第11章

类别:其他 作者:Mark Twain字数:32204更新时间:18/12/20 11:15:16
Asolemnstrangermetmeinthesuburbstheotherday,andsaid: “Goodmorning,yourreverence。Preachinthestonechurchyonder,nodoubt?“ “No,Idon\'t。I\'mnotapreacher。” “Really,Ibegyourpardon,Captain。Itrustyouhadagoodseason。Howmuchoil“—— “Oil?Whatdoyoutakemefor?I\'mnotawhaler。” “Oh,Ibegathousandpardons,yourExcellency。 MajorGeneralinthehouseholdtroops,nodoubt?MinisteroftheInterior,likely?Secretaryofwar?FirstGentlemanoftheBed-chamber? CommissioneroftheRoyal“—— “Stuff!I\'mnoofficial。I\'mnotconnectedinanywaywiththeGovernment。” “Blessmylife!Then,whothemischiefareyou?whatthemischiefareyou?andhowthemischiefdidyougethere,andwhereinthunderdidyoucomefrom?“ “I\'monlyaprivatepersonage——anunassumingstranger——latelyarrivedfromAmerica。” “No?Notamissionary!Notawhaler!notamemberofhisMajesty\'sGovernment!notevenSecretaryoftheNavy!Ah,Heaven!itistooblissfultobetrue;alas,Idobutdream。Andyetthatnoble,honestcountenance——thoseoblique,ingenuouseyes——thatmassivehead,incapableof——of——anything;yourhand;givemeyourhand,brightwaif。Excusethesetears。ForsixteenwearyyearsIhaveyearnedforamomentlikethis,and“—— Herehisfeelingsweretoomuchforhim,andheswoonedaway。Ipitiedthispoorcreaturefromthebottomofmyheart。Iwasdeeplymoved。I shedafewtearsonhimandkissedhimforhismother。Ithentookwhatsmallchangehehadand“shoved“。 CHAPTERLXVII。 Istillquotefrommyjournal: IfoundthenationalLegislaturetoconsistofhalfadozenwhitemenandsomethirtyorfortynatives。Itwasadarkassemblage。ThenoblesandMinisters(aboutadozenofthemaltogether)occupiedtheextremeleftofthehall,withDavidKalakaua(theKing\'sChamberlain)andPrinceWilliamatthehead。ThePresidentoftheAssembly,HisRoyalHighnessM。 Kekuanaoa,[Kekuanaoaisnotofthebloodroyal。Hederiveshisprincelyrankfromhiswife,whowasadaughterofKamehamehatheGreat。Underothermonarchiesthemalelinetakesprecedenceofthefemaleintracinggenealogies,butheretheoppositeisthecase——thefemalelinetakesprecedence。Theirreasonforthisisexceedinglysensible,andI recommendittothearistocracyofEurope:Theysayitiseasytoknowwhoaman\'smotherwas,but,etc。,etc。]andtheVicePresident(thelatterawhiteman,)satinthepulpit,ifImaysotermit。 ThePresidentistheKing\'sfather。Heisanerect,stronglybuilt,massivefeatured,white-haired,tawnyoldgentlemanofeightyyearsofageorthereabouts。Hewassimplybutwelldressed,inablueclothcoatandwhitevest,andwhitepantaloons,withoutspot,dustorblemishuponthem。Hebearshimselfwithacalm,statelydignity,andisamanofnoblepresence。Hewasayoungmanandadistinguishedwarriorunderthatterrificfighter,KamehamehaI。,morethanhalfacenturyago。A knowledgeofhiscareersuggestedsomesuchthoughtasthis:“Thisman,nakedasthedayhewasborn,andwar-clubandspearinhand,haschargedattheheadofahordeofsavagesagainstotherhordesofsavagesmorethanagenerationandahalfago,andreveledinslaughterandcarnage; hasworshippedwoodenimagesonhisdevoutknees;hasseenhundredsofhisraceofferedupinheathentemplesassacrificestowoodenidols,atatimewhennomissionary\'sfoothadeverpressedthissoil,andhehadneverheardofthewhiteman\'sGod;hasbelievedhisenemycouldsecretlyprayhimtodeath;hasseentheday,inhischildhood,whenitwasacrimepunishablebydeathforamantoeatwithhiswife,orforaplebeiantolethisshadowfallupontheKing——andnowlookathim;aneducatedChristian;neatlyandhandsomelydressed;ahigh-minded,elegantgentleman;atraveler,insomedegree,andonewhohasbeenthehonoredguestofroyaltyinEurope;amanpracticedinholdingthereinsofanenlightenedgovernment,andwellversedinthepoliticsofhiscountryandingeneral,practicalinformation。Lookathim,sittingtherepresidingoverthedeliberationsofalegislativebody,amongwhomarewhitemen——agrave,dignified,statesmanlikepersonage,andasseeminglynaturalandfittedtotheplaceasifhehadbeenborninitandhadneverbeenoutofitinhislifetime。Howtheexperiencesofthisoldman\'seventfullifeshamethecheapinventionsofromance!“ Thechristianizingofthenativeshashardlyevenweakenedsomeoftheirbarbariansuperstitions,muchlessdestroyedthem。Ihavejustreferredtooneofthese。Itisstillapopularbeliefthatifyourenemycangetholdofanyarticlebelongingtoyouhecangetdownonhiskneesoveritandprayyoutodeath。Thereforemanyanativegivesupanddiesmerelybecauseheimaginesthatsomeenemyisputtinghimthroughacourseofdamagingprayer。Thisprayinganindividualtodeathseemsabsurbenoughatafirstglance,butthenwhenwecalltomindsomeofthepulpiteffortsofcertainofourownministersthethinglooksplausible。 Informertimes,amongtheIslanders,notonlyapluralityofwiveswascustomary,butapluralityofhusbandslikewise。Somenativewomenofnoblerankhadasmanyassixhusbands。Awomanthussupplieddidnotresidewithallherhusbandsatonce,butlivedseveralmonthswitheachinturn。Anunderstoodsignhungatherdoorduringthesemonths。Whenthesignwastakendown,itmeant“NEXT。” Inthosedayswomanwasrigidlytaughtto“knowherplace。”Herplacewastodoallthework,takeallthecuffs,provideallthefood,andcontentherselfwithwhatwasleftafterherlordhadfinishedhisdinner。Shewasnotonlyforbidden,byancientlaw,andunderpenaltyofdeath,toeatwithherhusbandorenteracanoe,butwasdebarred,underthesamepenalty,fromeatingbananas,pine-apples,orangesandotherchoicefruitsatanytimeorinanyplace。Shehadtoconfineherselfprettystrictlyto“poi“andhardwork。ThesepoorignorantheathenseemtohavehadasortofgropingideaofwhatcameofwomaneatingfruitinthegardenofEden,andtheydidnotchoosetotakeanymorechances。 Butthemissionariesbrokeupthissatisfactoryarrangementofthings。 Theyliberatedwomanandmadehertheequalofman。 Thenativeshadaromanticfashionofburyingsomeoftheirchildrenalivewhenthefamilybecamelargerthannecessary。Themissionariesinterferedinthismattertoo,andstoppedit。 Tothisdaythenativesareabletoliedownanddiewhenevertheywantto,whetherthereisanythingthematterwiththemornot。IfaKanakatakesanotiontodie,thatistheendofhim;nobodycanpersuadehimtoholdon;allthedoctorsintheworldcouldnotsavehim。 Aluxurywhichtheyenjoymorethananythingelse,isalargefuneral。 Ifapersonwantstogetridofatroublesomenative,itisonlynecessarytopromisehimafinefuneralandnamethehourandhewillbeonhandtotheminute——atleasthisremainswill。 AllthenativesareChristians,now,butmanyofthemstilldeserttotheGreatSharkGodfortemporarysuccorintimeoftrouble。AnirruptionofthegreatvolcanoofKilauea,oranearthquake,alwaysbringsadealoflatentloyaltytotheGreatSharkGodtothesurface。ItiscommonreportthattheKing,educated,cultivatedandrefinedChristiangentlemanasheundoubtedlyis,stillturnstotheidolsofhisfathersforhelpwhendisasterthreatens。Aplantercaughtashark,andoneofhischristianizednativestestifiedhisemancipationfromthethrallofancientsuperstitionbyassistingtodissectthesharkafterafashionforbiddenbyhisabandonedcreed。Butremorseshortlybegantotorturehim。Hegrewmoodyandsoughtsolitude;broodedoverhissin,refusedfood,andfinallysaidhemustdieandoughttodie,forhehadsinnedagainsttheGreatSharkGodandcouldneverknowpeaceanymore。Hewasproofagainstpersuasionandridicule,andinthecourseofadayortwotooktohisbedanddied,althoughheshowednosymptomofdisease。 Hisyoungdaughterfollowedhisleadandsufferedalikefatewithintheweek。Superstitionisingrainedinthenativebloodandboneanditisonlynaturalthatitshouldcropoutintimeofdistress。WhereveronegoesintheIslands,hewillfindsmallpilesofstonesbythewayside,coveredwithleafyofferings,placedtherebythenativestoappeaseevilspiritsorhonorlocaldeitiesbelongingtothemythologyofformerdays。 IntheruraldistrictsofanyoftheIslands,thetravelerhourlycomesuponpartiesofduskymaidensbathinginthestreamsorintheseawithoutanyclothingonandexhibitingnoveryintemperatezealinthematterofhidingtheirnakedness。WhenthemissionariesfirsttookuptheirresidenceinHonolulu,thenativewomenwouldpaytheirfamiliesfrequentfriendlyvisits,daybyday,notevenclothedwithablush。 Itwasfoundahardmattertoconvincethemthatthiswasratherindelicate。Finallythemissionariesprovidedthemwithlong,loosecalicorobes,andthatendedthedifficulty——forthewomenwouldtroopthroughthetown,starknaked,withtheirrobesfoldedundertheirarms,marchtothemissionaryhousesandthenproceedtodress!——Thenativessoonmanifestedastrongproclivityforclothing,butitwasshortlyapparentthattheyonlywanteditforgrandeur。Themissionariesimportedaquantityofhats,bonnets,andothermaleandfemalewearingapparel,institutedageneraldistribution,andbeggedthepeoplenottocometochurchnaked,nextSunday,asusual。