J. D. Dana — History of the Changes in Kilauea. 87 



became so violent elsewhere that " travellers feared to descend 

 into any part of the crater." This state of unusual activity 

 was such as foreboded an eruption. It suddenly ceased, and 

 probably by a subterranean discharge. It left the central 

 plateau and the dome undisturbed ; but the lavas were gone 

 from Halema'uma'u and steam and vapors were the evidence 

 left as to fires beneath. 



A time of unusual quiet, of "steaming stupefaction," fol- 

 lowed, and continued on through 1850 and 1851.* Early in 

 1852, the orifice at the top of the dome was 100 feet across and 

 boiling lavas were seen within. f By July, this orifice had in- 

 creased to 200 feet ; and it was still enlarging by falls of great 

 masses into the abyss 150 feet below, while steam and smoke 

 were escaping from many holes in the sides of the dome, and 

 lavas were ejected through a fissure dividing the west wall from 

 top to bottom. Elsewhere the interior of Kilauea had little 

 changed.;}: Mr. Coan predicted the speedy engulfment of the 

 falling dome; but in the latter part of 1853 it was still stand- 

 ing, and probably was two miles in circuit, 'with a height of 

 300 to 600 feet.§ 



The great central plateau, surrounded by what used to be 

 called the "black ledge " continued rising, and in 1853, its 

 surface by Mr. Coan's estimate, was 600 feet above the bottom 

 of 1840, and in part 200 feet above the ledge. His letter says 

 "rising is going on" "first by the lifting forces below," "sec- 

 ond, by eruptive overflowings ; the former is more uniform and 

 general, the latter, irregular and partial;" the former " in some 

 places gradually, in others abruptly." Lyman's ridge of lava- 

 blocks still existed little changed. 



The crater continued " unusually dull " through 1854. The 

 central plateau had been long out of reach of the fires, and 

 ferns and Ohelo bushes were growing on it. 



3. Eruption of 1855. — In 1855 a change to unusual activity 

 occurred.! The lavas underneath the dome commenced throw- 

 ing up jets to a height of 200 feet; vents were opened over the 

 surface of the old black ledge; and thus in May and June the 

 great central plateau had a girdle of fires nearly half a mile 

 wide, in which Mr. Coan says he could count 60 lakes of " leap- 

 ing lavas." There was one great lake at the foot of the north- 



* Coan, this Journal, II, xiii, 39*7, 1852. 



f Coan, ibid., xiv, 219, 1852. letter of March 5, 1852. 



iCoan, ibid., xv, 63, 1863, letter of July 31, 1852. 



§Coan, ibid., xviii, 96, 1854, letter of Jan. 30, 1854. "The Island World of 

 the Pacific," by Rev. Henry T. Cheever (8vo, New York), appeared in 1851, 

 with an account of a visit to Kilauea. But the descriptions give no information 

 of value, and the two plates relating to Kilauea (at pp. 287 and 307) are from 

 "Wilkes with large modifications in one and no acknowledgments : and with no 

 statements that the view of the crater is an 1840 view — not 1850. 



[| Coan, this Journal, xxi, 100, 1856, letter of July 18, 1855, and p. 139, letter 

 of Oct. 15, 1855. 



