The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-08-17
A Visit to Kilauea.

( Mr.. J. NJ. Davidson, { member CT the bar Ct To,
Supreme Court Of these Islands, IS the author of tht
following well-written account Of a visit to the crate
Of Kilauea, which is printed in the DenrcT COLORADO,
.Ntrs
80 different is the scene presented from what tbs
visitor expects that i, is difficult to describe it intel
lightly, or in such . manner as to give the reader
any distinct idea Is to its appearance. The crater oi
Kilaues is nine miles in circumference, mean width
three miles, surrounded by 8 Eell-defned rim. The
bed Of the crater is geo feet below this rim. The
active burning lake is in the south end Of this crater,
and at 8 distance can be seen as indicated by vast
volumes Of smoke rad vspor arising around and
above some rocky projections adjacent. To this
point the sightseer is conducted by q guide, and
there, standing On the brink Of projecting scoria, be
looks down on the strsngest and widest element,
surging and throwing its fiery spray as it madly
beats sgainst the surrounding walls. from which it
seems to be impeIled by some unseen power. only to
level down and become Of sombre hue, and drift back
to be overturned AMI dashed into waves and crimson
shreds that fall back into this massive cauldrOn. The
heat is very great, and burns the face, and the
brightness of the broken elements is painfully daE-
zling to the eye. There is no sameness or nOnotoDy,
and from the smooth dark surface Of q minutes dur
alAOI AluSS4 ny ELASO AiucSs merry AaLA6 leSuE
with a Kissing sound, each furtive glance giving a
different view. and then deep r~umblipg as of a
troubled sea is followed by the widest and most
violent agitation. Hours might be spent gazing at
the changing. Infatuated element. Over much of
the road from HilO 20 the volcano, 80 miles. there
Is scarcely any earth, showing a recent volcanic for
nation. Varied vegetation has commenced grow
ing vigorously from the scarcely distinguishable
soil Of decomposed lava, and. indeed, the scoria
now produced and thrown out by volcanic force
is very friable, and its formation is usually in thin
layers, easily crushed under the foot of the pedes-
triaa. The bottom of the main crater and exterior
of the burning lake Is composed OF layers OF lava
of different colors and different comparative struc-
ture, interlapped and intertwineda as it ooZes along,
and, at short intervals. the slOwly-moving masses
pressing on theis heavy, burning fronts. still liquid,
though far off from the burning cauldron. You
can thrust a walking-stick into il and easily detach
quantities of the consistency OF sugar when struck
from the vacuum-pan, or thin mush. The bed of
the main crater was some few years ago several
hundred feet deeper below the unchanging sur
rounding rim. 1t rises and falls without any Fixed
or regular periodicity. The active lake of fire is
at present 600 feet below the rim or surrounding
country, and the dimensions of the burning lake
800 yards long by 100 yards wide. This lake or
cauldron ia constantly changing its size, form and
location from cycle to cycle, slowly Waiting
around the vast area of the great crater. The lava
is at present thrown ont OF the lake by a subterra-
mean passage on the west side, in a river, and
presses its way. dividing into many slowly-moving
streams. throughout the western half Of the inclosed
plain, each stream at night showing its size and
encroaching course, and to the visitor. standing on
the rim Immediately above, gazing down, it looks
like q vast city at his feet, irregularly illuminated
by the sport of jewellers. AS the lava is cooled. it
is driven into all manner OF shapes, breaking like
ice under the influence of changing tides, and as
one walks over the newer formations. looking
down between the broken agmen can be seen a
faw inches beneath the pO0l surface bright. shiny
living fire in massive quantities. The heat radiat-
ed from the surface is very great, but the north
wind blowing over an elevation of about 1000
feet, cools the atmosphere generally, so the visitor
suffers no inconvenience. / believe no one has
lost life as yet accidentally in the crater, but l do
not think any one feels naturally safe until he has
assembled to the outside country, and even then
the steam issuing from the many assures, bringing
up sulphurous odors, makes one who is sinful and
believes in an eternity of torment think that he is
not far from his future home.
In ascending to the upper regions you are con-
Quoted to a small house within a stones cast of the
hotel. Here you disrobe and indulge in a sulphur
bath. A pipe conducts vapor from a assure in a
rock to the room in which you sit puris ndturaLi6uS
a la Russ, and when you say - ready a valve Is
opened admitting the vapor in any volume and OF
any temperature you desire. When you feel as if
yeu were in Tartarus and about to give up the
ghost. shout |" ALA ~ to the native superintendent.
and the valve Is closed and the vapor shut off.
You are then doused with warm and then cold
water, rubbed dry with towels, submitting to the
Lomilomi-a native remedy for all human ills,
which consists in working and kneading your body
with their hands as if it were dough. You then
don fresh linen, and being very clean and Oriental,
but smelling like a matchbox. you feel. if ever in
your life you did feel-and it's funny when you
feel that way-like taking il drink but. by our
lady. you must carry your own ammunition. for
strong drinks are rare in that volcanic dale. This
desire being ~erati6ed. a ravenous appetite RACES.
which is dissip ated by an hours recreation at the
beautifully supplied table at the Volcano house"