MAUNA LOA. 129 



a bright red glare; then in a few moments the lava-stream would 

 issue through, and a portion would speedily split off and suddenly 

 disappear in the liquid mass. This kind of action went on until the 

 lake had extended itself to its outer bank, and had approached to 

 within fifteen feet of their position, when the guide said it was high 

 time to make a retreat. 



John, the pilot, who was now acting in the capacity of guide, was 

 satisfied they had stayed long enough, and had often " repeated that 

 there was no safety in the bottom of the crater for one moment," 

 and that " the fire would often run over ten or more acres in a few 

 moments." In such a case destruction would be inevitable, and from 

 what I myself have seen, I can readily believe that his opinion is 

 correct. The usual course is for the lake to boil over, discharge a 

 certain mass, and then sink again within its limits. It is rarely seen 

 to run over for more than a day at a time. 



John and the natives who are in the habit of frequenting it with 

 strangers, tell many stories of the escapes they have made. 



One trip to the floor generally satisfies the most daring, and as long 

 as a person remains there, he must feel in a state of great insecuritv. 

 and in danger of undergoing one of the most horrible of deaths, in 

 being cut off from escape by the red molten fluid ; yet a hardihood is 

 acquired, which is brought about by the excitement, that gives courage 

 to encounter serious peril, in so novel a situation. 



One of the remarkable productions of this crater is the capillarv 

 glass, or, as it is here called, " Pele's hair." This is to be seen in the 

 crevices like loose tufts of fine tow ; it is to be found also over all the 

 plain, adhering to the bushes. The fibres of this glass are of various 

 degrees of fineness ; some are crimped or frizzled, others straight, 

 with small fine drops of glass at one end. These adhering to the 

 berries in the neighbourhood, make one sensible of its presence in 

 eating them. On the leeward side of the crater, the glass is so 

 abundant that the ground, in places, appeared as if covered with 

 cobwebs. 



Where Pele's hair is found in quantities, a very fine and beautiful 

 pumice prevails ; it usually occurs in pieces about the size of a hazel- 

 nut, of a greenish yellow colour, not unlike small pieces of new dry 

 sponge, but so much lighter as to be blown about by the wind. The 

 southern bank of the crater is covered with this product for some 

 depth, and the sand blowing over it renders it stationary. 



The day we remained at the volcano was employed by the natives 

 in preparing their food, by boiling it in the crevices on the plains from 

 which the steam issues ; into these they put the taro, &c, and close the 



VOL. iv. 17 



