The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-02-26
Vol. 7. No. 80 Whole No. s4s.


or for the nearest stream OF active lava distant about
two miles. Our road was over sharp jagged lava,
thrown up IN tumutrous confusion; bat we soon
made our way TO the molten stream, and, thrusting
our staff into the viscd mass took ont and cooled
specimens which we carried home with u.s. You
will understand that were now on the great piain
between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, about 1000
feet above the level OF the not having as yet con-
menced the direct ascent OF the mountain. On this
plain, between the bases Of the two mountains, we
spent the day in traversing and surveying the i'm
niense streams Of fresh scoria and Stag which Law
smoudering in wild confusion farther than the eve
could reach,-som cooled, some half cooled, and
some still in state Of gneous fusion The scoriforu
masses which formed the larger portion Of the tow
inss lay piled in mounds and extended ia high ridges
oil from thirty to sixty feet elevation above the
suhstratum on which il rested, and forming barrier
50 Indeseribahly jagged and rough as to be nearly
impossible It seemed If this vast sea of earthly
and rocky fusion had been suddenly soIidifed, while
in state of the most tumulruous action. Beside
these high and broad ridges of scuria, there were
parallel streams ofslag, soidifGd on the top Me ice
on river This was smooth, of lps,rous black and
IN vitrescent state, forming the superincumbeut
crust of deep molten riser which roll d beneath,
and which betrayed its burning course at innunera-
bic cracks and seams and blow-hoIes, in which The
fiery fad was seen. Though which it was expelled
in CORY j,ts
We spent the whole day in exploring this vast sea
of lava, ard aStonished at is INN ense area
In rolling down the side Of the mountain one broad
stream had shot or in a westerly direction towards
Roua. Another mighty river had flowed norrhward
intar oil hv b,za ~
when il divided into branches, one flowing in Il
northwest direction towards the plains Of Waimes,
and the other stretching north east and flowing
towards EIilo These three main branches, iC united,
would probably form river Eve Or six niles broad;
and the longest oftlem cannot, I think have advanc-
ed less than lwe niy Eve or thirty miles They are
still flowing, but their progress at present slow, as
they pIain and their celebrity is also re-
tardedb by Is ures and caverns, and by fields OF old
seOria which covers those high regions. Should the
eruption continue, and should the quantity Of fusion
be sufficient the obstacles and reach the
region where the face Of the country declines rapidly
towards the sea- the descent will then he quick and
easy to the coast. both on the eastern and western
shores. This may take place, though am rather
Of the opinion that the fires viii have spent their force
before they reach the sea.
Iiesides the three great branches described there
numerous smaller .sI5ao,ing Iocraly and
irregularly from The main streams both On the side
and at the base Of the mountain. These form toge-
ther indescribabIe lahyrnth
After travelling lard all day, without being able to
reach the extreme ends of the two great western
branches OF the eruption we returned at evening to
tent, weary but gratied nearly to oppression by
the vastness and the terribleness of the scenes we
had Witnessed
During the night, dense, dark cloud invested the
eminence which dss travellers encamped. this
charged with electric luid. which soon began to
blaze around them with tern iic sp'endor aecompan-
led, at the same time, with stnrng peals of thunder
They felt that they Sin n Of electrici-
y;' they realized also the subruiiy Of the express
sion, 1.-The God OF Glory thuudereth.'' At length
the storm passed away, and the volcanic fires which
had been concealed by the tempest Presumed their
merry dance, spontng forth their CORY in fan
tnstic and evcry>yaryiug forms, different points,
from mountain to mountain nlong The whole line Of
eruption
.sscsai 10 fSs Crater.
1.-The next morning, rose early. and made our
preparations Tor visiting the summit of the mountain
distant about twenty miles As did suppose
it possible to reach the summit and return to our
camp ,he same day,we provided ourselves with caps,
aannGls nattens, coas, comfortab ETC., for sleep
ing upon the lava on the side of the mountain; and
taking food and calabash Of water, we committed our
luggage to two strong natives leaving the Of our
company where we had encamped during the night.
Thus prepared, we set off, expecting spend two
days upon the mountain Our way at FIRST lay
field Of srora of an indescriblby sharp aaI jagged
character; and we had not proceeded than half
a mile before found THAI 4hs natives who
carried co,hng fell in the rear, and followed us
ut rbe rife ofless than mile hoar,-he road be-
ing so ineodceisably rugged that they could not
quicken their pace withOu, being in danger Of stumb-
ling every step, and breaking their calabashes and
tearing their aesh- We halted suddenly, held 4
short consultation, set down calabashss on The
lava, took lttle biscuit in pockets, laid our
cnaks and uabrelia guides. and leaving every
thing else behind, set out agnn Cor the summit of
the mountain After passing this truct ct scoria we
came to field OF moro compact aId smooth lava, ly,
ing along the borders ofihe stream Here we
moved on rapidIy, the rate Of three and half or
fur miles nj, bour AZ we had left most rT onr -Lotb