312 FROM CALIFORNIA TO 



ficed hog, saying, " These are our gods, whom I 

 worship ; whether I do right or w^rong, I do not 

 know; but I follow my faith, which cannot be 

 wicked, as it commands me never to do wrong." 

 This declaration from a savage, who had raised 

 himself by his own native strength of mind to this 

 degree of civilization, indicated much sound sense, 

 and inspired me with a certain emotion. While 

 the king is gone into the morai, nobody is allowed 

 to enter ; and during that time we admired the 

 Colossal idols, cut in wood, and representing the 

 most hideous caricatures. Tamaahmaah soon re- 

 turned, conducted us to the house in which he had 

 first received us ; and w^e took our place as before, 

 on chairs, while the distinguished personages seated 

 themselves on the ground. It was now near the time 

 in which Tamaahmaah was accustomed to dinej 

 he made an apology for eating in our presence, 

 and said, " I have seen how the Russians eat ; now 

 you may satisfy your curiosity, and see how Ta- 

 maahmaah eats." The table w^as not set out ; but 

 the dinner was ready placed in a distant corner, 

 on banana leaves, which served instead of dishes ; 

 particular attendants, bending very low, brought it 

 near to the king, where it was received by a chief, 

 and placed on the table. The repast consisted of 

 boiled fish, yams, taro-roots, and a roasted bird, a 

 little larger than a sparrow, which lives on the 

 summits of the mountains. It is very rare, and is a 

 dish only for the royal table. The king ate very 



