TTTE HAWATTAX PEOPLE. 85 



thinning' sliulitly toward the edge of tlie stono. While tliis was the usual form, 

 otlici's that were perfect spheres are in existence that iiicasiifc over seven inches 

 in tUanieter and weigh as nmcli as twenty-two ])onnds. 



A sport which was justly popular with all chisses was what might tie called 

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

 pared slides, a few yards in width, on a long, douhle-i-uniier sled. There are a 

 number of these slides that are still jioiiited out as favorite coast ini: places of 

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

 the purpose. The only complete sled in existence is in the l>islio]) Museum. 

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

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

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

 it a push with his foot, to start it off. During the decent it would fi'cMpiently 

 gain an immense velocity, and the sport, wliile exhilarating, iiuist ]\;wo been 

 accompanied with great danger to life and limh. Several of the 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. 



Gambling. 



]\[any of their sports and games were more properly games of chance. 

 Gambling in various forms was indulged in by all classes in the natural state 

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

 accompanying bet of some sort, so that food, clothing, ornaments, cro])s. wives. 

 their daughters, and even the bones of their bodies 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. The\- also 

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

 holes or scpiares, using black and white stones for the men. 



Surf Riding. 



A favorite -game in which women engaged v.ith much skill, consisted in 

 hiding a pebble, the noa. which Avas held in the hand, under one of five piles of 

 tapa. It was for the opi)osing side to guess in which pile 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 juni|»inL: the I'ojte. lint 

 the sports ])ar excellence in which the chiefs and connnon pe<i|)le. both old and 

 younu' indulged, wei-e those which had to do with the wondei'Tul sui'f i^u' which 



Description of Pl.^te. 



1. Hawaiian girls jtlaitinjj lauhala mats. 2. Spear jiraetice (from an old tlrawiug). 

 3. Sheet of copper formerly affi.xed to a coeoanut tree at Kealakekua Bay marking the spot 

 where ('a])tain f'ook mot his death February 14, 1779. 4. Captain Cook's numiiment at 

 Kealakekua Bay. This monument was ereet(>d by the British Government about fifty years 

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

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



