THROUGH HAWAII. 
269 
a neat little garden into the house. He seated himself 
on a mat on the floor, while his brothers and sisters 
gathered around him ; some unloosed his sandals, and 
rubbed his limbs and feet; others clasped his hand, 
frequently saluting it by touching it with their nose ; 
others brought him a calabash of water, or a lighted 
tobacco pipe. One of his sisters, in particular, seemed 
much affected ; she clasped his hand, and sat for some 
time weeping by his side. At this we should have 
been surprised, had we not known it to be the usual 
manner, among the South Sea Islanders, of expressing 
unusual joy or grief. In the' present instance, it was 
the unrestrained expression of joyful feelings. Indeed, 
every one seemed at a loss how to manifest the 
sincere pleasure which his unexpected arrival, after 
several years’ absence, had produced. On first reach¬ 
ing the house, we had thrown ourselves down on a mat, 
and remained silent spectators, not, however, without 
being considerably affected by the interesting scene. 
We had been sitting in the house about an hour, 
when a small hog, baked under-ground, with some good 
sweet potatoes, was brought in for dinner, of which 
we were kindly invited to partake. As there was also 
plenty of good fresh water here, we found ourselves 
more comfortably provided for than we had been since 
leaving Kapapala on Thursday last. 
At six o’clock in the evening, we sent to collect the 
people of the village to hear preaching. Between three 
and four hundred assembled, under a clump of shady 
cordia trees, in front of the house, and I preached 
to them from Psalm xxii. verses 27 and 28. Our 
singing appeared to interest them, as well as other 
parts of the service, and at the conclusion several 
