The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-03-31

party was at once made up to visit the
volcano, The Kinau, the regular Hllo
boat, was upon the eve of sailing, ana
all was hustle about the city. Tele-
phone bells, of which there is one in
nearly every dwelling, We're ringing VII
olently, and friends hastily arranged
with each other for the trip, Baggage
was hastily packed, carriages ratified
over the pavement in the direction Of
the wharf, ana when the kinau finally
drew away from her moorings and
steamed out of the harbor, she took
with her one of the merriest parties
which has sailed out of Honolulu for
many long day. The day was glori'
Gus; the sea and sky, as always, deep"
ly, beautifully blue. The southwark
course was taken, the tourists passing
upon their trip the extreme southwest
ern point OF Molokai, the green shores
of Lanai and the rock coast of Kahoo-
lave, Here the PROV of the Kinau was
turned northeastward into the channel
which separates the islands of Maui
and Hawaii. Passing Upolo Point, we
swung about until the boats prov
pointed to the southwest and skirted
the great island of Hawaii, until the
lovely Hilo Bay opened before US.
The voyage has been described in a
few words, but many would be needed
to tell of its beauties and it's delights.
AS night fell the rosy glow of the sky,
far away above Kilauea, became In
tensely vivid, and the tourists, charm
ing as was the voyage, were all impa-
thence to reach the scene of natures
great display. But for this feeling Of
Impotence they might have wished the
voyage longer, so beautiful was the
scene and so delightful the company
But they hastily disembarked as soon
as the Kinau was made fast to the
wharf at Hilo. and at once bargained
with the carriage drivers who clustered
about the landing for transportation to
the volcano. A few years ago the jour
ney to the volcano was by no means
easy. In places the road was little bet
ter than a trail, and the journey was
long and laborious. Recently, however
the government has constructed fine
| highway through the tangle of luxuri-
ant vegetation, which now lines it gor-
geously upon both sides. The road is
wide, straight and hard, and the car
riages which are provided for the jour
ney are extremely comfortable.
1t was but a short time after the ar
rival of the boat before the entire party
was in motion, the majority in car
riages, but some on horseback Quite
a number of these last were ladies,
who, anticipating this feature of the
trip, had brought their riding habits
with them. A few of these were native
Hawaiian women, whose custom ii Is to
ride astride, and their flowing habits,
reaching nearly to the ground upon
each side of the horse, and streaming
out in the rear when they rode swiftly,
were a picturesque feature of the cav
alcade. The road is bordered upon
both sides as has been said, with luxu-
rious plant growth--palrns, great tree
ferns and other tropical foliage; but
beyond this and partially hidden from
the road are the coffee plantations; for
this is the region where the coffee plant
grows. and now that the crown lands
are open for settlement, this region is
soon expected to rival in Importance
the great sugar producing areas in 9TH
er portions of the islands.
The journey to Kilauea from Hilo is
not far from forty miles, and although
the road is excellent, it was nearly
shutdown when we reached the Volcano
House, where we found ample accom-
modations The sensation of sitting
down to a comfortable meal, and,
above all, of going to bed, in house
situated close to the crater of volca-
No ic va npo nh,
can be realized nowhere In the world
but here. We did not, however retire
at once to bed, weary as we were from
our journey for it is after nightfall that
the fearful sublimity of Kilauea Is seen
at its best. 1t is not safe, however to
venture far away from the Volcano
House, even in the daytime, without a
guide, for what may seem, perhaps, rs
solid ground, covered with q tangle of
lowering vines, may be a pitfall, where
the indiscreet wanderer may receive an
unlucky tumble.
The volcano, as has been said, never
overflows the upper rim of the immense
crater upon the floor of the tremendous
depression upon the summit of the
mountain, which scientists have called
the caldera. The outer rim of the cal
dera is several hundred feet above it's
floor, and 1t is a hard but not danger
Gus scramble down the declivity. The
floor is composed of cooled lava, and is
evidently only q crust covering the I'M
mense lake of molten fire which boils
and seethes beneath Here and there,
as the traveller crosses this floor, are
assures, through which are visible the
fires below, and a stick thrust into one
is quickly charred.
1t is walk of mile or two, over