130 MAUN A LO A. 



hole up with fern-leaves, and in a short time the food was well cooked. 

 All the water for drinking is obtained here by the condensation of the 

 stream, which gathers in small pools, and affords a supply of sweet and 

 soft water. From the numbers in the camp who used it, this supply 

 became rather scanty, but it did not entirely give out. 



The crater, at night, was extremely beautiful, and we sat for a long 

 time watching its changing and glowing pool. The shadows thrown 

 by the walls of the crater seemed to reach the heavens, and gave it the 

 appearance of being clothed in a dark cloud ; but on looking at it 

 more attentively, and shutting off the glare of the crater, the stars were 

 perceived shining brightly. 



About four o'clock a loud report was heard from the direction of the 

 boiling lake, which proved to have been caused by a large projecting 

 point of the black ledge near the lake having fallen in and disappeared. 



The lowest temperature, during the night, was 48°. There was a 

 light wind and no dew. 



At dawn on the morning of the 18th, the signal called us to make 

 preparations for our journev, and as all things had now been more 

 systematically arranged, we anticipated less difficulty in our onward 

 journey. The natives seemed to be all in good spirits, and moved with 

 alacrity. 



Our camp hitherto (as all camps arc) had been beset with hangers- 

 on, in the shape of wives, mothers, and children, who were not only 

 much in the way of those to whom they belonged, but were great con- 

 sumers of the food the natives had supplied themselves with for the 

 journey. As we already entertained apprehensions of a scarcity 

 prompt measures were taken by Dr. Judd to get rid of our troublesome 

 guests, which we succeeded in doing, though not without some diffi- 

 culty, and a low monotonous growling, that indicated much displeasure 

 on the part of the fair sex. 



The divisions now set off, and our host was less mob-like, partly 

 owing to the impossibility of going in squads, the paths having become 

 more contracted. 



The water that I have mentioned as being found in the small pools, 

 the product of condensation, was exhausted before we left the crater. 

 This was in consequence of the natives having filled their calabashes ; 

 and we had particularly instructed our servants and the sailors to do 

 the same. The former provided themselves ; but the latter, sailor-like, 

 preferred to take their chance of meeting with it on the road, rather 

 than carry a load for their future supply. I discovered, after we 

 started, that they were unprovided, but was informed that there was, 

 within about two miles, an old canoe which would be found full of 



