throw of idolatry. Now, when the new and holy faith was made known to him, he received and cherished it, and it grew up within his heart, as a tree bearing fruit a thousandfold. The old warrior saw, in his advanced age, only a reason for not losing a day in learning all he could. "I am growing old," he said; "my eyes are dim-I may soon be blind. I must learn in haste, or never know the right way. Come, therefore, to my house, and teach me, for soon my eyes will see no more."

Yet for two years was this aged and earnest disciple kept on probation ere he was admitted to the full communion of the Church. The missionaries were so very much afraid of backsliding on the part of the converts, that their baptism was often delayed for what would seem to us unreasonable periods, of four or five years.

During the short interval of life that remained, "the Iron Cable" threw his whole influence and energy into establishing the government on a Christian footing, bringing up the young king in a right way, and endeavouring to counteract the mischief done by foreigners. In the year 1827 he died, and though all heathen customs were vetoed at his funeral, his stone house, which was the best built in the isles, was dismantled, in accordance with an old superstition. customary, on the death of a high chief, to destroy

It was

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much of his property, lest any survivor should enjoy it. Hence loads of rich satins, velvets, and broadcloth, purchased in exchange for cargoes of sandal-wood, were sometimes carried to the shore, cut into shreds, and cast into the sea.

Here, as in Tahiti, cast-off clothes were sunk in the deep sea to prevent their falling into the hands of sorcerers, who, if they could gain possession of anything that had actually touched a person, were then able to "pray him to death." One of the last heathen sacrifices was offered on Hawaii by the young Princess Kinau, at the instigation of Wahinepio, the sister of "the Iron Cable," for this reason:

A bundle of her cast-off clothes had been thus sunk in the sea, but it was suspected that one garment had been abstracted by a sorcerer, and there was no knowing what mischief might ensue. So, just to avert possible evil, these ladies determined to make the accustomed heathen offering. But as the village of Lahaina, in which they then were, was a strong centre of Christian work, they supposed the influence of the new faith might annul the efficiency of their sacrifice, so they went secretly to a quiet village eight miles off, where they supposed the old gods might still rule.

Among the most earnest of the converts was Kapiolani, a high chiefess of Kaavaroa, a large

district in southern Hawaii. Becoming thoroughly
convinced of the truth of Christianity, she com-
menced by reforming her own life according to its
tenets, and did her utmost to promote it among
her people.
First she abjured somewhat intem-
perate habits, and became strictly sober; then she
dismissed all her husbands except Naihé, who
agreed to do all in his power to help her in sup-
pressing all manner of crime, and to awaken the
people to an interest in the new faith.

But their task was one of peculiar difficulty. Since the days of Captain Cook, the district had rarely been visited by foreigners; so there had been nothing to shake the reverent awe with which the people continued to worship the dread gods of the great volcano, whose priests and priestesses continued to offer daily sacrifices.

Sometimes these prophets of the volcano-gods went on pilgrimage to other isles, preaching to the people that they should repent of their apostasy, and return to the gods of their ancestors, lest Pélé should overwhelm the isles in her wrath. Many heard these messages with trembling, but generally some one present was able to turn the tide of feeling. For instance, in 1824, the people of Maui were greatly moved by the arrival of a priestess of Pélé—a woman of great stature and haughty bearing, with long black dishevelled hair floating

on her shoulders, and a fierce forbidding countenance. She carried in her hand the spear and feather kahilis of the goddess. A great multitude followed her, expecting to behold some terrible display of power.

But when she reached the presence of Hoapiliwahine (i.e., the wife of Hoapili), sister to the great Queen Kaahumanu, and heard her strong convincing words, the poor priestess confessed that she had herself been deceiving and deceived. Then, when the Christians present joined in prayer to Jehovah, the priestess threw her kahilis (symbols of her office) into the fire, and all the people shouted, "Strong is the pala pala!”

But on Hawaii, where the power of the great active volcano is an ever-present reality, nothing had as yet occurred to shake the deep-seated superstition of the people. It was true that, in 1823, the Rev. W. Ellis and his companions had visited the crater, and had eaten the ohelo berries sacred to Pélé, without first casting a cluster over the precipice as an offering to the goddess, and had otherwise infringed tabu; and yet, no judgment had overtaken them. But then, they were foreigners, and the impunity of their impious conduct had little weight.

So, two years later, Kapiolani determined that she would in person brave whatever danger there

might be in defying the fire-gods. Her husband, Naihé, who as yet was only half convinced, entreated her to abstain from this rash deed. All her friends and followers added their petition that she would give up an act of such impious folly. She replied that now all tabus alike were done away-that Hawaiians as well as foreigners were all in the safe keeping of the One Great God, and that no power of earth or of hell could harm His servants. So, when they found that she would not be dissuaded, eighty persons determined to bear her company.

She resolved to visit Hilo, where a missionstation had just been commenced; and knowing well how she would strengthen the hands of the teachers, could she in anywise shake the belief of the people in the power of the fire-gods, she resolved to take the mountain-track right across the isle—a distance of upwards of a hundred miles— crossing rugged lava - beds, and involving great fatigue. It was a toilsome pilgrimage, and one which could only be made on foot-for as yet the present passion for riding had not been developed.

From far and near the people assembled in crowds, to implore their beloved chiefess to turn back, and not be so mad as to defy Pélé; but strong in her faith in the protecting power of the God whom she now worshipped, she walked calmly on, encouraging her trembling followers by her brave,