43 G

MISSIONARY TOUR

CHAP. XV.

Traditions respecting the Origin of the Islanders—Marriageamong the Natives—Account of Foreigners who visited theSandwich Islands before they were discovered by CaptainCook —Preaching at Kairua — Traditions of a Deluge — Visitto Maui—Memoir of the late King and Queen of the Islands—Notice of Boki, their principal attendant—Return toOahu .

The time which I spent at Kairua was chiefly occu-pied in conversation with the governor on the historyand traditions of the island ; the advantages of instruc-tion ; and the blessings which the general adoption ofChristianity would confer on the people. On thislatter subject, the governor uniformly expressed hisconviction of its utility; and said, he had thereforesent a messenger round among the people, requestingthem to renounce their former evil practices, and keepthe Sabbath according to the direction of the wordof God .

Adjacent to the governor’s house stand the ruins ofAhuena, an ancient heiau, where the w ar-god was oftenkept, and human sacrifices offered. Since the abolitionof idolatry, the governor has converted it into a fort,has w'idened the stone wall next the sea, and placedupon it a number of cannon. The idols are all de-stroyed, excepting three, which are planted on thewall, one at each end, and the other in the centre,where they stand like sentinels amidst the guns, as ifdesigned by their frightful appearance to terrify an