58 K A U A I A N D O A H U. 



share that was due to each, and none seemed fully satisfied. Of the 

 molasses there was "short commons;" but, all things considered, the 

 feast went off well. I regretted it had not been held in the open fields, 

 and that the natives were not allowed to have the whole manag-ement, 

 without being so immediately under the eye of their teachers; for 

 though sufiiciently uproarious, they were evidently under some re- 

 straint. When the food had been consumed, silence was again restored 

 and thanks returned, after which the whole crowd soon vanished. 

 While this was going forward among the common people, those at the 

 table of the old and young chiefs were not idle. The turkeys, pies, &c., 

 appeared quite acceptable, although they were not so great a rarity 

 to them as the molasses feast was to the others. As far as enjoyment 

 went, I should have preferred to have been one of the poor scholars. 



At the schools, it has been observed that the scholars are extremely 

 fond of calculations in arithmetic, and possess extraordinary talent in 

 that way. So great is their fondness for it, that in some schools the 

 teachers have had recourse to depriving them of the study as a 

 punishment. I was rather surprised with their readiness when 

 numerical questions were put to them, I met some who were very 

 ready accountants, though their desire of change and want of stability 

 of character prevent them from engaging in any constant and steady 

 employment where the above qualifications would be of practical use. 

 This defect of character, together with the prejudice of foreigners 

 who are engaged in employments where they might be useful, pre- 

 vents their service from being available. 



In the neighbourhood of the old churches, near the mission, is the 

 burying-ground, which is a mere common, and the graves are exposed 

 to every kind of neglect. Foreigners, as well as natives, are buried here. 

 The only grave that was pointed otit to me, was that of Douglass, the 

 botanist, which was without any inscription whatever. He was gored 

 to death, on Hawaii, having fallen into one of the cattle-pits, where a 

 wild bull had been entrapped. The skull of the bull was lying in the 

 yard of an inhabitant of Honolulu. It is to be hoped that when the 

 new church shall be finished, the space which adjoins it will claim 

 from the authorities some attention, and be suitably enclosed. 



I was much struck with the absence of sports among the boys and 

 children. On inquiry, I learned that it had, after mature deliberation 

 and experience, been considered advisable by the missionaries to 

 deprive them of all their heathenish enjoyments, rather than allow 

 them to occupy their minds with any thing that might recall old 



