GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF HAWAII. 173 



The whole course of this stream from its source at Kilauea to the sea was 

 about forty miles. During the flow the lava in the crater fell about 300 

 feet and Pole's fires became nearly extinct. The story of the eruption as 

 given by Rev. Titus Coan is one of the most thrilling accounts of volcanic activity 

 ever written. 



Eruption of 1892-94. 



So many and so varied are the scenes that have been witnessed at the crater 

 that it is necessary to select only such as may form types of its activity. For 

 that reason we pass to the eruption of 1892-94, since it represents the height of 

 activity within the crater during the last score of years, and it is especially 

 interesting as the conditions then were the culmination of a period of activity 

 similar to that now (1913) in progress at the crater. 



Through a period of several months the lava in the pit of Halemaumau 

 continued to rise slowly until a new lake, differing from those that had preceded 

 it. A\as formed at a higher level than had before been known — 260 feet be- 

 low the Volcano House. This lake was held in a superficial bowl, made of loose 

 fragments of solidified lava that were more or less firmly cemented together 

 by splashings from the lake within, or l)y occasional overflows which ran down 

 its side and out onto the floor of the crater. In due time the old law of pres- 

 sure went into effect and within a few hours the liquid lava lake had vanished, 

 leaving the pit an empty smoking chimney, 750 feet deep. 



Activity in 1902. 



In August, 1902, the fires in the bottom of the pit were again rekindled 

 after a long period of comparative quiescence. The period of increased activity 

 at this time, as usual, was heralded by an increase in the volume of smoke-like 

 vapor which issued from the pit of Halemaumau. Night and day for months 

 this great titanic chinme}^ rolled its cloud of heavy vapor skyward. At length 

 the never-failing sign of a change came: the vapor decreased in volume and be- 

 came thinner and bluer. Soon after an eye spot of fire became visible ;i1 the 

 very bottom of Halemaumau, 750 feet below the present rim of the ])it : slowly-. 

 day by day, the lava lake rose and increased in size, being fed l)y a burning 

 spring from below. In October of that year I visited the crater and at 

 that time made a careful survey and sketch model of the whole region. fi-om 

 which data I afterwards constructed the large model that forms the central 

 feature of the exhibits in the "Hawaiian Hall" in the Bishop ]\[useum. The 

 lava on that occasion was more than 500 feet down in the ])it. Soon afterwards 

 the bottom quietly dropped out and the lake of fire entirely (lisa])peared. and 

 the smoke-like vapor began silently and steadily to gnsh foi'tli. ]\ladam Pele 

 of her own accord had retired once more deep down into the secret inner cham- 

 bers of her ancient abode. 



The Activity in 1907. 



With the exception of the slight activity of 190;> bnt little has transpired 

 in the pit until the present eruption which began early in the year 1907. and has 



