130 POLYNESIA'S RESEARCHES. 
an old heiau, dedicated to Ukanipo, a shark, to 
which, we were informed, all the people along the 
coast, for a considerable distance, used to repair, 
at stated times, with abundant offerings. Passing 
on along a rugged road, we reached Kaavaroa soon 
after 2 p. m. Kamakau received us kindly, spread 
out a mat for us to sit down on, handed us a 
calabash of good fresh water, (a great luxury on 
this side of the island,) and ordered a goat to be 
prepared for our refreshment. He appeared as 
zealous in his pursuit of truth, earnest in his 
desires after his own salvation, and concerned for 
that of his people, as when formerly visited. One 
or two inferior chiefs, from a district belonging to 
him, in the south part of the island, were sitting 
in the house when we entered. He afterwards 
began to talk with them on matters of religion, 
with an earnestness and intelligence which sur¬ 
prised us. 
In the afternoon Mr. Thurston and I climbed 
the rocks which rise in a north-east direction 
from the village, and visited the cave in which the 
body of Captain Cook was deposited, on being 
first taken from the beach. These rocks, which 
are entirely composed of lava, are nearly two hun¬ 
dred feet high, and in some parts very steep. A 
winding path of rather difficult ascent leads to the 
cave, which is situated on the face of the rocks, 
about half-way to the top. In front of it is a kind 
of ledge three or four feet wide, and immediately 
over it the rocks rise perpendicularly for a yard 
or two, but afterwards the ascent is gradual to the 
summit. 
The cave itself is of volcanic formation, and 
appears to have been one of those subterranean 
tunnels so numerous on the island, by which the 
