POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
434 
from the Marquesas, and thirty-six from Tahiti, 
yet inhabited by the same race of people. 
— The day after the conversation took place which 
led to the above remarks, the pilot-boat arrived at 
Kairua, on her way to Maui. On first coming to 
anchor, Kahiori , the master, said he should sail in 
the evening; but when I told him I would go with 
him, if he would wait till the Sabbath was over, he 
cheerfully agreed to do so. By him, the governor 
received a note on business, written by Kamakau, 
the interesting chief of Kaavaroa, which, after he 
had read it, he shewed me, saying, he admired 
the diligence and perseverance of Kamakau, who, 
with but little instruction, had learned to write 
very well. “ This letter writing,” added the 
governor, “ is a very good thing.” It also appears 
to them a most surprising art, which, till they saw 
what had been acquired by the natives of the 
southern islands, they imagined could never be 
attained by persons in their circumstances. Sup¬ 
posing it beyond the powers of man to invent the 
plan of communicating words by marks on paper, 
they have sometimes asked us, if, in the first 
instance, the knowledge of it were not communi 
cated to mankind by God himself. 
In the governor’s family is an interesting gir., 
who is called his daughter, and has been spoken 
of as the future consort of the young prince Kaui- 
keoule, instead of Nahienaena his sister. 
Marriage contracts in the Sandwich Islands are 
usually concluded by the parents or relations of 
both parties, or by the man and the parents or 
friends of the woman. 
We are not aware that the parents of the woman 
receive any thing from the husband, or give any 
dowry with the wife. Their ceremonies on the 
