Polynesian., 1852-04-03
HONOLULU, SATURDAY, APRIL 8. 1882.
THE ERUPTION.

THE ERUPTION.
The unprecedented eruption on Hawaii, of
which We have kept our readers informed.-is a
phenomenon of such rare occurrence and has excit-
ed the interest of our readers so much, that we
know of nothing which will more crafty them,
than perusal of the following account from our
correspondent, for which we are under great obli-
cations to him.
If Hawaii is small kingdom, it has two things
to boast of viz: having the greatest volcano in the
world, and being out of debt. In the enjoyment OF
civil and religious liberty, secured without the
shedding of drop of blood, or the presence of a
standing army, we, Of course, stand alone, thanks
to something somebody; but of this, We will not
now boast. Of our volcano, however, we can say.
it is all that can be desired, and stands unrivaled
ii is all 1t is cracked up to be, foreign read
ers will admit, after reading the following account.
Hilo March y 1852.
Ma. EDIToR,-Some days ago | wrote you
hasty letter about our new volcano.
On the 23rd ult., DIR. Wetmore and myself, with
natives, set off at P. NJ, to visit the scene of
action. Our first stage was to the outskirt of the
to enter the forest early the next morning. On
the 24th we were early on our march, cutting and
beating our way through an almost impenetrable
jungle. So difficult was the route that, with hard
labor, we penetrated only about II miles during
the day md encamped for the night.
On T. 25th we were early at work, beating
the bush; !" and at noon, having gained emf
g.. -. e.
forest, We could see the eruption discovered the
molten stream about miles distant on our left, it
having flowed nearly 40 miles from its source, and
being now halfway through the woods which Sc
parate the mountains from Hio. The fire at this
time was making rapid progress in the forest,
sweeping all before it and threatening to reach the
sea in day or two; probably in the region of
Waiakea. At this discovery of the fire SO near
Hilo, DR.. w. came to the decision to return, lest
the burning food might reach the sea before the
accomplishment of our tour. Accordingly he re-
traced his steps, taking one native with him, and
leaving me with three to pursue my way up the
mountain. That night we slept again in the jun
gle.
On the 26th we were early on foot still beating
our tedious way as before, over hill and dell and
through bog and brake; sometimes topping on a
cragged ridge whose rugged crest did not exceed
the breadth Of horses back in width, and anon
plunging into deep Businesses scarcely penetrated
by the light of noon.
At evening we were fairly out of the woods, but
so enveloped in fog that we could see nothing at
the distance of a few rods. We selected hill for
our camp, and, while preparing our tent of brush
and rush, the fog rolled off, and Mouna Kea and
Mouna Loa stood forth in bold and sublime majes
ty; the one robed in a mantle of glittering white,
and the other believing like the roar of thun
ders, and vomiting out floods of fiery matter from
its rock-ribbed bowels. The scene was too sub
lime, too grand for pen or pencil to paint. We
were in full view of the crater and could SIT in our
tent from night till morning, listen to its awful
roar, watch the terrific foods dsgorged from IFS
sulphurous throat and trace the burning river it
rushed down the sides of that mountain and plung-
ed into the dense and dark forest We were now
about 20 miles from the crater.
Early on the morning of the 9th we decarnped,
determined if possible, to reach the great furnace
that day. The region over which we travelled
was much broken, and the lava was jagged and
sharp under our feet. At noon two of the natives,
finding It almost impossible to proceed for want of
Shoes were stationed on the side fthe mountain to
await my return. To the third gave an extra pair
of shoes, brought for my own use, committed
my cloak and blanket to him, took few crackers
and boiled eggs in my pocket and proceeded up
the mountain directfor the crater. Our travelling
was now over tract of lava indescribably horrid.
One must attempt to pass over it to understand its
terrible features. But we struggled on, and lead
ing my leader, and guiding my guide, who, with
much putting and blowing kept falling in the rear
until |, inpatient of waiting, pressed forward and
lost sight of him. Passing overwde fields of SEQ
ria, mounting sharp and cragged ridges and
plunging into deep gorges and rayines: pressed
on, alternately gaining and losing sight of the
frey and cloudy pillar, as l ascended crested
ridge, or plunged into the trough of this ignescent
sea. At half past P. NJ, reached the point for
which had been struggling hard for four days.
and here stood alone, and almost petntied with
mt amidst these wild, untrodden solitudes
and be ore this awful furnace of Jehovah. Ian
guage cannot speak ones emotionsin such circum-
stances. Before me stood hollow truncated cone
about 200 feet high Of about half mile in circuit
at its base, with an orice of some 300 feet in di
ameter. From this sori6ce volumes of burning iu-
sion were being constantly elected to the height of
400 and 500 feet with force which seemed to jar
the mountain and a noise which was almost deaien-
inc. The masses of red hot fusion thus elected
into millions Of fragments, some of which descend
ed in vertical lines, others describing graceful
curves and others still being driven of in salient
angles. The scene was insuferably brilliant and
terribly sublime All the fireworks OF earths
n,ou,est emperors are sparks compared with this.