The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-12-28
VOLCANOES OF HAWAII.
CRATER OF KAfRUEA.

They give the subsequent account Of ifs
crater:
We expected TO have seen noun
tain with broad base, and rough indenf-
ed sides, composed Of loose siags, or
streams of lava, and whose summit
would have presented rugged wall of
scoria, forming the rim. Of mighty
canldron. But instead -ofthis, we found
ourselves on the edge OF steep preci-
pice, with vast plain. before us, fifteen
or sixteen miles in circumference, and
sunk from 900 10 400 feet below its orig
inal level. The surface of the plain
below was uneven, and strewed over
with large stones, and volcanic rocks;
and in the centre of it was the great
crater, a mile or mile and a half dis
tant from the precipice, on which we
we're standing.
"Onr gnide led US round towards the
north end of the ridge, in order to
find place by which We might descend
tofthe plain below.
4" 1t required, however, the greatest
caution, as the stones and fragments of
rock frequently gave way under our
feet, and rolled down from above and
with all our care we did not reach the
bottom without several falls and slight
bruises. The steep, which we had de-
scended, was formed of volcanic mate
rials, apparently a light red and grey
kind of lava, vascular, and lying in
horizontal strata, varying in thickness
from one 10 forty feet. In small num-
Der of places, the different strata of
lava were also rent in perpendicular
or oblique directions, from the top to
the bottom, either by earthquakes, or
other violent commissions OF the earth,
connected with the action of the ada
cent volcano. After walking some
distance over the sunken plain, which
in several places sounded hollow under
our feet, we came suddenly TO the
edge CT the great crater, where spec
tacIe sublime, and appalling, presented
itself before Us.
I" Astonishment and awe for some mo-
ments deprived Us of speech, and, like
statues we stood fixed to the spot, with
Eour eyes rlvetted on the abyss below.
I" Immediately before us yawned an.
immense gulph, in the form of cres-
cent, upwards of two miles in length,
about mile across, and apparently
eight hundred feet deep. The bottom
was filled with lava, and the southwest
and northern part of it were one vast
flood of liquid fire, in state of terrific
ebulition, rolling 10 and fro lis G fiery
surge" and flaming pillows. Fifiy-one
craters, of varied form and size, rose,
like SO many conical islands, from the
surface of the burning lake. Twenty
two constantly emitted columns of grey
smoke, or pyramids Of brilliant flame,
and many of them at the same time
vornited,- from their ignted mouths,
streams of lava, which rolled, in blaz-
ing torrents, down their black, indent-
ed sides, into the boiling mass below
i "The sides of the gulph before us
were perpendicular for about 400 feet,
when there was a wide, horizontal
ledge of solid black lava, of irregular
breadth, but extending completely
round. Beneath this black ledge. the
sides sloped towards the centre, which
was,as nearly as he could Judge, 800 or
400 feet lower. 1t was evident. that
the crater had been recently filled with
liquid lava up TO this black ledge, and
had, by some suhterranean canal, emp
tied itself into the sea, or inundated the
low land on The shore. The grey, and,
in some places, apparently calcined,
sides of the great crater before US; the
assures which intersected the surface
OF the plain on which we were stand
ing the long banks of sulphur on the
opposite side, the numerous columns of
vapor and smoke, that rose at the north
and south end Of the plain, together
with the ridge o! ep'rocks, by which
it was surrounded, rising probably, in
some places, four hundred feet in per-
pendicular height, presented an i'm
mense volcanic panorama, the effect of
which was greatly augmented by the
constant roaring of the vast furnaces be-
low"
Good Management of Lady.-Py-
thus, king of the Lydians, instead Of
promoting the progress Of real i'm
provement and wealth, viz. the good
cultivation Of the soil, was so much
wrapt up 10 sordid avarice, as TO employ
a great portion of the labor of his sub
Ijects in working mines. His queen,
wishing 10 reform her husband, and