oked at things from a physical plane--a
safe ground to stand upon--albeit he had glimpses at times
far into the depths of ether. When he talked about spirit, he
still had in mind a form of matter. A god was to him but an
amplified human being.

It is not the purpose to attempt a scientific classification
of gesture as displayed in the halau. The most that can be
done will be to give a few familiar generic illustrations
which are typical and representative of a large class.

The _pali_, the precipice, stands for any difficulty or
obstacle of magnitude. The Hawaiian represents this in his
dramatic, pictorial manner with the hand vertically posed on
the outstretched arm, the palm of the hand looking away. If
it is desired to represent this wall of obstacle as being
surmounted, the hand is pushed forward, and at the same time
somewhat inclined, perhaps, from its rigid perpendicularity,
the action being accompanied by a series of slight lifting or
waving movements as of climbing.

Another way of dramatically picturing this same concept, that
of the pali as a wall of obstacle, is by holding the forearm
and hand vertically posed with the palmar aspect facing the
speaker. This method of expression, while perhaps bolder and
more graphic than that before mentioned, seems more purely
oratorical and less graceful, less subtly pictorial and
elegant than the one previously described, and therefore less
adapted to the hula. For it must be borne in mind that the
hula demanded the subordination of strength to grace and
elegance. We may at the same time be sure that the halau
showed individuality in its choice of methods, that it varied
its technique and manner of expression at different times and
places, according to the different conception of one or
another kumu.
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Progression, as in walking or traveling, is represented by
means of a forward undulatory movement of the outstretched
arm and hand, palm downward, in a horizontal plane. This
gesture is rhythmic and beautifully pictorial. If the other
hand also is made a partner in the gest