* 
: =. ; * ye : 
Geological Features of the Island of Owyhee or Hawaii. 121 
2 7 “ 
lighted his cigar in one of them, and with their walking-sticks 
they could in almost any place pierce the crust, and penetrate the 
. liquid fire. : 
Sulphur abounds every where in and around the voleano; but 
here the whole side of the precipice, rising-more than a thousand 
feet, was one entire mass of sulphur: They ascended several 
feet and were detaching some beautiful crystallized specimens, 
when accidentally a large body of it was thrown down and that 
rolled into a broad crack of fire and obliged them immediately 
to retreat, for the fumes that rose nearly suffocated them. 
‘They had now been in the crater more than five hours, and 
would gladly have lingered, but the last rays of the setting sun 
were gilding the cliffs above, and they commenced their journey 
upward, which occupied them about one hour and a quarter. 
, They repaired to their rude hut, and while the shades of eve- 
hing were gathering, dispatched their frugal meal. Curiosity, 
however, would not allow them to sleep without revisiting the 
great crater. Groping along, they reached the edge of the preci- — 
pice and again looked down into the dread abyss, now lighted up 
bythe glowing lava. aia es 
The whole surface of the plain, where they had observed cracks 
filled with fire, appeared as though huge cables of molten lava 
had been stretched across it. While examining these splendid 
exhibitions, the entire plain, more than one fourth of the whole 
crater, was suddenly changed into a great lake of fire ; its crust 
and volcanic cones melted away and mingled with. the rolling 
mass. ‘They now hurried back, astonished at the sight, and 
shuddering at the recollection that only a few hours had elapsed 
siuce they were standing upon the very spot. 
The next morning they returned.to the crater for the last time. 
Every thing was in the same condition : the new lake still glow- 
ed with heat, the volcanic cones hurled high in the air red hot 
stones mixed with ashés and cinders, and accompanied with large 
Volumes of steam, hissing and cracking as it escaped, and the 
great lake in the southwest was still in an agitated state. 
The situation of the volcano Kirauea is very remarkable, dif- 
fering from every other of which we have anaccount. It is not 
4 truncated mountain, rising high above the surrounding country 
and visible from every quarter, nor is it seen until the traveller, after 
crossing an elevated plain near the foot of Mouna Roa, suddenly 
Vol. XL, No. 1.—Oct.-Deéc, 1840. 16 
