ZT. Coan on Recent Eruption of Mauna Loa. 239 
On the evening of our arrival we encamped within ten feet of 
the flowing lava, and, as before stated, on the southern margin 
of the stream, some two miles above its extreme lower points. 
Here, under a large tree, and on a bank elevated some three feet 
above the igneous flood which moved before us, we kept vigils 
until morning. During the whole night the scene was inde- 
scribably brilliant and terribly sublime. The greater portion 
of the vast area before us was of ebon blackness, and con- 
sisted of the hardened or smouldering flood which had been 
thrown out and deposited here in a depth of from ten feet to 
one hundred. 
Not only was the lava, as aforesaid, gushing out at the end 
of this layer, but also at its sides. These lateral gushings 
came out before and behind us, and two-thirds surrounded our 
that 1 
tree was on fire. A large tree fell within ten feet of us during the 
night. Often, too, would the dried vines, parasites and leaves of 
immense trees take fire and running up to the height of seventy 
or eighty feet, throw off countless scintillations which sparkled 
and glanced amidst the gloom like myriads of fire-flies. But 
another exhibition exceeded all the rest in interest. At thousands 
of points on the solidified crust of the stream, the accumulating 
fusion, fed from above, was swelling and raising this superincum- 
bent stratum into tumuli of endless form and size, and then, 
bursting open the cone or dome thus raised, either laterally or at 
the apex, when flowing off for several rods over the old substratum, 
the stiffening flood became solid. Soon, perhaps, another layer 
18 spread upon this, and thus on indefinitely, until thirty or-forty 
strata may be depdsited in succession, raising the whole from a 
. tn] : 7 ‘ * ; 
the deposits become enormous, the fusion spending itself, 
thus retarding its progress towards Hilo. — 
Where we left it, and having fallen into its head waters above us. 
‘n effort to cut across below the lava stream was made that e 
