MAUNA LOA. 139 



sponge, but so mucb lighter as to be blown about by the wind. The 

 southern bank of t?ie crater is covered with this product for some 

 depth, and the sand blowing over it renders it stationary. 



The day we remained at the volcano was employed by the natives 

 in preparing their food, by boiling it in the crevices on the plains 

 from which the steam issues; into these they put the taro, &c., and 

 close the hole up with fern-leaves, and in a short time the food was 

 well cooked. All the water for drinking is obtained here by the con- 

 densation of the steam, which gathers in small pools, and affords a 

 supply of sweet and soft water. From the numbers in the camp who 

 used it, this supply became rather scanty, but it did not entirely 

 give out. 



The crater, at night, was extremely beautiful, and we sat for a long 

 time watching its changing and glowing pool. The shadows thrown 

 by the walls of the crater seemed to reach the heavens, and gave it 

 the appearance of being clothed in a dark cloud; but on looking at it 

 attentively, and shutting off the glare of the crater, the stars were per- 

 ceived shining brightly. 



About four o'clock a loud report was heard from the direction of 

 the boiling lake, which proved to have been caused by a large pro- 

 jecting point of the black ledge near the lake having fallen in and 

 disappeared. 



The lowest temperature, during the night, was 48°. There was a 

 light wind and no dew. 



At dawn on the morning of the 18th, the signal called us to make 

 preparations for our journey, and as all things had now been more 

 systematically arranged, we anticipated less difficulty in our onward 

 journey. The natives seemed to be all in good spirits, and moved 

 with alacrity. 



Our camp hitherto (as all camps are) had been beset with hangers- 

 on, in the shape of wives, mothers, and children, who were not only 

 much in the way of those to whom they belonged, but were great 

 consumers of the food the natives had supplied themselves with for 

 the journey. As we already entertained apprehensions of a scarcity, 

 prompt measures were taken by Dr. Judd to get rid of our trouble- 

 some guests, which we succeeded in doing, though not without some 

 difficulty, and a low monotonous growling, that indicated much dis- 

 pleasure on the part of the fair sex. 



The divisions now set off, and our host was less mob-like, partly 

 owing to the impossibility of going in squads, the paths having become 

 more contracted. 



