Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-06-01

Aetonishment and awe for some moments rendered ma
mute and like statues stood fixed ON the spot h
our eyes rivetted to the abyss below. Immed iatev
before us yawned an immense gulf, in the form of a
crescent about two miles in length, from north east 10
south west nearly mile in width and eobt
hundred feet deep. The bottom was covered with Ia
va, and the south and notbern parts of il was
vast hood OF burning matter, IN state of terrific ebul-
luton, rolling TO and fro its "fey sureen and flaming
pillows. Fify-one Conice Islands, of varied form and
SIZE containing SO many craters, either round the
eoge' or from the surface of the burning lake. Tween.
V'wo constantly emitted columns of grey smoke or
pyramids OF brilliant fame; and several of these nj the
same time vomited from :.icr ign,ed mouths streams
OF lava which rolled in blazing torrents down their
black, lndented sides, into the boiling mass below.n
~ Ire asitated mass of liquid lava, like flood of
meneu metal ragged with tumutuous whiri. The live,
~ lame that danced over It's undulatng surface tin
geo with sulphureous blue, glowing with mineral
req cast broad glare OF dazzling light the ndeu-
'eu sues OF inc nsuited craters whose roaring mouths
aust rising aines and eddyng streams of fire. shot up
atequent intervals with the loudes detonatiops sphe
rca masses of fusng lava, or bright gnited stones
The height of the plain is estimated at three thou,
sand feet the circumference of the great crater near
y eight miles; the depth 10 the edge of the black rec
Ky ledge surrounding it, nine hundred and thirty two
feet; and from this ledge 10 the bottom, four hundred
more.
No one can wonder, lin the language of the review
er,) that these enormous volcanoes from which they
have frequently suffered, should have ins;,ircd the sim
pie natives with terror and superstition. We learn
without surprise, that dow the other day. nei,
ther the missionaries nor the officers of the Blonde,
COULD without considerable difficulty prevail upon the
inhabitants TO accompany them 10 Karauea. The
King, with all the assistance of the Chiefs and all the
cndc2vours OF the missionaries, strovc and stroye in
vain 10 put down the worship of Pele: nothing il SEEM
ed, able TO expcl the belief that the goddess
when offended, visited the children of men with thuu
der, lightning, earthquakes and streams CT lie ui fire
The instruments OF her mighty power and vengeance.
AI,off ,s,.to
and missionaries, failed TO accomplish has been brought
about by the heroic act of one woman.
The wife of RIahi says Mr.. Bloxom, femate chief
of the highest rank, had embraced christianity: and
desirous OF propagating it, and of undeceving the ma
tives TO their false Gods she resolved to climb TO
the mountain, descend into the crater, and BY thus
Drawing the volcanic detes in their very homes con
vince the Inhabitants of the island that God is God
alone and that the false subordinate dei,ies existed
only in the ancies OF their weak adorers. Thus de.
termined, and accompanied by missionary, She with
part of er family, and number of followers, both
Of her vassas and those Of other Chiefs assembled
Pele AT the edge Of the first precpice that bounds
the sunken plain, many OF her followers and compau
ions lost courage and turned back at The second the
rest earnestly enreated her TO dess from her danger
enterprise, and orbear tempt the powerful pod
of the fires But She proceeded; and the very verge
of the crater caused hut to be constructed for her
self and people, Here sho assaulted anew by their
enrea,ics to return home, and their assurances that if
she persisted in violating the houses of the Goddess
destruction. Her answer noble: 81 will descend
into the crater" said she, "and if do not return safe
then continue TO worship Pele; but if come back
unhurt, you must learn to adore the God who created
Pele" She accordingly went down the steep and diff
hcut side OF the crater, accompanied By missionary
and by some whom love duty induced to follow her
Arrived at the bottom, she pushed stick into the IL
quid lava, and stirred the ashes of the burning lake.
The charms of superstition that moment br OXEN
those who had expected TO the Goddess armed
with flames and sulphurous smoke, burst forth aud de-
sroy the daring heroine who thus BRAY ed her in her
very sanctuary, awesstruck when they saw the
fire remain innocuous and the flames roll harmless as
though none were present. They acknowledged The
greatness of the God OF Kapiolaui and from that time
few indeed have been the offerings, and little rever-
ence, offered so the fires OF Pcle.
What sublime subject. (exclairns the reviewer
to exercise the powers of the pencil! the bottom of
deep crater, vomiting forth streams ofigueous lava
terrified group recedng from the fiery furnace mis-
sionary in the attitude OF prayer while kopiolani
with rod in her hand, with confident step
TO the very orifice of e gu TO dissolve forever the
spell which had bowed these islanders ION time i'm
memorial TO the service OF the terrific goddess; spell
which too powerful for all the art and eloquence
of the missionaries 10 deal with !; in vain that
they set up, as they wont 10 do, Jehovah 10 OPP
position 10 Pclc: it 10 have occurred 10
these worthy men, that simple practical explanation
of the power of steam might have done more 10 wea-
ken the belief Of her Yolares than fire hundred ser
mons