corresponding words at Tahiti and Hawaii, expresses God in
general; that of waidona, spirits, especially those of the dead.
The atouas are immaterial, intelligent beings, and are never
represented by idols. The principal atouas are Maui-Ranga-
Rangui, supreme God of the heavens: Tipoko, god Jof anger
and of death : Tanwaki,-ruler of the Clements and of thunder:
Maui-MouU, and Maui-Potiki, two brothers who worked
together in making the earth : Ileko-Toro, god of tears, &c.
Besides these, a crowd of other gods have particular attributes.
The atouas, though immaterial and immortal, can put
on a particular form, and sometimes in the shape of a lizard
enter the bowels and gnaw them; lizards are consequently
held in religious dread : sometimes in the shape of an immense
fish the atoua produces thunder, and after the bolt has. fallen
he is addressed in prayers. The religion of the Maorians,. as
that of other Polynesians, is a religion of terror,; and^ the
malevolent gods are rather invoked than the more indifferent
and peaceable ones.#
Section V.— The Hawaiian Islanders.
The groupie of islands termed formerly Sandwich Islands,
and now generally named from the principal island of the
cluster Hawaii or O whyhee, are situated in th e : northern
hemisphere within the tropic of Gancer, hetweenl80 5Qiund
22° 20 W. L, about one-third part of the'breadth of the
Pacific from the American coast. They are larger than the
Tahitian Islands or any of the neighbouring groupes. Though
teD in number, only eight of them are inhabited, the Other
two being barren rocks chiefly frequented by fishermen.
Hawaii, the principal island of the groupe, resembles in
shape an equilateral triangle, and is somewhat less than 300
miles in circumference.t It is supposed to contain 86^000
inhabitants. Thé whole appearance of Hawaii is less picturesque
than that of Tahiti, but more grand and sublime,
“ filling the beholder with wonder and delight.” “ On ap*
Dumont D’Urville, oeuv. cit. t Ellis, Polynesian Researches.
proaching these islands,”; *says Mr. Ellis,. “ I have more than
once observed the mountains of , the interior long before the
coast was visible, or.,any of the usual indications of land had
been seen. On these , occasions the elevated summit of
Mouna Kea, or Molina Roa, has appeared above the mass of
clouds that usually skirt the .horizon, like a stately pyramid,
or the silvered: dome • qf > a |magnificent; temple, distinguished
from the islands beneath; only; by its well-defined outline,
unchanging, position; and iptonsity of brilliancy occasioned
‘fey the Reflection o ffh e sun’s rays from the surface of, the
snow.” #
The height of these mountains has . been variously computed
: the altitude of Mouna Kea andfMonia Roa is supposed
by Mr. Ellis to be rmt;less; thau{i 15^900» fee to .their
summits are covered by . perpetual suow^to
j i Separated by a strait from Hawaii» jsi vtihel isjafid.* of Maui.
The other islands lie to the north-west?;; they are named
Tahaurawe, Morokini, Ranai, Morokai, Oahu, Thua^l^ihau,
and Taura. The population of Maui is estimated at lo,000>
and that of Oahu at 20,000 souls. The whole groupe was
supposed ,at its first discovery'to contain, 400,000 people.
Mr. Ellis says that this was probably beyond the real number.;
a t present the population does.not exceedl30j000 or
150,000»;.-
The people of Hawaii, one of the i great branches. of? the
Polynesian race, resemble theTahitiansim very many respects.
As in Tahiti, there is among them a lordly caste, superior in
stature, bodily vigour, and culture to thfe lower orders.
Many of the chiefs are six feet in height and of proportionate
bulk. The dames of quality are said »to I be of colossal bulk
and of great muscular strength as well as obesity. The males
have little beard, and take pains tO-get rid of what they have,
w The government was absolute? all offices j including the
priesthood, were hereditary. There are threeclasses among
the people:—1. the Ariis or chieftains, of \vhom the king is
the principal, under the name of Arii-tabou: 2» the Rana-
Kiras, including proprietors of land, inferior chiefs, priests,
* Ellis, Polynesian Researches.