Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-18

dence, though occasionally they renovated
their constitutions amid the SHOWS Of the
mountains. On such occasions their journey
ings were accompanied by earthquakes, erup-
tons, heavy thunder and lightning All were
malignant spirits. delighting in acts Of VEN
geance and destruction. Offerings we're made
annually to keep her in good humor and no
traveller dared venture near her precincts with
out seeking her good will"
These sinuous, graceful dancing forms Of IRE
could well be imagined to be Pele and her train.
Sometimes q dozen of these fire fountains were
playing over the surface Of the lake at the same
time. Then, again, the mighty rush would take q
centripetal direction, throwing up q vast single
column Of fire from the center of the lake. All
the features Of this display were beautiful and
graceful as well as sublime. There was no dis
figuring black smoke over the scene. deli
cate. thin vapor hung over the lake, through
which the stars shone, vivid, supernatural
blue,
When all the lake was in agitation the heat
was so intense as to cause a rapid retreat. And
none too soon, for Jets of lava with showers of
white hot splashes fell directly upon the posi-
ton we had just vacated. The irrepressible
Aleck, lowering as near as he could to the fur
mace heat and fiery shower, gathered the clots
Of hot lava with long pole, drew them away,
and, shaping them deity between his rough
shod feet, enclosed Hawaiian coins in the
molten specimens"
THEY WANTED TO 90 HOME.
One Of us in climbing to gather some Of
Madame Peles hair from the rocks, broke
through lava bubble and fell upon all tours
some four OF five feet to the bottom Of the
bubble. No harm was done beyond some
bruises Of hands and knees upon the sharp lava
points, but the incident was SO suggestive of
the brittle, rotten nature Of the lid of the bot
tomless pit Of fire upon which we stood that
several of the party Immediately concluded
that they had seen enough and wanted to 60
back. They said they were tired and were
afraid 1t was going to rain and wanted to get
back before dark. Eight of them started back
with the Portuguese guide, leaving five Of us
with Aleck.
We staid for three hours longer or until
O'Clock at night, and then left most reluctantly.
As often as we would make a move to leave, the
volcano would enter upon some new display of
its wonderfulactivities. With all this variety of
manifestations there was Q general course of
action, as above described. After the volcano
had blown off steam in this prodigious fashion
there would be q subsistence; a cooling of the
surface forming a crust capable sometimes of
bearing the weight Of an adventurous guide.
Then the great volumes of gases generated
below, confined under the crust begin to seek
vent.
Then followed the wonderful series Of geyser-
like jets, whirlpools. dancing fountains, surges
OF fire throwing great CORY clots on the banks;
fireworks breaking in the air and sending out
golden spray Of ethereal grace and fneness
that settling down clothes the rocks with
''Pele's hair
PELE's MALIGNANT HAIR.
This hair, by the way, is Of a malignant
nature, fitting its name. 1t has to be handled
with extreme caution, for it penetrates thick
gloves, and If it once gets into the flesh is
more painful and difficult to dislodge than so
many thistle points.
The completion OF each Of these courses of
cooling and eruption occupied about three
quarters Of an hour, so that in the four hours
OF our stay We witnessed five or six of the won
derful scenes. We left feeling that never in
this world should We again such a display
of the powerful, the sublime and the beautiful
In nature.
THE RETURN TRIP.
Scrambling back to where We left our lanterns
and waterproofs, we took drink Of the tepid
water left in the canteens, took each lantern
and started on the home trip.
Leaving the furnace heat of the lake we found
the air decidedly chilly, but soon got warmed
up by the hardships Of the climb, especially
when we reached the sulphur district The
passage through this truly satanic region was
awkward enough by daylight and on the down
grade. Now we had a steep, difficult climb,
where it was impossible to hold the breath, as
enjoined, or even to keep the wet handkerchief
over our mouths. Our lanterns hardly gave
light enough "to make darkness visible" and
the dense sulphur fumes blinded the eyes and
clouded the awful earthquake cracks Of IN
known depth among which we were cropping.
The ubiquitous Aleck was bobbing around with
Figaro-like agility, crying Look out" "Crack