HA WAIIAN G UIDE BOOK. 95 



western 784 feet deep. In 1840 the floor of the crater 

 was level ; in 1872 one-third of the floor was depressed 

 two or three hundred feet below the rest. In this sink, 

 midway "between the north and south wall, and near 

 the western extremity, is the new crater. Action began 

 Aug. 9th and has since been almost incessant, throwing 

 up a fountain of crimson lava, estimated at 200 feet 

 high. The party were somewhat affected by the moun- 

 tain sickness, but camped at the brink of the crater for 

 the night, and returned next morning, reaching the 

 mountain station at 4 P. M. The total distance from 

 Kaalualu to the summit is 61 miles, and from Hilo to 

 the same point 66 miles. Since that date, the crater 

 has been visited by numerous parties, most of whom 

 found it in action. One visitor, Mr. W. W. Hall, in 

 the autumn of 1873, succeeded in making a descent 

 into the abyss, and approaching nearer to the ftrantain 

 than any other party. His description published in the 

 " Hawaiian Gazette " of Jan. 18th, 1874, as well as 

 that of the Editor of this Guide Book, published in 

 September, 1872, are minute in detail, and may interest 

 travelers, who propose making the trip. 



WAIOHINU, KAU. 



Leaving Kapapala ranch, the road crosses the mud 

 flow of 1868, ejected three miles during the heavy earth- 

 quake. At the road it is 30 feet deep and half a mile 

 across, but is now overgrown with grass and weeds. 

 A full account of this anomaly in volcanic nature, and 

 also a condensed, account of this and all previous known 

 eruptions, may be found in the last edition of Jarves' 

 History.* Continuing to the sea, the scene of the de- 



* History of the Hawaiian Islands, 4tli Edition, Honolulu, 1872, p. 229. 



