The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-11-23

lustre, and compact Ob-idian. IL was eidied
twisted and warped in every conceivable contOr-
ton. IL was in various stages Of decomposition
according to it, Ioro-ity eompaetness. The
road a well defined but narrow path worn
over this lava, in many places irregular, danger
Gus and almost impas-able for unshOd horse.
There NJ springs, and no running water on
this extensive Lava plain, but there are many
pools OF water in the cavities Of the volcanic
rocks, and in dsprc-siOns in the lava. The hDw
had eome from MaHna Ioa, and Of cDmIara-
lively date, but long prior to the visit Of
any European The line Of pit eraters and cones
immediately-b -beiore u, was evidently in action
at the time, for noticed may cross currents.
and brcakages and upheayals caused by the meet
ing Of these counter currents. Our thoughts in
voluntarily pictured the blazing rivers Of flame
that swept in fiery eataraets the vast plain /:
and recalled To mind the tradition Of the chief
Of Puma, who long ages agp had paid n visit to
Oahu, and ON his return landed his canoe ut Ha-
kalau. Ascending the lofty bill which lies wet
Of Metealf's sugar plantation, he the whole
district in blaze, and the sulphury smoke beat
ing in his face. He turned and fled in terror
from the grand pyrOtechnic display Of the wrath
Of Pele, and never revisited the desOlatiOn Of his
princiTality.
Here, ut the height OF about one thousand feet
above the leyel of the sea, we found the OhelO or
Hawaiian wb0rtIeberry, growing ripe and in
abundance. We found another orange tree to
the right Of the road, procured more of the re-
freshing fruit, passed the halepili Of an ancient
swine-herd, some good cotton land To the right Of
the road and came to Olaa, n collection of some
half dozen scattered grass houses and one wooden
house Olaa is ll3S feet above level, and
near IL miles from Hilo. 1t is generally called
the half way house, though the distance is shorter
to Kilaaea by more than a mile.
Here we paused and unsaddled, while the na-
tives brought us ripe bananas aud oranges. Our
eoupaguOns du rOyage wished to lunch, and in
addition to our stock providently laid in by our
guide ID. III. Hitchcock, called for a chicken and
potatoes. \ chanticleer was soon decapitated,
and from little knoll in front of the house, some
fine Irish potatoes grabbled. These were
soon prepared and potted, and all hands kept the
pot boiling. While our horses were feeding ON
the grass, we fed the "spuds, and after n
rest and smoke were again ON the way. The soil
Is very productive in this great lava plain, "her-
ever enough can be found to admit Of planting.
The growth of trees and underground looked
thrifty on both sides of the rad, wherever they
had not been destroyed by the fire. The effects
of this destroying element were everywhere visi-
BILE, and forciby reminded us that there should be
a stringent enforcement of the laws against the
wanton and reckless perpetrators of this greatest
injury to the Islands. The act Of setting fire to
the grass and woodland produces great and ire
parable injury, not only present, but prospective
Our route from Olaa lay over narrow raised
road Of G1, or broken and angular volcanic rocks,
IainfuI and tOilsomc to our horses. y burnt dis
trict extended right and left for some distance,
and beyond this were the green woods. The
hardy fern recovering rapidly from the action
of the fire, but it will be long before the dead
trees are replaced by green Ones. Ascending the
rolling plain for several miles, passed several
good looking halepils in the woods ON the right,
and came to n dense and tangled forest, where the
tree fern waved like the palm, and the dense un-
dergrOwth rendered il thick and dark
The ascent was now more rapid toward Kilauea,
and we came to the abandoned pulu station of
Kapuauhi, 2Is4 feet above the level of the sea.
Before reaching this point we had left the recent
lava flow and entered ON an older volcanic forna-
tion. The lava all decomposed and present.
ell the appearance Of black, gravelly soil which
produced grass, shrubs and trees in abundance.
We passed a beautiful koa grove on the right,
and felt we were among the clouds, which came
driving colly up, distilling their moisture on us
at an elevation of $500 feet above the sea level.
We finally galloped drippingly up to the vol
emo house at five in the evening, snelt the sui
injury smoke of Kilauca. and gazed into the deep
chasm below We did not see it until we were
on the sheer brink of the preciPice, AMI person
might pass within few hundred yards of Its pre-
cipitous walls, without knowing he was 80 near a
lake of quenchless fire.
Standing at an elevation of near 1000 feet
above the SEA, looking into the deep chasm in the
shadows of the evening and through the dim haze
of smoke, it appeared like the mOuldering ruins
of a burnt city The hillOcks and mounds of
lava and the columnar jets of mineral had all the
appearance of falling eathedrals and churches,
and the toplng of lofty buildings, among the rub
bish of inferior ediiices. We thought of Moscow
and the Kremln and Napoleon's exclamation of
an ocean of flame" We once witnessed a
,uirage ON the great desert of Utah. which had all
the appearance of our first view of kiauea.
We met Mr.. G. B. Porter, the most courteous
and polite of landlords and under his kind atten-
tions, we were soon in comfortable quarters, and
enjoying the luxury of blazing fire. After
warm and grateful supper, as well done up as If
we had been at the Metropolitan or Delmonico's,
we proceeded to the Lookout house. Our steps
were lit by the volcanic glare. which was reflected
from the burning lake-pits below ON the sulphury
clouds Watching the seething, boiling, inter-
mittent pits, with all kinds of imaginings a. it
regards their fantastic forms, we returned, slept
under several blankets and arose next morning,
took hot sulphur bath and prepared for an ex-
p,oration. In our next we will write you from
the chasm Your, ever l., PAz.