HA WAIT AN G UIBE BOOK. 91 



peared stationary. We were able to stand qnite near 

 the margin, and look down into the lake, as you look 

 into the sea from the deck of a ship, the only risk being 

 that the fractured ledge might give way. 



" Before we came away, a new impulse seized the laya. 

 The fire was thrown to a great height ; the fountains and 

 jets all wallowed together; new ones appeared, and 

 danced joyously round the margin, then converging to- 

 wards the centre they merged into one glowing mass, 

 which upheaved itself pyramidally and disappeared with 

 a vast plunge. Then innumerable billows of fire dashed 

 themselves into the air, crashing and lashing, and the 

 lake dividing itself recoiled on either side, then hurling 

 its fires together and rising as if by upheaval from be- 

 low, it surged over the temporary rim which it had 

 formed, passing down in a slow majestic flow, leaving 

 the central surface swaying and dashing in fruitless 

 agony as if sent on some errand it failed to accomplish. 



" Farewell, I fear for ever, to the glorious Hale-mau- 



mau, the grandest type of force that the earth holds ! 



" Break, break, break," on through the coming years. 



"No more by thee my steps shall be, 

 No more again forever I" 



THE DISTRICT OF KA-U, 



Which commences at the crater of Kilauea, extends to 

 about ten miles beyond or north of the south point of 

 this island, and includes hundreds of square miles 

 devastated by eruptions. Leaving the volcano, the road 

 winds around the Lua Pele (crater pit) in sight of its 

 black walls, and over the strawberry and ohelo beds, on 

 and on. Distance, in this region, cannot be accurately 