Andtheydidnot;butthenationalspiritofunselfishnessledthemtodivideupwithneighborswhowerenotatthedistribution,andnextSabbaththepoorpreacherscouldhardlykeepcountenancebeforetheirvastcongregations。Inthemidstofthereadingofahymnabrown,statelydamewouldsweepuptheaislewithaworldofairs,withnothingintheworldonbuta“stovepipe“hatandapairofcheapgloves;anotherdamewouldfollow,trickedoutinaman\'sshirt,andnothingelse;anotheronewouldenterwithaflourish,withsimplythesleevesofabrightcalicodresstiedaroundherwaistandtherestofthegarmentdraggingbehindlikeapeacock\'stailoffduty;astately“buck“Kanakawouldstalkinwithawoman\'sbonneton,wrongsidebefore——onlythis,andnothingmore;afterhimwouldstridehisfellow,withthelegsofapairofpantaloonstiedaroundhisneck,therestofhispersonuntrammeled;inhisrearwouldcomeanothergentlemansimplygottenupinafieryneck-tieandastripedvest。 Thepoorcreatureswerebeamingwithcomplacencyandwhollyunconsciousofanyabsurdityintheirappearance。Theygazedateachotherwithhappyadmiration,anditwasplaintoseethattheyounggirlsweretakingnoteofwhateachotherhadon,asnaturallyasiftheyhadalwayslivedinalandofBiblesandknewwhatchurchesweremadefor;herewastheevidenceofadawningcivilization。Thespectaclewhichthecongregationpresentedwassoextraordinaryandwithalsomoving,thatthemissionariesfounditdifficulttokeeptothetextandgoonwiththeservices;andbyandbywhenthesimplechildrenofthesunbeganageneralswappingofgarmentsinopenmeetingandproducedsomeirresistiblygrotesqueeffectsinthecourseofre-dressing,therewasnothingforitbuttocutthethingshortwiththebenedictionanddismissthefantasticassemblage。 Inourcountry,childrenplay“keephouse;“andinthesamehigh-soundingbutminiaturewaythegrownfolkhere,withthepoorlittlematerialofslenderterritoryandmeagrepopulation,play“empire。”ThereishisroyalMajestytheKing,withaNewYorkdetective\'sincomeofthirtyorthirty-fivethousanddollarsayearfromthe“royalcivillist“andthe“royaldomain。”Helivesinatwo-storyframe“palace。” Andthereisthe“royalfamily“——thecustomaryhiveofroyalbrothers,sisters,cousinsandothernobledronesandvagrantsusualtomonarchy,—— allwithaspooninthenationalpap-dish,andallbearingsuchtitlesashisorherRoyalHighnessthePrinceorPrincessSo-and-so。Fewofthemcancarrytheirroyalsplendorsfarenoughtorideincarriages,however; theysporttheeconomicalKanakahorseor“hoofit“withtheplebeians。 ThenthereishisExcellencythe“royalChamberlain“——asinecure,forhismajestydresseshimselfwithhisownhands,exceptwhenheisruralizingatWaikikiandthenherequiresnodressing。 NextwehavehisExcellencytheCommander-in-chiefoftheHouseholdTroops,whoseforcesconsistofaboutthenumberofsoldiersusuallyplacedunderacorporalinotherlands。 NextcomestheroyalStewardandtheGrandEquerryinWaiting——highdignitarieswithmodestsalariesandlittletodo。 ThenwehavehisExcellencytheFirstGentlemanoftheBed-chamber——anofficeaseasyasitismagnificent。 NextwecometohisExcellencythePrimeMinister,arenegadeAmericanfromNewHampshire,alljaw,vanity,bombastandignorance,alawyerof“shyster“calibre,afraudbynature,ahumbleworshiperofthesceptreabovehim,areptilenevertiredofsneeringatthelandofhisbirthorglorifyingtheten-acrekingdomthathasadoptedhim——salary,$4,000ayear,vastconsequence,andnoperquisites。 ThenwehavehisExcellencytheImperialMinisterofFinance,whohandlesamilliondollarsofpublicmoneyayear,sendsinhisannual“budget“ withgreatceremony,talksprodigiouslyof“finance,“suggestsimposingschemesforpayingoffthe“nationaldebt“(of$150,000,)anddoesitallfor$4,000ayearandunimaginableglory。 NextwehavehisExcellencytheMinisterofWar,whoholdsswayovertheroyalarmies——theyconsistoftwohundredandthirtyuniformedKanakas,mostlyBrigadierGenerals,andifthecountryevergetsintotroublewithaforeignpowerweshallprobablyhearfromthem。IknewanAmericanwhosecopper-platevisitingcardborethisimpressivelegend: “Lieutenant-ColonelintheRoyalInfantry。Tosaythathewasproudofthisdistinctionisstatingitbuttamely。TheMinisterofWarhasalsoinhischargesomevenerableswivelsonPunch-BowlHillwherewithroyalsalutesarefiredwhenforeignvesselsofwarentertheport。 NextcomeshisExcellencytheMinisteroftheNavy——anabobwhorulesthe“royalfleet,“(asteam-tugandasixty-tonschooner。) AndnextcomeshisGracetheLordBishopofHonolulu,thechiefdignitaryofthe“EstablishedChurch“——forwhentheAmericanPresbyterianmissionarieshadcompletedthereductionofthenationtoacompactconditionofChristianity,nativeroyaltysteppedinanderectedthegranddignityofan“Established(Episcopal)Church“overit,andimportedacheapready-madeBishopfromEnglandtotakecharge。Thechagrinofthemissionarieshasneverbeencomprehensivelyexpressed,tothisday,profanitynotbeingadmissible。 NextcomeshisExcellencytheMinisterofPublicInstruction。 Next,theirExcellenciestheGovernorsofOahu,Hawaii,etc。,andafterthemastringofHighSheriffsandothersmallfrytoonumerousforcomputation。 ThentherearetheirExcellenciestheEnvoyExtraordinaryandMinisterPlenipotentiaryofhisImperialMajestytheEmperoroftheFrench;herBritishMajesty\'sMinister;theMinisterResident,oftheUnitedStates; andsomesixoreightrepresentativesofotherforeignnations,allwithsoundingtitles,imposingdignityandprodigiousbuteconomicalstate。 Imagineallthisgrandeurinaplay-house“kingdom“whosepopulationfallsabsolutelyshortofsixtythousandsouls! Thepeoplearesoaccustomedtonine-jointedtitlesandcolossalmagnatesthataforeignprincemakesverylittlemorestirinHonoluluthanaWesternCongressmandoesinNewYork。 Andletitbeborneinmindthatthereisastrictlydefined“courtcostume“ofso“stunning“anaturethatitwouldmaketheclowninacircuslooktameandcommonplacebycomparison;andeachHawaiianofficialdignitaryhasagorgeousvari-colored,gold-laceduniformpeculiartohisoffice——notwoofthemarealike,anditishardtotellwhichoneisthe“loudest。”TheKinghada“drawing-room“atstatedintervals,likeothermonarchs,andwhenthesevarieduniformscongregatethere——weak-eyedpeoplehavetocontemplatethespectaclethroughsmokedglass。Istherenotagratifyingcontrastbetweenthislatter-dayexhibitionandtheonetheancestorsofsomeofthesemagnatesaffordedthemissionariestheSundayaftertheold-timedistributionofclothing? Beholdwhatreligionandcivilizationhavewrought! CHAPTERLXVIII。 WhileIwasinHonoluluIwitnessedtheceremoniousfuneraloftheKing\'ssister,herRoyalHighnessthePrincessVictoria。Accordingtotheroyalcustom,theremainshadlaininstateatthepalacethirtydays,watcheddayandnightbyaguardofhonor。Andduringallthattimeagreatmultitudeofnativesfromtheseveralislandshadkeptthepalacegroundswellcrowdedandhadmadetheplaceapandemoniumeverynightwiththeirhowlingsandwailings,beatingoftom-tomsanddancingofthe(atothertimes)forbidden“hula-hula“byhalf-cladmaidenstothemusicofsongsofquestionabledecencychantedinhonorofthedeceased。Theprintedprogrammeofthefuneralprocessioninterestedmeatthetime;andafterwhatIhavejustsaidofHawaiiangrandiloquenceinthematterof“playingempire,“Iampersuadedthataperusalofitmayinterestthereader: Afterreadingthelonglistofdignitaries,etc。,andrememberingthesparsenessofthepopulation,oneisalmostinclinedtowonderwherethematerialforthatportionoftheprocessiondevotedto“HawaiianPopulationGenerally“isgoingtobeprocured: Undertaker。 RoyalSchool。KawaiahaoSchool。RomanCatholicSchool。MaemaeSchool。 HonoluluFireDepartment。 Mechanics\'BenefitUnion。 AttendingPhysicians。 Knonohikis(Superintendents)oftheCrownLands,KonohikisofthePrivateLandsofHisMajestyKonohikisofthePrivateLandsofHerlateRoyalHighness。 GovernorofOahuandStaff。 Hulumanu(MilitaryCompany)。 HouseholdTroops。 ThePrinceofHawaii\'sOwn(MilitaryCompany)。 TheKing\'shouseholdservants。 ServantsofHerlateRoyalHighness。 ProtestantClergy。TheClergyoftheRomanCatholicChurch。 HisLordshipLouisMaigret,TheRightRev。BishopofArathea,Vicar- ApostolicoftheHawaiianIslands。 TheClergyoftheHawaiianReformedCatholicChurch。 HisLordshiptheRightRev。BishopofHonolulu。 HerMajestyQueenEmma\'sCarriage。 HisMajesty\'sStaff。 CarriageofHerlateRoyalHighness。 CarriageofHerMajestytheQueenDowager。 TheKing\'sChancellor。 CabinetMinisters。 HisExcellencytheMinisterResidentoftheUnitedStates。 H。B。M\'sCommissioner。 H。B。M\'sActingCommissioner。 JudgesofSupremeCourt。 PrivyCouncillors。 MembersofLegislativeAssembly。 ConsularCorps。 CircuitJudges。 