50 HAWAIIAN STONE IMPLEMENTS. 



in Fig. 47. Is the worked stone a pounder? Why the great labor expended on the 

 very peculiar form ? I confess that I cannot answer these questions with any satis- 

 fadlion, nor does the little known history of the stone help in the least; it only 

 indicates a native belief in its antiquity. The story is otherwise a curious one. In 

 1895 a native kahxma or priest was making offerings to a modern stone idol, for an 

 important object which I am requested not to mention. He had spread the mat 

 for the oblation, covering it with red cotton cloth (Turkey red), the color used in 

 idol worship, and upon this was placed the stone god flanked by a bottle of whiskey 



fEga 



':-;^^^v- 



FIG. 47. HAWAIIAN STONE IMIM.KMENT. 



and one of gin. Fresh fern leaves and dried awa root were before the god, and as the 

 incantation requires some link to the ancient times, the older the more efficacious, this 

 stone implement (No. 7660), treasured long in the family of the priest, was placed in 

 one corner of the sacred mat; a large smooth pebble, Ulii a Lcivalit^ regarded as of 

 divine nature (a sort of a/ni/nk/ia), was placed opposite, while between these venerable 

 assistants were strewed iiin'/atioi/s of old fish hooks, leiomano, etc. The god forsooth 

 was not expedled to detect these forgeries! The kahuna, divested of his ordinary 

 clothes, donned a small triangular silk apron, and during the rites fell dead. The 

 people in the house not being accomplices in these heathen proceedings, were 3-et un- 

 willing to have the unhallowed machinery under their roof and sent the whole outfit 



(including the gin and whiskey bottles empty, also feru leaves and awa uuwithered) to 



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