The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-26
ISLANDS OF FIRE.
Wonderful Volcanoes of the Hawaiian
f, Islands, Fire God, Etc.

I Islands, Fire God, Etc.
Probably nine-tenths of the numerous
tourists to Hawaii go there for the express
purpose OF seeing tho famous volcano OF
kilauea. To the lBrge class thus repre-
sented, Part Five of picturesque Hawaii"
will have q special attraction. Indeed,
this number is of more than usual interest
because of the present unwonted activity
OF this remarkable VOLCANO, as well 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 the great pit that is
well termed O lake OF fire. Another view
brings us to the vefy 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 a precipice into body OF
water. All the strange contortions OF
lava flow are shown vividly in these illus
trations. 1t Is not surprising that the
ignorant natives personified these
manifestations OF the hidden forces
OF the interior OF the earth. The serpen-
tine and twisted arms OF lava shown in
these illustrations are uncanny and sug-
gestive to minds less ignorant and debased.
The Goddess Pele, who was the deity OF
the volcanic fires, was hideous old hag
who paralyzed those who defied her. Ter
ror stricken natives fed at the signs of
her approach. Even to the present day
the old superstitions cling, and notable
instances have been given 90 the senacious
hold they have on the cs$p lity of royal
personages.
Thus, il was Princess Ruth who sought
TO placate Pele on the occasion OF the
memorable lava flow of 1850 by holding a
series OF incantations for two weeks on a
neighboring hill, and by Offering the
furious and implacable goddess red silk
handkerchiefs and bottles OF brandy! II
was the present celebrated Liliuokalani
who, 1891, on the occasion OF a Wis & to
Kilauea, sacrificed 10 the same goddess and
sought her favor by casting a 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 Is the
accessibility it 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 as one investigates the
floor OF the immense pit. To us it seems
almost foolhardy for sane people to APP
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 a
change ~ imminent. 1t is remarkable
that OF all the thousands or people who
have visited this marvel of nature, none
have been overtaken with serious mishap.
Inasmuch as these people have defied the
superstitious precautions of Hawaiians by
neglecting to cast into the fiery lake the
talismanic ohelo berries, it would appear
that this remarkable immunity from dam
ger would be destructive of faith in the
old traditions.
We have in the text fascinating de-
ecription 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 Halemanmani
the most active lake in Kilauea. This oc-
Cured in 1886. IL was not many months
after, however, before the lava returned,
and the activity has steadily increased,
until now 1t 10 greater than at any time in
the past 25 years. /
Much Of the narrative in this number Is
written in the racy, graphic style of ono
who Is personally competent to guide. We
almost see with our own eyes as he hur-
ries us from one wonder to another, act
ually making US participants in his own
experience in the wierd and awful pit, and
beside those lava flows from the terrible
Mokuaweoweo at the summit of the lofty
Mauna Loa. We are brought face to face
with the actual operation of world build
ing. Elsewhere this cannot be seen with
such particularly. Here we have tho
raising of the land, both by tho
depression of the surrounding seabed
and by the out-pouring of lava over
enormous areas and ut great depths.
Here is the rapid encroachment of vegeta-
tion and this wrapping of black, disin-
tegrating scorie with garment of green.
We can see the ocean out OF which these
islands have risen, the liquid lava that
has built them sp, the abundant rains
that have eroded ana disintegrated the
CONCEALED lava, and the triumphant
march of the forest following the skirmish
line OF ferns in subduing the land to the
uses and abode OF man. 1t is out OF chaos
into Paradise, and Hawaii well has won
the name OF the Inferno OF the world aud
ths paradjse of the Pacific.