IturnedseawardunderthedeadcraterknownasDiamondHead。Mywaywasforsometimeundertheshadeofcertainthicketsofgreen，thornytrees，dottedwithhouses。HereI
enjoyedsomepicturesofthenativelife：wide-eyed，nakedchildren，mingledwithpigs；ayouthasleepunderatree；anoldgentlemanspellingthroughglasseshisHawaiianBible；thesomewhatembarrassingspectacleofaladyatherbathinaspring；andtheglimpseofgaudy-colouredgownsinthedeepshadeofthehouses。ThenceIfoundaroadalongthebeachitself，wadinginsand，opposedandbuffetedbythewholeweightoftheTrade：ononehand，theglitteringandsoundingsurf，andthebaylivelywithmanysails；ontheother，precipitous，aridgulliesandsheercliffs，mountingtowardsthecraterandthebluesky。Forallthecompanionshipofskimmingvessels，theplacestruckmewithasenseofsolitude。
TherecameinmyheadwhatIhadbeentoldthedaybeforeatdinner，ofacavernaboveinthebowelsofthevolcano，aplaceonlytobevisitedwiththelightoftorches，atreasure-houseofthebonesofpriestsandwarriors，andclamorouswiththevoiceofanunseenriverpouringseawardthroughthecranniesofthemountain。Atthethought，itwasrevealedtomesuddenly，howthebungalows，andtheFowlers，andthebrightbusytownandcrowdingships，wereallchildrenofyesterday；andforcenturiesbefore，theobscurelifeofthenatives，withitsgloriesandambitions，itsjoysandcrimesandagonies，hadrolledunseen，likethemountainriver，inthatsea-girtplace。NotChaldeaappearedmoreancient，northePyramidsofEgyptmoreabstruse；andIheardtimemeasuredby“thedrumsandtramplings“ofimmemorialconquests，andsawmyselfthecreatureofanhour。OverthebankruptcyofPinkertonandDodd，ofMontanaBlock，S。F。，andtheconscientioustroublesofthejuniorpartner，thespiritofeternitywasseentosmile。
Tothismoodofphilosophicsadness，myexcessesofthenightbeforenodoubtcontributed；formorethingsthanvirtueareattimestheirownreward：butIwasgreatlyhealedatleastofmydistresses。AndwhileIwasyetenjoyingmyabstractedhumour，aturnofthebeachbroughtmeinviewofthesignal-station，withitswatch-houseandflag-staff，perchedontheimmediatemarginofacliff。Thehousewasnewandcleanandbald，andstoodnakedtotheTrades。Thewindbeataboutitinloudsqualls；theseawardwindowsrattledwithoutmercy；
thebreachofthesurfbelowcontributeditsincrementofnoise；