F. A. Ferret — Floating Islands of Halemaumau. 279 



rock, no shore remaining at the surface. The immersion of 

 this mass of relatively cool material caused an immediate dimi- 

 nution of activity over the entire lake, all fountain action was 

 reduced, while a strong, continuous hissing sound evidenced 

 the reaction of the lake material upon the previously exposed 

 portions of the island. 



No further relative sinking took place until August 9th when 

 entire submergence was effected in the course of the day. This 

 was due to a remarkable temporary rise of the lava correspond- 

 ing to a favorable luni-solar position (opposition) to which 

 influence the Kilauea lava column is very susceptible. Tele- 

 photo detail views were obtained of the sinking island, figs. 3 

 and 4 showing the degree of submergence at 10.30 a. m. and 

 at 5.00 p. m. 



Instead of sinking out of observation, however, the island 

 remained at the surface and consolidated to itself a large flat 

 mass of surface material. This condition continued until the 

 18th, when the island disappeared from observation, but in a 

 manner so sensational and extraordinary that, were it not for 

 the photographic record, the writer might almost hesitate to 

 set forth, in writing, that which was actually seen. He feels 

 that he cannot do better than transcribe from his original 

 weekly report to the Honolulu Commercial Advertiser, which, 

 written at the time of the occurrence, will have been, on that 

 account, the more vividly descriptive : 



" As stated in the report of last week, the visible island had 

 been reduced to an almost flat area of crust lying adjacent to 

 the east shore of the lake just below the station. Late on the 

 evening of the 17th this crust was observed to be cracked and 

 fissured in all directions, showing a bright glare below. As 

 this clearly foreshadowed a change, a daylight view was 

 eagerly awaited, but it so happened that a strong wind filled 

 the pit with vapor and the lake could only be seen at rare 

 intervals. Everything appeared to be normal, however, until 

 1.30 p. m. of the 18th, when, in a momentary clearing away of 

 the smoke, an extraordinary object was seen, floating far out 

 in the center of the lake. A huge, sausage-shaped, gas 

 inflated balloon of black lava-glass — triangular or box-shaped 

 at one end and cylindrical at the other — was making its way 

 across the lake. A lava fountain, boiling continuously under 

 the eastern end, gave the appearance of a screw propeller, and 

 this most amazing contrivance seemed to be navigating the 

 lake under its own power like a great whaleback steamer, or a 

 black Zeppelin airship. Its length was not less than 170 feet 

 and the cylindrical portion about 30 feet in diameter. After 

 nearing the western bank it was driven back by a current and 

 returned toward the station. 



" Knowing that such a construction could not last, I made 