ClerksofGovernmentDepartments。 MembersoftheBar。 CollectorGeneral,Custom-houseOfficersandOfficersoftheCustoms。 MarshalandSheriffsofthedifferentIslands。 King\'sYeomanry。 ForeignResidents。 AhahuiKaahumanu。 HawaiianPopulationGenerally。 HawaiianCavalry。 PoliceForce。 Iresumemyjournalatthepointwheretheprocessionarrivedattheroyalmausoleum: Astheprocessionfiledthroughthegate,themilitarydeployedhandsomelytotherightandleftandformedanavenuethroughwhichthelongcolumnofmournerspassedtothetomb。Thecoffinwasbornethroughthedoorofthemausoleum,followedbytheKingandhischiefs,thegreatofficersofthekingdom,foreignConsuls,Embassadorsanddistinguishedguests(BurlingameandGeneralVanValkenburgh)。Severalofthekahiliswerethenfastenedtoaframe- workinfrontofthetomb,theretoremainuntiltheydecayandfalltopieces,or,forestallingthis,untilanotherscionofroyaltydies。Atthispointoftheproceedingsthemultitudesetupsuchaheart-brokenwailingasIhopenevertohearagain。 Thesoldiersfiredthreevolleysofmusketry——thewailingbeingpreviouslysilencedtopermitofthegunsbeingheard。HisHighnessPrinceWilliam,inashowymilitaryuniform(the“trueprince,“this—— scionofthehouseover-thrownbythepresentdynasty——hewasformerlybetrothedtothePrincessbutwasnotallowedtomarryher),stoodguardandpacedbackandforthwithinthedoor。Theprivilegedfewwhofollowedthecoffinintothemausoleumremainedsometime,buttheKingsooncameoutandstoodinthedoorandnearonesideofit。Astrangercouldhaveguessedhisrank(althoughhewassosimplyandunpretentiouslydressed)bytheprofounddeferencepaidhimbyallpersonsinhisvicinity;byseeinghishighofficersreceivehisquietordersandsuggestionswithbowedanduncoveredheads;andbyobservinghowcarefulthosepersonswhocameoutofthemausoleumweretoavoid“crowding“him(althoughtherewasroomenoughinthedoorwayforawagontopass,forthatmatter);howrespectfullytheyedgedoutsideways,scrapingtheirbacksagainstthewallandalwayspresentingafrontviewoftheirpersonstohisMajesty,andneverputtingtheirhatsonuntiltheywerewelloutoftheroyalpresence。 Hewasdressedentirelyinblack——dress-coatandsilkhat——andlookedratherdemocraticinthemidstoftheshowyuniformsabouthim。Onhisbreastheworealargegoldstar,whichwashalfhiddenbythelapelofhiscoat。Heremainedatthedoorahalfhour,andoccasionallygaveanordertothemenwhowereerectingthekahilis[Ranksoflong-handledmopsmadeofgaudyfeathers——sacredtoroyalty。Theyarestuckinthegroundaroundthetombandleftthere。]beforethetomb。Hehadthegoodtastetomakeoneofthemsubstituteblackcrapefortheordinaryhempenropehewasabouttotieoneofthemtotheframe-workwith。 Finallyheenteredhiscarriageanddroveaway,andthepopulaceshortlybegantodropintohiswake。Whilehewasinviewtherewasbutonemanwhoattractedmoreattentionthanhimself,andthatwasHarris(theYankeePrimeMinister)。Thisfeeblepersonagehadcrapeenougharoundhishattoexpressthegriefofanentirenation,andasusualheneglectednoopportunityofmakinghimselfconspicuousandexcitingtheadmirationofthesimpleKanakas。Oh!nobleambitionofthismodernRichelieu! ItisinterestingtocontrastthefuneralceremoniesofthePrincessVictoriawiththoseofhernotedancestorKamehamehatheConqueror,whodiedfiftyyearsago——in1819,theyearbeforethefirstmissionariescame。 “Onthe8thofMay,1819,attheageofsixty-six,hedied,ashehadlived,inthefaithofhiscountry。Itwashismisfortunenottohavecomeincontactwithmenwhocouldhaverightlyinfluencedhisreligiousaspirations。Judgedbyhisadvantagesandcomparedwiththemosteminentofhiscountrymenhemaybejustlystylednotonlygreat,butgood。TothisdayhismemorywarmstheheartandelevatesthenationalfeelingsofHawaiians。TheyareproudoftheiroldwarriorKing;theylovehisname;hisdeedsformtheirhistoricalage;andanenthusiasmeverywhereprevails,sharedevenbyforeignerswhoknewhisworth,thatconstitutesthefirmestpillarofthethroneofhisdynasty。 “Inlieuofhumanvictims(thecustomofthatage),asacrificeofthreehundreddogsattendedhisobsequies——nomeanholocaustwhentheirnationalvalueandtheestimationinwhichtheywereheldareconsidered。ThebonesofKamehameha,afterbeingkeptforawhile,weresocarefullyconcealedthatallknowledgeoftheirfinalrestingplaceisnowlost。TherewasaproverbcurrentamongthecommonpeoplethatthebonesofacruelKingcouldnotbehid;theymadefish-hooksandarrowsofthem,uponwhich,inusingthem,theyventedtheirabhorrenceofhismemoryinbitterexecrations。” Theaccountofthecircumstancesofhisdeath,aswrittenbythenativehistorians,isfullofminutedetail,butthereisscarcelyalineofitwhichdoesnotmentionorillustratesomeby-gonecustomofthecountry。 InthisrespectitisthemostcomprehensivedocumentIhaveyetmetwith。Iwillquoteitentire: “WhenKamehamehawasdangerouslysick,andthepriestswereunabletocurehim,theysaid:\'Beofgoodcourageandbuildahouseforthegod\'(hisownprivategodoridol),thatthoumayestrecover。\' Thechiefscorroboratedthisadviceofthepriests,andaplaceofworshipwaspreparedforKukailimoku,andconsecratedintheevening。TheyproposedalsototheKing,withaviewtoprolonghislife,thathumanvictimsshouldbesacrificedtohisdeity;uponwhichthegreaterpartofthepeopleabscondedthroughfearofdeath,andconcealedthemselvesinhidingplacestillthetabu[Tabu(pronouncedtah-boo,)meansprohibition(wehaveborrowedit,)orsacred。Thetabuwassometimespermanent,sometimestemporary;andthepersonorthingplacedundertabuwasforthetimebeingsacredtothepurposeforwhichitwassetapart。Intheabovecasethevictimsselectedunderthetabuwouldbesacredtothesacrifice] inwhichdestructionimpended,waspast。ItisdoubtfulwhetherKamehamehaapprovedoftheplanofthechiefsandprieststosacrificemen,ashewasknowntosay,\'ThemenaresacredfortheKing;\'meaningthattheywerefortheserviceofhissuccessor。 ThisinformationwasderivedfromLiholiho,hisson。 “Afterthis,hissicknessincreasedtosuchadegreethathehadnotstrengthtoturnhimselfinhisbed。Whenanotherseason,consecratedforworshipatthenewtemple(heiau)arrived,hesaidtohisson,Liholiho,\'Gothouandmakesupplicationtothygod;I amnotabletogo,andwilloffermyprayersathome。\'Whenhisdevotionstohisfeatheredgod,Kukailimoku,wereconcluded,acertainreligiouslydisposedindividual,whohadabirdgod,suggestedtotheKingthatthroughitsinfluencehissicknessmightberemoved。ThenameofthisgodwasPua;itsbodywasmadeofabird,noweatenbytheHawaiians,andcalledintheirlanguagealae。 Kamehamehawaswillingthatatrialshouldbemade,andtwohouseswereconstructedtofacilitatetheexperiment;butwhiledwellinginthemhebecamesoveryweakasnottoreceivefood。Afterlyingtherethreedays,hiswives,childrenandchiefs,perceivingthathewasverylow,returnedhimtohisownhouse。Intheeveninghewascarriedtotheeatinghouse,wherehetookalittlefoodinhismouthwhichhedidnotswallow;alsoacupofwater。Thechiefsrequestedhimtogivethemhiscounsel;buthemadenoreply,andwascarriedbacktothedwellinghouse;butwhennearmidnight——teno\'clock,perhaps——hewascarriedagaintotheplacetoeat;but,asbefore,hemerelytastedofwhatwaspresentedtohim。ThenKaikioewaaddressedhimthus:\'Hereweallare,youryoungerbrethren,yoursonLiholihoandyourforeigner;imparttousyourdyingcharge,thatLiholihoandKaahumanumayhear。\'ThenKamehamehainquired,\'Whatdoyousay?\'Kaikioewarepeated,\'Yourcounselsforus。\' “Hethensaid,\'Moveoninmygoodwayand。\'Hecouldproceednofurther。Theforeigner,Mr。Young,embracedandkissedhim。 Hoapilialsoembracedhim,whisperingsomethinginhisear,afterwhichhewastakenbacktothehouse。Abouttwelvehewascarriedoncemoretothehouseforeating,intowhichhisheadentered,whilehisbodywasinthedwellinghouseimmediatelyadjoining。Itshouldberemarkedthatthisfrequentcarryingofasickchieffromonehousetoanotherresultedfromthetabusystem,theninforce。 Therewereatthattimesixhouses(huts)connectedwithanestablishment——onewasforworship,oneforthementoeatin,aneatinghouseforthewomen,ahousetosleepin,ahouseinwhichtomanufacturekapa(nativecloth)andonewhere,atcertainintervals,thewomenmightdwellinseclusion。 “Thesickwasoncemoretakentohishouse,whenheexpired;thiswasattwoo\'clock,acircumstancefromwhichLeleiohokuderivedhisname。Ashebreathedhislast,Kalaimokucametotheeatinghousetoorderthoseinittogoout。Thereweretwoagedpersonsthusdirectedtodepart;onewent,theotherremainedonaccountoflovetotheKing,bywhomhehadformerlybeenkindlysustained。Thechildrenalsoweresentaway。ThenKalaimokucametothehouse,andthechiefshadaconsultation。Oneofthemspokethus:\'Thisismythought——wewilleathimraw。