300 NIMROD OF THE SEA; OB, 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



Coasting the north Side. Natives fishing from flying Canoe. Native 

 Trade. Native Songs, and Tradition of Love of Pele for Kameha- 

 meha. Conflict between the Chiefs of Hawaii and Maui, and Fete of 

 Swimming. Kealakeakua Bay the Scene of Cook's Death. Our Anchor- 

 age. Three- beautiful Boys, and my Hycamee. A profitable Invest- 

 ment. A naked Kanaka civilized from the Breech upward. Liberty 

 on Shore, and a Feast. Cooking described. Place of Burial. Taboo, 

 and the peaceable Dispositions of the Children. The Mothers diving for 

 Shells, and Emulation. Inability to take Shore Exercise. Surf-board, 

 and wonderful Skill of the Natives in Swimming. 



March 22. As we ran along the north side of the island 

 of Hawaii, its appearance was very rugged and uninviting. 

 Immense fields of black lava flanked the base of Mauna Kea, 

 without a spot of verdure. In places this lava seemed to 

 have poured over the precipitous rocks some hundreds of 

 feet into the sea. Three or four miles from the shore, there 

 were some trees and bushes, and the mountain heights 

 seemed covered with forests. Above all, towered the great 

 dome, with snow visible in large fields on its side. Great 

 numbers of streams of water fell from the high cliffs into 

 the sea, making white lines against the dark lava. As we 

 ran through the straits, we reached the western, or lee side. 

 This was more fertile, judging by the greater growth of 

 trees and bushes, and the land was more level. On the west- 

 ern flank of Mauna Kea are extensive table-lands, on which, 

 the Kanakas say, herds of wild cattle find pasturage. These 

 belong to theTdng, and their sale adds to the very limited 

 royal revenues. In some parts of the island the trees must 

 be of great size, as a double canoe swept past us to-day, in 



