416 Scientific Intelligence. 
The central area remairs undisturbed, except that it is greatly elevated 
by the lifting forces beneath. It is quite a distinct table-land, probably 
500 to 600 feet higher than it was just after the great tapping process of 
1840. 
Mauna Loa is quiet, and we have no symptoms of disturbance except 
at Kilauea. We are looking for some grand demonstration in the latter: 
—the time we do not predict. 
[In order to make the preceding account, and also the following, intel- 
ligible to readers that are not familiar with the crater of Kilauea, we a 
a few explanations, although but a repetition of what has appeared in 
this Journal. e operations described above are confined to the bottom 
the eruption of 1840, the central portions of the pit, having an area one 
third of the whole, sank 300 to 400 feet below the circumferential por- 
ferential portion, forming a bo 
is the part called the “black ledge.” Within ten years after 1840, the 
lower pit had become filled up through the overflowings of lava over its 
bottom, so that the limits of the “black ledge” were already mostly o 
literated, No great eruption has since taken place.—z. D. : 
If. From a letter from Rev. O, H. Guutcx, Missionary of the American 
Board, residing at Kau, on the Island of Hawaii, dated Kau, July 26th, 
1863, cited from the Evangelist—We found the crater gle active, 
was fresh and still warm to the feet, though perhaps six weeks oli. 
Crossing this late flow, which in this spot was but thirty or forty rods 
in width, we proceeded directly to the great lake, three miles distant, 1? 
the south side of the crater. The lake, which is continually varying @ 
size and form, we found to be perhaps four hundred and fifty feet ™ 
diameter, and twenty feet below the surrounding bank, and exceedingly 
active. : 
I have visited the crater but once before this, and that was In 1846 
or 1847. The lake was then elevated above the general floor of the 
crater, and appeared to be enclosed by a stone wall. While we were wn 
Proaching it, the surging lava broke through the stone wall and ran ol 
toward us, and we were able to approach the flow and take out spect 
mens on the ends of our long walking-sticks. This time we saw 
