236 JYotice of Haivaii, {Owhyee,) audits Volcanic Regions, ^c. 



The morning, with a sky of the purest blue, was bright and beau- 

 tiful, and afforded us splendid views of Mounaroa, seemingly close 

 at hand and tinged with purple, and of Mounakea far behind us 

 in the distance. I was at the crater again, before sunrise; and fol- 

 lowed its brink a half mile or more' westward, with an opportunity 

 of distinguishing, for the first time, its characteristic features. But 

 the light of the day had extinguished the fires — where, in the night, 

 the principal action had been observed, nothing could now be discern- 

 ed but smoking lakes, or black cones, tipped with pale, sulphureous 

 flames. 



In an excursion with two gentlemen of our party, who were in 

 pursuit of ducks, we found whortleberries, which covered the surface 

 in rich clusters, and beyond the rising ground, over which we were 

 walking, we found abundance of the finest strawberries, principally, 

 in an open meadow-like spot, skirting a wood of noble trees of 

 the Eugenia and Acacia. 



In returning, we passed by the pools, furnishing visitors with the 

 only water in the vicinity. Its preparation is a kind provision, not 

 only for the weary traveller, as he occasionally crosses the island at 

 this wonderful place, but for the fowls of the air, which, at most times, 

 find security in the regions around — I say ■preparation, for the pro- 

 vision, though natural, is strictly such ; and one of the most singular 

 in the world. It is by the condensation of steam, escaping from 

 holes and crevices in the ground, immediately to the windward of a 

 bed of earth and lava so hard and compact, as to be impervious to 

 water, and into excavations and natural basins, of which the drops, 

 formed by the effect of the cold wind upon the vapor, fall, and fur- 

 nish a constant supply of the purest water. I looked with admira- 

 tion, on the simple process ever taking place, and thought with won- 

 der and gratitude of the wisdom and goodness of the Almighty, often 

 displayed in the economy of nature, in which circumstances seem- 

 ingly small and unimportant, are not only highly conducive to the 

 comfort, but vitally essential to the well being of his creatures. 



Soon after breakfast we began to prepare for a descent below ; 

 and, before long, were all marshalled and equipped with long canes, 

 water flasks, Uc. for the undertaking. Directly in front of our sleep- 

 ing place, and entirely round the western side, the descent to the 

 edge, or offset, is a perpendicular wall of nine hundred feet ; we, 

 therefore, went a quarter or half a mile to the east, by the direction 

 of our attendants, many of whom had, within the last two or three 

 years, been here with several successive parties. On coming to the 



