88 
MISSIONARY TOUR 
proposed, after visiting the volcano, either to descend 
to the shore and travel along the coast through the 
division of Puna , or across the interior to the division 
of Hiro, as circumstances might then render most ex¬ 
pedient. From Waiakea in Hiro, we agreed to pro¬ 
ceed along the eastern shore, till an opportunity should 
offer for part of our number to cross over the moun¬ 
tains of Kohala, while the rest should travel along the 
shore, round the north point of the island, and meet 
their companions at Towaihae, whence they could re¬ 
turn direct to Oahu, if a means of conveyance should 
present itself, or to Kairua, and there wait for a vessel. 
The plan of our tour being thus arranged, we were 
anxious to receive the aid of the governor in the execu¬ 
tion of it. Mr. Thurston and myself were therefore 
chosen to wait upon him in the afternoon, to make him 
acquainted with our wishes, and solicit his assistance 
for their accomplishment. 
I afterwards accompanied Mr. Thurston to the well, 
where we found the natives boring the hard rocks of 
lava which they intended to blast. We encouraged 
them in their laborious work, and then visited the 
ruins of an old military fortification, formerly belong¬ 
ing to the mafcaainana, (common people, as distin¬ 
guished from the aristocracy, or reigning chiefs.) In 
those periods of their history, during which the island 
of Hawaii was divided into a number of independent 
governments, under different chiefs, which were fre¬ 
quent prior to the reign of Taraiopu, who was king at 
the time of its discovery by Captain Cook; this had 
been a place of considerable importance. All that at 
present remains is part of the wall, about eighteen or 
twenty feet high, and fourteen feet thick at the bottom, 