[Thissoundssuspicious,inviewofthefactthatallSandwichIslandhistorians,whiteandblack,protestthatcannibalismneverexistedintheislands。However,sincetheyonlyproposedto“eathimraw“we“won\'tcountthat“。 Butitwouldcertainlyhavebeencannibalismiftheyhadcookedhim——M。T。]Kaahumanu(oneofthedeadKing\'swidows)replied,\'Perhapshisbodyisnotatourdisposal;thatismoreproperlywithhissuccessor。Ourpartinhim——hisbreath——hasdeparted;hisremainswillbedisposedofbyLiholiho。\' “AfterthisconversationthebodywastakenintotheconsecratedhousefortheperformanceoftheproperritesbythepriestandthenewKing。Thenameofthisceremonyisuko;andwhenthesacredhogwasbakedthepriestofferedittothedeadbody,anditbecameagod,theKingatthesametimerepeatingthecustomaryprayers。 “Thenthepriest,addressinghimselftotheKingandchiefs,said: \'Iwillnowmakeknowntoyoutherulestobeobservedrespectingpersonstobesacrificedontheburialofthisbody。Ifyouobtainonemanbeforethecorpseisremoved,onewillbesufficient;butafteritleavesthishousefourwillberequired。Ifdelayeduntilwecarrythecorpsetothegravetheremustbeten;butafteritisdepositedinthegravetheremustbefifteen。To-morrowmorningtherewillbeatabu,and,ifthesacrificebedelayeduntilthattime,fortymenmustdie。\' “Thenthehighpriest,Hewahewa,inquiredofthechiefs,\'WhereshallbetheresidenceofKingLiholiho?\'Theyreplied,\'Where,indeed?You,ofallmen,oughttoknow。\'Thenthepriestobserved,\'Therearetwosuitableplaces;oneisKau,theotherisKohala。\' Thechiefspreferredthelatter,asitwasmorethicklyinhabited。 Thepriestadded,\'TheseareproperplacesfortheKing\'sresidence; buthemustnotremaininKona,foritispolluted。\'Thiswasagreedto。Itwasnowbreakofday。AshewasbeingcarriedtotheplaceofburialthepeopleperceivedthattheirKingwasdead,andtheywailed。Whenthecorpsewasremovedfromthehousetothetomb,adistanceofonechain,theprocessionwasmetbyacertainmanwhowasardentlyattachedtothedeceased。HeleapeduponthechiefswhowerecarryingtheKing\'sbody;hedesiredtodiewithhimonaccountofhislove。Thechiefsdrovehimaway。Hepersistedinmakingnumerousattempts,whichwereunavailing。Kalaimokaalsohaditinhishearttodiewithhim,butwaspreventedbyHookio。 “ThemorningfollowingKamehameha\'sdeath,LiholihoandhistraindepartedforKohala,accordingtothesuggestionsofthepriest,toavoidthedefilementoccasionedbythedead。Atthistimeifachiefdiedthelandwaspolluted,andtheheirssoughtaresidenceinanotherpartofthecountryuntilthecorpsewasdissectedandthebonestiedinabundle,whichbeingdone,theseasonofdefilementterminated。Ifthedeceasedwerenotachief,thehouseonlywasdefiledwhichbecamepureagainontheburialofthebody。 Suchwerethelawsonthissubject。 “OnthemorningonwhichLiholihosailedinhiscanoeforKohala,thechiefsandpeoplemournedaftertheirmanneronoccasionofachief\'sdeath,conductingthemselveslikemadmenandlikebeasts。 Theirconductwassuchastoforbiddescription;Thepriests,also,putintoactionthesorceryapparatus,thatthepersonwhohadprayedtheKingtodeathmightdie;foritwasnotbelievedthatKamehameha\'sdeparturewastheeffecteitherofsicknessoroldage。 Whenthesorcererssetupbytheirfire-placesstickswithastripofkapaflyingatthetop,thechiefKeeaumoku,Kaahumaun\'sbrother,cameinastateofintoxicationandbroketheflag-staffofthesorcerers,fromwhichitwasinferredthatKaahumanuandherfriendshadbeeninstrumentalintheKing\'sdeath。Onthisaccounttheyweresubjectedtoabuse。” Youhavethecontrast,now,andastrangeoneitis。ThisgreatQueen,Kaahumanu,whowas“subjectedtoabuse“duringthefrightfulorgiesthatfollowedtheKing\'sdeath,inaccordancewithancientcustom,afterwardbecameadevoutChristianandasteadfastandpowerfulfriendofthemissionaries。 Dogswere,andstillare,rearedandfattenedforfood,bythenatives—— hencethereferencetotheirvalueinoneoftheaboveparagraphs。 FortyyearsagoitwasthecustomintheIslandstosuspendalllawforacertainnumberofdaysafterthedeathofaroyalpersonage;andthenasaturnaliaensuedwhichonemaypicturetohimselfafterafashion,butnotinthefullhorrorofthereality。Thepeopleshavedtheirheads,knockedoutatoothortwo,pluckedoutaneyesometimes,cut,bruised,mutilatedorburnedtheirflesh,gotdrunk,burnedeachother\'shuts,maimedormurderedoneanotheraccordingtothecapriceofthemoment,andbothsexesgavethemselvesuptobrutalandunbridledlicentiousness。 Andafteritall,cameatorporfromwhichthenationslowlyemergedbewilderedanddazed,asiffromahideoushalf-rememberednightmare。 Theywerenotthesaltoftheearth,those“gentlechildrenofthesun。” Thenativesstillkeepupanoldcustomoftheirswhichcannotbecomfortingtoaninvalid。Whentheythinkasickfriendisgoingtodie,acoupleofdozenneighborssurroundhishutandkeepupadeafeningwailingnightanddaytillheeitherdiesorgetswell。Nodoubtthisarrangementhashelpedmanyasubjecttoashroudbeforehisappointedtime。 Theysurroundahutandwailinthesameheart-brokenwaywhenitsoccupantreturnsfromajourney。Thisistheirdismalideaofawelcome。 Averylittleofitwouldgoagreatwaywithmostofus。 CHAPTERLXIX。 BoundforHawaii(ahundredandfiftymilesdistant,)tovisitthegreatvolcanoandbeholdtheothernotablethingswhichdistinguishthatislandabovetheremainderofthegroup,wesailedfromHonoluluonacertainSaturdayafternoon,inthegoodschoonerBoomerang。 TheBoomerangwasaboutaslongastwostreetcars,andaboutaswideasone。Shewassosmall(thoughshewaslargerthanthemajorityoftheinter-islandcoasters)thatwhenIstoodonherdeckIfeltbutlittlesmallerthantheColossusofRhodesmusthavefeltwhenhehadaman-of- warunderhim。Icouldreachthewaterwhenshelayoverunderastrongbreeze。WhentheCaptainandmycomrade(aMr。Billings),myselfandfourotherpersonswereallassembledonthelittleafterportionofthedeckwhichissacredtothecabinpassengers,itwasfull——therewasnotroomforanymorequalityfolks。Anothersectionofthedeck,twiceaslargeasours,wasfullofnativesofbothsexes,withtheircustomarydogs,mats,blankets,pipes,calabashesofpoi,fleas,andotherluxuriesandbaggageofminorimportance。Assoonaswesetsailthenativesalllaydownonthedeckasthickasnegroesinaslave-pen,andsmoked,conversed,andspitoneachother,andweretrulysociable。 Thelittlelow-ceiledcabinbelowwasratherlargerthanahearse,andasdarkasavault。Ithadtwocoffinsoneachside——Imeantwobunks。 Asmalltable,capableofaccommodatingthreepersonsatdinner,stoodagainsttheforwardbulkhead,andoverithungthedingiestwhaleoillanternthateverpeopledtheobscurityofadungeonwithghostlyshapes。 Thefloorroomunoccupiedwasnotextensive。Onemightswingacatinit,perhaps,butnotalongcat。Theholdforwardofthebulkheadhadbutlittlefreightinit,andfrommorningtillnightaportlyoldrooster,withavoicelikeBaalam\'sass,andthesamedispositiontouseit,struttedupanddowninthatpartofthevesselandcrowed。Heusuallytookdinneratsixo\'clock,andthen,afteranhourdevotedtomeditation,hemountedabarrelandcrowedagoodpartofthenight。 Hegothoarserallthetime,buthescornedtoallowanypersonalconsiderationtointerferewithhisduty,andkeptuphislaborsindefianceofthreateneddiphtheria。 Sleepingwasoutofthequestionwhenhewasonwatch。Hewasasourceofgenuineaggravationandannoyance。Itwasworsethanuselesstoshoutathimorapplyoffensiveepithetstohim——heonlytookthesethingsforapplause,andstrainedhimselftomakemorenoise。Occasionally,duringtheday,Ithrewpotatoesathimthroughanapertureinthebulkhead,butheonlydodgedandwentoncrowing。 Thefirstnight,asIlayinmycoffin,idlywatchingthedimlampswingingtotherollingoftheship,andsnuffingthenauseousodorsofbilgewater,Ifeltsomethinggallopoverme。Iturnedoutpromptly。 However,IturnedinagainwhenIfounditwasonlyarat。Presentlysomethinggallopedovermeoncemore。Iknewitwasnotaratthistime,andIthoughtitmightbeacentipede,becausetheCaptainhadkilledoneondeckintheafternoon。Iturnedout。Thefirstglanceatthepillowshowedmerepulsivesentinelpercheduponeachendofit——cockroachesaslargeaspeachleaves——fellowswithlong,quiveringantennaeandfiery,malignanteyes。Theyweregratingtheirteethliketobaccoworms,andappearedtobedissatisfiedaboutsomething。Ihadoftenheardthatthesereptileswereinthehabitofeatingoffsleepingsailors\'toenailsdowntothequick,andIwouldnotgetinthebunkanymore。Ilaydownonthefloor。Butaratcameandbotheredme,andshortlyafterwardaprocessionofcockroachesarrivedandcampedinmyhair。Inafewmomentstheroosterwascrowingwithuncommonspiritandapartyoffleaswerethrowingdoublesomersaultsaboutmypersoninthewildestdisorder,andtakingabiteeverytimetheystruck。Iwasbeginningtofeelreallyannoyed。Igotupandputmyclothesonandwentondeck。 