224 HAWAII. 



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 

 difficulty 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 on the face and 

 eyes, that made it necessary to retreat almost immediately a few paces 

 backward. The more distant and darker part of the lake appeared 

 little less glowing. The noise, which has been represented by former 

 visiters as so terrific, and the absence of which I have before remarked, 

 was so trifling during this visit that it was not even regarded by them 

 in conversation. In this place Dr. Pickering says they remained some 

 ten minutes, but truly remarks, " It may have been more or less ; for, 

 to look on the tottering banks, seemingly so inadequate to hold a fluid 

 like this, to see it glowing with almost a white heat, just above the 

 surface, and the current directing itself towards them, and to reflect 

 upon the falling in that had occurred the evening before; added to 

 which, Judd's Lake might, by a change of its overflow to a contrary 

 direction, have cut off all retreat." It was indeed no place to take 

 note of time. 



That variety of lava which is destitute of a vitreous crust, is found 

 on the black ledge alone, and none of it was observed in the lower pit. 

 Noises of all kinds were carefully attended to, and if not heard were 

 expected and referred to the crater itself: these sometimes proceed 

 from the rolling down of small pieces of lava on the black ledge, 

 making a pattering kind of noise, by no means pleasant. 



