THROUGH HAWAII. 
275 
sympathy in our minds. They are still “ without God 
in the world,” and are satisfied with their state. Like 
the inhabitants of Honuapo and Kapauku, and most 
of those we had conversed with on the subject, they 
rejoiced in the abolition of the national idolatry. Its 
general features precluded their ever contemplating it 
with pleasure or satisfaction, and every memento that 
remains, only serves to awaken the recollection of its 
cruelty, and the oppressive bondage under which they 
were enslaved while it continued. From this they feel 
themselves emancipated, and seem also to enjoy, in 
some degree, the social and domestic comfort resulting 
from their dwelling together in one house, sitting down 
to the same repast, and eating the same kind of food. 
But though they approved of the destruction of the 
national idols, many were far from having renounced 
idolatry, and were in general destitute of all knowledge 
of that dispensation of grace and truth which came by 
Jesus Christ. They related many tales about their 
gods, and seemed firm believers in the existence of 
deities in the volcanoes. Respecting family idols, the 
natives in general suppose that after the death of any 
member of a family, the spirit of the departed hovers 
about the places of its former resort, appears to the 
survivors sometimes in a dream, and watches over 
their destinies; hence they worship an image with 
which they imagine the spirit is in some way con¬ 
nected. 
We endeavoured to convince them of their mistake 
respecting the objects of their worship, spoke to them 
of Jehovah, the only being to whom religious homage 
should be rendered, and of that life and immortality 
revealed in the sacred scriptures. 
