VOLCANO IN OWHYHEE, 
629 
sand was collected round their base, but whether thrown out by them, 
or drifted thither by the wind, they could not inform us. In their 
vicinity we also passed several deep chasms, from which, in a number 
of places, small columns of vapour arose, at frequent and irregular 
intervals. They appeared to proceed from Kirauea, the great vol- 
cano, and extended towards the sea in a south-east direction. Proba- 
bly they are connected with Ponahohoa, and may mark the course of 
a vast subterraneous channel leading from the volcano to the shore. 
The surface of the lava on both sides was heated, and the vapour had 
a strong sulphureous smell. 
“We continued our way beneath the scorching rays of a vertical sun 
till about noon, when we reached a solitary tree growing in a bed of 
sand, spreading its roots among the crevices of the rocks, and casting 
its grateful shade on the barren lava. Here we threw ourselves down 
on the sand and fragments of lava, stretched out our weary limbs, 
and drank the little w'ater left in our canteens. 
“ In every direction we observed a number of pieces of spumous lava, 
of an olive colour, extremely cellular, and as light as sponge. They 
appeared to have been drifted by the wind into the hollows which 
they occupied. The high bluff aocks on the north-west side of the 
volcano were distinctly seen ; the smoke alid vapours driven past us, 
and the scent of the fumes of sulphur, which, as w'e approached from 
the leeward, w'e had perceived ever since the wind sprung up, becom- 
ing very strong, indicated our proximity to Kirauea. 
“ Impatient to view it, we arose, after resting about half an hour, 
and pursued our journey. In the way we saw a number of low' bushes, 
bearing beautiful red and yellow berries in clusters, each berry being 
about the size and shape of a large currant. The bushes, on which 
they grew were generally low, seldom reaching two feet in height ; 
the branches small and clear, leaves alternate, obtuse with a point, 
and serrated ; the flower was monopetalous, and, on being examined, 
determined the plant to belong to the class decandria, and order 
monogynia. The native name of the plant is ohelo. The berries 
looked tempting to persons experiencing both hunger and thirst, and 
we eagerly plucked and ate all that came in our way. They are 
juicy, but rather insipid to the taste. As soon as the natives per- 
ceived us eating them, they called out aloud, and begged us to desist, 
saying we w'ere now within the precincts of Pele’s dominions, (the 
godess of the volcano,) to whom they belonged, and by whom they 
were rahuiia, (prohibited,) until some had been offered to her, and 
permission to eat them asked. We told them w'e were sorry they 
should feel uneasy on this account, — that we acknowledged Jehovah 
as the only divine proprietor of the fruits of the earth, and felt thank- 
ful to him for them, especially in our present circumstances. Some 
of them then said, ‘We are afraid. We shall be overtaken by some 
calamity before we leave this place.’ We advised them to dismiss 
their fears, and eat with us, as we knew they were thirsty and faint. 
They shook their heads, and, perceiving us determined to disregard 
their entreaties, walked along in silence. 
“ We travelled on, regretting that the natives should indulge notions 
so superstitious, but clearing every ohelo bush that grew near our 
