VISIT TO THE GREAT VOLCANO. 207 



ten to thirty feet. Many caverns and chasms were observable 

 in their vicinity. 



The ensuing night harmonized well with the glorious scenes 

 witnessed during the day : 



'* As when the moon, refulgent lamp of night, 

 O'er heaven's clear azure spreads her sacred light, 

 When not a breath disturbs the deep serene, 

 And not a cloud o'ercasts the solemn scene : 

 Around her throne the vivid planets roll, 

 And stars unnumber'd gild the glowing pole ; 

 O'er the dark trees a yellower verdure shed, 

 And tip with silver every mountain's head." 



January 28th. At an early hour I bade adieu to Kilauea, 

 and set out to return to Hilo, taking the route by which Dr. 

 Pickering had ascended. After a walk of about five miles 

 I overtook the party of Kanakas whom we found at the vol- 

 cano on the evening of our arrival. They were compelled to 

 bear the canoe on their shoulders, as the road was too steep 

 and rugged to allow the use of rollers. At 11 o'clock I came 

 in sight of Mount Popii, and by noon reached the summit, 

 from which I had a view of the crater on the western side. It 

 appears very ancient, as everywhere it is covered with trees 

 and shrubbery. It resembles a funnel in shape, and I estimated 

 its depth to be four hundred feet. 



Leaving Mount Popii, I turned off to a path diverging to 

 the left, which soon brought me to another crater. The 

 bottom of this was overflowed with fresh lava ; but it did not 

 materially differ from the one above mentioned. This lava 

 had doubtless run in during the recent eruption, and worked 

 its way from the crater Kilauea by some subterranean passage ; 

 its color was nearly that of clay, and the surface appeared 

 highly glazed the aperture through which it run in may still 



