F. 8. Dodge — Kilauea in August, 1892. 243 



During ray various visits, covering a period of seven days, 

 the lava was about three feet below the rim, on an average, — 

 but was subject to a variation in level of four or five feet. 

 Frequent breaks occurred in the rim, from which large flows 

 took place, in some cases covering several acres of the floor. 

 One large flow on the night of August 25th, extended to the 

 foot of the talus slope, on the north and east sides, and cov- 

 ered about one-third of the floor, and raised its level from one 

 to four feet. The lake itself and the surrounding area are 

 rising slowly but surely, and it seems to be a matter of only a 

 few months when Halema'uma'u will again be filled to the 

 brim, and run over the sides, building up the main floor of 

 the crater, as it did in 1888-91. 



The deepest portions of the pit are at the foot of the talus 

 slopes on all sides, with a gradual rise of ten or fifteen feet 

 towards the rim of the lake, and then a more abrupt rise to 

 the lake itself, as shown in the sections. 



The lake was at times very active, with fountains playing 

 over its surface in every direction, as many as fifteen being 

 counted at one time by a careful observer. The greatest 

 activity was at or near the center, where the largest fountain 

 played almost continuously, and along the edge near the south- 

 west side of the lake, where the overflows were most frequent. 

 But at no time was the entire surface at rest, as was the case 

 in Dana Lake during the short periods of my visits in July, 

 1888. Small fountains were always to be seen in some local- 

 ity, and the whole surface was marked by long irregular seams 

 or cracks always in motion. It was an interesting and fascin- 

 ating sight, as we watch the ever-changing features of the lake, 

 from our point of view on the north bank, some 250 feet 

 above it. 



The surrounding walls of Halema'uma'u are absolutely ver- 

 tical on all sides, with one exception for 100 feet or more, 

 from the upper edge to the talus slope, and at that one place 

 only is it well to attempt a descent into the pit. On the 

 northeast side for a short distance, the walls are broken down, 

 and here it is possible for visitors to descend to a point 40 feet 

 or more below the level of the lake, and then to climb up to 

 the very rim of the lake. It is not difficult for a good climber, 

 and several parties of ladies have recently accomplished it 

 without great risk. The descent and the nearer views of the 

 lake, are well worth the extra trouble and fatigue, but care 

 must be taken to avoid the strong currents of sulphurous 

 vapors to be found on the lee side of the lake. Their pres- 

 ence was much more noticeable than around the lake in 1888. 



Mr. S. E. Bishop, in his article of April, 1892, has well 

 described the condition of the lake, and in its most import- 



