Director's Anmial Report. 21 



The only type of sled previously kuowu to us, is that with 

 loug, slender runners. This Museum possesses one in complete 

 condition and runners for two more. Our completed specimen, 

 receiv^ed from the former Government Museum, consists of a pair 

 of slender runners 11. 5 feet long, 2.3 inches deep and i wide, set 

 on edge, and kept in place — 1.5 inches apart in front and 3 in 

 rear (2.5 and 4 to centres) — by cross braces lashed to the runners 

 at intervals of about 1 1 inches. On the braces is placed a platform 

 of wood, bambu and matting, 4 inches wide, covering the runners 

 except three feet in front. The total height is 4.7 inches.* Another 

 pair of runners in the Museum collection is two feet longer, but 

 otherwise identical with those of the complete specimen. All the 

 runners are made of a very hard, durable wood. The sliding was 

 done on steep hillsides on a course made by clearing a track ten 

 to twenty feet wide and covering this with drj^ grass. In some 

 places the course was paved or built up with stone and covered in 

 the same w^ay. Remains of both kinds may still be found. The 

 sport was exclusively for men of chiefi}^ rank, who occasionally 

 came to their death thereby. When sliding they lay full length 

 on the sled and the skill required may be judged from its width. 



Women did not follow this sport, although they were very expert 

 on the surfboard. I do not know if the all-pervading kapu system 

 was the reason, but corpulence was a point of female beauty among 

 the old Hawaiians, wdiich would naturally make this sled unpopu- 

 lar with the sex. I can find but one reference to a woman essay- 

 ing the feat (Ellis, Tour Through Hawaii, London, 1827, p. 291), 

 where Pele, the female Vulcan, appeared in human form and 

 challenged a chief on Hawaii to a race. "Pele, less acquainted 

 with the art of balancing herself on the narrow sledge than her 

 rival, was beaten- ..." An expected result of such an unbecom- 

 ing attempt on the part of a woman. 



*This sled was found in a burial cave in Puna, Hawaii, by the late Rufus 

 Lyman and by him given to King Kalakaua, from whom it came to the Gov- 

 ernment Museum. It is the most perfect specimen known. 



[61] 



