54 KAUAI AND OAHU. 



ciently uproarious, they were evidently under some restraint. 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 out to me, was that of Douglas, 

 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 

 associations. The consequence is, that the Hawaiian boys are staid 

 and demure, having the quiet looks of old men. I cannot doubt that they 

 possess the natural tendency of youth towards frolicksome relaxations ; 

 but the fear of offending keeps a constant restraint over them. It might 

 be well, perhaps, to introduce some innocent amusements ; and indeed 1 

 believe this has been attempted, for I occasionally saw them flying kites. 



