SANDWICH ISLANDS. 
47 
lected round the eating-houses of the king and of his 
queens, which, under the old law, were at a distance from 
each other. When the baked meats were brought into the 
king's presence, he caused the choicest part of them, and 
especially of those kinds of food which it was unlawful for 
women to taste, to be carried into the eating-house of his 
wives, and accompanying them himself, he sat down and 
ate, and caused the women to eat, in the sight of the people, 
of all the things looked upon as prohibited. The priests 
and chiefs were instantly apprised of the fact, which to the 
multitude appeared prodigious, and calculated to awaken the 
vengeance of Heaven; but they, prepared beforehand, had 
already met together, and the chief priest Hevaheva, pre¬ 
venting the messenger with the report, explained to the 
people, that as the gods had not revenged the violation of 
the tabu it was a sign they had no power, and therefore 
ought to be destroyed; on which Hevaheva himself began 
by setting fire to the principal morai. On that day the 
idols were overthrown; and as soon as the event could be 
known in the other islands, the example was followed with¬ 
out hesitation. One chief alone, the crafty Ivekuaokalani, 
armed in defence of his idols. Though consulted among 
the other chiefs as to the propriety of relinquishing the 
ancient deities of the nation, he had never opposed the 
