KILAUEA, HAWAITL. Ne Aré 
times hung with black stalactites of lava. Some of these stalactites 
observed by the author, were as slender as a quill, and hollow, but of 
bent form, and were evidently a result from infiltrating waters ; others 
were long tapering cones, or of irregular pendant shapes. 
The smaller pools of boiling lava were readily approached within 
four or five feet. At times the large lake may be examined from along- 
side, though the safest place to view it is from the black ledge. 
The overflowing of the pools gradually raises low cones, whose sides 
are usually inclined between one and ten degrees. One of these cones 
occupied the centre of the pit, and was about a hundred feet in height. 
It contained a central cavity or crater, which at the time of our visit 
had ceased action. 
A few hundred yards from the eastern of the small pools, there stood 
a singular spire of lava, resembling a petrified fountain. It had a rude 
conical base, as here represented, and in all was about forty feet 
high. It had been formed over a small vent, through which the 
liquid rock was tossed out in dribblets and small jets. The ejected 
lava falling around, gradually raised the base; the column above 
was then built up from successive drops, which were tossed out, and 
fell back on one another ; being still soft, they adhered to each other, 
lengthening a little at the same time while cooling. This is an 
interesting example of a steep cone proceeding from accumulations of 
45 
