Americans, English, Sandwich Islanders, Africans, and Spaniards from the colonies. We were invited and treated with great respect, but retired soon after the cloth was drawn. Rihoriho, who was present, also went away early, being very unwell from the effects of another round of intoxication, which had lasted several days. In his fits, either of violent passion or drunkenness (but at no other time), he spouts the few English phrases which he can master, and especially utters oaths and imprecations of the more horrible kind, with a fluency and energy which prove that he has been thoroughly taught what it had been better he had never learned at all.

July 5. Calling at the king's house, we found the principal queen and five of her chief women at dinner. The latter were sitting in a circle, cross-legged, but her majesty lay upon her mat, at full length, resting her cheek on a pillow. The provisions consisted of a baked dog in one dish, the raw entrails of a large fish in another, a piece of raw fish in a third, some green sea-weed in a fourth, and two bowls of poi. Neither knife, fork, nor spoon, was used at this disgusting feast. Each person took what she wanted from any dish with her fingers, which she plied with great but indescribable dexterity in conveying the victuals to her mouth. Five or six boys, their pages, sat in the circle, and partook with their mistresses of the dainties before them. A calabash of water stood in the midst, in which, when they had dined, they all washed their hands. Tobacco was then introduced, and the pipe went round from mouth to mouth as usual. When the queen had taken a few whiffs, she began to dress her long, dark hair with fuller's earth, which she moistened in water, and rubbed over her head, wreathing and pressing the locks into such forms (fantastic enough) as seemed most becoming to herself. She used a small looking-glass to assist her in this operation, which she went through without the slightest embarrassment from our presence. The natives, indeed, seem not to have the sense of shame. July 7. From a native of this island, who has just returned from Nuhiva, one of the Marquesas, where he has resided twelve months, we learn that the two antagonist parties there are now dwelling in peace. A native of Tahiti, who has lived among them some time, has told the Marquesans how his countrymen have transported, burned, or destroyed their dumb idols, and now worship the living God alone, in con

sequence of missionaries from England having taught them the way of truth. On this representation, our informant says, the inhabitants of Nuhiva have abandoned cannibalism, and are now praying to our God to send them instructers in his own will. Here, then, we hope the fallow ground is in the course of being broken up, previous to the appointed sowers going forth, in the Lord's time, to sow the seed, which is the word of eternal life.

July 12. Thomas Hopoo-a young man, a native, who resided many years in North America, where he became a convert to Christianity, and gave evidence that his faith was genuine has addressed a letter to Mr. Bingham, requesting permission to preach the gospel to his countrymen. He says his heart burns within him to engage in this work, for the love of Christ and the souls of men; adding, in the words of the apostle of the Gentiles, "Woe be unto me if I preach not the gospel!" We strongly advised our missionary friends to admit him on trial, and send him forth into the villages round about, to instruct the people. He appears to have sound piety, correct views of divine truth, and ardent zeal for the salvation of sinners; at the same time maintaining a consistent walk and conversation.

July 20. We witnessed a scene of idle luxury, worthy of a barbarian epicure. In the king's house a woman was feeding a man with poi, of the consistence of oatmeal porridge or pudding-batter. The fellow was lying upon the ground; but on her approach he raised himself, leaned on his elbow, and held up his face, with his jaws wide open. The woman, then, taking a large handful of poi out of the bowl, held it about a foot above his head, and dropped the mess as from a ladle into his mouth, through which it ran down his throat, without chewing.

July 23. Having waited upon the king, so early as six o'clock this morning, we found him with a number of his chiefs, drinking spirits. All were far gone towards intoxication. But, though such a slave to the pestilent liquor himself, he, as already stated, discountenances drunkenness in his meaner subjects. On Sunday last he ordered a man to be laid in irons, and imprisoned in the fort, for being overtaken by his own besetting sin; and there the poor fellow remains at this very time, when his sovereign is reveling in the same

excess.

A report has been in circulation, that the Americans re

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siding here were conspiring to take this island from the king; but by what means they were supposed to intend to effect their object, we did not learn. The king has had a consultation with his chiefs upon the subject, which, however, he affects to regard as-what no doubt it is—an idle tale, originating from some imprudent boasting of certain natives of the United States, who employ their influence to obtain a national ascendency in these islands, for the sake, we presume, of commercial advantages, since, in a political view, the absolute possession of them would be a burthen rather than a benefit. Rihoriho is, however, manifestly uneasy on account of these rumors; and, while he professes openly to hold his dominions under the king of England, would fain have the substantial protection of British sailors and soldiers to secure his fief against the encroachments of any other Christian power.

