The Hawaiian gazette., 1874-12-30

cauldron, which was necessarily spouting, and
flowing generally to the left hand. The jets of
red hot lava are frequently thrown up on to
the top of the high bank surrounding the lake,
hight Of one hundred feet At other times
the boiling lava seems to flow out through sub
terranean channels, exposing immense caverns
on every side, under the precipiees, glowing
with the most intense heat and briliancy,
which no one can long gaze at. The size Of
Lake Kilauea must be five or six hundred feet
in length by three hundred or more in width.
The older lake Of Halemaumau was also
very active, but the smoke and gases around it
were so thick as to forbid approach, though at
times, when the wind is favorable, it can be
visited. The wall or precipice which sur
rounds these active lakes is not less than tif-
teen hundred feet long by eight hundred wide.
The entire space enclosed by this wall may
properly be termed " the old south lake, " and
am told that at times Of unusual volcanic &C
tivity, il is all in action, and even fills up and
overaows its rim. These overfows must oc-
curvery suddenly, and singularly enough they
have always taken place when no one was Wis
ting the scene. The sight of these boiling
cauldrons, their constant changes, their rising
and falling, the spouting and dashing of the
lava like surf on a shore, and the intense bril-
laney of the blood-red molten mass-form a
sight worth going a long distance to witness.
No one can forget the grand picture he sees
here.
Another noticeable change which has taken
place Is the gradual formation of the hill in
the middle, or rather on the summit, of which
are now located the two active lakes Unjust
be at least two hundred feet above the bottom of
the sunken basin. A native informed me that
where Lake Kilauea now is was large cone
in constant action, similar to those so frequent
ly met in the crater. This cone suddenly fell
in, and in its place was formed u lake, at first
quite small, which has gradually increased in
size, by its banks caving in, till now it is five
or six hundred feet in extent. No one visiting
this wonderful crater can doubt that fires are
burning constantly beneath its entire extent
If we may judge from the record of forty or
fifty years, there is no more danger now than
there has been in years past, in visiting every
part of it. About the time of the great earth
quake and eruption in 1865, there were no less
than thirteen lava lakes in various parts of
this crater, which fact clearly shows its con-
nection with the central chimneys of Mauna
Loa, from which that eruption burst out.
The return from the lakes to the hotel is
much more exhausting than the walk down,
the ascent, where the traveller has
about one thousand feet of PERCEPTIONS climb
ing to surmount. Some one in the record
book tells very forcibly the experience of most
visitors, when he says that the distance from
the hotel to the lakes is two and half miles,
but from the lakes to the hotel seven and
half miles Many besides him have found his
record too true.
The weather was charming during our stay
here, the atmosphere clear as a mirror, and
rs bracing and invigorating as that of more
northern ATTITUDES The mercury in the Their
fell to AZ, and it took no stretch of
to fancy the heavy dew which
covered the grass to be frost. The grand old
back of us were perfectly cloudless
lay and night with their submits covered
with heavy banks of snow.
An ingenious arrangement has been made
use of to supply fresh water, which has proved
very successful. A cistern is constructed near
he steam lodges back of the hotel, with a roof
yer it, on which the steam condenses, and
lows into the cistern. By this means and the |
showers, perpetual and abundant
supply of the purest water is obtained.
The hotel is most admirably kept, and no
visitor can complain where he finds every COM
iort provided for him as he does here, and on
very reasonable terms With good road con-
lecting with Hilo, which could be travelled in !
our or five hours, hundreds would visit XII |
auea where tens do now Such road ought /
to be among the early improvements made by |
he government, using in its construction the |
abor of prisoners convicted on Hawaii In /
his way it could be built within four years at
very moderate cost; and the increased reve-
lue which the government steamer would de-
i've from increased travel to the volcano would |
lot be less than FIVE thousand dollars year.
H.Mw.