352 
MISSIONARY TOUR 
On descending to the bottom of the valley, we reached 
a heiau dedicated to P61e, with several rude stone 
idols, wrapped up in white and yellow cloth, standing 
in the midst of it. A number of wreaths of flowers, 
pieces of sugar-cane, and other presents, some of which 
were not yet faded, lay strewed around, and we were 
told that every passing traveller left a trifling oifering 
before them. Once in a year, we were also informed, 
the inhabitants of Hamakua brought large gifts of hogs, 
dogs, and fruit, when the priests and kahu of Pele 
assembled to perform certain rites, and partake of the 
feast. This annual festival, we w ere told, was designed 
to propitiate the volcanic goddess, and secure their 
country from earthquakes, or inundations of lava. 
Locks of human hair were among the offerings made 
to P61e. They were frequently presented to this god¬ 
dess by those who passed by the crater of Kirauea, 
on which occasions they v r cre thrown into the crater, 
a short address being made at the same time to the 
deity supposed to reside there. 
We ventured to deviate from the custom of travellers 
in general; yet, though we presented no offerings, we 
did not proceed to pull down the heiau, and irritate the 
people by destroying their idols, but entered into con¬ 
versation with them on the folly of worshipping such 
senseless things, and pointed out the more excellent 
way of propitiating the favour of Jehovah, the true God, 
with sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise, placing all 
their hopes in his mercy, and depending for security 
on his providence. They took what we said in good 
part, and answered, that though the stones could not 
save them, the being whom they represented, or in 
honour of whom they were erected, was very powerful. 
