MA WAIIAN G VIBE B OK. 47 



eight hundred feet high in the basin below look like small 

 mounds. A descent into the crater and a day's travel 

 is essential to even a tolerable acquaintance with its 

 many wonders. An idea may be conveyed by the ap- 

 pearance of a flock of goats half way down the crater. 

 They appeared no larger than rats, and when running 

 at full speed seemed hardly to move over a few rods. 



Water, clear as crystal, may be obtained in abundance 

 along the mountain route and until within two miles of 

 tho summit ; also from a spring in Kula ; and in the 

 Kaupo end of the crater, from a water hole called, 

 " Ka wai pani." It is chilling cold. One third of the 

 way down into the center of the crater is a deep basin 

 always full of clear, cold ice water, and near by is a 

 cavern where travelers across the island may find tem- 

 porary shelter, there being a path practicable for horses 

 across the bottom of the crater to the Hana district. 



Among the peculiar and noteworthy curiosities of the 

 trip are the silver-swo'rd plants, (Argyroxyphium) — 

 Alpine silver-swords of all sizes to the height of six or 

 seven feet, and found in the crater and on the upper 

 two thousand feet of the mountain. A single plant may 

 have several hundred leaves, each being from twelve to 

 sixteen inches in length, three or four lines in width 

 and coated with a thick down of splendid silvery hue. 

 The plant is an annual, with a dark red flower : in shape 

 it is convex and may be seen at several miles distance, 

 glistening in the sun. It is highly prized by travelers 

 and tourists. 



In winter Haleakala is often covered with -snow. 

 During all the cold months ice forms at low tempera- 

 tures, and clothing should always be warm, with extra 



