But Halemaumau had only taken
an intermission, for in two short months signs of returning life became
frequent and unmistakable, and, in June, culminated in the sudden
outbreak of a lake that has since then steadily increased in activity."
THE GODDESS PELE
We cannot close this chapter without some reference to the Goddess Pele,
to whom the Hawaiians long imputed the wonder-work of their volcanic
mountains. When there is unusual commotion in Kilauea myriads of
thread-like filaments float in the air and fall upon the cliffs, making
deposits much resembling matted hair. A single filament over fifteen
inches long was picked up on a Hilo veranda, having sailed in the air
a distance of fifty miles. This is the famous Pele's Hair, being the
glass-like product of volcanic fires. It resembles Prince Rupert's
Drops, and the tradition is that whenever the volcano becomes active
it is because Pele, the Goddess of the crater, emerges from her fiery
furnace and shakes her vitreous locks in anger.
This fabled being, according to Emerson, in a paper on "The Lesser
Hawaiian Gods," "could at times assume the appearance of a handsome
young woman, as when Kamapauaa, to his cost, was smitten with her charms
when first he saw her with her sisters at Kilauea." Kamapauaa was a
gigantic hog, who "could appear as a handsome young man, a hog, a fish
or a tree." "At other times the innate character of the fury showed
itself, and Pele appeared in her usual form as an ugly and hateful old
hag, with tattered and fire-burnt garments, scarcely concealing the
filth and nakedness of her person.
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