MAUNA LOA. 137 



certainly two, if not three days' journey from the summit, and an 

 ascent of eight thousand feet was still to be accomplished. 



After dark the mist cleared off, when we saw the majestic cloud of 

 the volcano hanging as though illuminated in its position. This is 

 one of the best guides for the mountain, both by night and by day; 

 any one who visits Ma una Loa, and the crater, cannot but admire this 

 constant emblem of the destructive elements below, fitted as it is, 

 from its purity, grace, and majestic appearance, to blend harmo- 

 niously w r ith the blue vault above. 



It was determined to fix a post here, in order to forward supplies 

 of wood and articles of provision as they came from below. Pea, our 

 chief, was accordingly ordered to select a site which would answer 

 this purpose. 



On Monday, 21st, we set out at an early hour. The ascent now 

 became much steeper than any we had hitherto experienced, for the 

 whole face of the mountain consisted of one mass of lava, that had 

 apparently flowed over in all directions from the summit. The sun 

 shone brightly, and his rays seemed to fall with increased power on 

 the black lava. No wind was stirring, and the exhaustion consequent 

 on the rarefied air we were breathing, made the labour of climbing 

 very fatiguing; many suffered from nausea and headache, and the 

 desire for water redoubled in both whites and natives. For water 

 they could no longer find a substitute in berries, as they had previously 

 done, for that fruit had disappeared, and the only vegetation left was a 

 few tufts of grass. 



About noon, Dr. Judd volunteered to proceed with the guide to 

 ascertain if there was any snow, and at what distance. It was agreed 

 that we should continue to move on in the same direction, and encamp 

 when we found we could get no higher. Most of the party were now 

 lying about on the rocks, with the noonday sun pouring on them ; a 

 disposition to sleep, and a sensation and listlessness similar to that pro- 

 duced by sea-sickness, seemed to prevail. I felt the former strongly 

 myself, and enjoyed as sound an hour's sleep on the hard lava as I 

 have ever had. The burdens had become intolerably heavy, and all 

 complained of their inability to carry them. The use of the sextant 

 had become still more fatiguing than the day before, causing me much 

 pain to hold it. From what I myself experienced, I was satisfied that 

 every one's strength had decreased nearly one-half. 



We managed, after an hour's rest, to go on two miles further, and 



then encamped. No place offered where we could drive a peg for the 



tents, and loose blocks of lava were resorted to, to confine the cords. 



The principal inducement for stopping at this spot was the discovery 



vol iv. M2 18 



