into the burning torrents of lava that flowed from it, to stop its progress and appease the gods.

The dominion of Pele was thought to extend a considerable distance around Kilauea; and all herbs or fruits found within her precincts were held sacred, the natives fearing to appropriate the smallest portion of them to their own use, until they had first secured the favour of the goddess, by presenting her a part of whatever they had gathered. The guides who accompanied the missionaries to the crater in 1823, were alarmed at seeing them eat the berries of the ohelo, which grew on forbidden ground, and besought them to refrain, until the permission of Pele had been obtained; and it was matter of astonishment Eo the natives, when they learned that the missionaries had returned unharmed from the crater, after having eaten of the berries, and rought away pieces of sulphur from about he sides of it.

In the vicinity of the large crater were nunerous smaller ones, almost equally feared by e natives, as they supposed the gods had ower to proceed from one of these habitaons to another, by subterraneous passages, order to chastise offenders, although somehat removed from their immediate neighDurhood.

Such was the slavish fear in which the

their ideas respecting the causes o death, and all other calamities; th of presenting gifts on the altars of s is not therefore surprising. But w them offering human sacrifices, w and almost fear that minds thus en beyond the reach of emancipation extent to which this horrible pr formerly carried, you may best jud ing a few facts. On the death of a two, or more lives were sacrificed ber varying according to the rank ceased; and all persons guilty of a h against government, were liable to to idols.

When Captain Cook visited the multitude of the skulls of person been offered to the gods, were se about the walls of the Heiau; he a burial place of a chief, where, the accompanied him said, pointing t of the ground, there lie the Kana hine-tabu; meaning the man and had been sacrificed in conseque death of the chief. On the death o the former king, ten unhappy b slain. Umi, an ancient king, was ing a sacrifice, at Waipio, when I god, in a voice from the clouds, more victims. The king continued as his god called for more, until h all his men, excepting a particu

whom he refused to give up. The demon becoming more urgent, the king at length yielded; and himself and the priest were all that remained, after having slaughtered more than eighty men, in answer to the supposed call of an implacable spirit.

In the summer of 1824, our missionaries visited a temple at Diamond Hill, where they found fragments of human bones, and were told that about the year 1804, Keopuolani being dangerously sick, in the neighbourhood of the temple, ten men were sacrificed, in order to pacify the offended demon, who was supposed to have caused her sickness. Keopuoani recovered; not because these sacrifices softened the heart of the demon, but because an overruling providence had resolved, that efore her death she should see a missionary, nd embrace the gospel.

Human sacrifices were also offered to the od of war, before going out to battle, that he night show himself propitious in the contest. On these occasions the king obtained victims

the following manner:-He sent to the hief of each district as many small stones as mounted to the number of men to be furnish

by that district. The intended victims ere ignorant of their destiny. The chiefs

mmissioned corte:

til they submitted or died, bore to the altar, where the bloody rites formed.

I will remark, in concluding wh say on this subject, that for some rebels against the government hav sacrificed to the gods, but punish other way. Mr. Stewart mentions stance of this, a young chief, wh taken captive during a rebellion, been bound with cords, was put pilot boat, proceeding from one is other. Mr. Bingham, who was in vessel, saw him during the eveni against the side of the boat; and o for him the next morning, the cap intimated, that in the dead of th had been cast, with his hands bou

Shocking as is the picture whic contains of the idolatrous and bar toms of the people of the Sandwic can safely affirm that it falls far sh ity, if we look back but a few yea ant changes, however, have alr place. The natives have, as a away their idols; and though still bears extensive sway, there hope that its terrors are rapidly va neath the mild influences of the g Prince of Peace.-Yours,

MY DEAR L.-Next to the heavy yoke of superstition borne by these islanders, the tabu system has fallen with the greatest weight of oppression on their minds and persons. This was indeed one of the most dreadful engines of tyranny ever invented by man; and it was equally so, whether regarded as a political or religious instrument, or as operating on the feelings, opinions, or conduct of the people.

The word tabu is so extensive in its meaning and applications, that it is difficult to define it with accuracy. Every thing made sacred, or consecrated to the gods, was tabu. The persons of kings, chiefs, and priests, were tabu, as were animals, fruits, and other articles reserved for sacrifice. Days, weeks, or months, appropriated to religious observances, were also considered as tabu, or sacred; and on some occasions, the strictness of the tabu was such, that those who left their houses were punished with death. Every fire must be extinguished, and all noise prevented, even to the barking of a dog, or the crowing of a cock, and profound silence reigned, as far as the tabu or prohibition extended. There were also certain days when fishing was forbidden, and canoes were not allowed to leave the shore, or the natives to indulge in their sports unan the water. These restrictions extended