KILAUEA. 187 



From the best information we could obtain, it appeared that the 

 lava first showed itself in the crater of Alealea-nui, and burst out next 

 within one fourth of a mile of it on the north ; thence it appears to 

 have passed under Moku-opuhi, a cone, crater, and reappeared again 

 on its opposite side ; whence it seems to have had a long subterranean 

 course, until it reappeared near the Kaimo road. The natives say, 

 that it burst out in eight different places before it reached the sea. An 

 intelligent-looking native, whom we met and took as guide, who had 

 lived near and appeared perfectly well acquainted with the ground, 

 told us, that the recent eruption was preceded by three days of earth- 

 quakes; that the lava appeared and ran down to the sea within a single 

 day, but that it was three weeks before it was cool enough to bear a 

 person on its surface. 



Having time before dark, we determined to pay a visit to the three 

 craters nearest the coast, from which they are distant less than a mile 

 and a half. They are four hundred and fifty-six feet high, of irregular 

 form ; and although each is distinct from the others, yet they seem to 

 have, at one time, run into each other. They looked very picturesque 

 within ; and one of them, to our surprise, exhibited a well-cultivated 

 farm, with a pretty cottage in the middle, surrounded by a few trees. 

 One of my Yankee sailors declared, that he would not be ashamed to 

 own such a farm and dwelling in New England. 



In the bottom of one of these is a small lake, as smooth as a mirror, 

 and of a light-green colour, which contains plenty of fish. After an 

 earthquake, its water has frequently turned red and yellow 7 , and smelt 

 strongly of brimstone. It is about six fathoms deep, by the report of 

 the natives, and two hundred yards across. 



In another of the craters is a pond of fresh water, of small dimen- 

 sions. Another crater, near by, is said to have a hot spring in it, 

 which the natives use as a bath. 



We returned to our guide's house, where we had an abundance of 

 every thing supplied us; and at eight o'clock distinctly heard the 

 evening gun on board the Vincennes, at Hilo, a distance of fifteen 

 miles. While we were at the crater of Kilauea, the men reported to 

 me that they had heard it ; but I was then under the belief that the 

 sound was occasioned by an explosion in the volcano. The whole 

 country between Hilo and the southeast point of Hawaii, is covered 

 with lava ; which may account for the distinct transmission of sound, 

 for so great a distance, from a small howitzer. 



One of the men shot a beautiful white owl, and brought it to my tent, 

 where Dr. Judd laid it down, to all appearance quite dead ; a few 

 minutes afterwards, to our surprise, it flew away, having been only 



