night, and disturbed the whole town of Honolulu. It brought back to my mind the idea that I was still among savages, which the impressions I had received within the last few days had in a measure dissipated. This sound proved to be the wailing over Kamakinki, the wife of a chief of high rank. Strong suspicions being entertained of her having been poisoned by drinking ava, which her husband, Kamanawa, had prepared for her, he was apprehended, together with an accomplice, whose name was Sono. Three days after their arrest, they were put under trial before Kekuanaoa, the governor, as presiding judge, and a jury of twelve Hawaiians. On being brought to the stand they were examined against themselves, and confessed on interrogation; for the Hawaiian law permits this, and such confessions are esteemed as good testimony. They were found guilty by the jury, and Sono confessed on the trial that he had committed one other murder.

The facts in relation to the murder of the chief's wife were as follows.

The husband and wife had been for some time separated, because the chief wished to marry another woman, for whom he had formed a strong attachment. Having already one wife, this was forbidden by the law, and he in consequence determined to rid himself of her. For this purpose he applied to Sono, who was said to be well acquainted with poisons. He found Sono in the same position as himself, and they both agreed to destroy their wives. Accordingly, a seeming reconciliation was brought about, and they met at the house of a son-in-law of Kamakinki to celebrate it by drinking ava. Two bowls of the liquor were prepared, the one unadulterated, the other mixed with poison composed of Tephrosia piscatoria, Daphne indica, and the leaves of a common gourd (Lagenaria). From the first of these the company drank, but when Kamakinki called for her share, which was handed to her by Kamanawa her husband, she, after taking a few mouthfuls, complained of its bitterness. On asking if the other cups had tasted so, and being answered in the negative, she at once accused her husband of having poisoned her.

The proof would have been ample without the confession of the guilty parties, for a post-mortem examination had taken place, which proved conclusively that the death had been the result of poison. The parties, however, both made a full and corresponding confession. It was stated by Kamanawa, the husband, that Sono, on receiving his application, at once said that he had a drug that would destroy life. On his expressing some doubts, Sono told him that he had already proved it in three cases. When Kamanawa drugged the ava, he had doubts whether it would prove effective, but was glad to find it so.

The prisoners were allowed counsel, and the whole proceedings were conducted in a becoming manner. The charge of the judge to the jury was clear and forcible. The king and several high chiefs were present, and as Kamanawa was a great favourite of the king, it was supposed by many that a pardon would be extended to him, this being the first case in which the sentence of the law had been passed on one of so high a rank. But there was no pardon, and the criminals were hung on the 20th of October, on the walls of the fort, the king having gone some days previously to Lahaina. The concourse of people at the execution was very large, and the prisoners were attended by the missionaries. There was none of that eager curiosity, rushing, and crowding, that is to be observed at home on an occasion of the kind, and no noise or confusion. All present were decently dressed and well behaved, but they did not seem impressed with the solemnity of the scene. It was estimated that ten thousand persons, from all parts of the island, were present. I was in hopes that the law would have been put into execution within the fort, and not on the walls, thus making it a private instead of a public execution. I had much conversation relative to this subject with the authorities, but I thought the disposition was to make it a matter of parade rather than otherwise. The criminals showed no manner of contrition for their foul crimes, but evinced a hardihood in unison with the deed for which they suffered the penalty of the law.

There are no persons to whom the old adage of "murder will out" will more justly apply, than to these natives; they cannot keep a secret, and when once a crime is perpetrated, it is not long before it becomes known to the public; they will even tell against themselves, however certain the punishment may be. In this respect, nearly all the Polynesian nations are alike. It was perhaps not to be expected that much feeling should be shown on an occasion of the kind among a half-civilized nation, who had formerly been in the habit of seeing death frequently administered by the hands of the assassin, acting by the order of the chiefs; yet I was not prepared to see so quiet and indifferent a demeanour. The son of Kamanawa, who is an extremely fat youth, and one of the best swimmers and divers in the port, spoke of the execution of his father without any apparent feeling.

The immense advance which has been made by the Hawaiians in civilization, will be best appreciated by the contrast which the foregoing constitution exhibits to the ancient usages and mode of government of this group. As, however, many points in the early history of these islands have been fully illustrated by other writers, I shall content myself with a general view of such facts as may serve for the basis

of a comparison between the past and present condition of the Hawaiians, and between their usages and customs and those of the other groups of Polynesia. On these points I have endeavoured to obtain the most correct information, and have been fortunate in receiving it from the highest and most authentic sources.

In former times there were no fixed laws of succession to the throne, and the practice in relation to it varied. It was, however, the general usage that the crown should descend, on the death of a sovereign, to one of his children, sons being preferred to daughters, and the rank of the mother being taken into consideration, as well as priority of birth. Thus Kamehameha I. had children by several wives, but his eldest son, as well as a daughter, were superseded by the children of another wife of more elevated birth. Even if a sovereign had sons by females of low origin, a daughter might succeed, if her mother were of very elevated rank.

