Polynesian., 1859-02-26
Gbe 11olpnesian.
From the P. C. Advertiser.l
LATER DETAILS
From the Volcano on Hawaii.

Mr.. EDITOR AT time when all information
relating to the eruption is eagerly received, a
brief sketch of what the company to which | be-
longed, saw and did, may be interesting to your
readers, particularly as we reached the source by
route different from that taken by any other
party, excepting perhaps Mr.. Vaudry. Our par
ty sailed from Honolulu on the KinOOLe, on Tues
day, Feb. lst, and landed at Kealakekua, Thurs
day noon. During the preceding night we had a
distant view Of the eruption, like star, two
third up the mountain with streaks of light
branching out below. Friday was spent in pre-
parations for the jaunt, and ON Saturday morn
ing we set out for the crater, from Kuapehu, in
a direction nearly east.
The first twelve miles of our route lay through
a dense forest, which changed its appearance as
we assembled being characterized in the lower
part by Its tall ferns, then by the abundance of
wild raspberry bushes, and opening finally into
koa pastures.
AS We began to emerge from the woods we had
a fine view of the JET playing at distance of
perhaps twenty-five miles, to the height, as we
afterwards estimated, Of 300 feet. 1t was of
deep red color, in form and movement exactly
like fountain, and was accompanied by immense
columns of steam. 1t was soon concealed from
our view, however, by the hanks of Mauna Loa.
About twelve miles from the coast road we reach
ed a watering place called Waiio, which we
found nearly dry.
Here we were obliged to send back our horses
and pack oxen, and proceed on foot. Our guide
then led us in a direction about E. S. E. across
a rugged tract Of clinkers to a cave, eight miles
from Waiio, where we encamped for the night.
This cave had formed part of the channel of a
subterranean stream, which left series of deep
caverns, assures and pits to mark its course.
The pit into which Alexander Smith fell was not
two rods from our camp, being completely conceal
ed by underbrush, and from 25 to 80 feet deep. 1t
was quite dark at the time, and few if any of US
suspected the existence of such black chasm
only few steps from our fire.
Fortunately his fall was heard lantern was
Immediately brought, boy lowered into the
cavern with rope, and the poor fellow soon
drawn up, insensible, but undisfgured and still
breathing He was soon revived by the use of
brandy, and seemed perfectly rational, though
unable to move. He was carried down the next
day in a litter constructed of bullock's hide, to
DIR. Herrick's, where he received every possible
attention. His case, however, was hopeless one,
for his spine had been injured just below the
neck; and after lingering week he expired on
the morning of the 18th. His gentlemanly man
ners and generous disposition had already endear-
ed him tO our party, and the sad accident which
befell him threw gloom over the remainder of
our journey.
During the afternoon, the party, being in want
of water, pushed on six or eight miles 5. 5. E. to
a well known watering place called Puapuawai,
where they encamped. At this point the cold
was so intense at night, that crust of ice half
an inch thick was formed in our calabashes and
the berries around our camp were frozen hard.
As far as we could Judge by the horizon, we were
about thousand feet lower than the summit of
Hualaa, and accordingly, 5000 feet above the sea.
On account of the failure of this spring as well
as for other reasons, it was thought expedient to
divide the party. Half of them, headed by Pres.
Beckwith, returned to Kaawaloa, and went out to
the lava flow by Gov. Adams road.
The advance party started again directly for
the crater on Wednesday morning, consisting of
twelve white men and thirty kanakas, with a
weeks provisions. During this days march the
rarity of the atmosphere affected us all more or
less, but especially our natives, who seemed una
BILE to carry their usual loads. We were slowly
ascending nearly all day. The vegetation grad
ually became more and more scanty, till it almost
entirely disappeared.
About noon we crossed a recent flow, perhaps
that of 1S47, and at 4, P NJ, (Feb. 81 after
march of about twenty miles n. E., we suddenly
found the two active craters, and the lava stream
in its whole extent, Immediately below us. We
encamped a mile and half S. W. of the larger
cone, on an eminence commanding a fine view of
the whole eruption. Large banks of snow and
ice were found within a quarter of mile from
our camp, so that all anxiety on the score of
water was soon dissipated.
The sight which We enjoyed that night will not
be soon forgotten by any of the party. The jet
had ceased to play, but the two craters were
blowing off enormous columns of steam, and
showers of red-hOt scoria, with a noise like that
of heavy surf, or occasionally like discharges of
artillery. Half mile below the lower crater ap-
peared a cataract of fire, continued for several
miles in a winding river of light, which then di-
vided into net work of branches, enclosing nu-
merous islands. The branch towards Kawaihae
still gave dull red light in few spots, but the
force of the stream seemed to be directed west,
towards KUna.
Two new streams seemed to be running race,
as it were, in that direction, and we could see the
forest blazing before them The next day (l0th)
was rainy, and the fog so dense that we could not
travel. We moved down a couple of miles, and
encamped on the fresh lava stream, half mile
south of the principal cone. By the heat of the
steam cracks we boiled our coffee, roasted meat
and potatoes, and melted the snow, which our
laA h-o, 81 a