168 
quitted the previous day, presented, from 
its great moisture, a truly lovely appear- 
ance, contrasting in a striking manner with 
the country where I then stood, and which 
extended to the sea, whose surface bore 
evident signs of having been repeatedly 
ravaged by volcanic fires. In the distance, 
to the South- West, the dense black cloud 
which overhangs the great volcano, attests, 
amid the otherwise unsullied purity of the 
sky, the mighty operations at present going 
on in that immense laboratory. The lava, 
throughout the whole district, appeared to 
be of every colour and shape, compact, 
bluish and black, porous or vesicular, 
heavy andlight. In some places it lies in 
regular lines and masses, resembling nar- 
row horizontal basaltic columns ; in others, 
in tortuous forms, or gathered into rugged 
humps of small elevation; while, scattered i 
over the whole plain, are numerous extinct, 
abrupt, generally circular craters, varying 
in height from one hundred to three hun- 
whole tract covered with gravel and lava, 
 &c. ejected at various periods from the 
1 sight, 
spired the beholder with a fearfu 
rom the descriptions of form 
I judge that Mouna Roa must 
state of comparative tranquillity. A lake 
of liquid fire, in extent about a thirteenth 
part of the whole crater, was boiling with 
furious agitation; not constantly, however, 
for at one time it appeared calm and level, 
l pleasure. 
er visitors, 
now be ina 
MR. DOUGLAS' VOYAGE FROM THE COLUMBIA TO THE 
the numerous fiery red streaks on its 
ally discharges its steam, as if all 
steam-engines in the world were concen- 
trated in it. This preceded the tranquil 
state of the lake, which is situated near 
Mouna Roa, the splendour of the scene 
increased; but when the nearly full moon 
rose in a cloudless sky, and shed her S 
very brightness on the fiery lake, roaring | 
and boiling in fearful majesty, the spe 4 
became so commanding, that I lost 
by gazing on the volcano, the 1 
of which was but little di Es 
thick haze that set in at midnight. 
in size, form, and depth, 
them is rapidly condensed, and 
small basins or wells, one of 
tuated at the immediate 
and the other four hundred 