Theaboveisnotoverdrawn;itisatruthfulsketchofinter-islandschoonerlife。Thereisnosuchthingaskeepingavesselinelegantcondition,whenshecarriesmolassesandKanakas。 Itwascompensationformysufferingstocomeunexpectedlyuponsobeautifulasceneasmetmyeye——tostepsuddenlyoutofthesepulchralgloomofthecabinandstandunderthestronglightofthemoon——inthecentre,asitwere,ofaglitteringseaofliquidsilver——toseethebroadsailsstraininginthegale,theshipheeledoveronherside,theangryfoamhissingpastherleebulwarks,andsparklingsheetsofspraydashinghighoverherbowsandraininguponherdecks;tobracemyselfandhangfasttothefirstobjectthatpresenteditself,withhatjammeddownandcoattailswhippinginthebreeze,andfeelthatexhilarationthatthrillsinone\'shairandquiversdownhisbackbonewhenheknowsthateveryinchofcanvasisdrawingandthevesselcleavingthroughthewavesatherutmostspeed。Therewasnodarkness,nodimness,noobscuritythere。Allwasbrightness,everyobjectwasvividlydefined。 EveryprostrateKanaka;everycoilofrope;everycalabashofpoi;everypuppy;everyseamintheflooring;everybolthead;everyobject;howeverminute,showedsharpanddistinctinitseveryoutline;andtheshadowofthebroadmainsaillayblackasapalluponthedeck,leavingBillings\'swhiteupturnedfaceglorifiedandhisbodyinatotaleclipse。 MondaymorningwewereclosetotheislandofHawaii。Twoofitshighmountainswereinview——MaunaLoaandHualaiai。 Thelatterisanimposingpeak,butbeingonlytenthousandfeethighisseldommentionedorheardof。MaunaLoaissaidtobesixteenthousandfeethigh。Theraysofglitteringsnowandice,thatclaspeditssummitlikeaclaw,lookedrefreshingwhenviewedfromtheblisteringclimatewewerein。Onecouldstandonthatmountain(wrappedupinblanketsandfurstokeepwarm),andwhilehenibbledasnowballoranicicletoquenchhisthirsthecouldlookdownthelongsweepofitssidesandseespotswhereplantsaregrowingthatgrowonlywherethebittercoldofWinterprevails;lowerdownhecouldseesectionsdevotedtoproductionthatthriveinthetemperatezonealone;andatthebottomofthemountainhecouldseethehomeofthetuftedcocoa-palmsandotherspeciesofvegetationthatgrowonlyinthesultryatmosphereofeternalSummer。Hecouldseealltheclimesoftheworldatasingleglanceoftheeye,andthatglancewouldonlypassoveradistanceoffourorfivemilesasthebirdflies! ByandbywetookboatandwentashoreatKailua,designingtoridehorsebackthroughthepleasantorangeandcoffeeregionofKona,andrejointhevesselatapointsomeleaguesdistant。Thisjourneyiswellworthtaking。Thetrailpassesalongonhighground——sayathousandfeetabovesealevel——andusuallyaboutamiledistantfromtheocean,whichisalwaysinsight,savethatoccasionallyyoufindyourselfburiedintheforestinthemidstofaranktropicalvegetationandadensegrowthoftrees,whosegreatbowsoverarchtheroadandshutoutsunandseaandeverything,andleaveyouinadim,shadytunnel,hauntedwithinvisiblesingingbirdsandfragrantwiththeodorofflowers。Itwaspleasanttorideoccasionallyinthewarmsun,andfeasttheeyeupontheever- changingpanoramaoftheforest(beyondandbelowus),withitsmanytints,itssoftenedlightsandshadows,itsbillowyundulationssweepinggentlydownfromthemountaintothesea。Itwaspleasantalso,atintervals,toleavethesultrysunandpassintothecool,greendepthsofthisforestandindulgeinsentimentalreflectionsundertheinspirationofitsbroodingtwilightanditswhisperingfoliage。 Werodethroughoneorangegrovethathadtenthousandtreeinit! Theywereallladenwithfruit。 Atonefarmhousewegotsomelargepeachesofexcellentflavor。 Thisfruit,asageneralthing,doesnotdowellintheSandwichIslands。 Ittakesasortofalmondshape,andissmallandbitter。Itneedsfrost,theysay,andperhapsitdoes;ifthisbeso,itwillhaveagoodopportunitytogoonneedingit,asitwillnotbelikelytogetit。 ThetreesfromwhichthefinefruitIhavespokenof,came,hadbeenplantedandreplantedsixteentimes,andtothistreatmenttheproprietoroftheorchardattributedhis-success。 Wepassedseveralsugarplantations——newonesandnotveryextensive。 Thecropswere,inmostcases,thirdrattoons。[NOTE——Thefirstcropiscalled“plantcane;“subsequentcropswhichspringfromtheoriginalroots,withoutreplanting,arecalled“rattoons。”]AlmosteverywhereontheislandofHawaiisugar-canematuresintwelvemonths,bothrattoonsandplant,andalthoughitoughttobetakenoffassoonasittassels,nodoubt,itisnotabsolutelynecessarytodoituntilaboutfourmonthsafterward。InKona,theaverageyieldofanacreofgroundistwotonsofsugar,theysay。Thisisonlyamoderateyieldfortheseislands,butwouldbeastoundingforLouisianaandmostothersugargrowingcountries。 TheplantationsinKonabeingonprettyhighground——upamongthelightandfrequentrains——noirrigationwhateverisrequired。 CHAPTERLXX。 Westoppedsometimeatoneoftheplantations,torestourselvesandrefreshthehorses。Wehadachattyconversationwithseveralgentlemenpresent;buttherewasoneperson,amiddleagedman,withanabsentlookinhisface,whosimplyglancedup,gaveusgood-dayandlapsedagainintothemeditationswhichourcominghadinterrupted。Theplanterswhisperedusnottomindhim——crazy。TheysaidhewasintheIslandsforhishealth;wasapreacher;hishome,Michigan。TheysaidthatifhewokeuppresentlyandfelltotalkingaboutacorrespondencewhichhehadsometimeheldwithMr。Greeleyaboutatrifleofsomekind,wemusthumorhimandlistenwithinterest;andwemusthumorhisfancythatthiscorrespondencewasthetalkoftheworld。 Itwaseasytoseethathewasagentlecreatureandthathismadnesshadnothingviciousinit。Helookedpale,andalittleworn,asifwithperplexingthoughtandanxietyofmind。Hesatalongtime,lookingatthefloor,andatintervalsmutteringtohimselfandnoddinghisheadacquiescinglyorshakingitinmildprotest。Hewaslostinhisthought,orinhismemories。Wecontinuedourtalkwiththeplanters,branchingfromsubjecttosubject。Butatlasttheword“circumstance,“casuallydropped,inthecourseofconversation,attractedhisattentionandbroughtaneagerlookintohiscountenance。Hefacedaboutinhischairandsaid: “Circumstance?Whatcircumstance?Ah,Iknow——Iknowtoowell。Soyouhaveheardofittoo。”[Withasigh。]“Well,nomatter——alltheworldhasheardofit。Alltheworld。Thewholeworld。Itisalargeworld,too,forathingtotravelsofarin——nowisn\'tit?Yes,yes——theGreeleycorrespondencewithEricksonhascreatedthesaddestandbitterestcontroversyonbothsidesoftheocean——andstilltheykeepitup!Itmakesusfamous,butatwhatasorrowfulsacrifice!IwassosorrywhenIheardthatithadcausedthatbloodyanddistressfulwaroverthereinItaly。Itwaslittlecomforttome,aftersomuchbloodshed,toknowthatthevictorssidedwithme,andthevanquishedwithGreeley——ItislittlecomforttoknowthatHoraceGreeleyisresponsibleforthebattleofSadowa,andnotme。 “QueenVictoriawrotemethatshefeltjustasIdidaboutit——shesaidthatasmuchasshewasopposedtoGreeleyandthespiritheshowedinthecorrespondencewithme,shewouldnothavehadSadowahappenforhundredsofdollars。Icanshowyouherletter,ifyouwouldliketoseeit。Butgentlemen,muchasyoumaythinkyouknowaboutthatunhappycorrespondence,youcannotknowthestraightofittillyouhearitfrommylips。Ithasalwaysbeengarbledinthejournals,andeveninhistory。Yes,eveninhistory——thinkofit!Letme——pleaseletme,giveyouthematter,exactlyasitoccurred。Itrulywillnotabuseyourconfidence。” Thenheleanedforward,allinterest,allearnestness,andtoldhisstory——andtolditappealingly,too,andyetinthesimplestandmostunpretentiousway;indeed,insuchawayastosuggesttoone,allthetime,thatthiswasafaithful,honorablewitness,givingevidenceinthesacredinterestofjustice,andunderoath。Hesaid: “Mrs。Beazeley——Mrs。JacksonBeazeley,widow,ofthevillageofCampbellton,Kansas,——wrotemeaboutamatterwhichwasnearherheart——amatterwhichmanymightthinktrivial,buttoheritwasathingofdeepconcern。IwaslivinginMichigan,then——servingintheministry。 Shewas,andis,anestimablewoman——awomantowhompovertyandhardshiphaveprovenincentivestoindustry,inplaceofdiscouragements。 HeronlytreasurewashersonWilliam,ayouthjustverginguponmanhood; religious,amiable,andsincerelyattachedtoagriculture。Hewasthewidow\'scomfortandherpride。Andso,movedbyherloveforhim,shewrotemeaboutamatter,asIhavesaidbefore,whichlaynearherheart——becauseitlaynearherboy\'s。ShedesiredmetoconferwithMr。Greeleyaboutturnips。Turnipswerethedreamofherchild\'syoungambition。WhileotheryouthswerefritteringawayinfrivolousamusementsthepreciousyearsofbuddingvigorwhichGodhadgiventhemforusefulpreparation,thisboywaspatientlyenrichinghismindwithinformationconcerningturnips。Thesentimentwhichhefelttowardtheturnipwasakintoadoration。