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HA WAIL 



stamp, who was buried on January n, 1873, after a partial 

 outbreak of the orgies wherewith the natives disgraced them- 

 selves after the death of a chief in the old heathen days. It 

 is rare to meet with two people successively who hold the same 

 opinion of Kamehameha V. He was evidently a man of some 

 talent and strong will, intensely patriotic, and determined not 

 to_be- a merely ornamental figure-head of a government ad- 

 ministered by foreigners in his name. He ardently desired the 

 encouragement of foreign immigration, and the opening of a 

 free market in America for Hawaiian produce. He ruled, as 

 well as reigned, and though he abrogated the constitution of 

 1852, and introduced several features of absolutism into the 

 government, on the whole he seems to have done well by his 

 people. He is said to have been regal and dignified, to have 

 worked hard, to have written correct state papers, and to have 

 been capable of the deportment of an educated Christian gen- 

 tleman, but to have reimbursed himself for this subservience 

 to conventionality by occasionally retiring to an undignified 

 residence on the sea-shore, where he transformed himself into 

 the likeness of one of his half-clad heathen ancestors, debased 

 himself by whisky, and revelled in the Jmla-hula. He is said 

 also to have been so far under the empire of the old supersti- 

 tions as to consult an ancient witch on affairs of importance. 



He died amidst the rejoicings incident to his birthday, and 

 on the next day " lay in state in the throne-room of the palace, 

 while his ministers, his staff, and the chiefs of the realm kept 

 watch over him, and sombre kahilis waving at his head 

 beat a rude and silent dead march for the crowds of people, 

 subjects and aliens, who continuously filed through the apart- 

 ment, for a curious farewell glance at the last of the Kameha- 

 mehas." 



His death closed the first era of Hawaiian history, and the 

 orderly succession of one recognised dynasty. No successor 

 to the throne had been proclaimed, and the king left no nearer 

 kin than the Princess Keelikolani, his half-sister, a lady not in 

 the line of regal descent. 



Under these novel circumstances, it devolved upon the 

 Legislative Assembly to elect by ballot " some native Alii of 

 the kingdom as successor to the throne." The candidates 

 were the High Chief Kalakaua, the present King, and Prince 

 Lunalilo, the late King, but the " Well-Beloved,''' as Lunalilo 

 was called, was elected unanimously, amidst an outburst of 

 popular enthusiasm. 



