114 
MISSIONARY TOUR 
canoe, under the shade of a fine-spreading hibiscus, 
and begged a little water of the villagers. We had 
not remained many minutes before we were surrounded 
by about 150 people. After explaining to them in few 
words our feelings on meeting them, we asked them 
if they would like to hear what we had to say to them. 
They replied, Ae, (yes,) and sat down immediately. 
We sung a hymn and prayed, and I addressed them 
for about half an hour on the first principles of Chris¬ 
tianity. They all appeared gratified, said they were 
naan po, (dark hearted,) and should be glad to be in¬ 
structed in all these things, if any body would teach 
them. We now travelled on to Hokukano, where we 
passed a paliu tabu, (sacred enclosure,) which the 
natives told us was built by Taraiopu,* king of the 
island at the time it was discovered by Captain Cook. 
A little further on we examined a buoa (tomb) of a 
celebrated priest. It was composed of loose stones, 
neatly laid, about eight feet square and five high. In 
the centre was a small mound of earth, higher than the 
walls; over this a house had formerly been erected, 
but it was now fallen to decay; around it were long 
poles, stuck in the earth, about three or four inches 
apart, and united together at the top. We asked why 
the grave was enclosed with those tall sticks ? Some 
said it was a custom so to inter persons of conse¬ 
quence ; others said it was to prevent the spirit from 
coming out. On the top of a high mountain, in the 
neighbourhood, stood the remains of an old heiau, dedi¬ 
cated to Ukanipo, a shark, to which, we were informed, 
all the people along the coast, for a considerable dis¬ 
tance, used to repair, at stated times, with abundant 
* Terreoboo in Cook’s Voyages. 
