436 
MISSIONARY TOUR 
CHAP. XV. 
Traditions respecting the Origin of the Islanders—Marriage 
among the Natives—Account of Foreigners ivho visited the 
Sandwich Islands before they were discovered by Captain 
Cook—Preaching at Kairua — Traditions of a Deluge — Visit 
to Maui—Memoir of the late King and Queen of the Islands 
—Notice of Boki, their principal attendant—Return to 
Oahu. 
The time which I spent at Kairua was chiefly occu¬ 
pied in conversation with the governor on the history 
and traditions of the island ; the advantages of instruc¬ 
tion ; and the blessings which the general adoption of 
Christianity would confer on the people. On this 
latter subject, the governor uniformly expressed his 
conviction of its utility; and said, he had therefore 
sent a messenger round among the people, requesting 
them to renounce their former evil practices, and keep 
the Sabbath according to the direction of the word 
of God. 
Adjacent to the governor’s house stand the ruins of 
Ahuena, an ancient heiau, where the war-god was often 
kept, and human sacrifices oflered. Since the abolition 
of idolatry, the governor has converted it into a fort, 
has widened the stone wall next the sea, and placed 
upon it a number of cannon. The idols are all de¬ 
stroyed, excepting three, which are planted on the 
wall, one at each end, and the other in the centre, 
where they stand like sentinels amidst the guns, as if 
designed by their frightful appearance to terrify an 
