KILAUEA. 187 



and only effected their escape by running. When the danger was 

 past, Dr. Judd began to feel some smarting at his wrists and elbows, 

 and perceived that his shirt was a little scorched. By the time he 

 reached the tents, and we had examined him, he was found to be 

 severely burned on each wrist, in spots of the size of a dollar, and 

 also on his elbows, and wherever his shirt had touched his skin. 

 Kalumo's whole face was one blister, particularly that side which had 

 been most exposed to the fire. 



The crater had been previously measured by Dr. Judd, and was 

 found to be thirty-eight feet deep by two hundred feet in diameter. 

 The rapidity of its filling (in twelve minutes) will give some idea of 

 the quantity of the fluid mass. 



Towards evening, although very much fatigued, we walked down 

 to the edge of the bank, to have a view of the eruption that was 

 flowing from this small lake ; and although I had thought it impos- 

 sible that the appearance the great burning lake presented on my first 

 visit could be exceeded, yet this far surpassed it. The most brilliant 

 pyrotechnics would have faded before what we now saw. A better 

 idea of the light given out by this volcano, will be obtained by the 

 fact that it sometimes produces rainbows in the passing rain-clouds, 

 one of which was seen by Mr. Drayton. The whole bottom of the 

 crater north of Judd's Lake, upwards of a mile and a half in length 

 and half a mile in width, was covered with fluid lava, running in 

 streams, as though it had been water. These here and there divided, 

 and then joined again, tumbling in rapids and falls over the different 

 ledges. The streams were of a glowing cherry-red colour, illumi- 

 nating the whole crater around ; the large lake beyond seemed 

 swelling and becoming more vivid, so that we expected every mo- 

 ment to see an overflow from it of greater grandeur. We sat watching 

 the progress of both for many hours under great excitement, and saw 

 the formation of pools of the igneous liquid, one after the other, until 

 accumulating they overflowed the banks, and rushed on to fill some 

 cavities beyond. We could not but feel ourselves identified with this 

 spectacle, by the occurrences of the day, and in particular by the 

 fortunate escape of our companion ; and we sat speculating on the 

 horrible situation of one cut off from escape by these red-hot streams. 

 The sight was magnificent, and worth a voyage round the world to 

 witness. It was with regret that I returned to our tent, determining 

 in my own mind to have a nearer view of this overflow, in the 

 morning. 



