232 * 
MISSIONARY TOUR 
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 dis¬ 
approbation, they said it was the only place where we 
might expect to pass the night undisturbed by Pēlē, 
and secure from earthquake and other calamity, being 
the place in which alone P61e allowed travellers to build 
a hut. We told them it was unnecessarily near, and, 
being also unsafe, we wished to remove. They an¬ 
swered, that as it was within the limits prescribed by 
Pēlē for safe lodging, they should be unwilling to sleep 
any where else, and had not time to build another hut 
for us. ^ 
We then directed them to collect a quantity of fire¬ 
wood, as we expected the night would be cold, al¬ 
though the thermometer then stood at 69°. We were 
the more anxious to have the fuel collected before the 
shades of night should close upon us, as travelling in 
some places was extremely dangerous. The ground 
sounded hollow in every direction, frequently cracked, 
and, in two instances, actually gave way while we 
were passing over it. Mr. Bishop was approaching the 
hut, when the lava suddenly broke under him. He 
instantly threw himself forward, and fell flat on his 
face over a part that was more solid. A boy, who 
followed me with a basket to the sulphur banks, and 
walked about a yard behind Mr. Goodrich and myself, 
also fell in. There was no crack in the surface of the 
lava over which he was walking, neither did it bend 
under his weight, but broke suddenly, when he sunk 
in up to his middle. His legs and thighs were con¬ 
siderably bruised, but providentially he escaped with- 
