HAWAIIAN GROUP. 



47 



They were very slow in adopting the idea of the earth being round, 

 and Hoapili was known to have argued the point with many of them, 

 insisting on their not being too precipitate in condemning the foreign 

 theory, as he himself was aware that in some of his fishing excur- 

 sions, he had observed that the beach was always lost sight of first. 



There is proof, however, of their connecting the action of the tide 

 with the moon, and from her appearance they were able to tell the 

 state of the tides. 



In their navigation they never, if they could avoid it, subjected 

 themselves to get out of sight of land, and were never so except by 

 accident. When they found this to be the case, they made use of the 

 heavenly bodies, if visible ; and being accurate observers of the wea- 

 ther and atmospheric changes, they were enabled to find their way 

 back again; for the various changes of weather about the Hawaiian 

 Islands, and the appearance these changes brought about in the clouds 

 over and in the vicinity of the land, afforded them a sure guide. 

 From all accounts, it is supposed that but few persons have been 

 lost, by being driven or sailing off" (through mistake) from the land. 

 Many disasters, however, have arisen, from the frailty and smallness 

 of their canoes, although their good management of them was pro- 

 verbial, particularly in the surf Of late, and since they have pos- 

 sessed foreign vessels, they have lost much of their skill. These 

 vessels they manage after their own way, and although many have 

 been lost by wreck on the islands, I did not hear of any having been 

 blown off. Some amusing anecdotes were told me of their negligence 

 and inability to keep awake during the night. 



They are quite fearless on the water ; all swim, and have little fear 

 of loss of life by drowning. They appear quite as much at home in 

 the water as on land, and many of them more so. 



Many remarkable instances of their patience under this kind of 

 fatigue, were mentioned to me. One of them, which happened the 

 year of our arrival, is well authenticated, and will also tend to show 

 very great attachment and endurance in the female sex. 



As the Hawaiian schooner Kiola, commanded by an American 

 named Thompson, who was married to Kaiha, a female chief, was 

 going to Hawaii, having on board many passengers, on getting into 

 the straits between Maui and Hawaii the schooner foundered, and 

 all on board, forty-five in number, were obUged to take to swimming 

 for safety. Thompson could swim but little, but his wife was quite 

 expert in the art ; she promptly came to his aid, placed him on an 



