The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-03-12

IdCAACu SHEETS, WHICH,, 1IOIu IlIuc
to time, are upheaved from
some great commotion below
and, turning, pitch downward
and disappear below the glow
ing red surface of the lake. A
period of great activity then
ensues, the floating cakes Of
encrusted lava being tossed
about, likes cakes of ice upon
a stormy sea, pitching and
plunging until the whole sur
face of the lake is a glowing
mass of fire, from which the on
locker draws back and shelters
his face from the intense heat.
By and by the lake, little by
little, becomes more quiet, the
intense agitation ceases, and
again the sheets of black crust
appear upon the surface.
When these ebullitions occur
the air is filled with a curious
substance, to which is given
the name of "Pele's Hair" In
the mythology of the ancient
Hawaiians, the GODDESS Pele
made her home in the House
of Everlasting Burning. and to
her the priests were wont to Of
fer lamentations and sacrifices,
to appease her wrath. Pele's
hair comprises masses of min
ute threads of lava, drawn out,
it is popularity believed, by the
action of the wind upon the
sprays of boiling lava. Scien-
lists, however, find another ex-
PLANTATION in the phenomenon
in the sudden liberation of the
watery vapors which are min
gled with the molten lava, be
meath the surface of the lake.
Whatever may be the scientific
cause of this curious formation,
it remains that great punches
of Pele's Hair, resembling fine
ly shredded asbestos, are al
ways fonnd Clinging to the
rough lava rocks to the leeward
of Kilauea, and it is gathered
in large quantities by tourists
as a souvenir of the visit to
the volcanoes.
I am aware that this desert p
ton of the gorgeous terrors of
Halemaumau is painfully in
adequate. l wish that [ might
picture the tremendous intens-
ity of color upon the surface of
the lake. [ would be glad to be
able to describe the varying
forms of the rugged lava wall,
which rises for hundreds OBJECT
above it's surface, and forms the
enormous pit in which itseethes
and boils, to the interest and
terror of the beholder. l should
like to picture the varying
shades of brilliant red, yellow
orange, and saffron with which
the rugged walls are, here and
there, despatched, and by
which the dense blaCkness OF
the surface is intensified. And
above all, [ should like to be
able to show to my readers that
pail of translucent vapor which
forever hangs over the surface
and through which the remote1
wall of the crateris indistinctly
visible; and, too, that light
billowy cloud which everhovers
high in the air, above Kilauea
,, and which is tinged with {
rosy red, for abeacon light t.
seamen miles distant upon the
ocean.
Kilauea is fascinating, yet
: terrifying, to him who gaze:
. into it's depths; but the longe:
one gazes, the, more does the
sentiment of awe and of wonder
overcome that of fear. W.
were loath to leave it, and we
fingered long upon the brinl
of Halemaumau, returning
again and again to gaze into
it's awful depths. But the time
came when we must bid fare
we'll to the abode of Madam
Pele and return to the haunts
,, of men. Respectfully we turned
away, returned to the hotel
mounted our horses, and began the de
, scent. It is one Of the curious char
acteristics of the Island Hawaii tina
the great mountain range which forms
its back bone governs, toa great extent
its climate. During the rainy season
the north or Hilo side of the island
is visited with frequent rains, while thu
south, or Kau side, is almort absolute
ly dry. On decending from the noun
tain we found that the rain was fall
ing heavily upon the Hilo side, and i
| L 4 -, II.