PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. m 



preached the queen's ahode was at first supposed to chap. ifi. 

 be the bearer of the news of some insurrection or 

 other convulsion of the state. As he entered the 

 room, therefore, there was a dead silence ; but when 

 it was found that these visits were made merely to 

 inquire after the health of the queen, the wailing, as 

 if it had suffered by the disappointment, burst forth 

 with redoubled energy. Kahumana herself evidently 

 anticipated some disturbance, for she whispered to me 

 to be upon my guard, as there was a probability that 

 the people would be mischievous. Nothing, however, 

 occurred to disturb the tranquillity of the town but 

 the wailing around the royal abode. 



It is unnecessary here to describe many instances 

 of the extent to which this hypocritical affectation of 

 grief was carried ; suffice it to say, that several per- 

 sons, as if determined to perpetuate the barbarous 

 practice of self-mutilation, knocked out their front 

 teeth with hammers. 



The queen almost immediately after the death of 

 her brother embarked for Owyhee in a native schooner, 

 to the great satisfaction of the chiefs and the Euro- 

 pean residents in Woahoo. As it was probably the 

 last time she would see us, she was complimented 

 with a royal salute on leaving the harbour. 



