EARLY VISITORS. 
437 
when discovered by Captain Cook, induced some 
of his companions to think they were not the first 
European visitors to the islands. We have en¬ 
deavoured to ascertain, by inquiring of the most 
intelligent of the natives, whether or no this was 
the fact. 
They have three accounts of foreigners arriving 
at Hawaii prior to Capt. Cook. The first was the 
priest, Paao, who landed at Kohala, and to whom 
the priests of that neighbourhood traced their 
genealogy until very recently. Of this priest some 
account is given in a preceding chapter. 
The second account states, that during the 
lifetime of Opiri, the son of Paao, a number of 
foreigners (white men) arrived at Hawaii, landed 
somewhere in the south-west part of the island, 
and repaired to the mountains, where they took 
up their abode. The natives regarded them with 
a superstitious curiosity and dread, and knew not 
whether to consider them as gods or men. Opiri 
was sent for by the king of that part of the island 
where they were residing, and consulted as to the 
conduct to be observed towards them. Accord¬ 
ing to his advice, a large present of provisions was 
cooked, and carried to them. Opiri led the pro¬ 
cession, accompanied by several men, each carry¬ 
ing a bamboo cane, with a piece of white native 
cloth tied to the end of it. When the strangers 
saw them approaching their retreat, they came out 
to meet them. The natives placed the baked pigs 
and potatoes, &c. on the grass, fixed their white 
banners in the ground, and then retreated a few 
paces. The foreigners approached. Opiri ad¬ 
dressed them. They answered, received the pre¬ 
sents, and afterwards conversed with the people 
through the medium of Opiri. The facility with 
