44 
MISSIONARY TOUR 
gular effect; and it would have required but little aid 
from the fancy, to have imagined a resemblance between 
this scene and the fabled Stygian lake of the poets. 
The mouth of the cave is about half a mile from the 
sea, and the perpendicular depth to the water probably 
not less than fifty or sixty feet. The pool is occasionally 
visited by the natives, for the purpose of bathing, as its 
water is cool and refreshing. From its ebbing and 
flowing with the tide, it has probably a direct com¬ 
munication with the sea. 
In the afternoon, Messrs. Thurston and Bishop 
walked out in a N. w. direction, till they reached the 
point that forms the northern boundary of the bay, 
on the eastern side of which Kairua is situated. It 
runs three or four miles into the sea; is composed 
entirely of lava; and was formed by an eruption from 
one of the large craters on the top of Mouna Huararai, 
(Mount Huararai,) which, about twenty-three years 
ago, inundated several villages, destroyed a number of 
plantations and extensive fish-ponds, filled up a deep 
bay twenty miles in length, and formed the present 
coast. 
An Englishman, who has resided thirty-eight years in 
the islands, and who witnessed the above eruption, has 
frequently told us he was astonished at the irresistible 
impetuosity of the torrent. Stone walls, trees, and 
houses, all gave way before it; even large masses or 
rocks of hard ancient lava, when surrounded by the 
fiery stream, soon split into small fragments, and falling 
into the burning mass, appeared to melt again, as borne 
by it down the mountain’s side. 
Numerous offerings were presented, and many hogs 
thrown alive into the stream, to appease the anger 
