HA WAIIAN G UIDE B OK. 87 



the lava is covered with this substance seen through a 

 glazed medium. During eruptions, when fire-fountains 

 play to a great height, and drops of lava are thrown in 

 all directions, the wind spins them out in clear green or 

 yellow threads two or three feet long, which catch and 

 adhere to projecting points. 



" As we ascended, the flow became hotter under our 

 feet, as well as more porous and glistening. It was so 

 hot that a shower of rain hissed as it fell upon it. The 

 crust became increasingly insecure, and necessitated our 

 walking in single file with the guide in front, to test the 

 security of the footing. I fell through several times, and 

 always into holes full of sulphurous steam, so malig- 

 nantly acid that my strong dog-skin gloves were burned 

 through as I raised myself on my hands. * * * 



" Suddenly, just above, and in front of us, gory drops 

 were tossed in ah, and springing forwards we stood on 

 the brink of Hale-mau-mau, which was about 85 feet be- 

 low us. I think we all screamed, I know we all wept, 

 but we were all speechless, for a new glory and terror had 

 been added to the earth. It is the most unutterable of 

 wonderful things. The words of common speech are 

 quite useless. It is unimaginable, indescribable, a sight 

 to remember for ever, a sight, which at once took poss- 

 ession of every faculty of sense: and soul, removing one 

 altogether out of the range of ordinary life. Here was 

 the real "bottomless pit" — "the fire which is not 

 quenched" — "the place of hell" — "the lake which 

 burnetii with fire and brimstone" — the "everlasting 

 burnings " — the fiery sea whose waves are never weary. 

 There were groanings, rumblings, and detonations 

 rushings, hissings, and splashings, and the crashing 



