Figen ee 
. had now changed in part, and half or more of the lava passed 
R. C. Haskell on the recent Eruption of Mauna Loa. 69 
to the craters then in action, the stream appears to have flowed 
under the surface mostly, but to have been forced up to the sur- 
face where these craters now inactive appear, by hydraulic pres- 
sure, or by the pressure of gases, or by both combined. 
The next morning we visited the point where the stream first 
made its appearance. Here we found the lava rushing out from 
its subterranean passage, and dashing over cataracts and along 
rapids at such a rate that the eye could scarcely follow it. The 
lava was at a white heat and apparently as liquid as water. 
Only a few feet from where the stream issued, small masses of 
lava were thrown up from ten to fifty feet into the air, which 
cooled in falling. The cause of this without doubt was the 
escape of gas, and we then thought that the gas might come 
from the stream itself. But about three hours afterwards we 
returned to the same place, and found that the action had greatly 
increased. Gases were escaping at two other points a few rods 
below the point first seen. Pieces of lava were thrown as high 
as 150 feet, and, at the lowest of the three points, there was a 
fountain some twenty-five feet high. The bits of lava thrown 
up cooled as they fell, and had already formed craters ten feet 
high around two of the points where gases were escaping. It 
was now evident that the escaping gases were not derived from 
the stream simply, but issued from a vent, which reached to the 
common reservoir within or under the mountain. We could not 
remain to watch this incipient crater and fountain, but we were 
obliged to commence our return. At night, however, from our 
encampment, about twelve or fifteen miles below, we could see 
that the crater had increased considerably and also could see the 
fountain playing a few feet above, but the course of the stream 
down by a new stream. This dashed all our hopes of seei 
another large jet of 300 feet in height; and froma friend of 
mine who visited the spot three or four days afterwards, I learn 
that the fountain had ceased, and that the crater in only 
a few feet after we left. 
Descending by the stream, we were able to follow it on its 
south side, as a strong wind was ete from that direction 
Here we found good walking, and could with safety approach 
within a few feet of the channel. The width of the stream was 
from 20 to 100 feet, but its velocity almost incredible. Some of 
our party thought it 100 miles hour. We could not caleu- 
late it in any way, for pieces of cold lava thrown into it would 
sink and melt almost instantly. The velocity certainly seemed 
stream presented a continued succession of cascades, rapids, 
curves, and eddi ‘ith an occasional ca Some of these 
were formed by the nature of the ground over which it flowed, 
