The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-04-03

HAducd may NC ICaCuCu Wy way VI MAUI
the most southern district of the Island,
over tolerable trail or road, or from
Hilo over a mountain trail thirty miles,
The latter is the route usually adopted
by tourists, a ride over which compels
lady tourists to adopt the style Of the
native women of riding astride; in fact,
it is the custom of all female equestri-
anes, whether they belong to the elite
Caucasian or the half caste or natives of
the group. The crater of Kilauea is
called by the natives "Lua Pele, or
Peles Pit. The crater is two by three
miles across and probably 1000 feet
deep.
VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS.
The eruptions have not been confined
10 the TWO craters but have occurred on
all sides Of the mountain at various
heights Of five thousand to twelve thou
sand feet above the sea. The northern
boundary of the bay, on the eastern side
Of which Kilanea is situated, is a reef of
lava and was formed by an eruption
from one Of the large craters at the top Of
Mauna Kualalai, which inundated sew
eral valleys, destroyed a number of plan
tations, filed up large bay twenty
miles long and formed the present coast
Stone walls, trees, houses, and large
masses OF old lava We're melted and
burned and swept away in the irresista-
Die torrent. Numerous offerings We're
won't 70 be made by the natives TO APP
pease the wrath of Madame " Pele," and
live hogs were thrown into the stream of
molten lava; but all these proving of no
avail King kamehameha, with retinue
Of chiefs and priests, visited the crater
upon one occasion, and cutting off his
own hair which was always regarded
sacred. threw it into the torrent. A few
days subsequently the lava flow ceased.
The gods We're in consequence supposed
by The simple natives to have been salts
fed and the king acquired greater infu-
enee from his having performed so great
a miracle, by which his people We're
saved from utter destruction.
The first eruption of kilauea, of which
Tradition gives any definite account. oc-
CURED il 1899, in a southeasterly direc-
ton, by which the heavens were dark
ened and upwards of hundred lives
were supposed to have been lost; and
Dibble's history relates that it destroy
ed also a portion of Keonas army. In
1928 large tract Of country in the dis
tIict OF kau was flooded by streams of
molten lava which, when it reached the
sea, was from five to eight miles in
width.
N 1882, in the month of June, an
eruption occurred both from Kilauea
and the summit of Manua Loa-Mokua-
weoweo-during which the lava flowed
over the east wall, part of which flowed
back into kilauea and part across into
the Old crater, which at the time had be-
come overgrown with wood; this erup-
ton continued two or three weeks dis
charging lava from from so many vaults
and assures that the fires were seen from
every side of the dome and. visible as far
away as Lahina, something near l25
miles.
In May, 1870, there was an eruption
of Kilauen in northeasterly quarter,
and in less than four days had reached
the sea 40 miles. 1t filled up valley
in depth from ten TO two hundred feet,
sometimes flowing under ground, present
ing the appearance of rocks, trees, etc,
borne upon its surface like RATS upon a
river On the third day three new
hills were formed in the direction where
the fire first appeared of a mile in length
and GOO to 500 feet high. All vegeta-
ton for miles was destroyed and the peo-
pie obliged to fee with greatest expedi-
ton 70 avoid destruction. The finest
print could be read at Hito, forty miles
distant.
In January ls43 an eruption occurred
from the summit of Mauna Loa, run
ming down in two streams, one westward
toward kona, the other northward to
the foot of Mauna kea and there again
dividing, one stream northeastward
toward Waimea, the other east
ward toward Hilo. The one toward
Mauna Kea is said to have been one and
half miles wide and thirty miles long
In February 1852 during an erup-
ton or the north side of Mauna Loa a
column Of lava is said to have been sus-