234 JYotice of Hawaii, [Owyhee,) and iis Volcanic Regions, S^c, 



turn, gave rise to a sense of exposure, and to apprehensions, not ex- 

 perienced on the former occasion. 



The rude lodge which we were to occupy, open in front, and only 

 slightly thatched on the side next the wind, stands two or three hun- 

 dred yards from the edge of the crater on the north end, but does 

 not command a View below; we, therefore, scarce stopped at it, but 

 with impatient eagernesss, hurried to the brink. It was, however, 

 only to meet with disappointment : the smoke in the whole chasm, 

 was so dense as to be utterly impenetrable — a flickering flame was 

 to be seen, only occasionally, here and there through its thickness ; 

 and, now and then, a sudden flash, sending an illuminated column 

 high towards the summit. Still the sight was deeply impressive. It 

 was evident that the perpendicular depth, from our very footsteps 

 down, was tremendous, and seemingly unfathomable ; and the ob- 

 scure outline of the upper edges, sweeping off on either hand till 

 lost to the eye in the smoke, gave an impression of awful immensity, 

 disposing one to shrink back from such alarming proximity. 



Another cause of disappointment, was the absence of those ter- 

 rific noises, which on my first visit, were constantly bursting on the 

 ear; now scarce a sound was to be heard, except the rushing of the 

 wind, as it swept over the edges of the cliffs, to replace the more 

 rarefied atmosphere within — unless it were an occasional indistinct 

 sigh — a half smothered murmur — and now and then, as a lull or eddy 

 of the wind rendered the hearing from that direction more distinct, 

 the hiss of escaping steam, and something hke the simmer and the 

 bubbling of a mighty cauldron, mingled with the distant sound of 

 a surf, rolling on a pebbly beach. 



There was in this assemblage of images — in the lowering sky and 

 driving wind — in the riven and steaming ground — in the heavy masses 

 of smoke rising from the hideous chasm beneath, as if from a bot- 

 tomless pit — and in the oppressive and saddening sounds occasionally 

 coming to the ear— that, which was well suited to the recollection of 

 years gone by, and of friends afar, who had once shared with me in 

 the enthusiasm of high wrought admiration, excited by the same ob- 

 ject. And, in the indulgence of - 



— " a mood of mind we all have known," 



thus induced by circumstances and by the scene, I lingered on die 

 brink till completely chilled, by the increasing frisshness and damp- 

 ness of the breeze. , 



