AN ACT OF IDOLATRY.

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the highest accessible points in this island, and stood in front of another and far loftier precipice, probably 5000 feet in nearly perpendicular elevation, which the eye measures from top to bottom at a glance, while behind it a mountainous ridge, nearly two-thirds of that height, rises with an aspect apparently as steep, but more broken, and singularly indented with projections and interstices; the head of the whole being adorned "with a peculiar diadem of trees." The rock on which we stood consists of the same volcanic materials as that which we climbed yesterday. Many beautiful plants and shrubs (including a new kind of stone-crop, and a heath bearing a red berry) overrun its declivity and apex. From the latter it makes the head swim to look down the former; yet over its tremendous verge the late king, Tamehameha, drove the remnant of an army of his enemies, whom he had defeated in the valley below, and pursued with unquenchable thirst of revenge up this eminence, whither they fled for sanctuary, but found it not, till they leaped the gulf, and perished miserably in mass, heaps upon heaps, in the glen at its foot. Hard by were pointed out to us four unshapen stones, on which no tool had been lifted up to profane them, the highest eighteen inches above ground, the others less. These are still regarded as the tutelary divinities of the place, and their protection is sought by those who clamber these perilous cliffs, that they may be preserved from slips and broken bones in returning. The offerings are flowers and foliage, scattered about the senseless blocks by intellectual beings as senseless as they having reason without exercising it, or even knowing that they possess it, in reference to such subjects. The top of one, probably the chief idol, was covered with a piece of native cloth, to prevent (as we presume) vulgar eyes from impiously gazing upon its hidden majesty. While we were looking on, a man came by, having three large fern-leaves in his hand, which he placed reverently before three of these genii loci. We shook our heads, and said, " Tino, tino !" (bad, bad!) He only smiled, and went forward, having thus insured his neck and limbs on his way downward. This was the first instance of actual idolatry which we have witnessed; and, what horror soever, mingled with pity, we felt at the strangeness of the sight, it must be allowed that there are superstitious observances yet in vogue in our own land not a whit less absurd than propitiating the favor of a stone

with a fern-leaf;-such, for example, as placing two cross sticks of mountain-ash over the door of a house, to keep the witch out; which is done to this day, not in dark country corners only, but occasionally in the streets of populous towns.-We were told that, if a man and his wife be coming this way, and the woman have a good piece of cloth about her person, the man will run forward and throw his own cloth over the principal stone till she has passed by, lest the blind idol should see and covet her garment, which must then be given to it.

The natives have some rude tradition respecting a general deluge, and that a man and a woman, the sole survivors of the human race, were preserved on the top of one of these high mountains-some say Mownakina, in Hawaii. This island (Oahu) is said to have been peopled by Maui and his wife, who came hither in a boat, and paddled all round the coast, beating a drum as the ceremonial of taking possession. One day, his wife being busily employed in making cloth, the materials extended so much that she had not time to finish it before night, whereupon Maui laid his hand upon the sun, and held it from going down till the work was completed. The resemblance of both these traditions is evident, but their origin is obscure. They are, however, the more worthy of record, because here are some relics of almost all the principal fables that seem derived from scripture history, which are found both in the northern and southern Pacific islands, as well as on the adjacent West American coasts from California to Chili.

To the spot where we were standing, and from which the sea on both sides of the island (sixteen miles across here) lies in full prospect, some time ago, a woman was compelled by her husband, when he was in a state of intoxication, to carry him up those very precipices, which we had found such imminent danger in scaling unencumbered with any weight but our own. This Herculean feat she performed, and lodged him safely on the top. The greater wonder is that she did not, under such provocation from a wretch utterly in her power, let him down by the shortest way. The fellow was an Englishman, a pilot of this harbor; and it is difficult to say which exceeded-his brutishness, or her strength; her forbearance, at any rate, equaled either.

April 29. There are no mosquitoes here; neither are

there any bugs. When the latter are brought on shore, in bedding or packages, from ship-board, they presently die : the climate of the Society Islands is equally fatal to them. Flies are very numerous and annoying. Toads, frogs, and serpents, we believe, are not found on any of these shores. The variety of birds is small. The tropic bird, a gray owl, a kind of plover, and common poultry, may be added to the few that we have previously mentioned. Quadrupeds are nearly as little diversified, there being few besides dogs, hogs, rats, mice, and (latterly introduced) horses, cows, sheep, goats, and cats. Entering a cottage one day, where there was a very fine animal of the latter species, we asked the woman of the house whether the natives of Oahu ate cats; on which she pointed to a fowl that was picking up its food at her feet, and said, "The cat is as good to eat as the hen." These people, though they feed greedily upon the flesh of dogs and cats when they can procure it, are singularly tender and kind to them. In traveling, they frequently take up their dogs, and carry them over dirty or rugged parts of the road, lest they should soil their skins or hurt their feet; and it is said a man would sooner resent an injury done to his dog than to his child. The few spiders, moths, and dragon-flies, which we have seen much resemble those of the South Sea islands.

