HAWAIIAN GROUP. 29 



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

 my mind the idea that I was still among savages, which the impressions 

 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 entertained 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 wife were as 

 follows. 



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

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

 strong attachment. Having already one wife, this w T as forbidden by 

 the law, and he in consequence determined to rid himself 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 recon- 

 ciliation 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. 



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