1827. 



94 VOYAGE TO THE 



CHAP, subjects gave him, suited the plan of his government 

 >__i,^ better than any other religion, and he, consequently, 

 Jan- opposed every attempt to propagate the gospel among 

 his people. 



Up to this period no missionaries had reached the 

 Sandwich Islands, and for nearly a year there might be 

 said to be no religion in the country ; but at the expi- 

 ration of that period (in 1820), several missionary 

 gentlemen arrived from the United States, and imme- 

 diately entered upon their vocations. Keopuolani be- 

 came the first actual convert to the Christian religion, 

 though in 1819 both Boki and Krymhakoo were bap- 

 tized by the clergyman of Captain Freycinet's ship. 

 Keopuolani being a chief of powerful influence, her 

 example was followed by a great many persons, and 

 the missionaries have since added daily to the num- 

 ber of their converts, and have been protected by the 

 government, particularly by Kahumana and Kapeo- 

 lani, two female chiefs next in rank to Keopuolani, and 

 probably first in power in the islands. 



Keopuolani died in 1823, after having received the 

 sacrament. She was a grandchild of Terreeoboo, and 

 a daughter of Kevalao, who was slain at Mowee. At 

 the time of this victory, which added Mowee to the 

 dominion of Tamehameha, Keopuolani was only thir- 

 teen years of age. She happened to be on the field at 

 the moment of the defeat of her party, and became the 

 prisoner of the conqueror, who, in order to secure his 

 conquest by right as well as by victory, united her to 

 himself in marriage. She had, however, afterwards, 

 agreeably to the custom of the country, several hus- 

 bands, of which one was Krymakoo, who also fell into 

 the hands of the king at Mowee, and whose life was 

 generously spared ; and another, Hoapiri, who, though 



