We spent the whole Jar in explor
ing the vast sea of lava, and were as
tonished at its immense area. In roll
ing down the side of the mountain,
one broad stream had shot off in a wes-
leriy direction, towards Kona. An
other mighty river had flowed north
ward till it was intercepted by the
base of Mauna Kea, when it divided
into two branches, one flowing in a
north-w T esl direction towerds the plains
ofWaimea, and the arm stretching
north-east and flowing towards Hilo. •
These three main branches, if united,
would probably form a river five or
six miles broad; and the longest of
them cannot, I think, have advanced
less than twenty-five or thirty miles.
They are still flowing, but their prog
ress at present is slow, as they are on a
vast plain, and their electricity is also
retarded by fissures and caverns, and
by fields of old scoria which covers
those high regions. Should the erup
tion continue, and should the quanti
ty of fusion be sufficient to overcome
I the obstacles and reach the regions
where the face of the country declines
rapidly towards the sea, the decent
will then be quick and easy to the
coast, both on the eastern and western
shores. This may take place, though
lam rather of the opinion that the
Arcs will have spent their force before
they reach ahe sea.
Besides the three great branches
described, there arc numerous smaller
, ones, shooting out laterally andirregu
• larly from the main streams, both on
the side and at the base of the moun
tain* These form together an inde
scribable labyrinth.