Hecouldnotthinkoftheturnipwithoutemotion;hecouldnotspeakofitcalmly;hecouldnotcontemplateitwithoutexaltation。Hecouldnoteatitwithoutsheddingtears。Allthepoetryinhissensitivenaturewasinsympathywiththegraciousvegetable。Withtheearliestpipeofdawnhesoughthispatch,andwhenthecurtainingnightdrovehimfromitheshuthimselfupwithhisbooksandgarneredstatisticstillsleepovercamehim。Onrainydayshesatandtalkedhourstogetherwithhismotheraboutturnips。Whencompanycame,hemadeithislovingdutytoputasideeverythingelseandconversewiththemallthedaylongofhisgreatjoyintheturnip。 Andyet,wasthisjoyroundedandcomplete?Wastherenosecretalloyofunhappinessinit?Alas,therewas。Therewasacankergnawingathisheart;thenoblestinspirationofhissouleludedhisendeavor——viz:hecouldnotmakeoftheturnipaclimbingvine。Monthswentby;thebloomforsookhischeek,thefirefadedoutofhiseye;sighingsandabstractionusurpedtheplaceofsmilesandcheerfulconverse。Butawatchfuleyenotedthesethingsandintimeamotherlysympathyunsealedthesecret。Hencethelettertome。Shepleadedforattention——shesaidherboywasdyingbyinches。 “IwasastrangertoMr。Greeley,butwhatofthat?Thematterwasurgent。Iwroteandbeggedhimtosolvethedifficultproblemifpossibleandsavethestudent\'slife。Myinterestgrew,untilitpartookoftheanxietyofthemother。Iwaitedinmuchsuspense——Atlasttheanswercame。 “IfoundthatIcouldnotreaditreadily,thehandwritingbeingunfamiliarandmyemotionssomewhatwroughtup。Itseemedtoreferinparttotheboy\'scase,butchieflytootherandirrelevantmatters——suchaspaving-stones,electricity,oysters,andsomethingwhichItooktobe\'absolution\'or\'agrarianism,\'Icouldnotbecertainwhich;still,theseappearedtobesimplycasualmentions,nothingmore;friendlyinspirit,withoutdoubt,butlackingtheconnectionorcoherencenecessarytomakethemuseful——Ijudgedthatmyunderstandingwasaffectedbymyfeelings,andsolaidtheletterawaytillmorning。 “InthemorningIreaditagain,butwithdifficultyanduncertaintystill,forIhadlostsomelittlerestandmymentalvisionseemedclouded。Thenotewasmoreconnected,now,butdidnotmeettheemergencyitwasexpectedtomeet。Itwastoodiscursive。Itappearedtoreadasfollows,thoughIwasnotcertainofsomeofthewords: “Polygamydissemblesmajesty;extractsredeempolarity;causeshithertoexist。Ovationspursuewisdom,orwartsinheritandcondemn。Boston,botany,cakes,folonyundertakes,butwhoshallallay?Wefearnot。Yrxwly,HEVACEEVEELOJ。\' “Buttheredidnotseemtobeawordaboutturnips。Thereseemedtobenosuggestionastohowtheymightbemadetogrowlikevines。TherewasnotevenareferencetotheBeazeleys。Isleptuponthematter;Iatenosupper,neitheranybreakfastnextmorning。SoIresumedmyworkwithabrainrefreshed,andwasveryhopeful。Nowthelettertookadifferentaspect-allsavethesignature,whichlatterIjudgedtobeonlyaharmlessaffectationofHebrew。TheepistlewasnecessarilyfromMr。 Greeley,foritboretheprintedheadingofTheTribune,andIhadwrittentonooneelsethere。Theletter,Isay,hadtakenadifferentaspect,butstillitslanguagewaseccentricandavoidedtheissue。Itnowappearedtosay: “Boliviaextemporizesmackerel;boraxesteemspolygamy;sausageswitherintheeast。Creationperdu,isdone;forwoesinherentonecandamn。Buttons,buttons,corks,geologyunderratesbutweshallallay。Mybeer\'sout。Yrxwly,HEVACEEVEELOJ。\' “Iwasevidentlyoverworked。Mycomprehensionwasimpaired。ThereforeI gavetwodaystorecreation,andthenreturnedtomytaskgreatlyrefreshed。Theletternowtookthisform: “Poulticesdosometimeschokeswine;tulipsreduceposterity;causesleathertoresist。Ournotionsempowerwisdom,herlet\'saffordwhilewecan。Butterbutanycakes,fillanyundertaker,we\'llweanhimfromhisfilly。Wefeelhot。 Yrxwly,HEVACEEVEELOJ。\' “Iwasstillnotsatisfied。Thesegeneralitiesdidnotmeetthequestion。Theywerecrisp,andvigorous,anddeliveredwithaconfidencethatalmostcompelledconviction;butatsuchatimeasthis,withahumanlifeatstake,theyseemedinappropriate,worldly,andinbadtaste。AtanyothertimeIwouldhavebeennotonlyglad,butproud,toreceivefromamanlikeMr。Greeleyaletterofthiskind,andwouldhavestudieditearnestlyandtriedtoimprovemyselfallIcould;butnow,withthatpoorboyinhisfarhomelanguishingforrelief,Ihadnoheartforlearning。 “Threedayspassedby,andIreadthenoteagain。Againitstenorhadchanged。Itnowappearedtosay: “Potationsdosometimeswakewines;turnipsrestrainpassion;causesnecessarytostate。Infestthepoorwidow;herlord\'seffectswillbevoid。Butdirt,bathing,etc。,etc。,followedunfairly,willwormhimfromhisfolly——soswearnot。 Yrxwly,HEVACEEVEELOJ。\' “Thiswasmorelikeit。ButIwasunabletoproceed。Iwastoomuchworn。Theword\'turnips\'broughttemporaryjoyandencouragement,butmystrengthwassomuchimpaired,andthedelaymightbesoperilousfortheboy,thatIrelinquishedtheideaofpursuingthetranslationfurther,andresolvedtodowhatIoughttohavedoneatfirst。IsatdownandwroteMr。Greeleyasfollows: “DEARSIR:IfearIdonotentirelycomprehendyourkindnote。Itcannotbepossible,Sir,that\'turnipsrestrainpassion\'——atleastthestudyorcontemplationofturnipscannot——foritisthisveryemploymentthathasscorchedourpoorfriend\'smindandsappedhisbodilystrength——Butiftheydorestrainit,willyoubearwithusalittlefurtherandexplainhowtheyshouldbeprepared?Iobservethatyousay\'causesnecessarytostate,\'butyouhaveomittedtostatethem。 “Underamisapprehension,youseemtoattributetomeinterestedmotivesinthismatter——tocallitbynoharsherterm。ButIassureyou,dearsir,thatifIseemtobe\'infestingthewidow,\'itisallseeming,andvoidofreality。ItisfromnoseekingofminethatI aminthisposition。Sheaskedme,herself,towriteyou。Ineverhaveinfestedher——indeedIscarcelyknowher。Idonotinfestanybody。Itrytogoalong,inmyhumbleway,doingasnearrightasIcan,neverharminganybody,andneverthrowingoutinsinuations。Asfor\'herlordandhiseffects,\'theyareofnointeresttome。ItrustIhaveeffectsenoughofmyown——shallendeavortogetalongwiththem,atanyrate,andnotgomousingaroundtogetholdofsomebody\'sthatare\'void。\'Butdoyounotsee?——thiswomanisawidow——shehasno\'lord。\'Heisdead——orpretendedtobe,whentheyburiedhim。Therefore,noamountof\'dirt,bathing,\'etc。,etc。,howsoever\'unfairlyfollowed\'willbelikelyto\'wormhimfromhisfolly\'——ifbeingdeadandaghostis\'folly。\'Yourclosingremarkisasunkindasitwasuncalledfor; andifreportsaystrueyoumighthaveappliedittoyourself,sir,withmorepointandlessimpropriety。 VeryTrulyYours,SIMONERICKSON。 “Inthecourseofafewdays,Mr。Greelydidwhatwouldhavesavedaworldoftrouble,andmuchmentalandbodilysufferingandmisunderstanding,ifhehaddoneitsooner。Towit,hesentanintelligiblerescriptortranslationofhisoriginalnote,madeinaplainhandbyhisclerk。Thenthemysterycleared,andIsawthathishearthadbeenright,allthetime。Iwillrecitethenoteinitsclarifiedform: [Translation。] \'Potatoesdosometimesmakevines;turnipsremainpassive:causeunnecessarytostate。Informthepoorwidowherlad\'seffortswillbevain。Butdiet,bathing,etc。etc。,followeduniformly,willweanhimfromhisfolly——sofearnot。 Yours,HORACEGREELEY。\' “Butalas,itwastoolate,gentlemen——toolate。Thecriminaldelayhaddoneitswork——youngBeazelywasnomore。Hisspirithadtakenitsflighttoalandwhereallanxietiesshallbecharmedaway,alldesiresgratified,allambitionsrealized。Poorlad,theylaidhimtohisrestwithaturnipineachhand。” SoendedErickson,andlapsedagainintonodding,mumbling,andabstraction。Thecompanybrokeup,andlefthimso……Buttheydidnotsaywhatdrovehimcrazy。Inthemomentaryconfusion,Iforgottoask。 CHAPTERLXXI。 Atfouro\'clockintheafternoonwewerewindingdownamountainofdrearyanddesolatelavatothesea,andclosingourpleasantlandjourney。Thislavaistheaccumulationofages;onetorrentoffireafteranotherhasrolleddownhereinoldtimes,andbuiltuptheislandstructurehigherandhigher。Underneath,itishoney-combedwithcaves; itwouldbeofnousetodigwellsinsuchaplace;theywouldnotholdwater——youwouldnotfindanyforthemtohold,forthatmatter。 Consequently,theplantersdependuponcisterns。 Thelastlavaflowoccurredheresolongagothattherearenonenowlivingwhowitnessedit。Inoneplaceitenclosedandburneddownagroveofcocoa-nuttrees,andtheholesinthelavawherethetrunksstoodarestillvisible;theirsidesretaintheimpressionofthebark; thetreesfellupontheburningriver,andbecomingpartlysubmerged,leftinittheperfectcounterpartofeveryknotandbranchandleaf,andevennut,forcuriosityseekersofalongdistantdaytogazeuponandwonderat。 ThereweredoubtlessplentyofKanakasentinelsonguardhereaboutsatthattime,buttheydidnotleavecastsoftheirfiguresinthelavaastheRomansentinelsatHerculaneumandPompeiidid。