20 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
the islands from the dominion of the chiefs of the 
windward islands; but being defeated in a battle 
fought in a valley near Waimea, the island is 
now under the authority of the young prince 
Kauikeouli, the successor to Rihoriho, and the 
present sovereign of the whole of the Sandwich 
Islands. 
Soon after the commencement of the Mission in 
Oahu, a similar institution was undertaken in 
Tauai, under the friendly auspices of the late king; 
this continued to prosper until the civil war, which 
followed his death, obliged the Missionaries to 
remove from the island, and suspend their endea¬ 
vours for the instruction of the natives. Since 
the restoration of peace, however, their labours 
have been resumed with more extensive and en¬ 
couraging prospects of success than had been pre¬ 
viously enjoyed. The inhabitants are in general a 
hardy and industrious race; but it is remarkable 
that in their language they employ the t in all those 
words in which the k would be used by the natives 
of the other islands. 
Ni-hau, a small island, twenty miles in length, 
and seven miles wide, politically connected with 
Tauai, lies in a westerly direction, about fifteen 
miles distant. The inhabitants are not numerous, 
and, in the general features of their character, they 
resemble those of Tauai. These two islands are 
celebrated throughout the whole group for the 
manufacture of the fine painted or variegated 
mats, so much admired by foreigners, and which, 
for the purpose of sleeping on, the chiefs in all the 
islands prefer to any others. These mats are some¬ 
times very large, measuring eighteen or twenty 
yards in length, and three or four yards in breadth, 
yet they are woven by the hand, without any loom 
