The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-04-26

olll lNNliiS lCu tONn lllIO luG DlJ DG~
fore us. Rousing our dropping
spirits to proper martial pitch, we
bid the guide on, and we would fol
low.
Going over road of rocks and |
lava for about one mile and n
quarter, we were suddenly confront
ed bya pit-like declivity Descend
ing this with consid cradle rapidity
we found ourselves in view Of ma
ture's greatest phcnomenon-the
burning lake of Kilauca. The lake
to all appearance was about 500
feet long and 800 feet wide, and
surrounded entirely Ivy vertical
walls of encrustcd lava. At the
first glance the bosom of the lake
had all the appearance of body of
still, dark, sluggish water, surround
ed by rim of fire from which was
continually being sent up miniature
jets os tire-emitting sprays of
glowing matter, accompanied by a
dull, rumbling sound. Now what
appeared TO be a fountain would
make its appearance in the centre of
the lake, and after bubbling for q
few minutes disappcar. In short
time il would renew operations, only
on u licrcer scale boching burning
lava on the air. Gradually the sur
face about the edge of the lake
would crack, roll up and disappear
downwards forming surface of
restless fire. Then would it squirt
again and grow sluggish and black
again. Now a complete netting OF
cracks would cover the entire crust,
disappearing piece after piece un-
til living writhing mass of kissing
flames alone remained Anon would
the surface calm again and blacken,
then cracking disappear. Suddenly
the entire lake seemed to concen-
tratc for one mighty concerted ac-
tion--forming into u glowing cone
of fire, pyramid of terrible, awful
glory, sending forth a roaring sound.
Then about it would smaller cones
appear and besport them into play
full glee. Then would all unite and
glow and burn with demoniacal fury.
Now it would break into countless
millions Of brilliant sprays. Then
would it form into a writhing mass
of burning matter, with surging
waves of lava, which with the lash
ing fury of the sea would dash them
selves against the sides, retreat
only to collect themselves TO dash
again. What a display of fireworks !!
Everything that was brilliant, sub
lime and terrible united and gam
boiled in the air. 1t was the He'll
that Dante drew-a hell fermented
TO uncomfortable fury. Terrible
yet sublime! Frightful still surpas-
singIy fascinating! Terror striking,
but wonderfully beautiful! 1t chill
ed the heart with awe, yet warmed
the blood to quickest action. 1t
was nothing-everythlng. Godlike,
still revel of demoniac sports 1t
was simply unimaginablc and indis-
cribable. 1t stultitied yet quicllened
the faculties. "It was GA real bot
tomiess pit, the fires of which are
not quenched, the lake which burn
eth with fire and birthstone. The
fiery sea, whose waves are never
weary. There were groanings,
rumblings and detonations, rush
ings, hissings and splashings, and
the crashing of breakers on the
coast, but it was the singing of fiery
waves upon fiery shore So
wrapt became the senses that one
could but wonder and look, and in
looking wonder on. 1t so removed
one outside the human limits that
to appreciate was to be supernatural,
to understand Divine
One can stand on the brink of the
Vesuvius Crater, and in peering
down its burning, seething cauldron
draw in the imagination pictures OF
Pompeii in the brilliant days of hel
wealth and luXury-in the mind;
eye-that with Diomed's fascinating
daughter, Julia, gaze fondly upor
the Greek lone, or even inhale The
perfume of the violets that poo
blind Nydia sold. But to stanc
upon the brink Of Kilauea and watcl
the ebb and flow of her never end
ing sea of fire, one can but think O
Hell. The eyes turn thcmselve
unto the soul, and the soul tremble
like guilty thing before the gaze
The tongue by awe moved can only
in faintest murmur calculate til,
hearts prayer. LduS tibi DOmini
Stilled and terrified we quit th
lake, andssought the quiet of tenteC
beds, there to sleep, aye, and t.
dream-and in those dreams to lea,
: a fancied life--a life that whirled II
through time and space on the wing
ed back of nightmares.
Calm and beautiful beamed tn
: morning sun upon the opening eye
lids, and having quickly broker
! camp we took the homeward way
With Spartanlike courage we mad
the distance, and once more stoo
on Hilo's surf-lashed shore, and il
: sight of the old "Vandalia." 4" w
: had seen the Volcano, and now lill
, prodigal sons, tired of feeding o
huslts and cobs, we returned to th
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