€ITY OF REFUGE, 
167 
siderable extent, and were informed by our guide, 
that it was one of the puhonuas of Hawaii, of which 
we had so often heard the chiefs and others speak. 
There are only two on the island; the one which 
we were then examining, and another at Waipio, 
on the north-east part of the island, in the district 
of Kohala, 
These puhwiuas were the Hawaiian cities of 
refuge, and afforded an inviolable sanctuary to 
the guilty fugitive who, when flying from the 
avenging spear, was so favoured as to enter their 
precincts. This had several wide entrances, some 
on the side next the sea, the others facing the 
mountains. Hither the man slayer, the man who 
had broken a tabu, or failed in the observance of 
its rigid requirements, the thief, and even the mur¬ 
derer, fled from his incensed pursuers, and was 
Secure. To whomsoever he belonged, and from 
whatever part he came, he was equally certain of 
admittance, though liable to be pursued even to 
the gates of the enclosure. Happily for him, those 
gates were perpetually open ; and as soon as the 
fugitive had entered, he repaired to the presence 
of the idol, and made a short ejaculatory address, 
expressive of his obligations to him in reaching 
the place with security. Whenever war was pro¬ 
claimed, and during the period of actual hostilities, 
a white flag was unfurled on the top of a tall spear, 
at each end of the enclosure, and, until the con¬ 
clusion of peace, waved the symbol of hope to 
those who, vanquished in fight, might flee thither 
for protection. It was fixed a short distance from 
the walls on the outside, and to the spot on which 
this banner was unfurled, the victorious warrior 
might chase his routed foes ; but here, he must 
himself fall back; beyond it he must not advance 
