EXTENSIVE CAVERN. 59 
cavern beyond the water; the hollow sound of 
their footsteps; and the varied reverberations of 
their voices, produced a singular effect; and it 
would have required but little aid from 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 communication 
with the sea. 
In the afternoon, Messrs. Thurston and Bishop 
explored 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, de¬ 
stroyed 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. 
Offerings were presented, and many hogs 
