033 
VOLCANO IN OWIIViiEE. 
in the thick vapours that continually ascended from these cracks. A 
number of apertures were visible along the whole extent of the bank 
of sulphur; smoke and vapours arose from these fissures also; and 
the heat of the sulphur around them was more intense than in any 
other part. Their edges were fringed with fine crystals, in various 
combinations, like what are called flowers of sulphur. We climbed 
about half way up the bank, and endeavoured to break off some parts 
of the crust, but soon found it too hot to be handled. However, by 
means of our walking sticks, we detached some curious specimens. 
Those procured near the surface were crystallized in beautiful acicu- 
lar prisms, of a light yellow colour ; while those found three or four 
inches deep in the bank, were of an orange yellow, generally in single 
or double tetrahedral pyramids, and full an inch in length. A singu- 
lar hissing and cracking noise was heard among the crystals, when- 
ever the outside crust of the sulphur was broken and the atmospheric 
air admitted. The same noise was produced among the fragments 
broken off, until they were quite cold. The adjacent stones and 
pieces of clay w^ere frequently incrusted, either with sulphate of am- 
monia, or volcanic sal ammoniac. Considerable quantities were also 
found in the crevices of some of the neighbouring rocks, which were 
much more pungent than that exposed to the air. Along the bottom 
of the sulphur bank we found a number of pieces of tufa, or clay- 
stone, which appeared to have been fused, extremely light and cellular. 
It seemed as if sulphur, or some other inflammable substance, had 
formerly occupied the cells in these stones. A thick fog now came 
over, which being follow^ed by a shower of rain, obliged us to leave 
this interesting laboratory of nature, and return to our companions. 
On the eastern side of the crater, we saw banks of sulphur less pure, 
but apparently more extensive, than those we had visited ; but their 
distance from us, and the unfavourable state of the weather, prevented 
our examining them. On our way to the sulphur banks, we saw two 
flocks of wild geese, which came down from the mountains, and settled 
among the ohelo bushes, near the pools of water. They were smaller 
than the common goose, had brown necks, and their wings were tipped 
with the same colour. The natives informed us there were vast flocks 
in the interior, although they vvere never seen near the sea. 
“Just as the sun was setting we reached the place where we had 
left our baggage, and found Messrs. Bishop and Harwood sitting near 
the spot, where the natives, with a few green branches of trees, some 
fern leaves, and rushes, had erected a hut. We were none of us 
pleased with the site which they had chosen. It was at the north- 
east end of the crater, on a pile of rocks overhanging the abyss below 
and actually within four feet of the precipice. When we expressed 
our disapprobation, they said it was the only place where we might 
expect to pass the night undisturbed by Pei4, and .secure from earth- 
quake and other calamity, being the place in which alone Pel4 allow'ed 
travellers to build a hut. We told them it was unnecessarily near, 
and, being also unsafe, we wished to remove. They answered, that 
as it was within the limits prescribed by Pe!6 for safe lodging, they 
should be unwilling to sleep any where else, and had not time to build 
another hut for us. 
4 L 
