213 
MISSIONARY TOUR 
CHAP. IX. 
Departure for the Volcano — Volcanic Sand—Superstitions of 
the Natives respecting the Ohelo—Description of the great 
Volcano—Pools of Water—Banks of Sulphur—Appearance 
of the Volcano at Midnight—Traditions and Superstitions 
of the Natives connected with it—Names of the Gods by 
whom, they suppose it inhabited — The little Kirauea — 
Ancient Heiau on the summit of a precipice—Mouna Roa — 
—Probable Structure of the Island. 
Refreshed by a comfortable night’s sleep, we arose 
before day-light on the morning of the first of August, 
and after stirring up the embers of our fire, rendered, 
with grateful hearts, our morning tribute of praise to 
our almighty Preserver. 
As the day began to dawn, we tied on our sandals, 
ascended from the subterraneous dormitory, and pur¬ 
sued our journey, directing our course towards the 
column of smoke, which bore E. N. E. from the cavern. 
The path for several miles lay through a most fertile 
tract of country, covered with bushes, or tall grass 
and fern, frequently from three to five feet high, and 
so heavily laden with dew, that before we had passed 
it, wc were as completely wet as if we had walked 
through a river. The morning air was cool, the singing 
of birds enlivened the woods, and we travelled along 
in Indian file nearly four miles an hour, although most 
of the natives carried heavy burdens, which were tied 
