40 HAWAIIAN GROUP. 



All high crimes have usually been punished with death. This was, 

 however, previous to 1824. The executions were more like assassina- 

 tions than judicial punishments. Formerly among a chief's retinue 

 were executioners, called ili-muku, to whom the business of punishing 

 capitally was committed. These persons became well known to the 

 people, and as no trials or any sentences were promulgated, even to see 

 these men abroad created general consternation, as the people knew 

 not where the blow was to fall, and all those who were conscious of 

 having committed any offence against the king considered themselves 

 in great peril. The victims were usually attacked in the night, with- 

 out giving them any warning, with clubs and stones. Such was the 

 fear entertained of the king's authority, that even if the executioners 

 were discovered, the nearest friends did not dare to give warning, or 

 assist in resisting them. 



Those who had violated the religious taboos were seized, either 

 secretly or open, by the officers of the priests, and carried to the 

 temple, where they were stoned, strangled, or beaten to death with 

 clubs, and then laid on the altar to putrefy. These constituted the 

 great majority of executions in former times ; some indeed, were by 

 order of the chiefs, and in conformity to their rules of avenging private 

 wrongs. 



A high chief, Kanihouni, was sentenced by Kamehameha to be put 

 to death. As he was possessed of great power and influence, many 

 precautions were taken to quell any rebellion that might arise from the 

 attempt. He was executed in the following manner. The king caused 

 a number of soldiers to be armed, who were concealed in a neighbour- 

 ing house; he then sent a silver coin to Pitt (Kalanimoku), who, 

 having heard of the crime committed by Kanihouni, immediately un- 

 derstood the secret signal. He at once repaired to the king's house, 

 where he received his orders, and several of the high chiefs were also 

 ordered to aid him in the execution. 



Kamehameha I. was greatly importuned to grant a pardon to 

 Kanihouni, for all the higher chiefs were his relations ; but he was 

 inexorable, and finally threatened them, if his orders were not carried 

 into effect, he would cause some of them to be substituted instead of 

 the criminal. 



The chiefs, finding that entreaty was in vain, went openly to the 

 house of Kanihouni, and put him to death in a very unusual manner. 

 A rope being put around his neck, and the ends of it being passed 

 through the opposite sides of the house, they took hold of them and 

 strangled him. 



After the introduction of edged tools, and especially axes, beheading 



