JVoiice of Hawaii, (Owyhee,) andiis P^olcanic Regions, 8^c. 239 



By the rising of the lava, the difficuhy of making the descent is, in 

 a great degree, done away in those places where it was ever practi- 

 cable 5 and it occupied but a few moments to go down. The surface 

 is more broken and distorted than ever ; and presents a truly hideous 

 mass of ruins. Therd being much more fire at the north end, than 

 in 1825, the currents of heated gas and air are more numerous, and 

 more strongly impregnated, and consequently, an examination is 

 more hazardous. Our number became divided into separate parties 

 — one of which went far into the middle of die northern section, and 

 they believe themselves to have been at the very edge of the largest 

 lake, seen in powerful action the night before. The specimens of 

 sulphur, collected from its border, are of the finest and most beauti- 

 ful kind, but so recently formed and so delicate, as to be very diffi- 

 cult of preservation. 



■ In the course of the two or three hours which we spent at the bot- 

 tona of the crater, we visited four cones — all of them being centres of 

 very active fires. The first was almost encrusted with sulphur, and 

 could be approached only on the windward side, from the heat and 

 suffocating vapor in every other direction. This was only a few feet 

 high ; and we got near enough to touch the sides and top with our 

 canes. Though smoke and steam were projecdng from its top with 

 great force, and considerable noise, we perceived no flame or liquid 

 lava : but the roaring of mighty fires below was distinctly heard ; and 

 so near, that the adventure which brought us whhin the hearing of its 

 undulating and deeply menacing sounds, was thus proved to be one 

 of great temerity. 



The eager curiosity, however, which rendered us in a degree in- 

 sensible to the hazard of our situation, was afterwards more com- 

 pletely gratified, in a visit to two other contiguous cones, much more 

 lofty and unique, and altogether more imposing in their state and as- 

 pect. They were situated a mile farther south, along the eastern 

 side ; and our attention v^as called to them by the loud hissing and 

 laborious action of steam, and by the flames which, occasionally, 

 flashed from their summits. They were each about twenty feet in 

 height, not more than sixty in circumference at the base, and taper- 

 ing almost to a point at the top ; having been, evidently, formed by 

 successive slight overflowings of lava, which, as it rolled down, cool- 

 ed into irregular fludngs, ornamented with rude drops and pendants, 

 and long, tapering stalactites. 



