*

ed this se
Ath

100 on the ledes.
cat...d n

s proving that a recei

of igneous matter has mindenüp run 1 the ledge with large sheets of lava, through, forming a kind of hume! or lava has flowed, leaving the seal as Nambers orns, having a luxuriant grow

y

Larger se subs, In examining the ridge of the lips. gepå à ca the fortness of the above opinion, as the flow

to have come f 1.neath and to

occasions.

had undergone some change. This was ascertained by a comparison of the outlines of the lower pit, bounded by the ledge, on the two A large projecting point on the east side of the black ledge had disappeared. The lakes of fire continued nearly the same, though the small one in the larger area seemed less active.

At about three o'clock, when I had reached the eastern edge of Lua Pele, all the party who were with me remarked a large column of smoke rising from that crater, and we, in consequence, ran towards the bank; but the sulphur-banks concealed the bottom of the crater and black ledge from our view. It immediately occurred to me, that an outbreak had taken place, by which the whole bottom of the lower crater would be overflowed, and that my friend, Dr. Judd, would find himself in a dangerous position, as he must at the time be near it. Not being able to reach any place where we could relieve our apprehensions, we were forced to continue our route, and shortly after descended to what is known as Lord Byron's Ledge, which lies between the two craters, Lua Pele (Pele's Pit) and Kilauea. The position of the hut occupied by Lord Byron is close to the brink of Kilauea. I noticed this place as proving that a recent eruption has taken place on the ledge. A flow of igneous matter has evidently run into both craters, and has covered the ledge with large sheets of lava. These are here and there broken through, forming a kind of funnel or bridge, from beneath which the lava has flowed, leaving the soil in places uninjured. Numbers of ferns, having a luxuriant growth, were found under these immense slabs. In examining the edge of the bank, I became satisfied of the correctness of the above opinion, as the flow over the ledge seems to have come from beneath, and to have coursed down the sides, either in broad ribands, or in streams like large cables, coiling themselves in confused layers on the black ledge. The flow into the pit seemed to be less fluid, as it did not reach the bottom, and flowed in one broad stream. Passing on, we reached the bluff bounding Waldron's Ledge, which is the highest part around the crater: it is bold and projecting, and in some places the path leads close under it, among large blocks that have fallen from it, either by the shaking of earthquakes or decomposition by time.

The annexed plate is taken from a camera lucida sketch, by Mr Drayton; and gives an idea of the stratification of the walls around the crater.

When we ascended the bank, it became evident that the eruption had taken place at the small crater: this gave rise to much uneasiness respecting the party that had gone down. I searched with my glass in every part of the crater, but saw no one, although I was convinced

that they could not have proceeded up before us. When I returned to the encampment, Dr. Judd was not to be found there, and nothing had been heard of him.

I therefore felt great relief, when in about a quarter of an hour I saw the party returning. On greeting Dr. Judd, I received from him the following account.

After he left me, he proceeded with the natives down the ravine into the crater; thence along the black ledge to its western part, where he descended by the same toilsome path that had been followed a month before. After reaching the bottom, he found a convenient steam-hole, whence a strong sulphureous gas issued; and he then arranged the apparatus for collecting it. This was found to answer the purpose, and was readily and completely absorbed by water. The gas was then collected in a phial containing red-cabbage water turned blue by lime, when it became intensely red.

Dr. Judd then sought for a place where he might dip up some of the recent and yet fluid lava, but found none sufficiently liquid for the purpose. Failing here, he proceeded towards the great fiery lake at the southern extremity of the crater. He found that the ascent towards this was rapid, because the successive flowings of the lava had formed crusts, which lapped over each other. This rock was so dark in colour, as to be almost black, and so hot as to act upon spittle just as iron, heated nearly to redness, would have done. On breaking through the outer crust, which was two or three inches thick, the mass beneath, although solid, was of a cherry-red. The pole with which the crust was pierced, took fire as it was withdrawn. It was evidently impossible to approach any nearer in this direction; for although the heat might not be so intense as to prevent walking on the crust, yet the crust itself might be too weak to bear the weight, and to break through would have been to meet a death of the most appalling kind. Dr. Judd, therefore, turned towards the west bank, on which he mounted to a higher level over stones too hot to be touched, but from which his feet were defended by stout woollen stockings and sandals of hide, worn over his shoes. When he had proceeded as far as he could in this direction, he saw at the distance of about thirty feet from him, a stream of lava running down the declivity over which he and his companions had ascended. Even this distance was too great to be reached over, and the intervening rocks had become so heated by the continual stream, that they could not be traversed.

At this time, they were very near the great lake, but could not see its surface, which was still about twenty feet higher than the spot where they stood. Jets of lava were, however, observed rising about