The Hawaiians had but a confused notion of a future state of exist-
ence. They believed only in the survival of the ghostly self of their
kings, chiefs and other men of rank and distinction. Some supposed
that the spirit of life descended to the regions of night, where it was
eaten by the gods, and being thus absorbed its individual existence
was annihilated. Others believed that the departed spirits went to
the subterranean realms of Akea and Miru called Kapapa hanaumaku
or " the island-bearing rock," which was the abode of the first kings
that once ruled over the islands, and here founded a new subter-
ranean kingdom. Their land was the region of darkness ; lizards and
butterflies were their food ; springs of water furnished them a refresh-
ing drink to quench their thirst ; and the hahiri and kou trees, with



244 OCEANO-MELANESIANS.
their far-spreading branches, afforded them a delightful shelter under
which they reclined. At times they wandered up and down the
earth to predict future events, or to frighten those who ventured to
walk out at night. Occasionally Miru was induced, by the prayer of
widowers, to send their deceased wives back among the living. Some-
times at the arrival of a recently liberated spirit Miru would inquire
what the chiefs were doing, and what pursuits the people followed
in the ao maramo or upper regions of light ; and after his curiosity
was satisfied, he sent back the ghostly messenger to summon them all
to descend to the regions of night, and the wandering ghost having
appeared to the priest in a dream, delivered his message and then
returned to the nether world.
