But one of the chief anxieties was the training of girls, so as to raise them, if possible, above the very low standard of morality which seems rooted in the nature of the people. To this end a boardingschool for native girls was opened at Hilo by Mrs Coan, who, with her hushand, the Rev. Titus Coan, had arrived in 1835.

As soon as the idea was suggested to the people, they cheerfully agreed to provide food and lodging for twenty girls. Right willingly they worked. Timber was brought from the mountain, grass for thatching from the shore; the men built the house ; the women contributed pieces of bark-cloth, mats, bowls, and other useful things. They divided the country round into five districts, each of which undertook in rotation to supply food for the scholars; and every Wednesday, when the people assembled for their weekly meeting, the people of one district brought their offering. One brought a single fish, another a sweet potato, a third a yam or a taro, or a piece of sugar-cane. And so a pile was raised which amply provided for the simple fare of the twenty girls.

Mrs Coan was assisted in her labour of love by two carefully trained native women; and soon the school became the ideal home of a company of contented, bright-faced little maidens, docile, industrious, and affectionate. Those who in their

own homes had learnt little that was edifying, were now taught to read and write, to sew and braid, to count and to sing, and their lessons were made a pleasure.

Geography, and wonders of far lands, and of natural history, were also taught; and in time of recreation the girls had charge of a delightful garden, through which flowed a pleasant streamlet, affording a cool bathing-place. The children weeded the flower-beds (each girl having charge of one portion), and all kept the gravelled paths neat ; while, for their playground, they had a shrubbery of beautiful flowering-plants and fruit-trees-mimosa, mulberry, mango, guava, tamarind, fig, lemon, coffee. No wonder those school-girls loved their happy home at Hilo.

About the same time another school, on a larger scale, was opened at Wailuku, on the island of Maui, where American ladies devoted themselves to instructing fifty girls and women in the arts of sewing, carding, spinning, knitting, and weaving the cotton grown on the isles, and such domestic arts as might tend to home happiness. Those who visited that large family of bright happy girls spoke with amazement of the good that had already been effected, and the love they seemed to bear to one another, and to their teachers.

The school was afterwards enlarged, and only

the want of funds prevented the opening of similar schools in other parts of the isles.

Nor was the industrial education of the men neglected. Although certain white settlers objected to instruct the natives, "lest they should know too much," and even formed a sort of trades-union to prevent their acquiring civilised arts, some of the mission - helpers were able to teach them useful trades, and so enabled them to become creditable workmen in various branches, as carpenters, masons, blacksmiths, tailors, shoemakers, printers, and bookbinders. Altogether, the progress made was satisfactory, notwithstanding all drawbacks.

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CHAPTER XIX.

THE GREAT AWAKENING.

1

ONE of the most remarkable eras in the story of Hawaii occurred between the years 1837 and 1843. It is known, in the story of the Mission, as "the great awakening," and was, in fact, a very wonderful wave of religious influence which swept over the whole land, so that from every corner of the group came accounts of what we should call great revival-meetings.

It was like an electric thrill affecting all the isles, especially Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii. On the latter, the resident clergy had been absent visiting the distant schools. Their canoe was wrecked, and they had just managed to swim ashore, when a message was brought to them from the missionhouse at Kaawaloa, bidding them return at once, for "strange things were happening-the natives were coming in companies, asking what they should do to be saved."

They returned to find that from morning till night, and almost from night till morning, the house was besieged by crowds, who patiently waited their turn to have a personal talk with the men who could teach them the right way. For weeks and months this continued, and the missionaries could scarcely secure time for needful sleep and food. Many who lived at distances of fifty and sixty miles came regularly to attend the Sunday services, devoting the whole of Saturday and Monday to travelling to and fro.

At that one station the names of upwards of two thousand persons were noted as anxious inquirers after the truth, and there was good reason to believe that many were thoroughly in earnest. But all were kept in training-classes for at least a year, and then were only admitted to baptism after the most strict examination.

In 1838, news was received simultaneously from all parts of the isles that the interest awakened was such that the people seemed to think of nothing else. Those who hitherto had been the most dull and stupid, and those who had not a thought beyond the lowest pleasures, were now roused to selfexamination and prayer. Their favourite sins were forsaken. Those who had hitherto turned a deaf ear to every lesson of holiness, now came, as meek penitents, resolved to begin a new life; and their