ASCENT OF MAUNA LOA 



is on the flanks of this mountain, about 4000 feet up, was 

 in considerable action while we were there. The deep 

 gulf, which forms the crater, is surrounded by precipitous 

 walls on all sides. About a thousand feet down there is 

 a flat terrace running around, called the black ledge, which 

 is in some parts half a mile wide. From this terrace there 

 is a further descent of three hundred feet by equally per- 

 pendicular walls of rock, at the bottom of which is the 

 scene of action. In three pools, one of them a thousand 

 feet in its larger diameter, the lava was briskly boiling, 

 not the sluggish fluid we generally conceive it to be, but 

 in appearance nearly as fluid as water. I descended to 

 the lowest depths, wandered over the heated lavas, 

 through the hot vapors and sulphurous gases, and reached 

 one of the boiling pools. The surface was in constant 

 motion, throwing up small jets six or eight feet, which 

 fell around the sides of the pool. There was no explo- 

 sion, and only a dull grumbling sound. All was as quiet 

 as the boiling water in a pot over a kitchen fire. Occa- 

 sional detonations, however, warned us of the dormant 

 force below. At night the scene was sublime beyond 

 description. The deep red glow of the boiling lake, 

 reflected by the walls of the crater, and lighting up the 

 canopy of clouds which overhung this fiery gulf, made a 

 most sublime and awful spectacle at night, when all else 

 around was black darkness. There was an eruption 

 about six months since, and a large stream flowed down 

 to the sea. The first appearance of the lava stream took 

 place about eight miles from the crater. The stream 

 near the sea is yet hot in many parts, and numerous 

 steam holes are scattered over the surface. But I am 

 going beyond my intended bounds in my remarks. You 

 know nothing is for publication. 



" Last August, the meteoric shower was forgotten by 

 our commodore. Two nights were cloudy, and the other 

 I gave directions to be called, which were forgotten, and 

 so I lost it also. I waked about half an hour before sun- 

 rise and saw nothing unusual. November 13th has just 

 passed. I was on my way to Hilo in the schooner and 

 half forgot it myself, and was again forgotten by the per- 

 son I directed to call me. However, I was up an hour 

 before sunrise, but owing to the unsteady position of the 

 schooner, her masts and sails continually changing the 



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