varied 

 size and form, filled with burning matter, and emitting columns 

 of flame and vapor. 



