172 M A U N A L O A. 



before dark, for otherwise we should be forced to pass the night 

 among the blocks of lava. Our sandals of hide were worn through, 

 and our shoes somewhat injured, so that it became a source of anxiety 

 to us whether they would last long enough for us to reach our des- 

 tination. 



With rapid steps we passed along the north bank of the crater, 

 descending on our hands and knees over some large blocks, where the 

 wall had been thrown down as it were by earthquakes, filling chasms 

 near it several hundred feet in depth. The way was difficult and 

 dangerous, requiring the utmost caution in proceeding along the 

 narrow edge that separated the north from the central crater : a false 

 step, or the detaching of a small rock or stone, would have sent 

 hundreds of the huge blocks headlong below. We passed over without 

 accident ; and blocks of stone that before I had conceived to be large, 

 diminished to small stones, in comparison with those we were passing 

 over by jumping from one to the other. Many of us sank down from 

 exhaustion when we reached the opposite bank. How I accomplished 

 the remaining two miles I am unable to say, unless it were by virtue of 

 the stimulant that the prospect of being benighted gave me. When 

 we aiTived, the sun had set, and we were all completely exhausted. 



On our return, we found the village filled with half-naked natives, 

 who had come up, lured by the fine weather, and in hopes of getting 

 their loads to return immediately, for the following day had been 

 originally fixed upon for breaking up our camp. It was impossible 

 to allow them to return : the night had closed in, and it became neces- 

 sary to accommodate some forty natives with lodging and comforts. 

 Although I was worn down, this was too strong a case to go unat- 

 tended to; and the only place where I could stow them was the 

 pendulum-house. I therefore took down and packed away the clock 

 and apparatus, and gave them the house to lodge in. With the dry 

 grass on its floor and roof, and plenty to eat, they made themselves 

 quite comfortable. 



During the time I was thus engaged, I began to feel as if cob- 

 webs had passed over my face and eyes, and found the same feeling 

 prevailed with two or three of the men who had accompanied me 

 during the day. To this feeling succeeded excessive irritation and 

 inflammation of the eyes and eyelids, brought on by exposure to 

 the strong glare from the snow. Dr. Judd was kind enough to make 

 various applications, but none of these produced any effect, and I felt 

 forcibly the horror of probable blindness; indeed I was so for the 



