acred to her, that when I come back, as I know I shall do,
uninjured, my people may see their folly and turn to the true God. I
advise you in the meantime to give up your follies, and to labour
industriously for your support."

The pretended priestess and her followers appeared very indignant at
this; but when Kapoiolani offered them food they gladly partook of it,
the priestess of Pele herself joining in the feast. Kapoiolani pointed
her out to her people, remarking, "If she were a goddess she would not
require food; but see, she eats as greedily as any one."

The next morning Kapoiolani, who had long resolved to visit the volcano
Kilauea, the supposed abode of Pele, was ready to set out. She sent
word to her husband and the missionary of her intention, saying that it
was necessary to do so at once, in order to convince the people of the
imposture of the pretended priestess, and that they might understand
that Jehovah was the only true God.

With this laudable object in view, she was ready to undergo the fatigue
of the journey. She did not object to old Tom and the two boys
attending her.

"My people," she said, "believe that any strangers approaching the
crater will meet with certain destruction; your going will more easily
convince them of their folly."

Kapoiolani performed her journey on foot, as there were at that time no
horses in the island, and she objected to be carried by her people. She
was attended by a number of persons, with baskets of provisions, who
were to proceed to the foot of the mountain, while she, with a select
band, proposed mounting to the summit.

The country through which they passed was wild and savage in the
extreme. In some places they had to penetrate through thick woods, in
others over wide fields of lava.

After many days' journey the base of the mountain was reached. Resting
for the night, the next morning at daybreak Kapoiolani and her
attendants, aided by long poles, commenced the ascent. Some carried
provisions and others materials for building a hut for the accommodation
of the chieftainess.

It was past noon before the edge of the crater was reached, near which
grew the bushes bearing the supposed sacred berries. It seemed
surprising that any vegetation could be produced on such a spot.

They now stood on the edge of a vast basin upwards of seven miles in
circuit and nearly a thousand feet deep. At the bottom was a level
floor two miles in length, in the centr