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Geological Features of the Island of Owyhee or Hawaii. 119 
tance, and on either side stretched the broad expanse of the ocean, 
mingling with the far horizon. ‘The party had travelled nearly the 
whole extent of the current of lava before sunset ; they were, how- 
ever, much fatigued and gladly took possession of a rude hut erect- 
ed by the islanders, where they slept soundly through the night. 
Early the next morning, ere the sun rose, they resumed their 
journey, and soon a beautiful landscape broke upon their view, 
but its delightful scenery detained them only a few moments, for 
the smoke of the volcano was seen rising gracefully in the distance. 
Quickening their march, they arrived soon after nine o’clock ata 
smoking lake of sulphur and scoriz, from which they collected. 
some delicate specimens of crystallized sulphur, and proceeded on. 
The next object which attracted the attention, was a great fissure 
five or six hundred feet from the crater. It was about thirty feet 
wide, five or six hundred feet long, and from all parts of it con- 
stantly issued immense bodies of steam, so hot that the guides 
cooked potatoes over it ina few minutes. The steam, on meet- 
ing the cold air, is condensed, and not far from the fissure on the 
north, is a beautiful pond formed from it, that furnishes very — 
good water and is the only place where it occurs for many miles. 
The pond is surrounded with luxuriant trees, and sporting on its 
surface were seen large flocks of wild fowls. 
It was now 10 o’clock, and the whole party, since passing the 
lake of sulphur, had been walking over a rugged bed of lava, and 
standing by the side of vast chasms, of fathomless depth. They 
ad now arrived at the great crater of Kirauea, eight miles in cir- 
cumference, and stood upon the very brink of a precipice, from 
which they looked down more than a thousand feet into a horrid 
gulf, where the elements of nature seemed warring against each 
other. Huge masses of fire were seen rolling and tossing like the 
billowy ocean. From its voleanic cones, continually burst lava, 
glowing with the most intense heat. Hissing, rumbling, agoni- 
, 2ng sounds came from the very depths of the dread abyss, and 
dense clouds of smoke and steam rolled from the crater. 
Such awful, thrilling sights and sounds were almost enough to 
make the stoutest heart recoil with horror and shrink from the 
Purpose of descending to the great seat of action. But men 
had been constantly engaged in the most daring enterprise*— 
ia ee 
* Whale fishery. 
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