THE HAWAIIAN PEOPLE. 85 



thiuning slightly toward the edge of the stone. While this was the usual form, 

 others that were perfect spheres are in existence that measure over seven inches 

 in diameter and weigh as much as twenty-two ixnmds. 



A sport which was .jiistly popular with al! classes was what might be called 

 "summer tobogganing." It consisted in sliding down hill over carefully pre- 

 pared slides, a few yards in width, on a long, double-runner sled. There are a 

 number o£ these slides that are still pointed out as favorite coasting places of 

 ancient times. Any smooth mountain slope of sufficient steepness would serve 

 the purpose. The only complete sled in existence is in the Bishop iMuseum. 

 The two runners of this one are each just over eleven feet in length and are 

 three inches apart. They are tirmly fastened to the narrow frame. The native 

 tobogganer would lie tiat upon this curious sled, the papa holua, and give 

 it a ])ush with his foot, to start it (iff. During the decent it would frequently 

 gain an iinmense velocity, and the sjiort. while exhilarating, must have been 

 accompanied with great danger tn life and limb. S^evci'jd of tln^ old slides are 

 more than a half mile in length, one on the town side of Diamond Head ran far 

 out on the plain, and another still longer one is to be seen from King street, at 

 the opposite end of the city of Honolulu. 



G.VMBLING. 



]\Iany of their sports and games were mtrr iiriiperl\- games of chance. 

 Gambling in various f(u-ms was indidged in by all classes in the natural state 

 of their civilization. Seldom did tliey enter into serious contests without an 

 accompanying bet_of some sort, .so that food, clothing, oi-naments, crops, \\'ives, 

 their daughters, and even the bones of their liodies after death, were wagered 

 on the outcome of some simple contest. 



In addition to those already described, cock fighting was also nnich affected 

 in the ancient times, and was a game of chance of rare interest. They also 

 played a game resembling checkers on a flat lava stone, divided into numerous 

 holes or s((uares. using black and white stones for the men. 



S[TRF Riding. 



A favorite game in which women engaged with nuieh skill, consisted in 

 hiding a pebble, the noa, which was held in the hand, under one of five jiiles of 

 tapa. It was for the opposing side to guess in which jiile the stone was left, 

 striking the pile .selected with a rod tipped with feathers. There were also many 

 children's games, such as Hying kites, cat's cradle and .jumping the rope. Hut 

 the sports par excellence in which the chiefs and common people, both old and 

 .voung indulged, were tho.se which had to do with the wonderful surf for which 



Description or Plate. 



1. Hawaiian girls plaiting lanhala mats. 2. Spear practice (from an old drawing). 

 3. Sheet of copper formerly affixed to a cocoanut tree at Kealakekua Bay marking the spot 

 where Captain Cook met his death February 14, 1779. 4. Captain Cook's monument at 

 Kealakekua Bay. This monument was erected by the British Government about fifty years 

 after the death of the great explorer at a spot as near as possible to the place where he fell 

 when killed by the natives. 5. Two old Hawaiians at home. 



