The Polynesian., 1841-05-01


very many were the deadly kapus connected
with the persons and property of the chiefs.
l have seen many of them. In the day time
these kapus were peculiarly rigid; they were
less so in the night, because the eyes of the
common people could not then look upon
them. When was about to take hold of
any thing belonging to the king, his kappa,
his spit-box, or his kahili, ] prepared first
my own person, by throwing off every thing
except the malo; could wear no kappa what
ever; it was strictly forbidden; then took
hold. dare not attend to any concern of
my own while waiting on the king. When
travelling, | must not walk straight behind
his back, this was kapu; neither dare ap-
proach his shadow in the forenoon or after
noon, not even the shadow of the house in
which he lived. No common man could ap-
proach that place with their kapas on. If
any thing was carried to or from the chief
the carrier cried aloud to all, to fall pros
trate, W ,lch all did, throwing off their kapas
and whatever they were carrying. Ifthey
had something they could not get rid Of at
once, the only way was to fall PROSTATE. 1t
would have been death to have stood up
So you see, our chiefs used to be gods.
| Numerous indeed were the oppressive
laws and customs of those times. They
were hard times, dangerous times; but we
then thought these things were all right.
/ Alas for us, how dark hearted we were -
| Chiefs who rcigned before the days of Kane
hameha |. were despised, because they kill
ed their people without foundation, as have
heard. But the reign Of kamehameha was
greatly admired, because, unlike former
chiefs, he protected and favored the common
people, even children, old women and old
men He placed strong kapus upon the
agriculture and fishing of the common peo-
ple His acts were really good; he was a
man of deep and strong consideration, but
some of his laws were very bad. If any one
should say that his course was excellent and
exceled the regulations of the present time,
| cannot think he is correct We have ma
ny improvements at the present day. For
merly we had no books, no writing, no Bible,
no Just laws, nor good ministers, nor Sab
baths, nor churches, nor teachers, nor
schools. We had no proper trials of often
ders, nor suitable punishments. We had no
such thing that saw as wisdom. We knew
not the true God; we were without God
without a Rcdeemer, without Sacrament.
1t is my opinion if Kamehameha was now
alive he would be Christian, and he would
confess his sins against the true God. Like
myself whose dark mind was fixed that our
gods were real, and our kapus good, but the
Holy Scriptures have shown me my own
heart, and have seen the things both great
and small which God hath wrought in days
of old see the difference between good
and evil. My mind is therefore satisfied
with the righteousness of God, and | will
bless him all the days of my lie, and strive
to do those things which are for the good of
men, according to his will. see great rca-
son to bless God for his love to us and our
nation He has taken away our false gods,
and our distressing kapus. This was once
land of war; we were fighting people,
but we are all at peace now; we have also
now many good laws; the burdens of the
moor are made lighter; old people are not