THROUGH HAWAII. 
15 
Within a few yards of the upper edge of the pass, 
under the shade of surrounding bushes and trees, two 
rude and shapeless stone idols are fixed, one on each 
side of the path, which the natives call Akua no ka 
Pari , gods of the precipice ; they are usually covered 
with pieces of white tapa, native cloth; and every 
native who passes by to the precipice, if he intends 
to descend, lays a green bough before these idols, en¬ 
circles them with a garland of flowers, or wraps a 
piece of tapa round them, to render them propitious to 
his descent; all who ascend from the opposite side 
make a similar acknowledgment for the supposed pro¬ 
tection of the deities, whom they imagine to preside over 
the fearful pass. This practice appears universal, for 
in our travels among the islands, we have seldom pass¬ 
ed any steep or dangerous paths, at the commencement 
or termination of which we have not seen these images, 
with heaps of offerings lying before them. Until very 
recently, it is evident the influence of superstition was 
very strong in the minds of the great mass of the peo¬ 
ple, for although the natives who accompanied us in 
our excursions, either from a conviction of the absurdity 
of the notions of their countrymen, or from mere wanton¬ 
ness, usually overturned the idols, battered them with 
stones, or rolled them down the precipice or passage 
which they were supposed to defend ; yet on passing 
the same path only a very short time afterwards, we have 
invariably found them replaced, or, if broken, their places 
supplied by fresh ones. This conduct of our native 
companions was never the consequence of our direc¬ 
tions, and seldom received our approbation, for we 
were not ambitious to become Iconoclasts; our object 
was rather to enlighten the minds of the people, and con- 
