UETTER X.] 



HUMAN SACRIFICES. 



101 



' contain pieces of stone weighing from 2 to 3 tons, raised 6 feet 

 from the ground, and the walls, narrowing gradually towards 

 the top, are 15 feet wide at the base and 12 feet high. They 

 are truly grand monuments of humanity in the midst of the 

 barbarous institutions of heathenism, and it shows a consider- 

 able degree of enlightenment, that even rebels in arms and 

 fugitives from invading armies were safe, if they reached the 

 sacred refuge, for the priests of Keawe knew no distinctions of 

 party. 



In dreadful contrast to this place of mercy, there were some 

 very large hams (or temples) here, on whose hideous altars 

 eighty human sacrifices are said to have been offered at one 

 time. One of the legends told me concerning this lovely valley 

 is, that King Umi, having vanquished the kings of the six 

 divisions of Hawaii, was sacrificing captives in one of these 

 heiaus, when the voice of his god, Kuahilo was heard from 

 the clouds, demanding more slaughter. Fresh human blood 

 streamed from the altars, but the insatiable demon continued 

 to call for more, till Umi had sacrificed all the captives and all 

 his own men but one, whom he at first refused to give up, as 

 he was a great favourite, but Kuahilo thundered from heaven, 

 till the favourite warrior was slain, and only the king and the 

 sacrificing priest remained. 



This valley of the " vanquished waters " abounds in legends. 

 Some of these are about a cruel monster, King Hooku, who 

 lived here, and whose memory, so far as he is remembered, is 

 much execrated. It is told of him that if a man were said to 

 have a handsome head, he sent some of his warriors to behead 

 him, and then hacked and otherwise disfigured the face for a 

 diversion. On one occasion he ordered a man's arm to be cut 

 off and brought to him, simply because it was said to be more 

 beautifully tattooed than his own. It is sixty-four years since 

 the last human sacrifice was exposed on the Waipio altars, but 

 •there are several old people here who must have been at least 

 thirty when Hawaii threw off idolatry for ever. Halemanu 

 has again closed the evening with the simple worship of the 

 true God. 



I. L. B. 



