HAWAII. 239 



fell in at once, producing a great light, and surging to and fro for 

 some miniites, the surface of the fluid rising sometimes even with 

 the rim. 



Accordino; to the native account, the crater is more active at night 

 than in the day, but this probably arises from its greater apparent 

 brilliancy. 



The small or Judd's Lake, was still overflowing in all directions, 

 and this action had continued for the last ten days. According to 

 Dr. Pickering's account, it was not as active as on its first outbreak. 

 A vast quantity of lava had been poured out since our last visit, and 

 there was a very perceptible increase of it in the crater. 



I have before remarked the great difiiculty of retaining a knowledge 

 of the situation and relative position of things, on first descending on 

 the "black ledge." This was evident from Dr. Pickering's not 

 recollecting objects which must have been seen by him. 



The way he accounts for this is, that every thing at first was so 

 novel, and excited so much wonder and astonishment, that it made no 

 lasting or distinct impression; but after proceeding for some time, 

 this appears to have worn off, and the eye became accustomed to 

 the scene ; for on descending from the black ledge to the bottom of 

 the crater, he found the way quite familiar, and every toppling rock 

 was precisely in the same position. The bottom of the crater had 

 been entirely overflowed during our absence, which made it more 

 even, and the travelling more easy. 



The new lava was of four or five different varieties, as if each 

 overflow had been of a different kind. The variety that seemed to 

 predominate was quite thick and solid, and its crust had something 

 of a metallic or leaden lustre : the solidity of the layers seemed to be 

 in proportion to their thickness, and where this was five or six feet, 

 the central parts were compact and nearly destitute of vesicles. 



On first entering on the lower lava, Mr. Colvocoressis and the 

 Doctor found it was so hot that they were fearful they could not 

 proceed ; but on advancing they found the heat did not increase, and 

 by avoiding the small lake, which was then overflowing, they had no 

 difiiculty in reaching the larger one. 



The surface was, as has been before remarked, about thirty feet 

 below the rim : they were to the north of the great lake, and from 

 that side of the cauldron the jets were thrown up. Walking up to 

 the edge, they found it was impossible to look at the glowing pool 

 for more than an instant at a time, on account of the heat and glare 



