122 Geological Features of the Island of Oioyhee or Haioaii. 



arrives at a precipice from, which he looks down into its dread 

 immensity. 



The traditions of the natives furnish ns with no account of its 

 origin. Centuries on centnries have probably rolled away since, 

 during which vast changes may have taken place. Some suppose 

 it was once a lofty mountain* that has been consumed by the de- 

 vouring element, constantly raging at its base, and emptied by 

 some subterranean channel into the ocean. 



Nantucket, November 29th, 1840. 



P. S. I wish here to express my thanks to Thomas Macy, Esq., 

 without whose interest in the subject, whatever is novel or vahi-* 

 able in the above account might have been lost. 



I have read the preceding account to Capt. Chase, who says it 

 is very good and correct, excepting that the language is in some 

 places too mild, falling short of the reality, although it still seems 

 to me that many who read the description, will think it exagger- 

 ated. E. G. K. 



Description of the Frontispiece, presenting a view of the Volcano 

 of Kirauea, as it appeared on the 8th of Mat/, 1838. 



The spectator is supposed to be stationed at the south end of the 

 volcano looking north. A portion of the floor of the crater is hid by 

 the projecting rocks in front of the picture. The area of the vol- 

 cano is in the form of an ellipse ; its longest diameter is from north 

 to south, being about eight miles in circumference. The sides of 

 the crater vary from eight hundred to one thousand feet in height. 



A, A, represent fissures in the floor of the crater through which 

 the fire approaches within one inch of the surface. This portion 

 of the floor is considerably lower down in the crater than the 

 general level. B, B, Streams of sulphur which have run down the 

 sides of the crater, and appear in the form of cascades. C, C, C, 

 Lakes of fire, the largest two and a half miles in length, half a 

 mile in breadth, with an island of floating lava heaving up and 

 down in the liquid mass. 



Twenty six separate cones, from twenty to sixty feet in height, 

 rose from the floor of the crater — eight were in action. 



Six liquid lakes of fire of various dimensions. 



The whole of that portion of the crater marked A A, in a few 

 hours from the visit of the travellers, fell in and became one vast 

 field of liquid fire. 



* Collapsed or exploded. — Eds. 



