Eruption of Mauna Loa and Kilauea. 117 
brink of a fearful chasm, which fell off on our side with a 
beetling wall to the depth of several hundred feet, and extended 
about half a mile from north to south. Very hot air rose from 
it. Around it, toward its northern extremity, the lava is 
thrown up into an indescribable confusion ; pile upon pile of 
aa, gorge and ridge by turns. 
e caving in of the floor seemed to be still in progression, 
for twice during our exploration of the crater our nerves were 
disturbed by a prolonged heavy rumbling and rattling noise, as 
from a distant platoon fire of musketry, coming from the 
northwest corner. * pet os 2 
Thus far as to what we have seen, Now allow me to relate 
what I learned from Kaina, who has resided near the voleano 
without interruption for the last five months, and whose stron 
nerves sustained him during the fearful catastrophe introduc 
by the earthquake of April 2. He and the Chinaman ‘who 
ae 
active, eight lakes being in constant ebullition and frequently 
overflowing. During all this time date of its first appear- 
es beca: 
March 27 the first shock was perceived. ‘T'wo days later, Mr. 
Fornander found the bottom of the crater overflowed with fresh 
Thursday, April 2, at afew minutes past four P. m., the great 
earthquake occurred, which caused the ground around Kilauea 
Separated by longer intervals. By Tuesday, April 7, 4 
reigned in Kilauea. On that afternoon the lava burst out at 