Itisapityitisso,becausesuchthingsaresointeresting;butsoitis。Theyprobablywentaway。Theywentawayearly,perhaps。However,theyhadtheirmerits;theRomansexhibitedthehigherpluck,buttheKanakasshowedthesounderjudgment。 Shortlywecameinsightofthatspotwhosehistoryissofamiliartoeveryschool-boyinthewideworld——KealakekuaBay——theplacewhereCaptainCook,thegreatcircumnavigator,waskilledbythenatives,nearlyahundredyearsago。Thesettingsunwasflaminguponit,aSummershowerwasfalling,anditwasspannedbytwomagnificentrainbows。Twomenwhowereinadvanceofusrodethroughoneoftheseandforamomenttheirgarmentsshonewithamorethanregalsplendor。 WhydidnotCaptainCookhavetasteenoughtocallhisgreatdiscoverytheRainbowIslands?Thesecharmingspectaclesarepresenttoyouateveryturn;theyarecommoninalltheislands;theyarevisibleeveryday,andfrequentlyatnightalso——notthesilverybowweseeonceinanageintheStates,bymoonlight,butbarredwithallbrightandbeautifulcolors,likethechildrenofthesunandrain。Isawoneofthemafewnightsago。Whatthesailorscall“raindogs“——littlepatchesofrainbow——areoftenseendriftingabouttheheavensintheselatitudes,likestainedcathedralwindows。 KealakekuaBayisalittlecurvelikethelastkinkofasnail-shell,windingdeepintotheland,seeminglynotmorethanamilewidefromshoretoshore。Itisboundedononeside——wherethemurderwasdone——byalittleflatplain,onwhichstandsacocoanutgroveandsomeruinedhouses;asteepwalloflava,athousandfeethighattheupperendandthreeorfourhundredatthelower,comesdownfromthemountainandboundstheinnerextremityofit。Fromthiswalltheplacetakesitsname,Kealakekua,whichinthenativetonguesignifies“ThePathwayoftheGods。”Theysay,(andstillbelieve,inspiteoftheirliberaleducationinChristianity),thatthegreatgodLono,whousedtoliveuponthehillside,alwaystraveledthatcausewaywhenurgentbusinessconnectedwithheavenlyaffairscalledhimdowntotheseashoreinahurry。 Astheredsunlookedacrosstheplacidoceanthroughthetall,cleanstemsofthecocoanuttrees,likeabloomingwhiskeybloatthroughthebarsofacityprison,IwentandstoodintheedgeofthewaterontheflatrockpressedbyCaptainCook\'sfeetwhentheblowwasdealtwhichtookawayhislife,andtriedtopictureinmymindthedoomedmanstrugglinginthemidstofthemultitudeofexasperatedsavages——themenintheshipcrowdingtothevessel\'ssideandgazinginanxiousdismaytowardtheshore——the——butIdiscoveredthatIcouldnotdoit。 Itwasgrowingdark,therainbegantofall,wecouldseethatthedistantBoomerangwashelplesslybecalmedatsea,andsoIadjournedtothecheerlesslittleboxofawarehouseandsatdowntosmokeandthink,andwishtheshipwouldmaketheland——forwehadnoteatenmuchfortenhoursandwereviciouslyhungry。 PlainunvarnishedhistorytakestheromanceoutofCaptainCook\'sassassination,andrendersadeliberateverdictofjustifiablehomicide。 Whereverhewentamongtheislands,hewascordiallyreceivedandwelcomedbytheinhabitants,andhisshipslavishlysuppliedwithallmanneroffood。Hereturnedthesekindnesseswithinsultandill- treatment。PerceivingthatthepeopletookhimforthelongvanishedandlamentedgodLono,heencouragedtheminthedelusionforthesakeofthelimitlesspoweritgavehim;butduringthefamousdisturbanceatthisspot,andwhileheandhiscomradesweresurroundedbyfifteenthousandmaddenedsavages,hereceivedahurtandbetrayedhisearthlyoriginwithagroan。Itwashisdeath-warrant。Instantlyashoutwentup:“Hegroans!——heisnotagod!“Sotheyclosedinuponhimanddispatchedhim。 Hisfleshwasstrippedfromthebonesandburned(exceptninepoundsofitwhichweresentonboardtheships)。Theheartwashungupinanativehut,whereitwasfoundandeatenbythreechildren,whomistookitfortheheartofadog。Oneofthesechildrengrewtobeaveryoldman,anddiedinHonoluluafewyearsago。SomeofCook\'sboneswererecoveredandconsignedtothedeepbytheofficersoftheships。 SmallblameshouldattachtothenativesforthekillingofCook。 Theytreatedhimwell。Inreturn,heabusedthem。Heandhismeninflictedbodilyinjuryuponmanyofthematdifferenttimes,andkilledatleastthreeofthembeforetheyofferedanyproportionateretaliation。 Neartheshorewefound“Cook\'sMonument“——onlyacocoanutstump,fourfeethighandaboutafootindiameteratthebutt。Ithadlavaboulderspiledarounditsbasetoholditupandkeepitinitsplace,anditwasentirelysheathedover,fromtoptobottom,withrough,discoloredsheetsofcopper,suchasships\'bottomsarecopperedwith。Eachsheethadarudeinscriptionscratcheduponit——withanail,apparently——andineverycasetheexecutionwaswretched。MostofthesemerelyrecordedthevisitsofBritishnavalcommanderstothespot,butoneofthemborethislegend: “NearthisspotfellCAPTAINJAMESCOOK,TheDistinguishedCircumnavigator,whoDiscoveredtheseIslandsA。D。1778。 AfterCook\'smurder,hissecondincommand,onboardtheship,openedfireupontheswarmsofnativesonthebeach,andoneofhiscannonballscutthiscocoanuttreeshortoffandleftthismonumentalstumpstanding。 Itlookedsadandlonelyenoughtous,outthereintherainytwilight。 ButthereisnoothermonumenttoCaptainCook。True,uponthemountainsidewehadpassedbyalargeinclosurelikeanamplehog-pen,builtoflavablocks,whichmarksthespotwhereCook\'sfleshwasstrippedfromhisbonesandburned;butthisisnotproperlyamonumentsinceitwaserectedbythenativesthemselves,andlesstodohonortothecircumnavigatorthanforthesakeofconvenienceinroastinghim。 Athinglikeaguide-boardwaselevatedabovethispenonatallpole,andformerlytherewasaninscriptionuponitdescribingthememorableoccurrencethathadtheretakenplace;butthesunandthewindhavelongagosodefaceditastorenderitillegible。 Towardmidnightafinebreezesprangupandtheschoonersoonworkedherselfintothebayandcastanchor。Theboatcameashoreforus,andinalittlewhilethecloudsandtherainwereallgone。Themoonwasbeamingtranquillydownonlandandsea,andwetwowerestretcheduponthedecksleepingtherefreshingsleepanddreamingthehappydreamsthatareonlyvouchsafedtothewearyandtheinnocent。 CHAPTERLXXII。 InthebreezymorningwewentashoreandvisitedtheruinedtempleofthelastgodLono。Thehighchiefcookofthistemple——thepriestwhopresidedoveritandroastedthehumansacrifices——wasuncletoObookia,andatonetimethatyouthwasanapprentice-priestunderhim。Obookiawasayoungnativeoffinemind,who,togetherwiththreeothernativeboys,wastakentoNewEnglandbythecaptainofawhaleshipduringthereignofKamehamehaI,andtheywerethemeansofattractingtheattentionofthereligiousworldtotheircountry。Thisresultedinthesendingofmissionariesthere。AndthisObookiawastheverysamesensitivesavagewhosatdownonthechurchstepsandweptbecausehispeopledidnothavetheBible。ThatincidenthasbeenveryelaboratelypaintedinmanyacharmingSundaySchoolbook——aye,andtoldsoplaintivelyandsotenderlythatIhavecriedoveritinSundaySchoolmyself,ongeneralprinciples,althoughatatimewhenIdidnotknowmuchandcouldnotunderstandwhythepeopleoftheSandwichIslandsneededtoworrysomuchaboutitaslongastheydidnotknowtherewasaBibleatall。 Obookiawasconvertedandeducated,andwastohavereturnedtohisnativelandwiththefirstmissionaries,hadhelived。Theothernativeyouthsmadethevoyage,andtwoofthemdidgoodservice,butthethird,WilliamKanui,fellfromgraceafterward,foratime,andwhenthegoldexcitementbrokeoutinCaliforniahejourneyedthitherandwenttomining,althoughhewasfiftyyearsold。Hesucceededprettywell,butthefailureofPage,Bacon&Co。relievedhimofsixthousanddollars,andthen,toallintentsandpurposes,hewasabankruptinhisoldageandheresumedserviceinthepulpitagain。HediedinHonoluluin1864。 Quiteabroadtractoflandnearthetemple,extendingfromtheseatothemountaintop,wassacredtothegodLonoinoldentimes——sosacredthatifacommonnativesethissacrilegiousfootuponititwasjudiciousforhimtomakehiswill,becausehistimehadcome。Hemightgoarounditbywater,buthecouldnotcrossit。Itwaswellsprinkledwithpagantemplesandstockedwithawkward,homelyidolscarvedoutoflogsofwood。Therewasatempledevotedtoprayersforrain——andwithfinesagacityitwasplacedatapointsowelluponthemountainsidethatifyouprayedtheretwenty-fourtimesadayforrainyouwouldbelikelytogetiteverytime。YouwouldseldomgettoyourAmenbeforeyouwouldhavetohoistyourumbrella。 Andtherewasalargetemplenearathandwhichwasbuiltinasinglenight,inthemidstofstormandthunderandrain,bytheghastlyhandsofdeadmen!Traditionsaysthatbytheweirdglareofthelightninganoiselessmultitudeofphantomswereseenattheirstrangelaborfarupthemountainsideatdeadofnight——flittinghitherandthitherandbearinggreatlava-blocksclaspedintheirnervelessfingers——appearinganddisappearingasthepallidlustrefellupontheirformsandfadedawayagain。