The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1856-12-25

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
anything belonging to the king, his kappa, his spit
box, or his kahili, prepared first my person,
by throwing off everything except the malO could
wear no kappa whatever it was strictly forbidden :;
then took hold. dared not attend to any concern
of my own while waiting on the king. When travel
ling, must not walk straight behind his back, this
was kapu; neither daredI approach his shadow III the
forenoon or afternoon, not even the shadow OF the
house in which he lived. No common could ap-
proach that place with their kapas IF any thing
was carried to from the chief the carrier cried
aloud to ALL to fall PROSTATE, which all did, throw
ing off their kapas and whatever they carrying.
Ii they had something they could not get rid OF at
once, the only way 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, dan
gerous times but then though these things were
all right Alas for us, how dark-hearted we we're
Chiefs who reigned before the days of Kamehameha
l. were despised, because they killed their people
without cause, as I 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 people. His acts 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 excellent and excelled the
regulations of the present time, cannot think he is
day. Formerly We had no books, no writing, no
Bible, no just laws, good ministers, Sabbaths
nor churches, nor teachers, schools We had no
proper trials of offenders, suitable punishments
We had no such thing that saw as wisdom. We
knew not the true God we without God, with
out Redeemer, without q Sacrament.
1t is my opinion if Kamehameha now alive he
would be Christian, and he would confess his sins
against the true God Like myself whose dark mind
WAS fixed that gods real, and our kapus
good, but the Holy Scriptures have shown me my own
heart, and L have the things both great and
small which God hath wrought in days of old I 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 lfe and strive to
do those things which for the good of men,
ding to his will. great to bless God for
his love to and nation. He has taken away
our false gods, and our distressing kapus This was
once land of war; were fighting people, but we
are all at peace now f; we have also many good
laws the burdens of the poor made lighter; old
people not taxed, nor do they go to chiefs work
Husbands and wives live together they do in
! lightened lands chiefs longer gods TO
destroy u.s. Therefore owing to the firm persuasion
of my own mind, 1 exhort all who are here present
to-day, to read the Holy Scriptures, and call to mind
the happy changes that have taken place, well
all the blessings which have been gracousy conferred
upon from time to time, we have received many
during the year at a close. Have not been
too incOnsiderate of mercies? That is not the
way to be happy. IF have received blessings,
we should return blessings. If have been loved,
we should love in return. If God continues to favor
u.s. this is better than all other things We shall
then prosper. Let give heed to his word and walk
in his ways