220 T. Coan on the Eruption of Mauna Loa in 1852. 
This eruption was one of terrible activity and surpassing 
splendor. But it was short. In about. twenty-four hours all 
traces of it seemed to be extinguished. 
At day break on the 20th we were again startled by a rapid 
eruption bursting out laterally on the side of the mountain facing 
Hilo, and about midway from the base to the summit of the 
mountain. This lateral crater was equally active with the one 
on the summit, and in a short time we perceived the molten river 
flowing from its orifice direct towards Hilo. The action became 
more and more fierce from hour to hour. Floods of lava poured 
for several degrees, and 
off horizontally, like the tail of a comet, farther than the eye 
could reach. ‘The sable atmosphere of Hilo assumed a lurid ap- 
pearance, aud the sun’s rays fell upon us with a yellow, sickly 
light. Clouds of smoke careered over the ocean, carrying with 
them ashes, cinders, charred leaves, etc., which fell in showers 
upon the decks of ships approaching our coast. ‘The light was 
seen more than a hundred miles at sea, and at times the purple 
tinge was so widely diffused as to appear like the whole firma- 
nt on fire. Ashes and capillary vitrifactions, called “ Pele’s 
hair,” fell thick in our streets and upon the roofs of our houses. 
And this state of things still continues, for even now, while 
write, the atmosphere is in the same sallow and dingy condition. 
Every object looks pale and sickly, showers of vitreous filaments 
are falling around us, and our children are gathering them. 
As soon as this second eruption broke out, I determined to 
visit it. Dr. W. agreeing to accompany me, we procured four 
natives to carry our baggage, one of them, Kekai (Salt Sea), act 
ing as guide. On Monday, the 23d of February, we all set © 
and slept in the outskirts of the great forest which separates Hilo 
from the mountains. Our track was not the one I took in 1843, 
viz., the bed of a river. We attempted to penetrate the thicket 
at another point, our general course bearing southwest. In ancient 
days an Indian trail had been beaten through in this direction, but 
it was now entangled with jungle so that all traces of it were 
nearly obliterated. However, we plunged into the forest, with ‘ 
long knife, hatchet and clubs, cut and beat our way at the rate ae 
one and a fifth mile an hour. At night we slept in the bush, an¢ 
