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set off in a canoe for a foreign country. After his departure, he was deified by his countrymen, and annual boxing and wrestling games were instituted in his honour. As soon as Capt. Cook arrived, it was supposed and reported, that the god Rono, had returned. Hence, the people prostrated their deities before him, as he walked through the villages. But when, in the attack made upon him, they saw his blood running, and heard his groans, they said, "No, this is not Rono." Some, however, even after his death, supposed him to be Rono, and expected he would appear again. After the departure of the vessels, some of his bones, his ribs and breast bone, as part of Rono, were considered sacred, and deposited in a heiau, or temple, belonging to Rono, on the opposite side of the island, where religious homage was paid to them, and from which they were annually carried in procession to several other heiaus, or borne by the priests round the island to collect the offerings of the people to the god Rono. The bones were preserved in a small basket of wicker work, completely covered over with red feathers. These last, in those days, were the most valuable articles the natives possessed, generally rendered sacred, and considered a necessary appendage to every idol, and almost to every object of religious homage, through the islands of the Pacific. They were supposed to add much to the power and influence of the idol, or relic, to which they were attached.

The missionaries in the Society Islands had, by means of some Sandwich Islanders, been many years acquainted with the circumstance of some of Capt. Cook's bones being preserved in one of their temples, and receiving religious worship, and, ever since the arrival of Mr. Ellis, in company with the Deputation, in 1822, every endeavour has been made to learn, whether they were still in existence, and where they were kept. All those, of whom inquiry has been made, have uniformly asserted, that they were formerly kept by some of the friends of Rono, and

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worshipped, but have never given any satisfactory information, as to where they now are. Whenever

we have asked the king, or Kevaheva, the chief priest, or any of the chiefs, they have either told us they were under the care of those, who had themselves told us they knew nothing about them, or that they were now lost.

After the investigation, that has been made, we have no doubt, but that part of Capt. Cook's bones were preserved by the priests, and were considered sacred by the people, probably till the abolition of idolatry in 1819. At that period, most likely they were committed to the secret care of some chief, or deposited by the priests, who had charge of them, in some cave unknown to all besides themselves. The manner in which they were then disposed of, will probably remain a secret, except to the parties immediately concerned. The priests and chiefs always appear unwilling to enter into conversation on the subject, and seem to wish to avoid renewing the recollection of the unhappy circumstance.

Towards evening we examined another buoa, similar to the one we had passed at Hokukano. On entering it, we found part of a canoe, several calabashes, some mats, tapa, &c. and three small idols, about eighteen inches long, carefully wrapped up in cloth. The man, who accompanied us, said, "My father lies here, don't disturb him; I have not yet done weeping for him, though he has been dead some years." We assured him of our sympathy with him in the loss of his father; and having satisfied our curiosity, which he was willing to gratify by allowing us to enter the tomb, we returned to the house of Kamakau, in conversation with whom, we spent the evening. He made many inquiries, such as whether he should bathe on the Sabbath, or eat fish that was brought to him, or caught, on that day; whether the same body would rise again at the last day; whether the spirit proceeded into the presence of

God immediately on quitting the body; and others of a similar character.

During our journey to day, we have numbered 443 houses, and eight heiaus. In the shade, the thermometer, at sun-rise, stood at 71°; at noon, 76°; and at sun-set, 71o.

20th. Sabbath. Considerable rain had fallen in the night, but the morning was bright and serene. A wide field of usefulness presented itself, claiming our attention on this holy day, which we all felt was specially to be employed in exhibiting to the heathen around, the unsearchable riches of Christ.

