30 H A W A I I A N G R O U P. 



until the people have generally heard it, and have appointed persons 

 according to the provisions herein made, and they have given their 

 assent ; then this constitution shall be considered as permanently 

 established. 



But hereafter, if it should be thought desirable to change it, notice 

 shall be previously given, that all the people may understand the 

 nature of the proposed change, and at the succeeding meeting of 

 the chiefs and the representative body, if they shall agree as to the 

 addition proposed, or as to the altei'ation, then they may make it. 



The above constitution has been agreed to by the chiefs, and we 

 have hereunto subscribed our names, this eighth day of October, in 

 the year of our Lord eigliteeu hundred and forty, at Honolulu, Oahu. 



(Signed) Kamehameha III. 

 Kekauluohi. 



The code of laws is now administered with firmness and a promp- 

 titude that gives them great effect, and of this we had an instance 

 while we remained at Honolulu. 



A nio^ht or two after our arrival, I was awakened by one of the 

 most startling and mournful sounds I ever lieard, which lasted all 

 night, and disturbed the whole town of Honolulu. It brought back 

 to my mind the idea that I was still among savages, which the im- 

 pressions I had received within the last few days had in a measure 

 dissipated. This sound proved to be the wailing over Kamakinki, 

 the wife of a chief of high rank. Strong suspicions being enter- 

 tained of her having been poisoned by drinking ava, which her 

 husband, Kamanawa, had prepared for her, he was apprehended, 

 together with an accomplice, whose name was Sono. Three days 

 after their arrest, they were put under trial before Kekuanaoa, the 

 governor, as presiding judge, and a jury of twelve Hawaiians. On 

 being brought to the stand they were examined against themselves, 

 and confessed on interrogation ; for the Hawaiian law permits this, 

 and such confessions are esteemed as good testimony. They were 

 found guilty by the jury, and Sono confessed on the trial that he had 

 committed one other murder. 



The facts in relation to the murder of the chief's wdfe were as 

 follows. 



The husband and wdfe had been for some time separated, because 

 the chief wished to marry another woman, for whom he had 

 formed a strong attachment. Having ah-eady one wife, this was 



