They never visit a whaler except on a Sunday,
and then it is to beg for the benefit of
their society. It cannot, therefore, be expected
that much sympathy can exist between
parties, where the cold formality of one excites
the contempt and disgust of the other.
The ship « Anne,” of which I have formerly
spoken, arrived here lately from Wa-
hoo, one of the Sandwich Islands, which
possesses the advantage of a British consul.
The pacific disposition and orderly government
of the natives do not require a British
garrison, or any warlike force; and of the
excellent effects produced by this representation
of our government Captain Gray speaks
with admiration and enthusiasm. The harbours
were crowded with shipping ; houses,
nay, even streets, were beginning to appear ;
the savage character of the people was gradually
subsiding into industrious and peaceful
occupations; and comfort and prosperity were
spreading their benign influence over the
whole island: yet Wahoo is not nearly so
well situated as a rendezvous for South Sea
whalers as New Zealand ; at least so I have
been informed by all the captains of those
ships who have conversed with me on the
subject.
It is rather a remarkable and novel circumstance
that the natives, who have been
now for fourteen or fifteen years in close
intercourse and carrying on traffic with Europeans,
should not, in the course of that
period, understand the nature and value of
money; a laughable instance of which occurred
to us a few days since. A native
came to our house with a serious countenance
and business-like manner, and said he wished
to purchase a musket: we asked to see what he
had brought in exchange for one; when, with
great ceremony, he produced a copper penny
piece in the way of payment. We, of course,
refrained from laughter; but he was quite
astonished and mortified when he was made
to understand we could not trade with him.
He took a stroll round the beach, offering his
penny, by way of barter, to every white man
he met, but every where with equally bad
success. The poor fellow had, doubtless, seen
some one pass a doubloon, and had mistaken