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On the 2d of December, he arrived off crowds, and among them Palea, a high Kohala, where his ships created much chief, whose favorable influence was seastonishment among the simple island- cured by a few acceptable presents. ers. Gods, indeed,' they exclaimed; The seamen employed in caulking the They eat the flesh of man-mistaking vessels, were called the clan of Mokuthe red pulp of water-melons for human alii, the god of canoe-makers, and those substance and the fire burns at their who smoked, for it was the first acmouths. However, this opinion of their quaintance they had with tobacco, were divine character did not deter them from called Lono-volcano. As at Kauai, the exchanging swine and fruit for pieces of women were the most assiduous visitors, iron hoop. The definition which civiliz- though great numbers of both sexes ed man applies to the word God, and the flocked around Cook to pay him divine attributes ascribed to the Divinity, differ honors. Among them was a decrepid materially from those of the savage. old man, once a famed warrior, but now With him, any object of fear, power or a priest. He saluted Captain Cook knowledge, is a god, though it might with the greatest veneration, and threw differ not materially from his own na- over his shoulder a piece of red cloth. ture. The ancients deified their illus- Stepping back, he offered a pig, and trious dead, and as in the case of Herod, pronounced a long harangue. Reapplied the title, god, to the living. In ligious ceremonies similar to this were neither case can it be supposed to de- frequently performed before the comnote more than an acknowledged supe- mander. riority, or the strongest expression of Great multitudes flocked to the bay. flattery. While the Hawaiians bowed Ledyard computes their number at upin dread to powerful deities, which in wards of fifteen thousand, and states their hardened understandings filled the that three thousand canoes were counted place of the christian's God, they wor- afloat at once. The punctilious defershipped a multitude of inferior origin, ence paid Cook when he first landed, whom they ridiculed or reverenced, and was both painful and ludicrous. Heralds erected or destroyed their temples, as announced his approach and opened the inclination prompted. Hence their will- way for his progress. A vast throng ingness at Waimea, to fight Cook or crowded about him; others more feartheir god Lono, as they deemed him; ful, gazed from behind stone walls, from the readiness with which they were di- the tops of trees, or peeped from their verted from their purpose to try more houses. The moment he approached, winning means to gratify him, and the they hid themselves or covered their alternate love, fear and hostility, with faces with great apparent awe, while which he was afterward regarded. those nearer prostrated themselves on Cook continued his course slowly the earth in the deepest humility. As around the east end of the island, occa- soon as he passed, all unveiled themsionally trading with the natives, whose selves, rose and followed him. As he propensity to thieving was overcome walked fast, those before were obliged only by exhibiting the dreadful effects of to bow down and rise as quickly as posfire-arms. On the 17th of January 1779, sible, but not always being sufficiently he came to anchor in Kealakeakua bay, active, were trampled upon by the adin the district of Kona, the reputed spot vancing crowd. At length the matter of the landing of the Spanish adventur- was compromised, and the inconvenience ers two centuries before. Kalaniopuu of being walked over, avoided by adoptwas still engaged on Maui, in preserving ing a sort of quadruped gait, and ten his conquest. At the bay it was a season of taboo, and no canoes were allowed to be afloat; but when the ships were seen, the restrictions were removed, as Lono was considered a deity, and his vessels temples.

The inhabitants went on board in great

thousand half clad men, women and children were to be seen chasing or fleeing from Cook, on all fours.

On the day of his arrival, Cook was conducted to the chief heiau and presented in great form to the idols. He was taken to the most sacred part, and

placed before the principal figure, im- sceptical mind. What opinion then can mediately under an altar of wood, on be entertained of a highly gifted man, which a putrid hog was deposited. This who could thus lend himself to strengthen was held toward him, while the priest and perpetuate the dark superstitions of repeated a long and rapidly enunciated heathenism? The apology offered, was address, after which he was led to the the expediency of thus securing a powtop of a partially decayed scaffolding. erful influence over the minds of the Ten men, bearing a large hog, and bun- islanders, an expediency that terminated dles of red cloth, then entered the tem- in his destruction. While the delusion ple and prostrated themselves before of his divinity lasted, the whole island him. The cloth was taken from them was heavily taxed to supply the wants of by a priest, who encircled Cook with it the ships, or contribute to the gratificain numerous folds, and afterward offered tion of their officers and crews, and, as the hog to him in sacrifice. Two priests, was customary in such gifts, no return alternately and in unison, chanted praises expected. Their kindnesses, and the in honor of Lono; after which they led general jubilee which reigned, gave a him to the chief idol, which, following most favorable impression of native chartheir example, he kissed. acter to their visitors. Had their acquaintance with the language been better, and their intercourse with the common people more extensive, it would have appeared in its true light, as the result of a thorough despotism. On the 19th, Captain Cook visited another heiau, or more properly a residence of the priests, with the avowed expectation of receiving similar homage; nor was he disappointed. Curiosity, and a desire to depict the scene, seemed to have been his motives in this case, for he took an artist with him who sketched the group. Ever afterward, on landing, a priest attended him and regulated the religious ceremonies which constantly took place in his honor; offerings, chants and addresses met him at every point. For a brief period he moved among them, an earthly deity; observed feared and worshipped.