A case of this sort had occurred two generations prior to the discovery of the island, when the throne was held by Queen Keokeolaui, who had several half-brothers, but they were of lower rank on the mother's side. There have been only two instances of the accession of females to the supreme power, Keokeolaui, and Laca, of still greater antiquity.

Exceptions sometimes were made to the regular descent, by the conceded right of the sovereign to name his successor; and, in consequence, it has sometimes been willed to a younger instead of the elder son, of the same mother, and sometimes to a member of another family. Where special reasons existed for such a course, it was generally concurred in by the chiefs. But these rules were often set aside, and personal valour decided the point. Kamehameha I. was an instance of this kind.

A chief of inferior rank stood little chance of attaining the royal dignity, however highly he might be endowed; but even the lawful heir, if a weak and pusillanimous man, was sure to be supplanted by a chief better qualified. Thus, in consequence of their being many different aspirants for the high office, the death of a king was always the signal for a civil war.

During the life of a king he generally signified his wish in relation to the descent of the crown, and often a council of chiefs was called upon the subject. If they all concurred, it put a stop to any difficulties, and the party nominated succeeded to the kingdom without disturbance.

If the king married a low woman, the right of her children to the crown was always disputed. Hence it was considered of great im

portance that the wife of the king should be of as high blood, if not higher, than any other female in the nation. For this reason, if there were several women of the same rank, the king felt it important to secure them all as his wives, in order that there might be no competition, on the ground of rank, for the kingdom after his death. On this account Kamehameha had five wives at the same time. In order to prevent the existence of competitors, it was often thought expedient for the kings to marry their own sisters, although this incestuous intercourse is, in other cases, contrary to the customs, habits, and feelings of the people. The offspring of such a union was deemed of the highest possible rank.

It is said the present king was desirous of marrying his own sister, Nahienaena, but that this was prevented by the missionaries.

The public feeling was so strong against the king's having heirs by a woman of inferior rank, that it often caused the children to be put to death in infancy by the high chiefs, in order to avoid any of them laying claim to the throne, or to a higher rank than they were willing to allow them.

Illegitimate children of the king were almost sure to be put to death in infancy, and sometimes by order of the father.

The rank of a woman was not materially altered by her marriage to the king. She acquired no authority in the government, and no special rights or privileges, but usually received a present of lands from the king, to be held during his lifetime. On his death, her right to them ceased, although they might, through courtesy, be left in her possession. It will easily be understood, that when a chief has a wife of the highest rank and purest blood, he is naturally an object of jealousy and distrust to the reigning house.

Under the new constitution the descent is regulated, as has been seen, but great latitude of choice is allowed. The king's heir shall be the person whom the king and chiefs may appoint during his lifetime. If there should be no appointment, then the chiefs and House of Representatives shall exercise it; and I found it the prevailing opinion that their former customs would have much weight in their decision.

The next heir to the throne has already been chosen, in the person of Prince Alexander, the third son of Kinau, and grandson to Kamehameha I. In this choice his two elder brothers, who are quite as intelligent, have been passed over. The king is married to the daughter of a petty chief. It was a match of affection, and they have no children; but should he have an heir, it is thought that, notwithstanding their former customs, the low rank of his wife, and the choice already made, her child would inherit.

The government, so far as one was established in past times, was mainly of a feudal character, and vested in the various ranks of landlords, the king being considered as the head. The power of each particular chief was, in most cases, supreme over his own immediate vassals or tenants, and this power was not entirely confined to his own. dependants. The chiefs having a common interest in preserving their power, showed great politeness and respect towards each other, so much so that they felt themselves at liberty to call upon the dependants of another without the fear of giving offence: this operated to the disadvantage of the people, for instead of serving but one master they were subject to several.

As a general rule, however, the authority descended in the scale of rank, rising from the lowest class of servants to tenants, agents, landholders, land-owners, petty chiefs, high chiefs, and the king, each one ruling according to his own understanding, or that of his superiors. Of course, civil rights could not be expected under such a state of things, nor were any acknowledged to exist. Some general rules seem to have had place, and when they were infringed, the offender was punished, particularly if the crime was of an aggravated nature. Murder was punished by death; and in the time of Kamehameha I. repeated instances of this crime and its punishment occurred.

Grand larceny was also a capital offence, provided the injured person had power to execute the law; the king and chiefs not unfrequently espoused the cause of the injured party, and inflicted the punishment.

Adultery was likewise often punished by death, and, in a celeorated case, Kamehameha called upon his highest chiefs to act as

executioners.

The taboo, or sacred law, restrained and regulated, in a considerable degree, the will of those in authority, although it was in other respects very oppressive to the people. A chief, who was a notorious violator of taboo, soon became unpopular, and was eventually supplanted by some other who stood in higher estimation.

As far as there was any system in their government, it was deeply interwoven with their religious taboos, and partook of law, custom, and will. The taboos that were fixed may be considered as embraced in the first; the second was founded on their superstitions; and the last on the power the chiefs had to enforce them. Thus, no kings have been thought to have governed exclusively by will and taboos; custom and the fear of other chiefs had placed many restraints on them. Among these was the influence of a certain class of men whose business it was to give instruction, and rehearse the proverbs