CHAPTER XX.

Captain Kent presents the Schooner to Rihoriho, in the name of his Britannic Majesty-Anecdotes of Cruelty-Conversation with the King--Tabued Sugar-plantation-Rainbows-Anniversary of Rihoriho's Accession-Circumstances which tended to the spontaneous Overthrow of Idolatry, before Christian Missionaries had arrived in the Sandwich Islands-Royal Dinner-Native Houses-Proposition from the Chiefs to receive Missionaries from the London SocietyBravery of some of the old Chiefs-Child-murder-Felling of Trees to make Idols-Want of Parental Authority-Foolish Etiquette of the former King.

April 30. THE king and several of his wives came to the English service in the missionary chapel this morning. All behaved as well as they could, but presently retired. Rihoriho threw himself at full length on a form, and while one attendant, squatting beside, fanned him with a long fly

58

SCHOONER PRESENTED TO RIHORIHO.

flap, another lay down on the ground, and covered himself with a piece of cloth, for the purpose of being his majesty's pillow, had he chosen to rest on the floor rather than on the bench. His ladies, who were not ungracefully attired in loose green dresses, sat and lolled in a group, just within the door, from time to time handing a pipe about among themselves.

May 1. At noon captain Kent formally delivered up the schooner which he had brought from Port Jackson, as a present from his Britannic Majesty, to the king of the Sandwich Islands. The latter came on board to take possession. When captain Kent proposed to take down the English colors, the king said—" No, no; I shall always hoist the English flag." In fact, he makes no secret of acknowledging his dependence-for friendly protection, at least, against all other nations on our country and its illustrious sovereign, of whom he has conceived no insignificant idea. Royal salutes were fired from the ships and the batteries on shore. A substantial entertainment, in the English fashion, being prepared, meanwhile, in the king's house, at captain Kent's expense, a company of twenty-five, consisting of Rihoriho, his principal chiefs, the officers of the two ships, several Americans, and ourselves, sat down to it in the afternoon. Before dinner, while we were conversing in the house with Taumuarii (lately king of Tauai), a man from that islanda minstrel came, and, sitting down without ceremony, sang a long, dull lay of a few low, slow notes, unweariedly repeated, in which were celebrated the deeds and virtues of the monarch and his ancestors. Two elegantly carved paddles were then presented to him; and a large bundle of cloth was likewise brought to his queen, by a woman from the same island. The latter was dressed in the first style of native fashion, having ten folds of fine wrapping round her body, and a mantle thrown over her shoulders.

The dinner was served in large European dishes, on a handsome mahogany table, with a cloth spread over it. All the party sat on chairs, and were furnished with plates, knives, and forks, which the natives used very dexterously. Several appropriate toasts were drunk afterwards, but no excess was committed while we remained.-After dinner, at the house of Mr. Davies, we had much conversation with him and a person whom he employs, who has resided at this place many years, respecting former tyrannical and idola

ANECDOTES OF CRUELTY.

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trous practices of priests and princes here. Two circumstances, among others, were mentioned, horribly illustrative of these. A man being convicted of stealing some of the king's clothes, and condemned to death, a stone was fastened about his neck, and he was placed in a canoe, in charge of an executioner, with a bayonet in his hand, ready, as soon as they had been paddled out to a sufficient distance and depth of water, to stab the criminal, and then throw him overboard to perish among the waves. Captain Davies's ship happening at that time to be at anchor in the harbor, and he on deck, the suspicious circumstance was observed, and, the meaning of it being ascertained, a boat was instantly manned, which put off towards the canoe, attacked it, and rescued the unfortunate wretch before the punishment could be inflicted on him. Mr. G. (the person above-mentioned) being present once at a marae, when certain execrable rites were to be performed, and a human sacrifice being wanted, one of the priests looked out for a subject, when, seeing a man sitting on the ground, near the entrance of this temple of Satan, he stole softly behind him, and with one stroke of a club broke his neck. Then, instantly scooping out one of the eyes of the murdered victim, he coolly presented it on a plantain-leaf to the idol. These are traits of man in what is called his state of nature, which many, who ought to know better, imagine to be a state of innocence, and talk, very poetically no doubt, of the primitive simplicity of these happy islanders; at the same time lamenting that their peace in this world, and their prospects in the next, should be disturbed by missionaries, who have nothing superior to the gospel to give them! Such sentimentalists are as ignorant of the real condition of the heathen, as they are of the deceitfulness and desperate wickedness of the unregenerated human heart, whether actually pagan or nominally Christian. These islanders are, indeed, in a state of nature, but not of innocence; and the truth is that they are miserable, not happy, under it, for theirs is a state of nature fallen FROM innocence, without the possibility of recovery, except by the faith of Christ, and redemption through his blood.

May 3. We had a long interview with the king, to-day, at which we urged upon him the propriety of publicly adopting Christianity, as the religion of his dominions, on the ensuing anniversary of the tabu (as formerly narrated,