170 KILAUEA. 



and examine the ground. The cause of this accident I found to be, 

 ihat the sand and pumice had accumulated in the Great Steam-crack, 

 that leads off in the direction of Papapala (nearly south), and had 

 filled it almost to a level with the rest of the surface. It may easily 

 be conceived how this could be done by these materials, possessing 

 as they do somewhat of an adhesive quality, resulting partly from 

 their glassy points and fibres. In treading on these places, the person 

 immediately falls down, which prevents him from sinking farther. 

 Such was the terror that came over him, that he crawled with great 

 rapidity to a place where he could find a point of safety or firmer 

 ground, to rise upon. The natives, in passing over these sands, were 

 always desirous of feeling their way with a stick. 



What is the most remarkable circumstance about this volcano is, 

 that a short distance from it there is no appearance of such a pheno- 

 menon being near, and one cannot help expressing much astonishment 

 on approaching the edge, to see it so close at hand. From every part 

 of the bank, it is a wonderful sight ; but the view from the northern 

 side to me was the finest, as the whole of this mighty laboratory of 

 nature is there embraced in one view. The oldest native traditions 

 record it to have been in constant operation. 



On the southeast side there are some loose blocks of lava, that have 

 somewhat the appearance of having been ejected, but they are few in 

 number. Stones were more numerous on this side, although they 

 would not perhaps warrant the opinion that there has been an eruption 

 of stones. There is but little doubt that the sand is thrown out at 

 times in considerable quantities, and scattered around. This is the 

 only way in which the plain surrounding the crater could be covered 

 as it has been. 



On my route I passed a third crater, the name of which I could not 

 learn : the natives who were with me seemed to know little about it. 

 There were several cones of coloured scoria, particularly a red one of 

 large size within it. The dimensions of this crater were found to be 

 three thousand feet in diameter, and about three hundred feet in depth. 

 Finding that I had no time to spare, I was obliged to forego the idea 

 of descending into it. 



There is a tradition which relates that a whole army was once 

 buried by the sand and ashes, while they were marching by, and that 

 the shower was so great as to produce almost total darkness. This 

 sand, I would here remark, bears a strong resemblance to that of the 

 sand-hills caused by the late eruption at Nanavalie, which will be here- 

 after spoken of. 



During the month that intervened between our visits, the black ledge 



