The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-02-26
Eruption of the Volcano of Mauna
lOa.

LOa.
1t on Monday the 9Th Of March, that Mr. Coan,
in company with Mr. Paris and seven natives Jeff lilo
on their tour of exploration.
eve did not take the usual route-,hat pursued
by Captain WILKES and others, via KiIauea-but d.
rected for the stream Of lava as il
was seen flowing on the high plains between NIauna
Loa and SIauna Kea. Our general course was west
southwest, through Forest SO interviewer with
jungle as to render il impenetrable in most places
As the season was peculiarly dry, we chose Tor our
path TIE rocky bed Of river, called the River Of
Destruction from the quantity and rush of IL waters
during the rainy seasons. The stream was now so
low that could pass up its bed and under its
banks by lenping from rock rock, and frequently
crossing from side side. and then also ascend
ing its haks and beating way for 4 short distance
through the bushNood, to avoid deep water perpen-
dicuar preciPices the accumulated masses Of drift
consisting often Of ma estie trees hieh had
heen torn violently from their places and with roots
trunk, and branches, carried down the stream to
some narrow pass. where their progress arrested.
by the approaching banks, by vast rocks or by sui
den bend in the stream and thus leaving them as i'm
Preguabls ehevauJ- de-frise against the traveler'
The night was spent by Mr. COan and his panty tn
the outskirts of the forest already mentioned.
''on The seeOnd day, again entered the bed Of
the ssseum, and pursued romantic course along
It's serPeutine and rocky channel and between. pre-
ciPtOus and often overhanging banks, which some
times presented rrowning baItlemenis Of dark naked
lava, and sometimes re,rcaied in graceful slopes of
luxurant soil, adorned with trees, shrubs vines, and
Parasaea plants, spread with splendid carpet OF
soh velvet moss. In this LOFTY and deep forest and
enid these everlasting solitudes-unbrOken except b.
the gurgng Of the wasted stream the dashsg Of the
cascade, or the mighty rush and the deep thunder
tones Of the mountain torrent, and, should add, by
the enchanting strains Of the thousand songSters
whose notes seemed to 6I every leaf and shrub and
tree with animated jny-we pursued our quiet way
till the outstreching shades ofsvenng sdmonised u
to prepare for rePose.''
This night the travellers slept in booth Of bnughs
and fens, erected for rhe emergency the bank Of
the river.
"EaFiy next morning, we pursued way up the
stream, and at found ourselves fairly out Of the
forest with the lofty summit Of Mauna kea rising in
heary grandeur before We now ut its base,
and in high, open country occupied BY herds Of wild
cattle. We now bent south south west,
over beautiful rolling country, sPrinked here and
there with cHmps Of low, spreading tees, which
looked like orchards in the distance. Our way was
along the upper skirts of the forest, having Mauna
Kea with its numerous peaks and lateral c,aters on
our right. Al evening we in full view E Mauna
Toa, bearing south BY west from Us We pitched
our tent under an ancient crater four hundred feet
high, covered with trees and grass.
Here we bad 4 splendid view of the great terminal
crater the summit Of the mountain, about twenty
five miles distant, and also Of the Hood Of lava
which had flowed down the sides of the mountain to
the plains below, pant Of which lay burning at
our feet, at The distance Of Gnur i've miles We
now eight Thousand feet above the
level of the sea; and we could the dark clouds
gather, ard the Iightnings blaze below ", while the
deep toned thunder rolled at feet. Al the same
time storm Of hail spread along the shore and feu
upon the station at Ililo This the first hail seen
at station since arrival at the Islands. At
twilight shock OF an earthquake which lasted
thirty seconds, added the sublimily of the scene;
while blazing comet hung in the vaulted
sky. As darkness gathered round u, the lurd fires
Of the volcano began to glow with fevG heat and To
gIeam upon from the foot of Jlauna Kea, over all
the plain between the two mountains, and up The
side Of MaunL Lo1 to its snow crowned summit, ex-
hIhtng the appearance Of vast and iunumerabIe fur
naces, burning with Intense vehemence and throw
ing teri ibe radiance in all directions During
the night we had thunder and lightning; and in the
moruing both mount1ins were beautifully mantled 10
snow.
DerastdtioHs produced By The Eruption.
Il was now Thursday. and we left encan p
ment and proceeded three four miles toward the
stream of layu, and again pitched on u
side Of an old crater, hundred feet high and one
mile in circumference, and covered with trees and
shrubbery 10 its summit II was surrounded at its
buse however. by yasi field Of raed seoria of the
most jagged character, the deposit OF some former e.
rupton which had flowed around the ile lertiIe hill
and left itke island in the ocean, or like an oasis