The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-08-17

l had hoped and expected to spend my mission
ary life at the pleasant village of Hilo. | see by
the papers that, of late there have been several
earthquakes there and it is likely that the one of
the 7th was felt also The Lord sanctfy to our
friends at that place, and at other stations on
that Island the trial of living and laborfng where
they are all exposed to frequent severe earth
quakes.
Where the voice of Providence calls one to
labor, it is unmanly not to say eowardly and un-
christian, to refuse to listen. ] sometimes think
that the District of Eau. on Hawaii. should be
abandoned that all natives and foreigners should
remove to other districts Of Hawaii, or to the
other Islands of the group. as there are plenty Of
spare lands on Maui. Molokai. Oahu. and Kanai.
Be this as it may. | can not but think that many
have mistaken their duty have tempted God
wien. in their curiosity to examine the fires of
Kllauea, they have approached too near the
dreadful seat Of Pele's reign. | confess to have
been imprudent in this matter myself, one partic-
ular instance of which will give you, for never
think of it without feelings of gratitude to Him
who preserved me at a time of imminent peril.
In December 1929, in company with the late
Judge Andrews. first visited Kilauea, where
spent a day and night. Going from Hilo, we
approached the crater on the eastern side, where
we found a native house, the one, if mistake
not, which KapoIani occupied when she visited
Kilauea, and descended into the crater. At that
time, the appearance OF the crater was nearly the
same as when visited by Rev. Mr.. Ellis, in SOB,
as described by him in his volume Tour around
Hawaii" published in Boston in ls25-a volume
which many of your readers have doubtless read.
The black ledge, so called by Mr. Ellis, was then
standing. He thus describes this ledge, which,
as you may not have the book at hand, will
give you, no vestige of it remaining at present
The sides of the gulf before us were perpendic-
ular for about 400 feet, when there was wide,
horizontal ledge of solid dark lava, of irregular
breadth but extending completely round. Be
meath this black ledge. the sides slOped towards
the centre, which was, as nearly as we could
Judge, 300 or 400 feet lower Mr.. Andrews and
| clambered down the eastern side of the crater
till we stood on this ledge, and clambered down
its northern side 10 the bottom, then assembled to
the tcp of the ledge and walked completely
around it. As we approached the southern part
we discovered several caldrAs or lakes of boil
ing lava and as we were looking down from our
standing on this high ledge, into one of these
fearful lakes, we experienced the first earthquake
we had felt on the Islands There could be no
mistake aboCt it. The pavement on which we
stood, seemed sinking beneath our feet, and large
stones came rolling down from the edge of the
crater above us and lodged on the ledge not far
from where we were standing. | scarcely need
say that, with thankful hearts for our preserva-
tion. we hastened our departure from this place
of danger. Applying our handkerchiefs to our
nostrils, we ran as fast as possible, and in good
time reached the house on the eastern side
which we left few hours before and where we
laid US down and slept in safety, the Lord sus-
tanning us.
Yours, truly, j. S. GREEN.
p. 81 perceive by the Cowmercid Adrer-
Hser Of July Both, that 1.-The mountain abored
IA week. and brought forth mouse.' But alas
the poor little fellow was so loaded with bitter
denuncatlons' that life was extinct