322 
CBULSE OF HM.S. CHALLENGER. 
taken to reach it ; it is a broad stream of water 
rushing on from the high land, forming on its way 
numerous delicious and cool bathing-places, until 
reaching a precipice of about 100 feet; it falls 
into a basin with a deep cavern behind, surrounded 
by beautiful ferns and a jungle of tropical shrubs 
of great variety. To this spot many made their daily 
visits, not only for the pleasure of bathing, but 
to enjoy the delightful scenery in every direction. 
The principal object of our visit to Hilo was that 
opportunities might be afforded to those who desired 
to visit the celebrated Crater of Kilauea. A day or 
two after our arrival horses and guides were provided, 
and a large party started to do the thirty miles of 
rough road leading to the shrine of “ Pele,” the home 
of the dreaded goddess of volcanoes. The weather 
was fine, and all started from Hilo in the best of 
spirits, well-mounted on sure-footed horses, and in 
this way for some miles proceeded in single file along 
narrow roads of hard lava rock, about a couple of 
feet wide, occasionally passing through forests of 
true tropical jungle, where Nature seemed to riot in 
the production of strange and curious forms ; where 
trees have grown and fallen, and where they lie 
a new vegetation has sprung up over them, alto- 
gether obliterating any signs of decay. 
Thus all went on for miles ; in fact, the whole 
track is a perpetual upward scramble, rough and 
rugged in the extreme ; for though the ascent is 
