Geological Features of the Island of Owyhee or Haioaii. 121 



lighted his cigar in one of them, and with their walking-sticks 

 theyconld in almost anyplace pierce the crust, and penetrate the 

 liquid fire. 



Sulphur abounds every where in and around the volcano ; but 

 here the whole side of the precipice, rising more than a thousand 

 feet, was one entire mass of sulphur. They ascended several 

 feet and were detaching some beautiful crystallized specimens, 

 when accidentally a large body of it was thrown down and that 

 rolled into a broad crack of fire and obliged them immediately 

 to retreat, for the fumes that rose nearly suffocated them. 



They had now been in the crater more than five hours, and 

 would gladly have lingered, but the last rays of the setting sun 

 were gilding the cliffs above, and they commenced their journey 

 upward, which occupied them about one hour and a quarter. 



They repaired to their rude hut, and while the shades of eve- 

 ning were gathering, dispatched their frugal meal. Curiosity, 

 however, would not allow them to sleep without revisiting the 

 great crater. Groping along, they reached the edge of the preci- 

 pice and again looked down into the dread abyss, now lighted up 

 by the glowing lava. 



The whole surface of the plain, where they had observed cracks 

 filled with fire, appeared as though huge cables of molten lava 

 had been stretched across it. While examining these splendid 

 exhibitions, the entire plain, more than one fourth of the whole 

 crater, was suddenly changed into a great lake of fire ; its crust 

 and volcanic cones melted away and mingled with the rolling 

 mass. They now hurried back, astonished at the sight, and 

 shuddering at the recollection that only a few hours had elapsed 

 since they were standing upon the very spot. 



The next morning they returned to the crater for the last time. 

 Every thing was in the same condition : the new lake still glow- 

 ed with heat, the volcanic cones hurled high in the air red hot 

 stones mixed with ashes and cinders, and accompanied with large 

 volumes of steam, hissing and cracking as it escaped, and the 

 great lake in the southwest was still in an agitated state. 



The situation of the volcano Kirauea is very remarkable, dif- 

 fering from every other of which we have an account. It is not 

 a truncated mountain, rising high above the surrounding country 

 and visible from every quarter, nor is it seen until the traveller, after 

 crossing an elevated plain near the foot of Mouna Roa, suddenly 



Vol. XL, No. 1.— Oct.-Dec. 1840. 16 



