Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1851-11-01
For the folynesIan.
VISIT TO THE NEW ERUPTION

eTu"ps tue IfieuuIy nOttce you
gave IN one OF your previous Nos, of my intend
ed visit to the sent Of eruption on Mouna Loa.
mas excited expectations Of hearing the results.
therefore send brief account of our soiourn
On the summit of Mouna Loa-where we believe
't took place-.lifficuItes attending the transit
from the East to the West, &c. Sc.
August 27.-On leaving Honolulu, we pur-
posed ascending from the West side, say Kailua
Or kealakeakua; on arriving ut Kawaihae we
learnt this was impracticable, consequently we
crossed through Waimea to Laupahoihoi, then
ny canoe to HiIo, arriving Sept. 6. Here we
employed some days in ske.chius the pic
'uresque points in the Misunderstanding infor-
nation connected with our object, experience Of
others who had gone the same route, confiIen-
tial guides, provisions, &c.
September 22.-Having selected kanaka
named Pohano as guide, who holds the Office Of
head constable as well as an eIdership in the
church at Hilo, We directed that he take the res
Of distributing the food, &c., to the
being well understood, relieved US
"f many cures respecting them, and gave US
greater opportunities Of ske,chng the remarka-
bic points passed on our route. Sept. 22nd, we
sent forward natives, with as few neces,aries
in the shape of clothing. possible, and as large
a supply Of provisions as they could carry,-noi
forgetting good supply Of bullock hide, which
we found of eminent utility. We reached
kannkoa in Olaa early on the first day. The
ferns in remarkable abundance obscuring the
N sboI 81, L...l
river from the neighboring volcanoes. On the
2Srd we reached Kilauea about 2 oclOck-visited
the upper sulphur banks, and drew as long as
daylight lasted. The numerous descriptions we
had obtained of this enormous craier had SO
prepared the mind that our previous conceptions
were only realized by ocular demonstration on
reaching its actual brink. The third day-Sept.
24lh,we spent in the crater Of fKiIauea-proceed- K
ing to and in the line to the left or South
Eastern side, e,examinins the sulphur banks as we
advanced toward the Lake, now about 100 feet
in dameter, continuing liquid lava flowing from
the north end, with dull redness. To approach
this, over the lava which covers the rim of the
pit, is somewhat of precarious undertaking ,and
guides, in most instances, deter the visitor from
attempting it. Continuing round, on arrival at
tina, part, when the vapor from numerous assures
brings forcibly to mind the frail nature of the
crust on which we tread, and the magnitude of
the ignited mass beneath us. The next object
of interest is Il cone % feet high, with crust Is
inches thick, from the centre Of which issues
volumes Of blue sulphurous vapor, and OCCASION
al blasts, accompanied by low sub,crraneous
roaring within-she appearance was that Of
bright glaring red-heat, and a stick on being
inserted soon became charret. The density of
the smoke and its suffocatins influence rendered
i. impossible to gratifying fully our design to view
and sketch the interior. Passing round to the
north, beneath the most elevated and compact
ridge is another mound Of sulphur, carbonate Of
soda and lime. with deep red oxide of iron,
which ! think is the metallic base Of all the
substances within the crater. Perfect basaltic
forms we could not discover, except on the north
eastern extremity.
scended into the cruter, while was engaged in
making panoramic view from the hank, at the
point Of descent. My thermometer being broken
in conveyance, could not make the experiments
in water desired.
September 26.-We set out rs early as poss-
ble-Ieuving Kiauea and The Kau road and TAX
ing our course over u savanna from which the
view Of Mouna Loa - more magnificent, per-
hnps, those from any other point on The route !;
then passing through strip of Koa forest, We
came to the canoe, mentioned by Capt. Wilkes,
in state of decay. A short distance from this
brought us to our first clinker field, long and
tedious one-we some passed it. and descended
the outlying part Of the mountain through a
grassy savanna. Then entered the cI'nkers
again, advancing but little way when the rain
began TO fall in such torrents, that we ordered a
halt. The kanakas in an incredibly short time
erected she'd of branches in = welI-selected hol-
low, sheltered by numerous ohia trees, which
they covered with ferns and grass. While We
were engaged in collecting sufficient rain-water
for present use, to prevent the consumption Of
the stock we hal brought in calabashes !: being
we'll aware that until we found that element Of
life ON the mountain, we had nothing else to de-
pend on,-none being known between kilauea
and Mouna Loa. good FIRE was soon made,
by which our clothes as well as our beds Of grass
being well dried, rendered us comfortable
shrough the night. 27ih-As ,hesun tinged the
summit Of Mouna Loa with iints Of red and
violet, We were taking one Of the two meals 70
which we had determined on restricting our
selves, we proceeded over Iavaans ssun'ed vs-e-
,.,;o, of I. .;,u;l.v character 10 that we paused