The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-08
ISLANDS OF FIRE.


sSs Ehu Noo1 G<tcs
Probably nine-tenths of the numerous
tourists to Hawaii 60 there for the express
purpose OF seeing the famous volcano Of
isss Kilsusa; D. TO & the isrgs rye class thus repre-;
will have a special attraction. Indeed,
this number Is OF more than usual interest
because OF the present unwonted activity
OF this remarkable volcano, as we'll as be-
cause OF the very complete and accurate
representation In the illustrations OF
every phase OF volcanic action. Here We
are given view into tho great pit that is
well termed lake OF fire. Another view
brings us to the very brink of the lake
itself, within the towering black walls of
that enormous pit. In another illustra-
tion we have an example Of boiling lava
flowing on the service OF the country, and
falling over precipice into . body OF
water. All the strange contortions Of
lava flow are shown vividly In these illus
trations. II Is not surprising that the
ignorant natives .personifed these
OF the interior OF the earth. The serpen-
tine and twisted arms OF lava shown in
these illustrations are uncanny and sug.
gestiye TO minds less ignorant and debssed.
The Goddess Pele, who was the deity of
the volcanic fires, was O hidcous old hag
who paralyzed those who defied her. Ter
ror-stricken natives fed at the signs OF
the old superstitions cling, and notable
instances have been given ~ the tenacious
hold they have on the CO ity Of royal
personages.
Thus, 1t was Princess Ruth who sought
to placate Pele on the occasion OF the
memorable lava flow of 1880 by. holding .
series OF incantations for two weeks on Q
neighboring hill, and by Offering the
furious and implacabe goddess red silk
handkerchiefs and bottles OF brandy! Ii
was the present celebrated Liliuokalani
who, 1891, on the occasion OF a visit to
Kflauea, sacrificed to the same goddess, and
sought her favor by casting small white
pig, alive, on the surface OF Halemanman
where, In spite OF its outcry and futile
efforts, it quickly roasted to the satisfac-
tion OF the royal devotee.
The singular thing about Kilauea il the
accessibility 1t offers to the observation In
comparative safety of some OF the strangest
phenomena in nature. One can stand at
the very edge Of the boiling lake, where
fountains Of fire are dancing all over
the constantly changing surface. Small
cones rumble and tremble with ominous
suggestiveness rs one investigates the
hoor OF the immense pit. To US il seems
proach so near to such merciless
and terrible forces. We are as
sured in the description OF such ex-
periences that the real danger is slight.
because OF the ample warnings that are
given from below when an outbreak or .
change - imminent. 1t 70 remarkable
that of all the thousands OF people who
have visited this marvel Of nature, none |
have been overtaken with serious mishap. |
lnasmuch as these people have defied the |
Duperstitious precautions of Hawaiisns by |
neglecting to cast into the fiery lake the |
talismanic ohelo berries, 1t would appear |
hat this remarkable immunity from dan, |
ho <xff f.ft l. e. -
Did traditions.
We have in the text q fascinating de-
Bcription of a unique event, being moth
Ing more nor less than the absolute drop-
ping out OF the bottom and the total dis
appearance OF the lava in Halemsnmanl
The most active lake in Kilauea. This oc-
,urred in 1886. II was not many months |
after, however, before the lava returned,
Ind the activity has steadily increased,
until now 1t 10 greater than at any time in
he past 20 years.
Much OF the narrative in this number IL
written in the racy, graphic style of one
no Is personally competent to guide. We
llmost see with our own eyes as he hur-
les Us from one wonder to another, act
lally making US participants in his own
experience in the wierd and wi full pit, and
'eside those lava flows from the terrible
u 1okuaweoweo at the summit of the lofty
dauna Loa. We are brought face to face
With the actual operation Of world build
ng. Elsewhere this cannot be seen with
uch particularly. Here we have the
aising of the land, both by the
oppression OF the surrounding sesbed
nd by the out-pouring of lava over
normous areas and at great depths.
iere is the rapid encroachment of vegeta-
ion and the wrapping OF black, disin.
egrating scori9 with garment OF green.
We can see the ocean out of which these
Ilands have risen, the LIQUID lava that |
as built them up, the abundant rains
hat have eroded and disintegrated the
ongealed lava, and the Triumphant
larch of the forest following the skirmish
ne of ferns In subduing the land to the
ses and abode OF man. It is ont of chaos
ito Paradise, and Hawaii well has won
le name Of the Inferno of the world nd