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。