The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-10-28

"July ID. We returned early to
Whyarouah, and found our friend
Coke half stupefied from the effect
of the previous nights debauch.
Being DESTROYS of walking to that
part of the country where the san
daI wood is cut, and inspecting
some ancient monuments, of which
a curious Evolutionary history had
been related to me, obtained
guide to shew me the way, and
started this day in the company of
an American fellow-passenger.
"A walk of three miles on the
plain brought us to deep ravine,
overhung by rocky precipices, with
plantations of tarrow and groves of
the breadfruit tree below, and wa
tered by small mountain torrents.
Beyond this ravine the plain con-
tinued for several miles without
trees or cultivation, covered only
by high grass, to which in many
places the natives had set fire. At
length, after walking about twelve
miles, sudden turn opened to our
view three spacious valleys, each
assuming the form of vast natural
amphitheatre, begirt with woods
and gigantic masses of stone from
the summit downwards, where we
deserted the smoke of an Indian
hut, rising at no great distance, and
there determined to take up our
abode for the night.
July IA. This morning we again
started at daybreak, and having
walked three or four miles farther,
over the Same uncultivated, unin-
habited plain, the country all at
once changed its aspect, and pre-
sented bold outline of hills with
alternate and thickly.wooded val
legs. Here our guide pointed out
to us the monument of ancient
times which had been described by
Coke and his American friend as
we'll worthy to be seen, both on its
own account and from it's c0nnec'
ton with the Evolutionary history
of the country.
& had expected to find a monu
ment of great magnitude, instead o
which l saw nothing but a fla
stone, resembling an English tomb
stone, about five feet broad by si2
or seven in length. The surface
was very smooth, and upon it
discovered many rude representa-
tions of men and animals, similar t.
those which have from time to tim
been met with and described among
the Indians of America. Man.
were defaced, and in others l coul
trace no resemblance to any know
objects, either animate CT inan
mate. The stone itself was yer.
imperfect, pieces of it having ev
IDENTIFY been broken off on ditferen
sides, which 1 learned from tn
guide had been done by the neigh
boring inhabitants in order to col
vert the material into knives
mirrors, pots and other domesti
utensils, which were always fab1
Gated from stone in former time
previous to the introduction of iro
by foreign traders.
{" The tradition, as related to N
by Coke, is briefly this: Many hul
dred moons ago, a race of peopl
. more warlike and savage in the
habits of life than the other lnhat
tants, occupied this part of tt
island. One chief, Heremino
name, who exercised supreme a
thority over them, was celebrate
far and wide for outrage al
cruelty, and under him they mig
be said to live entirely by war al
pillage. But that which most di
tinguished them, and spread terri
among their more peaceful nelg
bors was their avowcd cannibalisl
the prisoners whom they took
war being always butchered
satisfy the cravings Of this u
natural appetite, -.
"The habItation of the said chi
was situated on the very spot sin
called after him, Heremino, whe
now stood, and the stone in que
ton served as an altar up
which the unfortunate human V
TINS were sacrificed. Near it
large round hole, about TWEEN
feet in circumference, and ST
clearly discernible, was pointed c
as the place where the kanakas,
men, were cooked and devoured
the chief and his adherents. I
marked expression of horror
the countenance of my guide b.
witness to his unbelief of this sto
X as by dint of signs and the rep
ton of q few words that | und