The village of Kaavaroa, where we lodged, stretches along the north shore of the bay. A number of villages, and a considerable population are scattered on the southern shore; and it appeared our duty to go over and preach to them. Two of our number, Messrs. Bishop and Ellis, having procured a canoe from Kamakau, passed over about 9 A. M. Messrs. Thurston, Goodrich, and Harwood remained at Kaavaroa, where Mr. Thurston preached to very attentive congregations, both in the morning and afternoon. The good chief Kamakau was so anxious that his people might profit by the word spoken, that he could not forbear interrupting the discourse to request them to be attentive. After the conclusion of the services, he also addressed them, and exhorted them to be in earnest, in seeking salvation through Jesus Christ. The brethren observed, with great pleasure, that, during the day, he was frequently engaged in affectionate conversation on religious subjects, with some one or other of his people.

On landing at the southern shore of Keara'kekua, Messrs. Ellis and Bishop passed through the villages of Kiloa, Waipunaula, and Kalama, inviting the people, as they went along, to attend a religious exercise. At the latter place, they entered a large house built by Karaimoku's mother, Kamauokalani, but at present belonging to Kekauonohi his niece. It was the largest in the place, and was 93 feet by 30,

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in the inside. Here about 300 people collected; and (after singing and prayer,) Mr. Ellis preached to them from Psalms xxv, 8. After the service, they seemed desirous to enter into conversation on what they had heard. One man stood up, and called out aloud, "I desire Jehovah, the good Lord, for my God, but we have no one to tell us about him." In the afternoon, we sent word to the head-man to collect the people to hear the word of God again.

It rained, but a considerable number soon collected in the large house, and Mr. Ellis preached to them from 1 Tim. i, 15. Many arrived half an hour after the service had commenced, which induced Mr. Ellis to recapitulate his discourse; yet they did not seem weary. When it was finished, the head-man addressed the people, recommending them to attend to what they had heard, and proposed that henceforth they should abstain from all labour on the Sabbath, and pray to Jehovah and Jesus Christ, assuring them that such was his intention. After answering several inquiries, the brethren prepared to proceed to another village. Two large heaps of tii root, (a variety of Dracena, a sweet root, of which an intoxicating drink is made,) and one or two vessels of sugar-cane juice in a state of fermentation, were, during the day, thrown away at this place, in consequence of some remarks made against intoxication.

After leaving Kalama, they walked to Keei, a considerable village on the south point of the bay. As they approached it, they passed over the ground, where, about forty years ago, Tamehameha encamped with his warriors, previous to his decisive battles with Kivaraao, the son of Taraiopu. On reaching the head-man's house, about 100 people soon collected before the door, and Mr. Ellis preached to them from Psalms lxx, 4. They then went into the house prepared for their lodging, which the good people soon made very comfortable, by spreading some cocoa-nut leaves on the ground, which they covered with a clean mat. The kind host then proposed to

80 HAWAIIAN NOTIONS OF A FUTURE STATE.

fetch a pig, and have it dressed for supper. They told him they hrad rather he would not do it on the Sabbath, but that, if agreeable, they should be glad to receive one in the morning. Having conducted family worship, they laid down on their mats to repose, thankful for the opportunities of doing good, which they had enjoyed, and for the encouraging attention manifested by the people.

CHAPTER IV.

Hawaiian notions of a future state.-Account of the battle at Mokuohai.-Indisposition of Mr. Ellis.-Burying place of the ancient Hawaiian Kings.-The Puhonua, or City of refuge.—Ancient cataract of lava, and singular vaulted avenue.-Journey along the shore-Custom on the death of a chief-Singular pillars of lava. -Scarcity of fresh water.-Division of Kona. -Appearance of the south-west part of the island.-Keavaiti.-Evangelical labours at Pa

tini.

JULY 21st. In the morning, those of the party who were at Kaavaroa, visited the spot where Capt. Cook was killed, and broke off fragments from the rock of lava, on which he fell. On their return they purchased, for a piece of blue cotton about three yards in length, four small idols. They were rudely carved imitations of the human figure, one of them between three and four feet in length, the others not more than eighteen inches. Having conducted family worship and breakfasted with Kamakau and his family, they took their leave, and passed over to the other side of the bay.

The house, in which Messrs. Bishop and Ellis had lodged, was crowded with natives. Mr. Ellis conducted morning worship in the native language,