Milford chronicle., 1921-11-25

covered with lovely green moss, anC
was simply beautiful. We lighted oul
way through the tube with flashlights
1t is 480 feet long, and is just like a
tunnel. Seems impossible to believe
that it wasn't really built there.
We went from there to the volcano
To get to the rim of the crater we
had to walk across hard lava BEDS
the result of OverflOws. The last one
was in March, and two years ago it
flowed clear down to the sea. What a
sight it must have been to see a
stream of that bright-cOlOred lava
IS feet wide-hOwing down the noun
tain side!
We found it more quiet in the NOR
ming, and the color was more red than
orange in the daytime. The island
which rises in the center of the era
ter was still there. Sometimes this is
land isn't visible, because, you see, its
only foundation is this active lava,
and it rises and falls according to the
action of the volcanic eruptions.
We walked all the way around the
crater, and 1 had no idea it was so
large. The guide, a Cherokee Indian,
was full of information, and very in
teresting. He took us to deep pits,
where the hot stream was gushing
out so that we couldn't look down
into them. Then he would help us
look for Pele pearls-green stones in
the hardened lava, which are used in
jewelry, and are quite expensive-I
find. And he found some of "Pele's
hair" for each of us. When the hot
lava shoots up into the air from these
boiling lakes, it is sometimes caught
by the wind, and the fine spray coOls
and hardens in long strands, which
they call "Pele's hair" Pele, by the
way, being the name often given the
volcano, and meaning the goddess of
fire." Il think that's right, isn't it?-
The real Hawaiian name of Kilanea
given the volcano means Beware"
Some places we walked over that
morning were rather hot, and we had
to "step lively" We scorched some
cards over a crack, and almost scOr-
ched our faces and hands doing it;
the heat was so intense.
Well, when we left there we went
to see the tree mOlds. At sometime in
the past-nobody knows how long
the lava poured around these large
koa trees, when the trees decayed and
left the lava like wells.
We drove from there to a cliff
where we saw more extinct craters;
in fact, I'm sure wouldn't feel COM
Portable living in that part of the is
lond. full of
Last of all we visited the sulphur
beds. These are little hills, also sort
Of bitches, which were issuing strong
fumes, and the ground all
around is yellow with real sulphur.
It was very interesting, but we didn't |
stick around" long, not being so
pleased with the odor of sulphur.
We had to leave for Hilo at one o.
clock, in order to catch the four o.
clock boat. Here we witnessed quite
| sad parting between a Japanese
amily and a host of friends who had
come down to the landing to bid
hem adieu. They were bedecked with
els, and there was much waving of
and weeping. I think
was interested in watching
hem. They must have been coming
o Honolulu to take a boat for Japan.
We stayed on deck until long after
lark, and watched the varying seen
ry on the island coast as we glided
". 1t was beautiful. The sugar cane
howed a soft green, and there were
LIQUIDS floating along, through which
he sun tried to shine and light up
he mountain peaks in the distance.
It one place we could count twelve
Then gradually the twi-
ght faded and the new moon appear
d. was tired, though, and had to
cave it all and go to bed. Now I sup
ose you're going to question that
xcuse for retiring. Well, I'm not
ding to say anything, except that it
yasn't as rough coming back as it
-as going over.
I hope I'll have a chance to visit :.
le other islands, especially Mani and
-anai, because they say they are all
D different.
I wish my friends were all here to ,
njoy these things with me, because
can't half do them justice in writing.
EVA. )