THE SANDWICH ISLANDS. SS5 



Sclieffer's people. The fury of tlie natives was at 

 that time without bounds ; and SchefFer*s servants 

 would certainly have lost their lives, but for the 

 interference of Young. The procession, on enter- 

 ing the morai, observed the strictest silence ; soon 

 after several persons came out from all the four 

 sides, lifted their hands to heaven, seemed to in- 

 voke somebody, by a loud cry, and withdrew, after 

 ha\'ing repeated this several times. Two fellows 

 now furiously rushed out, ran round the morai in a 

 large circle with all their strength in opposite 

 directions ; and I retired, that I might not fall in 

 with them, for in this case their sanctity would 

 have been imparted to me, and I should have been 

 forced to perform taboo in the morai, an enjoy- 

 ment W'hich I chose to avoid, as my curiosity 

 might be fully gratified by M. Chamisso. 



The 4th of December. As I had often ex- 

 pressed a desire to see a Woahoo dance, Kareimoku 

 invited us to one to-day. We w^ere conducted to 

 his house, before which a large space was pre- 

 pared for the festivity, and which was already sur- 

 rounded by a number of spectators. Mats had 

 been laid for us on the ground, in the middle of 

 the circle. I observed, that the host was not pre- 

 sent, but Young soon came up to me, and said : 

 " The Governor begs to be excused for his ab- 

 sence ; but his lady is so very tipsy, that he cannot 

 leave her.** Singular as this excuse seemed, it w^as 

 not the less true, and I was obliged to accept it. 



