526 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 
end of the pit. There were four natives with me, whom I called, 
and who were as much astonished at the sight as myself. A few 
rods further toward the Honokahau Valley, I found a pit with 
two such columns of steam or smoke arising, one from each end, 
and beyond others; and at last two on the Waihee side of the 
crater, nearly a fifth of a mile from the first fuming chasm. I 
counted in all six such columns of steam or smoke. I could not 
perceive any sulphurous odor to the fumes, nor much if an 
warmth to them. Very little lava was to be seen. A few basaltic 
columns appeared supporting the lower side of the crater; but the 
rock of the region was chiefly feldspathic, decomposing into a stiff 
white clay. : 
I was inclined to suppose that these pits were connected with 
subterranean chambers heated by volcanic action; and that the 
m the depths on a co 
already pervaded with smoke, was at least changed into fumes of 
steam. Very likely at the warmth of midday this phenomenon 
would not be seen. 
am not aware that fumes like these have been seen arising out 
of craters on any of these islands excepting Hawaii. None has 
high up on the mountain. It is quite startling to some people 
a 
then crossing the head of Honokahau, and thence descen he 
ridge between that valley and ut it is hardly safe to 
most bottomless chasms had become watercourses, 
and had at length by their whole depth worn through adjoining 
: ys ees been thus begun, deep 
almost as the depth of the mountain, This process is noW 
_ the wasting away of these craters. P a 
;* 
