■792- caulking1, to take on board fuch yams and other vegetables as we might
i— i be able to procure.
On our arrival at Onehow, we anchored in 14 fathom water off the
fouth part of the illand, about ^ of a mile from the Ihore; its fouth eaft
point bearing by compafs s. 77 e . its weft point n . 48 w . and the illand
o f Tahoora s. 58 w , Finding the bottom here foft, Tandy, regular, and
good, I was induced to prefer this anchorage to a fituation I had been
in, further to the n . n . w . as the furf broke with great violence on the
n . w . fide of the illand, though here we rode very fmoothly. Nomaieehctee
wilhed we had proceeded further weft; faying, the natives would have a
great way to bring us their yams and other produriions. The ftation we
had taken was not however attended with any fuch inconvenience; as,
Friaiy 16. by friday in the afternoon, we had purchafed a very ample fupply: and
the Chatham’s deck being now finilhed, about fix in the evening we
proceeded together towards the coaft of America.
On our departure, the two Englilhmen with our other friends took
their leave, who, for the good fervices they had rendered us, received
acknowledgments far beyond their moft fanguine expectations.
The fupply o f refrelhments which the Sandwich idands on this occa-
fion had afforded us, was undeniably a very fcanty one. This, however,
I did not folely attribute to fcarcity, as I had frequently great reafon to
believe an abundant ftock might have been procured, had we been inclined
to have purchafed them with arms and ammunition ; with which,
through the unpardonable conduit of the various traders who have vifited
thefe iflands, the inhabitants have become very familiar, and ufe thefe weapons
with an adroitnefs that would not difgrace the generality of European
foldiers. Their great avidity for procuring thefe deftruclive engines
may poflibly have been increafed by the fucceffes of Tianna, who,
it Ihould feem, is principally indebted for his prefent exaltation, to the
fire arms he imported from China, and thofe he has fince procured from
the different traders. , His example has produced in every chief of con-
fequence an inordinate thirft for power; and a fpirit of enterprize and
ambition feems generally diffufed amongft them. I f reliance is to be
placed on the information which I received, the flame o f thefe unwarrantable
raiitable defires has been raffed by the practice o f every fpecies of artifice wj&k
and addrefs in their European and American vifitors; who have thereby ' „ *
enhanced the value: of fuch deftrufitive articles of commerce. For thefe
alone the natives now feem inclined to exchange the valuable refrelhments,
with which there can be little doubt thefe iflands ftill abound.
The evil of this trade will be materially felt by veffels that may have
occafion to refort to this country, unequipped with military ftores for
the inhuman purpofe of barter with thefe people; and it is much to be
apprehended'the mifchiefwill extend confiderably further, as we have
been: acquainted, by the late adventurers in the fur triide, that thefe
illanders have tried various fchemes to deftroy the crews, and to gain
poffeflion of fome of the trading veffels, in which they fucceeded too well
with Mr. Medcalf’s fchoonerat Owhyhee. Thefe ambitious defignshowever,
had been rendered in moft inftances ineffectual, by the fuperiority
alone which the traders poffeffed in fire-arms; and yet, neither the conviction
o f their own fecurity being wholly dependant on thefe powerful means
of defence, nor the common principles of humanity, feem to have had
fufficient influence to reftrain a traffic, encouraged by avaricious'pur-
fuits m defiance of all moral obligation. _
The alteration which has taken place in the feveral governments ot
thefe iflands fince their firft difeovery by Captain Cook, has arifen from
inceffant war, inftigated both at home and abroad by ambitious and en-
terprizingchieftans ; which the commerce for European arms and ammunition
cannot fail of encouraging to the moft deplorable extent.
I f we may be allowed to decide by comparing the numerous throngs’
that appeared on the firft vifits of the Refolution and Difeovery, and
which were then eonftantly attendant on all our motions, with the very
few we have feen on the prefent occafion, the mortality muft have befen
very eonfiderable. It may however be objeaed, that the novelty of M K
vifitors having, at this time, greatly abated, is fufficient to account for the
apparent depopulation. Butwhen it is confidered, how effential our different
implements and manufaftures are now become to their common
.comforts, that reafon will not apply; as every individual is eager tb
B b a WHg