354 Volcanic Eruptions on Hawaii. 
features as when visited by the Expedition. The black ledge 
continued completely around the crater, and was “three or four 
hundred feet’ above the bottom. The pit was, however, in a more 
active > ne for the southwest and northern parts are represented 
as vast floods of lava, and there were fifty-one small cones with 
craters, seth two of which gave out vapors, and some ejected 
lavas. Ellis remarks that the crater appeared as if, a short time 
before, the lavas had been as high as the black le 
In June, 1832, an eruption took place both froti Kilanes and 
the summit crater of Mt. Loa. ‘The only eruption, at this time, 
of the lavas of Kilanea to the surface, of which we have definite 
account, occurred in the east wall of the crater. A deep fissure 
was opened i in the wall, (near p, figure on page 352,) from which 
streams flowed out, part back into Kilauea down the steep slope, 
part across into the “Old Crater” (r), which, at the time, 
was overgrown with wood. It is important to trace out, as far 
a we are able, the changes which preceded it. 
. The first published account of the crater subsequent to EI- 
lis’s 5, is that of the Rev. C. S. Stewart, who visited it in July, 
1825.* He states that it was nearly in the condition represented 
by Ellis in 1823. The bottom was several hundred feet below 
the level of the black ledge. Fifty-six conical craters were coun- 
ted, and the action was violent and noisy... A plan of the crater 
at this time, by Lieutenant Malden, is given by Byrone The 
black ledge is represented as very much narrower than at present, 
so that the lower pit occupied nearly the whole width of the cra- 
ter: the height of the ledge is stated at four hundred feet. - The 
lan represents numerous cones over the bottom, and the two 
argest occupy together the whole transverse diameter of the cra- 
ter, which _ give for each a diameter of three thousand feat 
or more at 
* Journal of a Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, ‘and Residence at the Sandwich Isl- 
ands, in the years 1822-1825, by O. 8. Ste tewart ; 12mo, 1828. New York. p. 
tA reduced copy of Lieutenant 
Malden’s plan is annexed, as it will 
give increased interest to the facts 
observed by the iti i 
er 5 65% 
deep fissure ; 7, deepest. and most precipitous. part of éemnden The whole crater is 
not represented, ine termed pone ib) 38.39 (5) is nearly half the diameter ter of the lower Pi 
and taust have been three in breadth, 
a3 wigs? & ie 
a a es 
