130 M A U N A L O A. 



hand down the traditions in their family, and were thus the depo- 

 sitaries of the oral archives of the nation. Kiwe came from Panau, 

 in the neighbourhood of this district of fire, and we were, of course, 

 very desirous of obtaining any information he could give. As he 

 had come to offer himself as guide, he was sent for to our hut, and 

 was asked to take a seat. Kalumo, the chief scribe, before spoken 

 of, was sent for, and began to question him relative to the traditions. 

 Kiwe began by describing various great chiefs and their genealogies, 

 but nothing relating to their feats or actions, except that the great 

 chief of Papapala and the goddess Pele had quarrelled about a surf- 

 board, which ended in his being consumed, after having attempted 

 to cross the fiery lake upon it. Many interrogatories were put to 

 him, but he soon became sullen and refused to answer ; he told us 

 he had discovered our intention, and that he knew we were going to 

 put what he said in a book, that every body might read it, and there- 

 fore he would give us no further information. This I hope will be 

 received as a sufiicient apology for my not giving the histories and 

 details of these marvellous personages; for, according to Kiwe, by 

 relating them he would lose his occupation as soon as they were 

 printed. 



Soon after we left Kapuauhi, we met with soil formed upon the 

 lava by volcanic ashes ; the bushes became thicker and more thrifty, 

 rising into small trees ; quantities of strawberry-vines were perceived, 

 but the natives searched in vain for some straggling fruit. The time 

 for its bearing had passed, but they are said to be found in great 

 abundance, and of very fine flavour, at the proper season. Okea 

 was the principal wood, and there was some koa (Acacia). A curious 

 plant was pointed out, the sap of which blisters the skin, and with 

 which the inhabitants produce a sort of tattooing in large and small 

 round lumps. I did not learn how durable they were. This plant 

 is called mau-a-laili. 



Our course, since we left our resting-place, was nearly south-south- 

 west, and the inclination on which we ascended was not as rapid as 

 it had been. The country on our left was one entire rock, while that 

 to the right was still occupied by the line of forest I have before 

 spoken of, which bounded our view to the west. 



Just as we reached the great plain of the volcano, we ap- 

 proached the southern limit of the wood, and, on turning its corner, 

 Mauna Loa burst upon us in all its grandeur. The day was 

 extremely fine, the atmosphere pure and clear, except a few flying 



