watering the crops, which were torn up by the roots ; and that all the
hogs, dogs, and fowls, that could not be carried away, were killed, or
difperfed over the country.
Such was the deplorable account he related of the diftrelfed fituation
o f Mowee, and the neighbouring iflands.. This had hitherto fo humbled
and broken the fpirit o f the people, that little exertion had been
made to reftore thefe iflands to their accuftomed fertility by cultivation ;
and they were at that time under the neceflity o f collecting provifions from
Woahoo and Attowai, for the maintenance of their numerous army on
the eaftern parts of the ifland. I exprefled my concern for the calamitous
ftate of his dominions, and took that opportunity of again pointing out
the beneficial confequenees that would refult from a peace with’ Tiz-
maahmaah \ and that nothing Ihort of this could remove or repair thofe
ferious difafters of which he fo juftly complained. And as I confidered
that the prefent he had brought me, though in itfelf fmall, might
poflibly have put him to inconvenience, I delired it might be returned;
but at the fame time I aflured the king, that his inability to afford
me a greater quantity of refrefhments, would not in the leaf! degree
influence my conduCt in promoting the welfare of himfelf and his people,
or induce me to withhold fuch articles, as would be of real utility ta
him.
In the afternoon we were vifited by Taio, who prefented me with
a feathered cloak ; and in return, amongfL other valuables, I prefented
him with one of fcarlet cloth, which in a very Ihort time he gave to his
eldefl brother and fovereign, Titeeree. CJn my aiking the reafon for fo
hafty a difpofal of it, he replied, that the old king was only taking care
of it for. Taio ; but I afterwards underftood, that it was a fort o f care
that would free Taio from any further trouble in the pofleflion.
The day was too far advanced to enter at large on the interefting
négociation I had fat on foot. I briefly pointed out to Taio the outline
of the bufinefs, and was happy to find, that the idea of a peace with
Owhyhee, feemed to afford him more pleafure and fatisfaftion, than had
been exprefled by any other chief to whom this propofal had been
communicated. After a fhort converfation, he obferved, that we had.
formerly been very-great friends when I was at Attowai with Captain
Cook
Cook and Captain Clerke, that he Hill retained a very great regard for
me, and hoped we fhould both remain in the fame fentiments towards
each other. That; as a proof of the fincerity o f his friendfhip, he had
Hill in his pofleflion a lock o f my hair, which I had given him at
that period, when at the fame time I refufed a fimilar pledge to Enemo
and feveral other chiefs, who were prefent on that occafion. This
ftory, correfponding exaCtly with what I had heard from Tianna and
Enemo the preceding year, induced me to afk where the lock of hair
was? T o this Taio replied, that it was on fhore, with fome other valuable
teftimonies of friendfhip, that conftantly attended him in his
travels or campaigns; and that he would bring it with him in the morn-
ing.
The circumftance of the hair having before been frequently mentioned
to me, had made me endeavour to recal the perfon of this former friend to
my remembrance ; and on recollection, I fufpefted that Taio muff have
been a young chief, at that time about eighteen years o f age, who had
made me feveral prefents, and who had given me many other inftances of
his friendly attention. But, to my great furprize, on his entering the’
cabin, I beheld him far advanced in years, feemingly about fifty ; and
though evidently a much younger man than Titeeree, yet nearly reduced
to the fame ftate o f debility. I f he were in reality the perfon I had confidered
him to have been,' I mull have been much miftaken with refpeCt
to his age on our former acquaintance; or the intemperature o f that
pernicious intoxicating plant the’ava, which he took in great quantities,
affifted by the toils of long and fatiguing wars, had combined to bring’
upon him a premature old age. Notwithftandiiig thefe appearances of
the decline of life, his countenance was animated with great quicknefs
and fenfibility, and his behaviour was affable and courteous. His inquiries
were of the moft fagacious nature, refpe&ing matters of ufeful
information. The fhrewdnefs o f his underftanding, his thirft to acquire
and wifh to communicate, ufeful, interefting, or entertaining knowledge,
fufficiently indicated a very aCtive mind, and- did not fail to imprefs us
with a very favorable opinion’ of his general character. Taio. and his-
■ party remained on board until near dark, when they took their leave for
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