Similar ceremonies were repeated in another portion of the heiau, where Cook, with one arm supported by the high priest, and the other by Captain King, was placed between two wooden images and anointed on his face, arms and hands, with the chewed kernel of a cocoanut, wrapped in a cloth. These disgusting rites were succeeded by drinking awa, prepared in the mouths of attendants, and spit out into a drinking vessel; as the last and most delicate attention, he was fed with swine-meat which had been masticated for him by a filthy old man.

indulged in their national vice, theft. The highest chiefs were not above it, nor of using deception in trade.

No one acquainted with the customs of Polynesia, could for a moment have doubted that these rites was intended for adoration. Captain King, in his account of this affair, only surmises that such may have been the intention, but affects to consider it more as the evi- The islanders rendered much assistdence of great respect and friendship. ance in fitting the ships, and preparing The natives say that Cook performed them for their voyages, but constantly his part in this heathen farce, without the slightest opposition. The numerous offerings, the idols and temples to which he was borne, the long prayers, recitations and chants addressed to him, must have carried conviction to his mind that it was intended for religious homage, and the whole ceremony a species of deification or consecration of himself. If this were not enough, the fearful respect shown by the common people, who, if he walked out, fled at his presence, or fell and worshipped him, was sufficient to have convinced the most

On the 24th of January, Kalaniopuu arrived from Maui, on which occasion a taboo was laid upon the natives, by which they were confined to their houses. By this, the daily supply of vegetables was prevented from reaching the vessels, which annoyed their crews exceedingly, and they endeavored, by threats and promises, to induce the natives to violate the restriction. Several attempted to do so, but were restrained by a chief, who,

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for thus enforcing obedience among his own subjects, had a musket fired over his head from one of the ships. This intimidated him, and the people were allowed to ply their usual traffic.*

the request of Captain Cook, so far as it related to the men. No relaxation could be obtained for the women, who were forbidden all communication with the whites; the result of some unusual precaution, either to prevent the increase of venereal disease, which had already worked its way to the extremities of the group, or of an unwonted jealousy.

Kalaniopuu and his chiefs visited Captain Cook on the 26th, with great parade. They occupied three large double canoes, in the foremost of which were the king and his retinue. Feathered The same boundless hospitality and cloaks and gaudy helmets glanced in the kindness continued. All their simple bright sunlight, and with their long, resources were brought into requisition shining lances, gave them a martial ap- to amuse the followers of Lono, who, in pearance. In the second, came the companies or singly, traversed the counhigh priest and his brethren, with their try in many directions, receiving services hideous idols; the third was filled with and courtesy everywhere, which to the offerings of swine and fruits, After givers were amply repaid by their grapaddling around the ships to the solemn cious reception. Notwithstanding this chanting of the priests, the whole party good feeling, they contrived, as heretomade for the shore, and landed at the fore, to pilfer; for which small shot observatory, where Captain Cook re- were fired at the offenders, and finally ceived them in a tent. The king threw one was flogged on board the Discovery. his own cloak over the shoulders of On the 2d of February, at the desire Cook, put his helmet upon his head, and of the commander, Captain King proin his hand a curious fan. He also pre-posed to the priests to purchase for fuel sented him with several other cloaks, all the railing which surrounded the top of of great value and beauty. The other the heiau. In this, Cook manifested as gifts were then bestowed, and the cere- little respect for the religion in the mymony concluded by an exchange of thology of which he figured so conspinames, the greatest pledge of friendship. cuously, as scruples in violating the The priests then approached, made their divine precepts of his own. Indeed, offerings, and went through the usual throughout his voyages, a spirit regardreligious rites, interspersed with chants less of the rights and feelings of others, and responses by the chief actors. when his own were interested, is maniKamehameha was present at this in-fested, especially in the last cruise, which terview. Captain King describes his is a blot upon his memory. It is an unface as the most savage he ever beheld; pleasant task to disturb the ashes of one its natural ugliness being heightened by whom a nation reveres; but truth dedirty brown paste or powder,' plas- mands that justice should be dispensed tered over his hair. The formalities of equally to the savage, and to the civilized this meeting over, the king with a num- man. The historian cannot so far prove ber of his chiefs were carried in the pin- false to his subject, as to shipwreck fact nace to the flag-ship, where they were in the current of popular opinion. When received with all due honors. In return necessary, he must stem it truthfully for the magnificent presents, Cook gave and manfully. Kalaniopuu a linen shirt and his own hanger. While these visits were being exchanged, profound silence was observed throughout the bay and on the shore. Not a canoe was afloat, nor an inhabitant to be seen, except a few who lay prostrate on the ground.

a

The taboo interdicting the inhabitants from visiting the ships was removed at

*Cook's Voyages, vol. 3, p. 16: London, 1785.

To the great surprise of the proposer, the wood was readily given, and nothing stipulated in return. In carrying it to the boats, all of the idols were taken with it. King, who from the first doubted the propriety of the request, fearing it might be considered an act of impiety, says he spoke to the high priest upon the subject, who simply desired that the central one might be restored. If we are to believe him, no open re

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