442 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
they said they had never before heard of a ship, 
or of Noah, having always been accustomed to call 
it the kai a Kahinarii , (sea of Kahinarii.) After 
conversing with them some time, I returned to the 
governor’s. 
The afternoon was principally employed in con¬ 
versation with him on the flood, and the repeopling 
of the earth by the descendants of Noah. The 
governor seemed to doubt whether it were possible 
that the Hawaiians could be the descendants of 
Noah ; but said, he thought their progenitors must 
have been created on the islands. I told him the 
account in the bible had every evidence that 
could be wished, to support it; referred him to his 
own traditions, not only of Hawaii having been 
peopled by persons who came in canoes from a 
foreign country, but of their having in their turn 
visited other islands, and planted colonies, as in 
the days of Kamapiikai; the superiority of their 
war canoes in former days; the resemblance in 
manners, customs, traditions, and language, 
between themselves and other islanders in the 
Pacific, many thousand miles distant. 
The longevity of mankind in the days of Noah, 
also surprised him. Comparing it with the period 
of human life at the present time, he said, “ By 
and by, men will not live more than forty years.” 
At half-past four in the afternoon the bell rang 
again, and the people collected in numbers about 
equal to those who attended in the morning. I 
preached to them from the words, “ Be not weary 
in well-doing; for in due season ye shall reap, if 
ye faint not.” 
Numbers thronged the governor’s house at even 
ing worship. The conversation afterwards turned 
upon the identity of the body at the resurrection, 