July 24. Two of the queens dined with us to-day. They brought their own provisions-two raw fishes, and a bowl of poi. Of the latter they sometimes drank, but occasionally employed their fingers to carry the slimy beverage to their mouths. One of the fishes was dressed by their desire; the other they ate raw, just as it came out of the water, scales, fins and intestines unremoved. This they tore to pieces with their hands and their teeth, as best served their purpose; first one and then the other helping herself to such portion as she liked best, each taking special care that none of the blood which oozed from the mangled fragments should be lost. But, though it excited very inconvenient qualms of stomach in us to see their filthy feeding, when a common fly was found drowned in one of their messes, they seemed at once to grow sick, and turned away their faces with no equivocal expression of utter loathing. Flies, indeed, may be said to be an abomination with these savages,-probably from some superstitious prejudice; for vermin far more disgusting are greedily picked by them from their own bodies -nay, from the very dogs-and devoured.

July 29. The Mermaid cutter, by which we came hither five months ago, arrived in the harbor. Captain Kent accounted for his long absence by stating, that, instead of reaching Fanning's Island in seven days, as he had expected, the voyage occupied eight and twenty. This noted spot is a coral reef, very little elevated above the surface of the sea; having a large lagoon, in the middle of a ring of rock cov

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KEAUMOKU'S ZEAL FOR INSTRUCTION.

85 ered with no other soil than sand from the attrition of the scattered blocks by the washing of the waves, and the decomposition of the coast-foliage and perished fruit of some cocoa-nut trees, and a few shrubs, which grow upon its narrow margin. Here are about fifty inhabitants, foreigners and Sandwich Islanders, whose business is to collect the buhe, a kind of slug or sea-worm, of a dark-brown color, which is found in water of fifteen or sixteen feet in depth, and obtained by diving. This delicacy is preserved with lime and salt, and, after being dried in the sun, is packed in large quantities, and carried to the Chinese market, where it fetches no small price.

This evening a messenger came from Keaumoku, the governor of Maui, to request two of the missionaries to visit him. He had been greatly alarmed by a dream, in which he saw the whole island on fire, and all the water in the surrounding sea could not quench the flames. He had sought for safety, but in vain; he could find no shelter. Awaking in horror, therefore, he grasped at the hope set before him in the gospel. This, Mr. Ellis and Mr. Bingham faithfully unfolded to the dreamer, and to the persons assembled round him. These consisted of a goodly number of chiefs, many of whom were lying on the floor learning to spell or read, and some to write. Thomas Hopoo, the native convert, offered a fervent prayer for the salvation of his countrymen, and Mr. Ellis delivered a suitable discourse on the name of Jesus.

July 31. This morning the afore-mentioned chief had an interview with Kaahumanu, when he proposed to her to unite with him in commanding all their people to attend to the palapala, that is, to their learning. She gave him an evasive answer, saying that by and by she would. He was not, however, thus to be put off, and told her plainly that she might do as she pleased, but, for his part, he should send all his men to be taught to read and write, and understand the great word. He proposes to build a large school-room immediately. The evening was spent in prayer and Christian discourse at his house, and the missionaries were requested to repair thither again by day-break to-morrow morning, to conduct family worship, which he says he is determined shall henceforth be daily performed under his roof. Upwards of sixty natives of rank were present, and all behaved with an

VOL. II.

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ROYAL FAMILY LEARNING TO READ.

affecting decorum which we have rarely seen at the public services.

Aug. 3. Keaumoku's example already produces some happy effect. The king has just been with us. After expressing high displeasure against those who are ever on the watch to ensnare him into drunkenness, folly, and violence, for their own mercenary ends, he declared that he and his chiefs would begin in earnest to learn to read next Monday, and that, when they had made some progress, all his subjects should be instructed.

CHAPTER XXII.

The King and Chiefs attend Divine Service-Royal Family learning to read-Anecdote-Juvenile Teachers-First Christian Marriage in the Sandwich Islands-Injunction against drinking ardent Spirits-Kamschatka Sledge-Watch-seal presented to Rihoriho-Deputation leave Oahu-Letter from Rihoriho to George IV.-Extracts from Auna's Journal in Hawaii.

Aug. 4. BEING Lord's day, the king and many of his principal people attended divine service. They were more becomingly dressed, and behaved with more decency than on any former occasion. Mr. Ellis's text was peculiarly appropriate at the present crisis, when symptoms of a favorable change are daily multiplying:-"How long halt ye between. two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him."-1 Kings xviii. 21. Again, in the afternoon, with equal felicity of application, our friend discoursed on those words of our blessed Savior;-" Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live."-1 John v. 25. We cordially reply, "Amen; even so, come, Lord Jesus!"

Aug. 5. This being "Monday," the king was punctual to his promise. He and his family began to learn their alphabet like little children. Mr. Ellis and Mr. Bingham were engaged with them all the forenoon. Mr. Thurston and we (the deputation) were at Keaumoku's. We attended again in the evening, and found all our scholars, old and young, diligently conning their lessons. This may be recorded as a