154 MAUNALOA. 



spreading horizontally, and then dissipating. At times they would be 

 seen lying over the island in large horizontal sheets, as white as the 

 purest snow, with a sky above of the deepest azure blue that fancy 

 can depict. I saw nothing in it approaching to blackness, at any 

 time. 



The light from the volcano of Kilauea was exceedingly brilliant this 

 night. The temperature fell to 17°. 



On the 4th, Lieutenant Budd began the survey of the summit of the 

 mountain (including the four craters), by measuring bases and planting 

 signals. On the return of the parties, they reported that an eruption 

 had taken place on the southwest side of the mountain. This was 

 almost too good news to be true, for to see this wonderful crater in 

 action was scarcely to be expected. Early on the following morning, 

 a party was sent to examine the spot designated. 



Towards evening I began the pendulum observations, and found the 

 temperature of the pendulum-house variable, for which I could not ac- 

 count, as the outward air seemed to be excluded, and yet it varied 

 as though it were exposed. At daylight the thermometer had risen 

 to 20°. 



Dr. Judd returned towards evening from the southwest side of the 

 mountain, but found no signs of an eruption ; thus it turned out, as 

 I had anticipated, a false alarm ; it served, however, to give us more 

 excitement. 



Several large fissures were discovered on this jaunt, and a small 

 crater lying south of the large one. The report of the eruption in all 

 probability originated from the southwest clouds being illuminated by 

 the setting sun, a phenomenon which was afterwards often observed. 



This party also descended into the crater of Pohakuohanalei, into 

 which a stream of lava had run from that of Moku-a-weo-weo. This 

 stream looked like a cascade formed of iron, the fluid having been 

 transfixed before it reached the bottom. The crater is of an oval 

 shape; it is stratified, and seventy layers of basaltic rock were counted, 

 which have evidently been deposited by the overflow of the large 

 crater: the guides, however, from knowledge derived from their tradi- 

 tions, told us it was the oldest crater, though appearances led us to a 

 contrary conclusion. 



On the bottom of this crater the lava was found much pulverized. 

 Dr. Judd, finding a place with moist and rich earth, planted two 

 orange-seeds, which, should they take root and grow, may astonish 

 some future visiter. On their return they passed a hillock of recent 

 cinders, which was open at the top. On entering it, they found them- 

 selves in a beautiful cavern or hall, studded with stalactites of brown 



