"He is the last of our race," he said; "it
belongs to him." The natives in attendance turned pale at this
command, for the robe was the property of Kekauluohi, the dead
king's mother, and had descended to her from her kingly ancestors.
Averse through his life to useless parade and display, Lunalilo left
directions for a simple funeral, and that none of the old heathenish
observances should ensue upon his death. So, amidst unbounded
grief, he was carried to the grave with hymns and anthems, and the
hopes of Hawaii were buried with him.
He died without naming a successor, and thus for the second time
within fourteen months, a king came to be elected by ballot.
The proceedings at the election of Lunalilo were marked by an order,
regularity, and peaceableness which reflected extreme credit on the
civilization of the Hawaiians, but in the subsequent period the
temper of the people had considerably changed, and they had been
affected by influences to which some allusions were made in Letter
XIX.
In politics, Lunalilo's views were essentially democratic, and he
showed an almost undue deference to the will of the people, giving
them a year's practical experience of democracy which they will
never forget.
