204' On the Volcanic Character of the Island of Hawaii. 



eleven moons ago, the two large chasms were formed, and that 

 the great hollow had been formed by the subsidence of the 

 earth, about two moons ago, in consequence of an earthquake. 

 The missionaries regarded this as an infant volcano, which 

 seems, however, to have remained mainly undisturbed for a 

 long time, perhaps for ages ; for " the lava is decomposed to 

 a considerable depth, and is mingled with prolific soil, fer- 

 tile in vegetation, and profitable to its proprietors," We felt, 

 they observe — "a melancholy interest in witnessing the first 

 exhibitions of returning action, after so long a repose in this 

 mighty agent, whose irresistible energies will probably, at no 

 very distant period, spread desolation over a district, now 

 smiling in verdure, repaying the toils and gladdening the heart 

 of the industrious cultivator." The place which the missionaries 

 had visited, is about 10 or 12 miles from the sea shore, and 

 about 20 from the great volcano, at the foot of Mouna Roa. 



As they returned, they " passed several hills, whose broad 

 base and irregular tops, showed them originally to have been 

 craters. They must have been very ancient, as they were co- 

 vered with shrubs and trees. From them must have come 

 the then molten, but now indurated floods, over which the 

 party had been travelling." 



Having made every preparation to visit the great crater of 

 Kirauea, the party set forward at 5 P.M. of July 31. 



At a place called Kapuahi, they " stopped at the entrance 

 of a large cave, arched over by a thick crust of ancient lava." 

 This cave, although with no other light than that which en- 

 tered at the mouth, was inhabited permanently by entire fa- 

 milies — whose members were cheerfully employed in domestic 

 industry within, while the children were playing among the 

 fragments of lava, without. Although very poor, they im- 

 parted to the travellers both fresh water and taro root. 



The progress of the party was now over a most beautiful 

 country, which, to the right, sloped gradually for ten or fif- 

 teen miles to the ocean, and rose abruptly to the left, " where 

 it was crowned with the woods, which extend, like a vast belt, 

 round the base of Mouna Roa. At the distance of three or 

 lour miles they came to another cavern in the lava, called 

 Keapuana, which is often used as a lodging place for benighted 

 travellers. " The entrance, which was eight feet wide and five 

 high, was formed by an arch of ancient lava. The interior 

 of the cavern was about fifty feet square, and the arch that 

 covered it was ten feet high. There was an aperture at the 

 northern end, about three feet in diameter, occasioned by the 

 falling in of the lava, which admitted a current of keen moun- 

 tain air, through the whole of the night. While they were 



cleaninu - 



