The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-10-03

lavas are extremely fluid, and in running
off honeycomb its structure, leaving num-
erous caverns behind them, through which
subsequent eruptions force their way.
Yet the pressure required for the lava TO
rend the mountain-wal is estimated at
not less than five hundred pounds to the
square inch, or a million pounds for
stream two feet deep and seven feet broad
When the breadth of the lava stream is
measured by miles instead of feet, force
enough is exerted to shake the island to
its very foundations.
The grand eruptions Of Ki.lau-e-a oc.
cur, with some approach to regularity,
at intervals of about eight years. But
the volcano does not, like Vesuvius, Etna,
or Stromboli, confine its activity to special
occasions. The fire RACES continually in
the southern end of the great crater,
where a lake of melted lava tosses its
red surges and pours forth its sulphurous
vapors without ceasing. This lake, the
"Hale Mau-mau," or "House of Everlast-
ing Fire" of the old heather mythology,
may be safely approached by the traveller
at almost any time. 1t is represented by
the first engraving as it appears when
very active.
The appearance Of this lake varies
greatly, however, at different times.
Sometimes the lava is 80 far sunken below
its banks that the traveller cannot reach
it, and comes away quite disappointed
with what he has seen. Again, in times
of great activity, the fiery sea may over
flow upon the bottom OF the crater, or
force itself up through numerous cracks
and chasms in the floor of indurated lavas.
[ was once in the bottom of Ki-lau-e-a
when the lava, boiling up from below,
overflowed its banks in manner so uni
form and measured as to CONCEAL around
the edges of the great lake, and build tor
elf barrier aro and the fearful cauldron
of fire, The lava, thus walled in, gradu-
ally rose many feet above the level where
l with others stood, at FIRST quite UNI
conscious of the terrific process that was
going on SO near us. The fiery waves,
tapping over the margin, CONCEALED where
they fell, and thus builded up, little by
little, their incosng wall. The surface
of this sea Of fire was elevated about
thirty feet above the level of the bottom
of the crater; it was a boiling mass OF
fluid lavas, half mile in diameter, that
surged and Numbered and sent down a
threatening roar, Splashes of liquid FIRE
hurled over the margin of its con6ning
barrier, fell among our company Warn.
ed by this danger, we withdrew to short
distance, and awaited the breaking forth
of the imprisoned fire. We had hardly
gained our new point Of observation be-
fore the lava wall gave way in two places
with a laundering crash and roar, and
from each Of the rcuts thus made tor.
rent of liquid fire poured over cliff fifty
feet high, into the rough channel of a
former flow Roaring glowing, smoking
and wreathed in blush flames, it ground
along the lava channel with a peculiar
dull thunder, that was caused by the
ponderous weight of the molten mass. Ii
Tapped up hugo rocks and bore them away
upon its surface | could see them oscillate
ei.ss;shly -ro- tho ri river. and finally
melt and sink into it like so much wax
The power and splcnior Of this sudden
display, the fierce sweep Of the mighty
torrent, the stranse process that had
heaped up the flood Of lava to disgorge i,
with such resi>tlcss power, all made g
spectacle never to be forgotten by any Of
the party who witnessed it.-Dr. T. VI
CO0R. IN ScriLNer'S for October.