MAUN A LO A. 131 



clouds, and this immense dome rose before us from a plain some 

 twenty miles in breadth. I had not, until then, formed any adequate 

 idea of its magnitude and height. The whole dome appeared of a 

 bronze colour, and its uninterrupted smooth outline was relieved 

 against the deep blue of a tropical sky. Masses of clouds were float- 

 ing around it, throwing their shadows distinctly on its sides, to which 

 they gave occasional relief and variety. There was a bluish haze 

 resting on the plain, that apparently gave it great distance, though 

 this was partially counteracted by the distinctness of the dome. I now, 

 for the first time, felt the magnitude of the task I had undertaken. 



So striking was the mountain, that I was surprised and disap- 

 pointed when called upon by my friend, Dr. Judd, to look at the 

 volcano ; for I saw nothing before us but a huge pit, black, ill-looking, 

 and totally different from what I had anticipated. There were no 

 jets of fire, no eruptions of heated stones, no cones, nothing but a 

 depression, that, in the midst of the vast plain by which it is sur- 

 rounded, appeared small and insignificant. 



At the further end was what appeared a small cherry-red spot 

 whence vapour was issuing, and condensing above into a cloud of 

 silvery brightness. This cloud, however, was the most glorious of 

 any I had ever beheld, and the sight of it alone would have repaid 

 for the trouble of coming thus far. 



We hurried to the edge of the cavity, in order to get a view of 

 its interior, and as we approached, vapour issuing from numerous 

 cracks, showed that we were passing over ground beneath which 

 fire was raging. The rushing of the wind past us was as if it 

 were drawn inwards to support the combustion of some mighty 

 conflagration. 



When the edge is reached, the extent of the cavity becomes appa- 

 rent, and its depth became sensible by comparison with the figures of 

 some of our party who had already descended. The vastness thus 

 made sensible, transfixes the mind with astonishment, and every 

 instant the impression of grandeur and magnitude increases. To 

 give an idea of its capacity, the city of New York might be placed 

 within it, and when at its bottom would be hardly noticed, for it is 

 three and a half miles long, two and a half wide, and over a thousand 

 feet deep. A black ledge surrounds it at the depth of six hundred 

 and sixty feet, and thence to the bottom is three hundred and eighty- 

 four feet. The bottom looks, in the daytime, like a heap of smoulder- 



