T. Coan on the Eruption of Mauna Loain 1852. 223 
in tangents, and some falling back in vertical lines into the mouth 
of the crater. Every particle shone with the brilliancy of Sirius, 
and all kinds of geometrical figures were being formed and broken 
up. No tongue, no pen, no pencil, can portray the beauty, the 
grandeur, the terrible sublimity of the scene. 'T'o be appreciated 
it must be felt. 
t was more than half an hour after my arrival at the crater be- 
fore my guide came up: Night was approaching, and I had no 
defense against the piercing cold but in the wrapper and blanket 
committed to his care. I had began to fear that he had given up 
the pursuit, and, like my guide in 1843, left me to my own re- 
Sources. I strained my eyes to examine every ridge and elevated 
ing up his hands and opening his mouth like a crater, the old 
hero of the hills exclaimed, “ Kapaianaha! Kapratanana!!” 
Wonderful! Wonpverrun!! “ Kapaianaha loa na hana ake 
Akua!! Most marvelous are the works of God!!_ 
Night coming on we now retired about a mile from the crater, 
and took up our position where we had a most perfect command 
of the whole scene. Here we lialted, not indeed to sleep, for that 
showers of fiery cinders, and throwing a terrible radiance over the 
fe ee 
