HAWAIIAN GROUP. 31 



forbidden by the law, and he in consequence determined to rid him- 

 self of her. For this purpose he applied to Sono, who was said to be 

 well acquainted with poisons. He found Sono in the same position 

 as himself, and they both agreed to destroy their wives. Accordingly, 

 a seeming reconciliation was brought about, and they met at the 

 house of a son-in-law of Kamakinki to celebrate it by drinking ava. 

 Two bowls of the liquor were prepared, the one unadulterated, the 

 other mixed with poison composed of Tephrosia piscatoria. Daphne 

 indica, and the leaves of a common gourd (Lagenaria). From the 

 first of these the company drank, but when Kamakinki called for her 

 share, which was handed to her by Kamanawa her husband, she, 

 after taking a few mouthfuls, complained of its bitterness. On asking 

 if the other cups had tasted so, and being answered in the negative, 

 she at once accused her husband of having poisoned her. 



The proof would have been ample without the confession of the 

 guilty parties, for a post-mortem examination had taken place, which 

 proved conclusively that the death had been the result of poison. 

 The parties, however, both made a full and corresponding confession. 

 It was stated by Kamanawa, the husband, that Sono, on receiving his 

 application, at once said that he had a drug that would destroy life. 

 On his expressing some doubts, Sono told him that he had already 

 proved it in three cases. When Kamanawa drugged the ava, he 

 had doubts whether it would prove effective, but was glad to find 

 it so. 



The prisoners were allowed counsel, and the whole proceedings 

 were conducted in a becoming manner. The charge of the judge to 

 the jury was clear and forcible. The king and several high chiefs 

 were present, and as Kamanawa was a great favourite of the king, 

 it was supposed by many that a pardon would be extended to him, 

 this being- the first case in which the sentence of the law had been 

 passed on one of so high a rank. But there was no pardon ; and the 

 criminals were hung on the 20th of October, on the walls of the fort, 

 the king having gone some days previously to Lahaina. The con- 

 course of people at the execution was very large, and the prisoners 

 were attended by the missionaries. There was none of that eager 

 curiosity, rushing, and crowding, that is to be observed at home on an 

 occasion of the kind, and no noise or confusion. All present were 

 decently dressed and well behaved, but they did not seem impressed 

 with the solemnity of the scene. It was estimated that ten thousand 



