G32 
VOLCAXO IN OWIIYIIEE. 
** After the first feelings of astonishment had subsided, vve remained 
a considerable time contemplating a scene, which it is impossible to 
describe, and which filled us with wonder and admiration at the 
almost overwhelming manifestation it affords of the power of that 
dread Being who created the world, and who has declared that by 
lire he will one day destroy it. We then walked along the w^est side 
of the crater, and in half an hour reached the north end. 
While walking over the plain, which was covered with a thin layer 
of w'hat appeared like indurated sand, but which we afterw'ards found 
to be decomposed lava, the natives requested us not to kaha^ a heru 
ka one, strike, scratch, or dig the sand, assuring us it wmuld displease 
Pele, and be follow'ed by an irruption of lava, or other expression of 
vengeance from this goddess of the volcano, of whose power and 
displeasure they had manifested the greatest apprehensions ever since 
our approach to Kirauea. 
“ At the north end of the crater we left the few provisions and 
little baggage that we had, and went in search of w'ater, which we 
had been informed was to be found in the neighbourhood of a number 
of columns of vapour, which we saw rising in a northerly direction. 
About half a mile distant, we found two or three small pools of per-r 
fectly sweet, fresh water ; a luxury which, notwithstanding the rejiorts 
of the natives, we did not expect to meet wilh in these regions of lire. 
It proved a most grateful refreshment to us, after travelling not less 
th^n twenty miles over a barren thirsty desert. 
‘‘ These pools appeared great natural curiosities. The surface of 
the ground in the vicinity was perceptibly warm, and rent by several 
deep irregular chasms, from which steam and thick vapours continually 
arose. In some places these chasms w'ere tw^o feet wide, and from 
them a volume of steam ascended, which was immediately condensed 
by the cool mountain air, and driven, like drizzling rain, into hollows 
in the compact lava on the leeward side of the chasms. The pools, 
which were six or eight feet from the chasms, w'ere surrounded and 
covered by flags, rushes, and tall grass. Nourished by the moisture 
of the vajiours, these plants flourished luxuriantly, and, in their turn, 
sheltered the pools from the heat of the sun, and prevented evapora- 
tion. We expected to find the water warm, but in this we were also 
agreeably disappointed. When w'e had quenched our thirst with 
water thus distilled by nature, we directed the natives to build a hut 
in which we might pass the night, in such a situation as to command 
a view of the burning lava; and while they were thus employed, w'e 
prepared to examine the many interesting objects around us. Mr. 
Bishop returned, with a canteen of water, to meet Mr. Harwood, who 
had not yet come up. 
“ Mr. Thurston visited the eastern side of the great crater, and I 
went with Mr. Goodrich to examine some extensive beds of sulphur 
at the north-east end. After walking about three-quarters of a mile 
over a tract of decomposed lava, covered with ohelo bushes and ferns, 
we came to a bank about a hundred and fifty yards long, and in some 
places upwards of thirty feet high, formed of sulphur, w ith a small 
proportion of red clay or ochre. The ground was very hot ; its sur- 
face rent by fissures ; and we were sometimes completely enveloped 
