The Hawaiian Archipelago - Six Months Among The Palm Groves, Coral Reefs, And Volcanoes Of The Sandwich Islands By Isabella L. Bird
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The Shape Is An Irregular Parallelogram, 224 Feet Long, And 100
Wide.
At each end, and on the mauka side, the walls, which are very
solid and compact, though built of
Lava stones without mortar, are
twenty feet high, and twelve feet wide at the bottom, but narrow
gradually towards the top, where they are finished with a course of
smooth stones six feet broad. On the sea side, the wall, which has
been partly thrown down, was not more than six or seven feet high,
and there were paved platforms for the accommodation of the alii, or
chiefs, and the people in their orders. The upper terrace is
spacious, and paved with flat smooth stones which were brought from
a considerable distance, the greater part of the population of the
island having been employed on the building. At the south end there
was an inner court, where the principal idol stood, surrounded by a
number of inferior deities, for the Hawaiians had "gods many, and
lords many." Here also was the anu, a lofty frame of wickerwork,
shaped like an obelisk, hollow, and five feet square at its base.
Within this, the priest, who was the oracle of the god, stood, and
of him the king used to inquire concerning war or peace, or any
affair of national importance. It appears that the tones of the
oracular voice were more distinct than the meaning of the
utterances. However, the supposed answers were generally acted
upon.
On the outside of this inner court was the lele, or altar, on which
human and other sacrifices were offered.
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