The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-03-31
A TRIP TO THE VOLCANO.
Observations About the Caldera.

morning we visited the sulphur banks,
on the sides of the first steam ter
race mentioned above. Those on
the right, going down from the
house, are 10 to l5 feet high, with
the vapor streaming up out of the
ground constantly adding to them.
A house has been built over one of
the countless apertures, for the pur-
pose of giving sulphur baths, the
subject putting himself into box,
like a piece of timber in n steam
chest and perhaps for the same pur-
pose--to be more easily bent in a
desired shape. 1t would be good
idea to send all "crooked sticks"
in that case, to the Volcano sulphur
bath. However, it was with us as
with Paddy on the wine question,
when he said his name wasn't
Timothy and there was nothing
wrong with his stomach. All three
were supple enough to be doubled
over the rail Of the steamer coming
down, and not one felt possessed of
a malady that sulphur bath would
cure. A. remarkable fact is observed
in the luxuriant growth of ferns
and other wild vegetation all round
some of these vapor outlets; while
roses and other shrubs grow rank
where the clear steam comes up the
most freely, their foliage concealing
the apparently bottomless pits and
bitches in many places. This would
be a dangerous country for chicken
thief to 90 prowling round at night,
as he would likely as not find him
self instead of the chicken boiled
for breakfast next morning.
About 8 O'Clock, accompanied by
Mr.. Maby and the guide, Mr.. Pea,
bright-looking young native man,
the party set out for tour OF the
crater, or caldera, as l shall call the
whole lava bed, in obedience to
| Captain Dutton and to distinguish it
from the subterranean vents in its
surface. Before taking the reader
along, it will be proper to give a
brief description of the ground in
general, for the benefit of those who
have not been at the place. Standing
on the Volcano House verandah and
looking southwark to the front, an
oblong plain, sunk hundreds of feet
below the level on which you stand,
lies stretched before your vision.
Say half way lengthwise, and about
quarter of the distance across from
the west side, are situated the three
points of recent observation-disclosures
as Halemaumau, the New Lake, and
the Little Beggar. AS the eruptions
progressed the two lakes, Halemau-
mau and the New, built high ridges
round their edges as their surfaces
rose, until the former was partially
surrounded by enormous cliffs and
crags towering up 400 or 500 feet,
and the floor of the latter became
elevated, it is said, higher than the
cliffs enclosing the caldera, or main
crater. The Little Beggar was an
eruptive cone standing a short dis
tance off from line between Hale.
maumau and the New Lake. 1t has
always been given out that the cir
cult of the caldera covered a dis
tance of nine miles, but since thai
measurement was adopted the lava
has encroached upon large addi
tional area at the south end. Wher
it is added that the whole area with
in those nine, or maybe twelve miles
is one field of lava many tiers deep
it will not be difficult for the mind
eve to take in a fair view of TIN
caldera of Kilauea. AS it appeared
when its fires were active l have tt
imagine with others who never hat
the fortune to see the sublime spec
r tacle, aided by the verbal ant
painted descriptions of it, whicl
have been abundant. TO describ
; what it looks like now was my com
mission to the Volcano. First W
5 walked part way round the mort
r and west sides, on the edge of tn
cliffs surrounding the caldera. w
!, had just set out when the creates
I manifestation of eruptive power-i
t fact the only one seen while wa
/, there-was noticed in the recen
r center of activity, in the shape of
thick jet of ashes thrown straigf
up TO height of probably 200 fee
Steam was issuing in considerabl
o volume from the sides of the mort
e and east cliffs, near the top, ais
+ from many points about the crate
and in lesser amount from cracks a
e over the bed of the caldera. At IL
: highest point on the western bluff
J, Mr.. SEVERN trained his camera c
n the crater far below. 1t was pointe
g out by Mr.. Maby that the Lit
., Beggar was entirely missing, nothir
81 remained of the New Lake but
is circular-shaped patch sunk yel
l. much below its former level, and