Miscellanies. 203 



the ice along down, and crashing against the shore and against itself, 

 in every direction, and you will have some idea of its appearance, 

 except that here is heat and there is cold. The lava on top being 

 stiffened with cold, was dashed against the shore, and was tumbled 

 and distorted into every form and shape as it came in contact with 

 the shore ; it would melt away, while more was continually forming 

 upon the surface, and while the gaseous matter was forced through, 

 scattering the liquid fire in every direction. The scene was terrific 

 and appalling ; I know not that it is possible to give any adequate 

 conception of it, unless actually beheld by one's own eyes. 



The specimens in the white kapa were taken from the brink of 

 the lake or glade, perhaps thrown out a kw days, and possibly but 

 a few hours before, as they and the rest of the lava were so hot as 

 to be quite uncomfortable to the hand. There were two islands in 

 the lake ; on v/hat they were based, it would seem difficult to say. 

 It was here I saw how the lava becomes so rough and distorted ; I 

 saw how it was thrown and dashed about, by the gaseous matter and 

 the fiery currents. I ought to have mentioned before, that the 

 chasm extended from the top to the bottom, and that back of it at 

 right angles with the main chasm, about half way up the precipice, 

 there was a vent a quarter of a mile in length, from which immense 

 quantities of lava boiled out directly underneath the hut formerly oc- 

 cupied by the party of Lord Byron. 



In one of the cocoanut shells is some capillary volcanic glass col- 

 lected from the south-west side, before I descended into the crater. It 

 is so extremely light that I found it only in holes and crevices, in which 

 places it was collected by the wind. Upwards of a year ago, a shock 

 of an earthquake was felt here by myself and others. At the same 

 time a commotion at sea was perceived by three of the natives, about 

 four or five miles from shore, in front of the bay ; the water rose in 

 the form of a cone or pyramid much higher than the bread fruit trees, 

 that are sixty or seventy feet high ; in appearance it was white like 

 the spray of the sea. 



19. On the tendency of Iron to preserve copper exposed to sea- 

 water. — Extract of a letter to the Editor. — It is generally conceded 

 among shipmasters and merchants, that the copper on ships' bottoms, 

 does not last half so long now as it used to do many years back ; various 

 reasons have been given for it but none have appeared satisfactory. 

 The Cornwall miners work the ore now as their fathers did, and no 



