442 



DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS. 



slope, so as to afford access to the bottom. The descent was not free 

 from difficulties ; and on reaching the bottom that from above appeared 

 even, we had to toil up-hill and down-dale, across fissures, and over 

 elevations thirty feet or more high ; until, at the end of three-fourths 

 of a mile, all the way sensibly descending, we were stopped by finding 

 the lava-surfixce so heated that we could proceed no fiirther. Various 

 devices for overcoming the difficulty were in vain resorted to; the 

 margin of the Great molten lake being in sight, and not more than 

 four hundred yards distant. Our guide, John Ely, consoled us by 

 saying, " There is no safety in the bottom of the crater, not for a 

 single instant; the fire Avill sometimes run over eight or ten acres in 

 two minutes :" it soon became manifest, that the Great molten lake 

 does not keep its level ; but at irregular intervals rises and in all 

 directions overflows its banks, adding to the accumulation, and again 

 sinking down. The lava that stopped our progress, was poured out 

 in the overflow we witnessed the preceding night. 



Retracing our steps, we observed a gently-rising eminence to the 

 Westward; and nscending, found ourselves at the margin of the 

 Smaller molten lake. Most of its surface was congealed ; but the cen- 

 tral portion was red and slightly in action ; the lava leaping in a 

 liquid dome-like mass as high as six or eight feet, while minor spouts 

 were ejected to a much greater height. At the distance of not more 

 than fifty feet, I watched the spouts narrowly : there was no escape 

 of steam, there being no visible condensation, and no signs of the 

 bursting forth of gaseous matter; the fitful uneasy motions of the huge 

 molten mass were not due to such feeble agents. From its surface, 

 a thin smoke-like vapor was everywhere slowly rising, very uniform 

 in density throughout, yet not seriously obstructing the view. On one 

 side, it seemed possible to proceed over the congealed surface of the 

 lake to the fluid portion : but while we were looking, the fluid portion 

 began slowly to enlarge, gaining steadily by a gradual and regular 

 process ; a crack would make its appearance at the distance of several 

 feet in the congealed surface, showing a red gleam of light from below ; 

 some fluid lava would presently ooze forth, when the floe would begin 

 to detach itself, sinking at the other end, or seeming to be hurried 

 obliquely downwards under the molten mass. In this manner floe 

 after floe was hurried out of sight, until the fluid portion gained the 

 bank all around ; when, by the advice of our guide, we withdrew. 

 For this lake overflows its banks in the same manner as the large 



