The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-08-16

. I.--..- =-.E- - IL = - -f"E --- .---..- 4-Ar-
aud w. driven before -l= wind Ma green
,-ir- l-t -= eye; Il w-s Tbs ..-tkl-ss and l-E-
-eau-,- g. f-~-ai..a-
After rl--aEiu- 9f-am= refreshments. and our
PARTY having a. cone %. we prepared 9, descend
rh- e--.-- Z. tie liquid Like, each person grp-
vi1-5 with = l9r- sick. t- rrg.a- the lava. and
Is bel. IN walking. Tl- word was given. and
we .- ia-5 line behind or guide. and c-l--
M-l--l -ae descent %. tae Frac.g.c- = TIE H.-r
us -.= crater. Tbs descent VIZ :lrL cutie easy.
though v--y v--cipI;au>. The elf t--u tie 4--
. t-- brow. must BE- near SEQ .-e-, aud nearly
Perpendicular. ilr ca- Path zi-z-S down -
fac. ana J. comparatively =-s- .t descent The
cs.rt au .-- retain We found -.r-a.. fatigue
rag. and wr-- a-l. au hour II accomplishing IT,.
viii much litl- and Roll. on reaching ,l- a.l-
u tie crater. w- struck across Il lu . s.--E-we-
try direction. f1E ;H= chief Vo!a; Z attraction.
IN molten burning lake. The rocky surface on
which v. walked. gave evidence ~ every step, q
the mighty power that was rent uu BENEATH our
te-;. fyr i. was riven ana cracked. and thrown
into ali -lrl- Il shapes. In some g.-e~ We could
So the white steam escaping. others iu-5 which
We -az-i. were deep and fearful = Look into,
while many We could step over - We pursued our
way. There i a singular pile Of rocks u = rocky
ledge, extending for half " three-guarrers Of q
mile across this plain, between which we passed.
Among them was one immense rock, which bears
strong resemblance 70 the human face, and to
which one Of our party who had visited the
sphynx in Egypt, called our attention. It was
named the L. Sphynx rock"
This rart Of the floor Of the crater must have
remained undisturbed by any fow Of lava for
many years. a. We found ferns and moses grow
ing in the c~revices Of the rocks but the innumer-
able assures show that the earthquake often
shakes the bed. and makes this not the safest
place 70 be found for a nights rest. a. there Is no
knowing at what moment Pele may shake herself.
The rocks over which we were passing. often gave
back a hollow sound 10 our sticks as We ~,humped
our way along, indicating that the foundation
could not Be relied on. We were obliged 70 de-
yi4,e some from the Old path on account of a re-
cent flow Yet warm. and which looked as if but
just poured out. l. was Of inky blackness. and
oli,rened and shone in the saws Of the sun. This
warm flow We passed safely over, stopping a few
moments % visit what was = blowing cone, cover
ed with beautiful specimens Of lava which had
been blown up, and were Yet heated. \ few
STEPS further, ana We stood on the brink Of the
molten lake. And here the pen fails 10 convey
what the mind fails TO comprehend. and describe
a scene OF fearful, terrible sublimity-a vast pit,
u thousand feet in circumference. with black
walls forty feet high, rising perpendicularly, and
at the bottom, q mass Of ever-noying, ever-heav-
ing molten lava now crusted over with a thin
crust which was cooled by the atmosphere. now
swelling and bursting through the crust. throwing
up a mass Of red hot lava, spouting and beating
unanimously now pressing one way. now
another, surging against the sides, 70 be dashed
back again into the eyer-mOying mass seams
opening. showing TIE lurid mass beneath. This
SIGHT was awfully grand. The mind was forced
back on itself, and probably none Of the PARTY
that stood and gazed and wondered, but felt con-
strained 70 compare the terrible sight before us
that lake whose fire burneth forever and
ever.
There has evidently been q very great change
in the whole character and appearance Of this
since It was visited by Mr.. Stewart in 1925.
Is action must have then been much more gene
-al and extended throughout the whole floor Of
he crater, whereas the only part now active is
small lake in the southwestern part. There
: something strangely facinating in lingering
this mighty display Of creative power, and
many persons expose themselves 10 danger in the
~N-A- ~ procuring go 'AAitF ~ - '-~'
i specimens as mementoes Of the visit. And
ONE Of our party who seemed a little timid III
.Pproaching it were the last who cared to leave.
We were much surprised TO find or see a mass Of
ava like an island in the molten lake. 1t may
been thrown up by the action Of the volca-
Or it may be a mass detached from the side
f the cliff, and fallen in. 1t forms quite a strik-
NJ feature of the ake-and the question of how
-. -. l. l. 80. 9. Il IL -.l,., ,-.-- IL. 3
7ashes its base is an interesting one. At our
light was a steam escape, which at short intervals
United a loud. protracted blast, like a high
ressure steamboat. Madame Pele might have
cen giving The usual steamboat salutation TO the
who was now first visiting her domin-
ms, for christening his fine steamer after her resi- G
ence, Kilquea. t
1t is impossible TO do proper justice to this I
exhibition of Natures God. Truly, I
with God is terrible majesty Let any one I
and stand where we stood, and they will L
knowledge the ineficiency of language TO de-
ribe the scene. Our return was by the same b
lth, by which we came, and we arrived at the c
1use. much %fatigued, but well satisfied. Travel r
: in going down 10 the lake should carry a good a
ipply Of cool water. Some Of the members of b
IT party not being satisfied with a daylight Il
ew, descended again in the evening, and passed Il
e night in the crater. They describe the island v
having moved, showing it is not connected be- a
W while the beauty of the fires are seen to II
uch better advantage. y,
On reaching the hut, we found " Mai Kuna," Of
e Major domo, had dinner ready and it was y
ON being discussed with a hearty relish, and the Of
st Of sauce-a good appetite. As the sun sank 10
the west, the clouds that had been hanging tn
er the mountains cleared away, and we had Ia
g views of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. These
are very dis>imilar in their outlines, NIauna di
u presenting a smooth dome-like surface, while oa
.una Kea's peaks seem to pierce the skies As 3
rht rnrIered nrnund us=there Was no LITTLE "