THROUGH HAWAII. 
279 
assembled, and were addressed from Psalm Ixvii. 7. 
Considerable conversation followed, and they detained 
us some time to answer their questions, or to explain 
more fully the things that had been spoken. It was truly 
gratifying to notice the eagerness with which they pro¬ 
posed their inquiries. After spending about half an 
hour in endeavouring to satisfy 200 or 300 of them, we 
took leave, and pursued our journey. Our path from 
Kaimu had been smooth and pleasant, but shortly 
after leaving Kamaili, we passed a very rugged tract 
of lava nearly four miles across. The lava seemed as 
if broken to pieces as it cooled; it had continued to 
roll on like a stream of large scoria, or cinders. Our 
progress across it was slow and fatiguing. On our 
way, our guide pointed out Karepa, an ancient heiau, 
formerly dedicated to Tu and Rono, and built in the 
days of Teavemauhiri, or Tanakini, king of this part 
of the island. We could not learn whether this was 
the heiau of Rono, in which the bones of Captain Cook 
were deposited, and worshipped. About half-past one, 
we arrived at Opihikao, another populous village, situ¬ 
ated within a short distance of the sea. The head man, 
Karaikoa, brought out a mat, spread it under the um¬ 
brageous shade of a kou-tree in front of his door, and 
invited us to sit down and rest, as the sun was verti¬ 
cal, and travelling laborious. We seated ourselves 
beside him, and, so soon as he learned from Makoa 
the nature of our errand, he sent of his own accord, 
and collected the people to hear what we had to say to 
them. When they had assembled, we stood up and 
sung a hymn, after which one of our number preached 
to them from Job xxi. 15. It was undoubtedly the 
first time most, if not all of them, had attended a 
