MAUNA LOA. I43 



Intending to stop on Sunday not far above these caves, calabash- 

 tops were left in one or tvi^o where water was found to be dropping, 

 in hopes by this means to procure a small supply ; but on returning 

 the next day, it was found that very little had accumulated. These 

 caves or tunnels had apparently been caused by a flow of lava down 

 the side of the mountain, which on cooling had left the upper part 

 arched or vaulted, the fluid running off at its lower extremity or 

 opening and spreading itself over the surface. The opening into them 

 was formed by the roof having fallen in, and partly blocked up the 

 tunnel. At no great distance from the opening, the floor on each side 

 was smooth and closely resembled the flow of the lava on the surface. 

 These openings were usually known by the quantity of raspberry and 

 other bushes around them ; and they reminded me of the caverns in 

 limestone districts. 



Between two and three o'clock, we again became enveloped in 

 clouds, and it was necessary for us to redouble our precautions against 

 losing the ti-ack. Fires were again resorted to, which at short dis- 

 tances could be seen in the intervals of mist. 



Deeming it advisable to make an early halt, we stopped shortly 

 after three o'clock, to allow all the baggage to come up. Notwith- 

 standing the size of our party, there was no perceptible track left or 

 any thing by which to be guided, but the smoke of the fires, or occa- 

 sionally a broken shrub, as a finger-post. All the ground was hard 

 metallic-looking lava, and around nothing but a dreary waste. The 

 voice too became fainter, as the atmosphere grew more rarefied. Our 

 encampment was called the Sunday Station, on account of our 

 having remained quietly here on that day. The altitude given by 

 the barometer was six thousand and seventy-one feet, at which we 

 found ourselves above the region of clouds, and could look down 

 upon them. 



At night, on pulling off" my clothes, I noticed the quantity of 

 electrical fluid elicited, which continued for some time to aff'ect the 

 objects about me, particularly a large guanaco-robe I had to sleep in. 

 This afternoon, we found that it would be impossible to drive the 

 bullock any further ; for the animal began to suffer from fatigue and 

 the want of water, our supply of which was almost exhausted : he 

 was accordingly killed. The natives were now hawking water about 

 the camp at half a dollar the quart. I am not aware that they sold any 

 at that extravagant price; but I saw some of them in possession of 

 handkerchiefs and old shirts, which I understood had been given for it. 

 Ragsdale, one of our guides, who had been despatched to Papapala 



