318 Obituary JVotice. 



as they proceeded to the beach, whither the body of Mr, Douglas had 

 been conveyed in a canoe by the native who brought the news of his 

 death. Upon further inquiry, this person related, in substance, as fol- 

 lows: — That on the evening of the 13th instant, the natives who brought 

 the body down from the mountain came to his house at Laupahoihoi, 

 about twenty-five or thirty miles distant from Hilo, and employed him 

 to bring it to this place in his canoe. The particulars which he learned 

 from them were as follows : — Mr. Douglas left Kohala Point during 

 the previous week, in company Avith an Englishman as a guide, and 

 proceeded to cross Moncna Kea on the north side. On the 12th in- 

 stant Mr. Douglas dismissed his guide, who cautioned him, on parting, 

 to be very careful lest he should fall into some of the pits for taking 

 wild cattle ; describing them as being near the places to which the ani- 

 mals resorted to drink. Soon after Mr. Douglas had dismissed his 

 guide, he went back a short distance to get a bundle which he had for- 

 gotten; and, as he was retracing his steps, in some fatal moment, he 

 fell into one of the pits, into which a bullock had previously fallen. He 

 was found dead in the pit by these same natives, who, ignorant, at the 

 time, of his passing, were in pursuit of bullocks, and, on coming up to 

 the pit, found a small hole in one end of the covering of it. At first 

 they conjectured that a calf had fallen in, but, on further examination, 

 discovered traces of a man's steps, and soon afterwards saw his feet in 

 the pit, his body being covered with dirt and rubbish. They went im- 

 mediately in pursuit of the guide, who returned, shot the bullock in the 

 pit, took out the body, and hired the natives, at the price of four bul- 

 locks (which were killed immediately), to convey the body to the sea- 

 shore. He himself accompanied them, and procured the native to con- 

 vey the body to Hilo, promising to follow immediately, and bring with 

 hiin the compass, the watch (which was somewhat broken, but still 

 going), some money found in Mr. Douglas's pockets, and a little dog, 

 a faithful companion of the departed traveller. Thus far the report of 

 the native who brought the body in his canoe, and who professed to 

 relate the facts as he learned them from the natives who came down 

 from the mountain. 



" What an aftecting spectacle Avas presented, on removing the bul- 

 lock's hide, in which the body had been conveyed ! It appeared to be 

 in the same state as Avhen taken from the pit. The face was covered 

 with dirt, the hair filled with blood and dirt, and the coat, pantaloons, 

 and shirt were considerably torn: the hat was missing. On washing 

 the body, it was found to be in a shocking state : there were ten or 

 twelve gashes on the head, a long one over the left eye; another, rather 

 deep, just above the left temple; a deep one behind the right ear; the 

 left cheek-bone appeared to be broken, and also the ribs on the left 

 side; the abdomen was much bruised, as were also the loAver parts of 

 the legs. 



" After laying out the body, the first thought was to bury it Avithin 

 Mr. Goodrich's premises; but, Avhen a spot had been selected and 

 cleared, doubts were suggested, by a person Avho had assisted, and Avho 

 had been much engaged in taking Avild cattle, whether the Avounds on 

 the head could have been inflicted by a bullock. The matter did not 

 seem clear: many parts of the story Avere dark and confused; and the 

 foUoAving questions arose among the persons present: — HoAVAvas it that 

 Mr. Douglas was alone, without any guide, whether foreigner or na- 

 tive? Where Avas John, Mr. Diell's colored man, Avho left Honolulu 

 with Mr. Diell, and Avho, on missing a passage Avith him from Lahaina, 

 embarked Avith Mr. Douglas, as had been ascertained from the captain 

 of the vessel in which Mr. Douglas sailed from Lahaina to Kohala 

 Point, and there left the vessel, with Mr. Douglas, on the morning of 



