12 HAWAIIANGROUP. 



said to have been endured by them, were much exaggerated. Nor 

 were these in any case to be imputed directly to the missionaries, 

 who had in many instances endeavoured to prevent the infliction of 

 punishment for religioiis reasons. Of cruel treatment for this cause, 

 I could learn no authenticated instance, nor did I meet with any one 

 who could adduce facts from his own knowledge, although I sought 

 information from those inimical to the missionaries, as well as from 

 those who favour them. That the missionaries and their proselytes 

 entertain apprehensions of evil from the propagation of Romanism 

 is true, but I found less illiberality on the subject of religious forms 

 existing in the Hawaiian Islands than in any place I visited on the 

 cruise ; less than is entertained by opposing sects in our country ; 

 and far less than exists in Catholic countries against those who hold 

 the Protestant faith. 



In spite of the prohibitory law, it is a notorious and indisputable 

 fact, that the first Catholic priests who landed in 1827 were kindly 

 treated by all classes of natives, and by the Protestant missionaries. 

 The American mission even furnished them with the books they had 

 printed to enable them to learn the Hawaiian language. When, 

 however, mass was first publicly celebrated, the converted natives 

 in general took an aversion to that mode of worship, as it appeared 

 to them a step backwards towards their ancient idolatry; and the 

 very circumstance which, had they continued heathen, might have 

 been an inducement to adopt, served now to alienate them from it. 



No serious disturbances in relation to religion occurred until 1830, 

 when the Catholic missionaries were considered to have been engaged 

 in promoting the attempted rebellion of Lilika. The Catholics, for 

 this reason, were associated in the minds of the rulers with the 

 opponents of good order and the violators of the laws. The chiefs, 

 in consequence, became jealous of their religion, and of their attempts 

 to promulgate their doctrines. Whatever may have been the truth 

 of the suspicion of the interference of the Catholic priests with the 

 affairs of government, there can be no doubt that the proceedings 

 which followed were dictated by reasons of state, not by sectarian 

 religious feelings. It was determined to expel the priests from the 

 island, and they were sent to California, at the expense of the 

 government, in a vessel fitted out for the purpose. 



No further attempt was made by the Catholics to propagate their 

 doctrines in these islands until 1836, when the Rev. Mr. Walsh 

 landed secretly. When his calling became known, he was ordered 

 to depart; but, after various excuses for delay, finally obtained 



