THROUGH HAWAII. 
67 
The opposite party, having keenly observed this pro¬ 
cess, now point with their wands or sticks to the dif¬ 
ferent heaps under which they suppose the stone lies, 
looking significantly, at the same time, full in the face 
of the man who had hid it. He sits all the while, hold¬ 
ing his fingers before his eyes, to prevent their noticing 
any change in his countenance, should one of them 
point to the heap under which it is hid. Having pre¬ 
viously agreed who shall strike first, that individual, 
looking earnestly at the hider, lifts his rod, and strikes 
a smart blow across the heap he had selected. The 
cloth is instantly lifted up; and should the stone ap¬ 
pear under it, his party have won that hiding, with one 
stroke; if it is not there, the others strike, till the stone 
is found. The same party hide the stone five or ten 
times successively, according to their agreement at the 
commencement of the play; and whichever party disco 
vers it the given number of times, with fewest strokes, 
wins the game. Sometimes they reverse it; and those 
win, who, in a given number of times, strike most 
heaps without uncovering the stone. Occasionally 
they play for amusement only; but more frequently 
for money, or other articles of value, which they stake 
on the game. 
I went to the party, whom I found thus engaged; 
and after a few minutes’ conversation, told them, that 
it was the sacred day of God, and induced them to put 
asifie their play, and promise to attend public worship 
in the afternoon. Leaving them, I passed through a 
garden, where a man was at work weeding and water¬ 
ing a bed of cloth plants. I asked him if he did not 
know it was the sacred day, and improper for him to 
work? The man answered, yes, he knew it was the 
