MAUNA LOA. 141 



felt some uneasiness about one of my men, named Longley, who had 

 not come up with us. The men all said, that he had returned to the 

 Recruiting Station ; having been unwell and unable to proceed. 



At about four o'clock in the morning, the snow had accumulated in 

 such quantities on our canvass roof, that it broke in upon us, bringing 

 down also some of the stones. This was a disagreeable accident ; and 

 after escaping from beneath the ruin, it became necessary to take the 

 covering off and clear the snow out of the pen, which was nearly full. 

 This was the work of nearly an hour of unpleasant labour ; but it was 

 much more easily accomplished, than getting ourselves warm again. 

 I need scarcely say, I passed a most uncomfortable night. 



When daylight came, the storm had somewhat abated in violence, 

 and I despatched the men for the tents and wood, a part of which had 

 been dropped by one of the natives within half a mile of our position. 

 A man soon returned with the wood, and another brought forward a 

 calabash, in which we fortunately found some provisions, and we soon 

 had what we little expected, something to eat, and what the men called 

 a comfortable breakfast. 



It was very pleasant to find the sick ones reviving, and good-humour 

 and cheerfulness so predominant among them that they seemed ready 

 for further exertions. We had now all that was necessary to push on 

 to the summit. I left a flag on a rocky peak near by ; and this was 

 afterwards called the Flag Station. 



About eleven o'clock we set out, and were obliged to cross a mass of 

 clinkers, which our guide had hitherto endeavoured to avoid. When, 

 after two hours' laborious walking, we reached the top or terminal 

 crater, it still continued snowing in squalls, with a keen southwest wind 

 driving in our faces ; the ground being covered a foot deep with snow, 

 rendered it more dangerous and irksome to pass over such loose and 

 detached masses. 



From intelligence that had been brought me by the gentlemen who 

 had gone before and taken a hasty look into the crater, it was thought 

 that the descent into it would prove easy, and that I might encamp on 

 its floor; but I found after travelling a long distance over the rugged 

 surface, that it was impossible to succeed in making a descent. I 

 was, therefore, compelled to return, and choose the smoothest place 

 for our encampment I could find. It was after four o'clock, and but 

 little time was left for the men to return. As soon as they had pitched 

 the tent, within about sixty feet of the ledge of the crater, using large 

 blocks of lava to confine its cords, I sent them off under charge of 

 the guide to the Flag Station, and remained with my servants only. 



By six o'clock I thought that we had made ourselves comfortable 



