AFRO-INDIAN REGIONS. 



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the terminal craters of Mauna Eoa and Mauna Haleakala. — Fourth, 

 the coast-craters ; confined to the sea-side, but extending farther West- 

 ward in the group than the other manifestations of volcanic action. Six 

 of these coast-craters came under my own observation : two at the North- 

 eastern base of Mauna Kea ; one on West Maui ; and three on Oahu ; be- 

 sides the abnormal crater-like eminence there, containing the salt lake. 



Third visit to the Great Crater. Towards noon, I returned to 

 the encampment at the sheds ; and our party was soon in motion, the 

 path leading Westward. At the end of about three and a half miles, 

 a small pit, two hundred feet or so in diameter by a hundred feet deep, 

 was pointed out on the right, close to the path ; but so overgrown with 

 trees, as not readily to be detected. A similar one was shown a little 

 farther on, and others were said to be in the vicinity ; called collect- 

 ively by the natives, " Lua-iki" or the " little pits." To the left of the 

 path, at the distance of only twenty yards through the thicket, I found 

 myself already on the brink of the Great Crater ; looking down into 

 the pit-crater of Kilauwea, and its prolongation at this end, in a shal- 

 low sack or shelf. About 2 p.m., we arrived at my former encamp- 

 ment, at the intersection of the Hilo path. 



The molten lake, which a fortnight previously "sunk down during 

 one night eighty or ninety feet," had not regained its usual level; and 

 its surface being about thirty feet below the bank, it was only occasion- 

 ally, that the top of one of the spouts came into view : this being the 

 height assigned them by Captain Wilkes's direct measurements. 



About 9 P.M., while we were yet watching, the whole Southern bank 

 in a strip of some acres fell at once. As the mass disappeared beneath 

 the fluid, a great light was given out; the surging to and fro, for many 

 minutes, almost reaching the top of the bank. The Second or smaller 

 lake, remained throughout the evening entirely filled up, and in all 

 directions overflowing; a few cracks only, immediately around the 

 centre, emitting light : once, it seemed to assume activity, and for a 

 short time gave out a great quantity of light. From this Second lake, 

 a large accumulation of overflows had been poured forth during my 

 absence. 



On the morning of the 27th, I descended with others into the Great 

 Crater by the usual path, and proceeded to the bottom of the central 

 pit. Among other circumstances that seemed unaccountable and per- 

 plexing, was the fact that every overflow of either lake produced a 

 different kind of lava; often very strikingly different. Some of the 



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