Narrative of a Tour Through Hawaii; Or Owhyhee; With Observations on the Natural of the Sandwich Islands, and Remarks on the Manners, Customs, Traditi (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1827 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAP. XV. Traditions respecting the Origin of the Islanders--Marriage among the Natives--Account of Foreigners who visited the Sandwich Islands before they were discovered by Captain Cook--Preaching at Kairua-- Traditions of a Deluge--Visit to Maui--Memoir of the late King and Queen of the Islands Notice of Boki, their principal attendant--Return to Oahu. The time which I spent at Kairua was chiefly occupied in conversation with the governor on the history and traditions of the island; the advantages of instruction; and the blessings which the general adoption of Christianity would confer on the people. On this latter subject, the governor uniformly expressed his conviction of its utility, and said, he had therefore sent a messenger round among the people, requesting them to renounce their former evil practices, and keep the Sabbath according to the direction of the word of God. Adjacent to the governor's house stand the ruins of Ahuena, an ancient heiau, where the war-god was often kept, and human sacrifices offered. Since the abolition of idolatry, the governor has converted it into a fort, has widened the stone wall next the sea, and placed upon it a number of cannon. The idols are all destroyed, excepting three, which are planted on the wall, one at each end, and the other in the centre, where they stand like sentinels amidst the guns, as if designed by their frightful appearance to terrify an enemy. On the 29th, I visited the ruins, and took a sketch of one of the idols, which stood sixteen feet above the wall, was upwards of three feet in breadth, and had been carved out of a single tree. The above may be considered as a tolerable specimen of the greater part of Hawaiian idols. The head has generally a most horrid appearance, the...