The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-11-26

ing to the summit Of the plateau is about
four miles of a gradual ascent, over an
old lava flow; another ten miles OF q
good buggy track, through fern and
dwarf shrub, brought $ls to the Volcano
House, where for some hours we rested.
Towards evening, turning our steps
downwards, descent of 500 feet brought
us right into the crater of Kilauea.
Lighting lanterns and pipes we trayersed
cool lava beds for nearly an hour. when
We suddenly awoke to the fact that we
are surrounded by fire. On every side
the flames burst forth; through the crew
ices of the lava beds we see the burning
fluid. We pass small volcano known
as the Little Beggar-near enough to
thrust a stick into the molten mass. A
few moments more and the guide seats
us in a comfortable shelter near the
burning lake, and for hours we sit watch
ing the most marvellous scene imagination
could picture.
AN ACTUAL LAKE OF LIQUID FIRE.
Islands forming, disappearing, re-
forming; molten lava constantly flow
ing, disappearing into huge crevices,
again to be elected high in air No com
parison that occurs to us can give even a
faint idea of the effect. A city on flames,
with powder magazines continually ex-
ploding nOiselessly; the fountains play
ing at Versailles with blOod-red liquid
fire instead of water; Titans from the
devils workshop pouring molten iron
into gigantic prehistoric moulds. \ few
minutes more and we see an island OF
lava standing like an ancient castle in
the center of the fiery sea. Form after
form, view after view, presents itself,
each more wonderful, more awful, than
the other. We now make start for the
LAKE OF HALEMAUMAU.
Here the Goddess Pele bears al
mighty sway, and at the foot of her
shrine we worship awe-struck The poet
of the party remains silent awhile, and
at last expresses our feelings:
The devils belch they 1ume they splitter,
Around the everlasting gutter /;
Hell shrieks the victims groans resound,
And from the fiery lake rebound.
We refuse him more license and
wend our steps homeward, bordering
silently OH the terrible scene we had
Witnessed and which will remain wildly
burnt in our brains-photographed in
! our hearts as long as we live. Next day
we revisited the scene by the .'dear
| light of the sun, and if possible were
even more impressed.
ON THE RETURN JOURNEY.
At ) 80 a. IN. on Friday morning we
started on our return journey to Keau-
hou. Embracing again on the Kinau
we completed the circuit of Hawaii, only
landing for short time at Kealakelzu
bay to pay reverence to the immortal
memory of Captain Cook. We arrived
without further incident at Honolulu on
Saturday morning, and thus ended our
| tour round Hawaii, having met with
| kindness and hospitality on every hand,
and when we are back once more in the
! enjoyment of what Charles Lamb has
called the sweet security of streets we
will look back with fond memory on one
of the most enjoyable visits which it has
ever been our lot to make.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
1t is to be hoped that some commercial
benefits will arise from the improved
communications Between Australia, the
Hawaiian Islands and California The
work on the extensive sugar plantations
is done by mules, horses, and in a few
cases by steam, but the price of coal re-
mains high, varying from e3 to "a per
ton. The nominal value of oats is As
per bushel, so that there is good pros
pect of our doing fair trade in either or
both of these important products.
Bacon is quoted at Is. 4d. per pound,
cheese of best quality about the same,
while the best butter is IS. per pound.
Beef and mutton are in ample supply,
but of very Indifferent quality, especially
the latter, so that any development OF
our foreign meat trade in this direction is
unlikely The settlers are now begin
ming to awake to the necessity of inn
proving their stock, and the demand
would increase were the high-bred stock.
of the Colonies more better and widely
known. As time rolls on and the advan-
tages of this route are better known, we
feel sure that the commercial interests of
the great Colonies and California will
tender their best thanks to the Union
Steamship Co. of New Zealand and to
MesSrs. Spreckels & Co. of San Fran
cisco, for their public spirit and deter
mination to continue a service, without
which magic circle now uniting us to
millions of our brethren would be broken.
Yours, faithfully,
j. CATHCART WATSON,
Corwan, New Zealand.
q. Z. ROBERTSON,
COlac, Victoria.
Grand National Fantasia.
At the band concert this evening at
fbn TIau-oiiay, Hotel ~ Do,-oI band mill