Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1844-02-24

otnei mighty river hau moved DOFtH-
ward till it was intercepted by the
base Of Mauna Kea, when it divided
into two branches, one flowing in
northwest direction towards the plains
Of Waimea, and the arm stretching
northeast and flowing towards Hilo.
These three main branches, if united,
would probably form a river five or
six miles broad; and the longest Of
them cannot, | think, have advanced
less than twenty-five or thirty miles.
They are still flowing, but their prog
ress at present is slow, as they are on
vast plain, and their electricity is also
retarded by assures and caverns, and
by fields of old scoria which covers
those high regions. Should the erup-
ton continue, and should the quanti-
ty Of fusion be sufficient TO overcome
the obstacles and reach the regions
where the face Of the country declines
rapidly towards The sea, the decent
will then be quick and easy 10 the
coast, both on the eastern and western
shores. This may take place, though
I am rather Of the opinion that the
fires will have spent their force before
they reach abe sea.
Besides the three great branches
described, there are numerous smaller
ones, shooting out literally andirregu-
| larly from the main streams, both on
the side and at the base Of the noun
tain. These form together an indie
scribable labyrinth.
After travelling hard all day, with
out being able to reach the extreme
ends of the two great western branch
es Of the eruption, we re turned at eve
ming to our tent, weary, but gratified
nearly to oppression by the yastness
and the terrbleness of the scenes we
had witnessed.
ASCENT TO THE CRATER.-The
next morning; we rode early, and made
our preparations for visiting the sum-
nit Of the mountain, distant abouttwen-
ty miles. AS we lid not suppose it
possible to reach the summit and re-
turn TO our camp the same day, we
provided ourselves with caps, flannels,
mittens, cloaks, ETC., for sleeping up
on the lava on the side Of the noun
tain; and taking little food and lit
tie water, we committed our luggage
to two strong natives, leaving the rest
of our company where we had en-
camped during the night. Thus pre-
pared, we set of, expecting to spend
two days upon the mountain. Our
way at first lay over field of scoria OF
an indescribably sharp and jagged char
acter; and we had not proceeded more
than half mile before we found that
the two natives who carried our cloth
ing fell in the rear, and followed us at
the rate of less than mile an hour,-
the road being so inconceivably rug
ged that they could not quicken their
pace without being in danger of Stun
bling at every step, and breaking their
calabashes, and tearing their fiesh.-
We halted suddenly, held short con-
sultation, set Down our calabashes on
the lava, took a little biscuit in our
pockets, laid our cloaks and umbrellas
on our guides, set out again for the
summit Of the mountain. After pass
ing this tract of scoria, we came 10 a
field gilmore compact and smooth la
so, lying along the borders of the new
stream Here we moved on rapidly,
at the rate of three and half or four
miles an hour. Aswe had left most
of our clothing and food, with all our
water, behind, and as we chung TO the
hope of reaching the original point Of
eruption-a vast, active crater, within
a lew hundred feet of the highest part
Of the mountain-we felt it necessary
to press hard and improve every mo-
ment, as we must return the same day,
or probably perish with the cold amid
those high regions ofsnow and tenn
pests.
To describe our road would be tedi-
Gus, if not impossible. Sometimes we
were on ancient deposits and some
times on the new; sometimes on broad
fields of smooth, shining lava, ard
sometimes crossing extended tracts of
the sharp, spurry kind before mention
ed; now were climbing high ridge Of
loose scoria aud Stag, and then feeling
our way down . ravine amidst poised
and pendent masses that seemed TO
say, "Touch us not, lest we bury you
/ - 49, - IF H..