Eventothisday,itissaid,thenativesholdthisdreadstructureinaweandreverence,andwillnotpassbyitinthenight。 AtnoonIobservedabevyofnudenativeyoungladiesbathinginthesea,andwentandsatdownontheirclothestokeepthemfrombeingstolen。 Ibeggedthemtocomeout,fortheseawasrisingandIwassatisfiedthattheywererunningsomerisk。Buttheywerenotafraid,andpresentlywentonwiththeirsport。Theywerefinishedswimmersanddivers,andenjoyedthemselvestothelastdegree。 Theyswamraces,splashedandduckedandtumbledeachotherabout,andfilledtheairwiththeirlaughter。ItissaidthatthefirstthinganIslanderlearnsishowtoswim;learningtowalkbeingamatterofsmallerconsequence,comesafterward。Onehearstalesofnativemenandwomenswimmingashorefromvesselsmanymilesatsea——moremiles,indeed,thanIdarevouchfororevenmention。Andtheytellofanativediverwhowentdowninthirtyorforty-footwatersandbroughtupananvil! Ithinkheswallowedtheanvilafterward,ifmymemoryservesme。 HoweverIwillnoturgethispoint。 Ihavespoken,severaltimes,ofthegodLono——Imayaswellfurnishtwoorthreesentencesconcerninghim。 Theidolthenativesworshippedforhimwasaslender,unornamentedstafftwelvefeetlong。TraditionsayshewasafavoritegodontheIslandofHawaii——agreatkingwhohadbeendeifiedformeritoriousservices——justourownfashionofrewardingheroes,withthedifferencethatwewouldhavemadehimaPostmasterinsteadofagod,nodoubt。Inanangrymomentheslewhiswife,agoddessnamedKaikilaniAiii。Remorseofconsciencedrovehimmad,andtraditionpresentsusthesingularspectacleofagodtraveling“ontheshoulder;“forinhisgnawinggriefhewanderedaboutfromplacetoplaceboxingandwrestlingwithallwhomhemet。Ofcoursethispastimesoonlostitsnovelty,inasmuchasitmustnecessarilyhavebeenthecasethatwhensopowerfuladeitysentafrailhumanopponent“tograss“henevercamebackanymore。Therefore,heinstitutedgamescalledmakahiki,andorderedthattheyshouldbeheldinhishonor,andthensailedforforeignlandsonathree-corneredraft,statingthathewouldreturnsomeday——andthatwasthelastofLono。 Hewasneverseenanymore;hisraftgotswamped,perhaps。Butthepeoplealwaysexpectedhisreturn,andthustheywereeasilyledtoacceptCaptainCookastherestoredgod。 SomeoftheoldnativesbelievedCookwasLonotothedayoftheirdeath; butmanydidnot,fortheycouldnotunderstandhowhecoulddieifhewasagod。 OnlyamileorsofromKealakekuaBayisaspotofhistoricinterest——theplacewherethelastbattlewasfoughtforidolatry。Ofcoursewevisitedit,andcameawayaswiseasmostpeopledowhogoandgazeuponsuchmementoesofthepastwheninanunreflectivemood。 WhilethefirstmissionarieswereontheirwayaroundtheHorn,theidolatrouscustomswhichhadobtainedintheisland,asfarbackastraditionreachedweresuddenlybrokenup。OldKamehamehaI。,wasdead,andhisson,Liholiho,thenewKingwasafreeliver,aroystering,dissolutefellow,andhatedtherestraintsoftheancienttabu。HisassistantintheGovernment,Kaahumanu,theQueendowager,wasproudandhigh-spirited,andhatedthetabubecauseitrestrictedtheprivilegesofhersexanddegradedallwomenverynearlytothelevelofbrutes。 Sothecasestood。Liholihohadhalfamindtoputhisfootdown,Kaahumahuhadawholemindtobadgerhimintodoingit,andwhiskeydidtherest。Itwasprobablytherest。Itwasprobablythefirsttimewhiskeyeverprominentlyfiguredasanaidtocivilization。LiholihocameuptoKailuaasdrunkasapiper,andattendedagreatfeast;thedeterminedQueenspurredhisdrunkencourageuptoarecklesspitch,andthen,whileallthemultitudestaredinblankdismay,hemoveddeliberatelyforwardandsatdownwiththewomen! Theysawhimeatfromthesamevesselwiththem,andwereappalled! Terriblemomentsdriftedslowlyby,andstilltheKingate,stillhelived,stillthelightningsoftheinsultedgodswerewithheld! Thenconvictioncamelikearevelation——thesuperstitionsofahundredgenerationspassedfrombeforethepeoplelikeacloud,andashoutwentup,“thetabuisbroken!thetabuisbroken!“ ThusdidKingLiholihoandhisdreadfulwhiskeypreachthefirstsermonandpreparethewayforthenewgospelthatwasspeedingsouthwardoverthewavesoftheAtlantic。 Thetabubrokenanddestructionfailingtofollowtheawfulsacrilege,thepeople,withthatchildlikeprecipitancywhichhasalwayscharacterizedthem,jumpedtotheconclusionthattheirgodswereaweakandwretchedswindle,justastheyformerlyjumpedtotheconclusionthatCaptainCookwasnogod,merelybecausehegroaned,andpromptlykilledhimwithoutstoppingtoinquirewhetheragodmightnotgroanaswellasamanifitsuitedhisconveniencetodoit;andsatisfiedthattheidolswerepowerlesstoprotectthemselvestheywenttoworkatonceandpulledthemdown——hackedthemtopieces——appliedthetorch——annihilatedthem! Thepaganpriestswerefurious。Andwelltheymightbe;theyhadheldthefattestofficesintheland,andnowtheywerebeggared;theyhadbeengreat——theyhadstoodabovethechiefs——andnowtheywerevagabonds。 Theyraisedarevolt;theyscaredanumberofpeopleintojoiningtheirstandard,andBekuokalani,anambitiousoffshootofroyalty,waseasilypersuadedtobecometheirleader。 Inthefirstskirmishtheidolaterstriumphedovertheroyalarmysentagainstthem,andfullofconfidencetheyresolvedtomarchuponKailua。 TheKingsentanenvoytotryandconciliatethem,andcameverynearbeinganenvoyshortbytheoperation;thesavagesnotonlyrefusedtolistentohim,butwantedtokillhim。SotheKingsenthismenforthunderMajorGeneralKalaimokuandthetwohostmetaKuamoo。Thebattlewaslongandfierce——menandwomenfightingsidebyside,aswasthecustom——andwhenthedaywasdonetherebelswereflyingineverydirectioninhopelesspanic,andidolatryandthetabuweredeadintheland! TheroyalistsmarchedgaylyhometoKailuaglorifyingthenewdispensation。“Thereisnopowerinthegods,“saidthey;“theyareavanityandalie。Thearmywithidolswasweak;thearmywithoutidolswasstrongandvictorious!“ Thenationwaswithoutareligion。 Themissionaryshiparrivedinsafetyshortlyafterward,timedbyprovidentialexactnesstomeettheemergency,andtheGospelwasplantedasinavirginsoil。 CHAPTERLXXIII。 Atnoon,wehiredaKanakatotakeusdowntotheancientruinsatHonaunaninhiscanoe——pricetwodollars——reasonableenough,foraseavoyageofeightmiles,countingbothways。 Thenativecanoeisanirresponsiblelookingcontrivance。Icannotthinkofanythingtolikenittobutaboy\'ssledrunnerhollowedout,andthatdoesnotquiteconveythecorrectidea。Itisaboutfifteenfeetlong,highandpointedatbothends,isafootandahalfortwofeetdeep,andsonarrowthatifyouwedgedafatmanintoityoumightnotgethimoutagain。Itsitsontopofthewaterlikeaduck,butithasanoutriggeranddoesnotupseteasily,ifyoukeepstill。Thisoutriggerisformedoftwolongbentstickslikeplowhandles,whichprojectfromoneside,andtotheirouterendsisboundacurvedbeamcomposedofanextremelylightwood,whichskimsalongthesurfaceofthewaterandthussavesyoufromanupsetonthatside,whiletheoutrigger\'sweightisnotsoeasilyliftedastomakeanupsetontheothersideathingtobegreatlyfeared。Still,untilonegetsusedtosittingpercheduponthisknifeblade,heisapttoreasonwithinhimselfthatitwouldbemorecomfortableiftherewerejustanoutriggerorsoontheothersidealso。 Ihadthebowseat,andBillingssatamidshipsandfacedtheKanaka,whooccupiedthesternofthecraftanddidthepaddling。Withthefirststrokethetrimshellofathingshotoutfromtheshorelikeanarrow。 Therewasnotmuchtosee。Whilewewereontheshallowwaterofthereef,itwaspastimetolookdownintothelimpiddepthsatthelargebunchesofbranchingcoral——theuniqueshrubberyofthesea。Welostthat,though,whenwegotoutintothedeadbluewaterofthedeep。Butwehadthepictureofthesurf,then,dashingangrilyagainstthecrag- boundshoreandsendingafoamingsprayhighintotheair。 Therewasinterestinthisbeetlingborder,too,foritwashoney-combedwithquaintcavesandarchesandtunnels,andhadarudesemblanceofthedilapidatedarchitectureofruinedkeepsandcastlesrisingoutoftherestlesssea。Whenthisnoveltyceasedtobeanovelty,weturnedoureyesshorewardandgazedatthelongmountainwithitsrichgreenforestsstretchingupintothecurtainingclouds,andatthespecksofhousesintherearwarddistanceandthediminishedschoonerridingsleepilyatanchor。Andwhenthesegrewtiresomewedashedboldlyintothemidstofaschoolofhuge,beastlyporpoisesengagedattheireternalgameofarchingoverawaveanddisappearing,andthendoingitoveragainandkeepingitup——alwayscirclingover,inthatway,likesomanywell- submergedwheels。Buttheporpoiseswheeledthemselvesaway,andthenwewerethrownuponourownresources。Itdidnottakemanyminutestodiscoverthatthesunwasblazinglikeabonfire,andthattheweatherwasofameltingtemperature。Ithadadrowsingeffect,too。