HA W All AN G U1DE BOOK. 



83 



HOT SULPHUR STEAM BATHS AND SULPHUR BANKS. 



Some few rode to the right of the Volcano House, a 

 steam-crack has been harnessed into nse by Yankee in- 

 vention. A bath house is built and a steam-box fash- 

 ioned, where any desired heat from simple moisture to 

 boiling may be controlled at will. This sulphur bath is 

 most refreshing, resting the system and preparing it for 

 a night of sweetest repose. 



North-west of the Volcano House, less than a quarter 

 of a mile, are Sulphur Banks, several hundred yards in 

 extent and twenty or thirty feet high. The sulphurous 

 steam is not very highly charged with noxious gas and 

 the traveler may with safety collect the crystals that 

 abound in this formation. The finest are by the side of 

 miniature cones or blow-holes and must be carefully de- 

 tached as they break easily, especially when moist and 

 warm. The slopes are damp and slippery from the con- 

 stant steam which escapes in clouds from a crevice of 

 the cleft where are wonderfully fine specimens of pend- 

 ent flowers in pure and stained sulphur. The rock in 

 various directions, near and remote, is penetrated with 

 steam fissures, whence clouds continually puff forth ; 

 which condensed, make delicious drinking water. 



THE DESCENT INTO KILAUEA. 

 Probably no two visitors ever see Kilauea alike, their 

 emotions may be similar, but absolute likeness is impos- 

 sible, when the restless fiery lava is producing constant 

 change ; but of all the descriptions yet published 

 of this wonderful exhibition of nature, we have seen 

 none which equals in truth and vividness that of Miss 

 I. L. Bird, a Scotch lady who visited these islands in 



