462 
APPENDIX, 
occurs. Whether the smoothness of their language induced 
the natives to cultivate metrical composition, or their 
fondness for the latter has occasioned the multiplicity of 
vowels, and soft flowing arrangement of the sentences^ 
which distinguish their language, it is difficult to conjec¬ 
ture. In native poetry, rhyming terminations are neg¬ 
lected, and the chief art appears to consist in the compi¬ 
lation of short metrical sentences, agreeing in accent and 
cadence at the conclusion of each, or at the end of a cer¬ 
tain number of sentences. Rude as their native poetry is, 
they are passionately fond of it. When they first began 
to learn to read and spell, it was impossible for them to 
repeat acolumn of spelling, or recite a lesson, without chant¬ 
ing or singing it. They had one tune for the monosyllables, 
another for the dissyllables, &c. and w r e have heard three 
or four members of a family sitting for an hour together in 
an evening, and reciting their school lessons in perfect 
concord. Most of the traditions of remarkable events in 
their history are preserved in songs committed to memory, 
by persons attached to the king or chiefs; or strolling 
musicians, who travel through the islands, and recite them 
on occasions of public festivity. The late king had one of 
these bards attached from infancy to his household, who, 
like some of the ancient bards, was blind, and who, when 
required, would recite a hura (song) on any particular event 
relating to the family of his sovereign. The office was here¬ 
ditary ; the songs are transmitted from father to son; and 
whatever defects might attach to their performances, con¬ 
sidered as works of art, they were not wanting in effect; 
being highly figurative, and delivered in strains of plain¬ 
tive sadness, or wild enthusiasm, they produced great 
excitement of feeling. Sometimes their interest was local, 
and respected some particular family, but the most popular 
were the national songs. When I first visited the Sand¬ 
wich Islands, one on the defeat of Kekuaokalani, the rival 
of Rihoriho, who was slain in the battle of Tuamoo, was in 
the mouth of almost every native we met; another, nearly 
as popular, was a panegyric on the late king, composed 
on his accession to the government; and soon after his 
departure for England, several bards were employed in 
celebrating that event. In my voyage from Hawaii, three 
or four females, fellow-passengers, were thus employed 
during the greater part of the passage, which afforded me 
an opportunity of observing the process. They first agreed 
on two or three ideas, arranged them in a kind of metrical 
