MAUN A LOA. 169 



of it. The sound could be heard six miles, and the report was equal 

 to that of a large gun. But on the summit we stood close to it without 

 any precaution whatever, and the noise it there made was more like 

 that of a squib. Although the reports of the eprouvette were heard 

 at the opposite side of the crater distinctly, yet the sound was a faint 

 one; but at the Recruiting Station, then occupied by Lieutenant 

 Alden, about eight miles distant, the sound was loud and reverbera- 

 tory. 



This night we finished the pendulum, and all the dip and intensity 

 observations, except those with Gauss's needle. 



The temperature at night stood at 20°. 



On the 12th, I joined Lieutenant Budd in the triangulation, and 

 for this purpose made the circuit of the crater to occupy the western 

 stations. The day was fine, and the lava covered with about five 

 inches of snow. Having prepared our boots with hide sandals. Dr. 

 Judd and myself set off at an early hour towards the south, and 

 whilst Lieutenant Budd took the north side, we passed round Po- 

 hakuohanalei. In the vicinity of that crater are many fissures, of 

 great depth, and with a fresh appearance, as though they had been 

 in action only the day before. The matter which had been thrown 

 out from them appeared to be pure obsidian, of a dark and shining 

 colour, and very brittle. Beyond it was an extensive bed or stream 

 of pahoihoi. The small crater to the south of Pohakuohanalei, is 

 but a small pit, in comparison with the others, and does not appear to 

 have ever discharged lava over its edge. It is of the kind that I shall 

 hereafter designate as a pit-crater, and will be described when I come 

 to speak of those that are near the new eruption. 



In traversing these fissures we were in great danger, and expe- 

 rienced much difficulty in walking on the recent stream that seemed 

 to have flowed from them, for the snow which covered the lava con- 

 cealed the new and weak places. The idea of being precipitated 

 down a chasm of one hundred and fifty or two hundred feet deep, 

 w-as by no means agreeable Our blood was occasionally stirred by 

 breaking through with one leg or both ; and I shall not soon forget my 

 own descent into a vapour or steam bath, which on trial was found to 

 be 169° of temperature, although only a few moments passed before 

 I was out of danger. The lava at the mouth of some of the chasms, 

 appeared as though it had been thrown up and plastered on the edges 

 in clots, which seemed of the consistency of tar or melted sealing- 

 wax, of various colours, the most predominant a dark brown. One 



VOL. IV. 43 



