Jgjjj the example o f the morning would be the means o f frightening them
■ - - * into a more difcreet mode of behaviour.
The propofed peace with Owhyhee was next adverted to. He highly
applauded the meafure, and faid, if fuch a bufinefs could be effected, it
would be o f the utmoft importance to them ; as the chiefs and people
would then return to their habitations ; by this means the country would
be better governed, the lands better cultivated, and, by the production
o f a greater abundance from the foil, they would be enabled to procure
a more ample fupply of European commodities. The fame want of
confidence however that the contending parties entertained, was evident
in the opinions o f this chief ; and although the négociation at Mowee
had put on a favorable appearance, I began to fear this unfortunate
prevailing fentiment would be fatal to the eftablifhment of a general and
permanent peace. He likewife took an opportunity to apologize,"and to
exprefs his concern, that the reduced ftate o f the country precluded his
making me any fuitable return for the obligations I had conferred upon
him. In reply, I made him a fimilar anfwer- to that given his father at
Mowee ; adding, that on a future vifit he might probably have more to
fpare, and I lefs to bellow.
The fame o f our fire-works ftill attended us, and Trytooboory was very
felicitous to be indulged with a fight o f their effeft. Confidering that the
prefent moment afforded no ill-timed opportunity to imprefs the minds of
thefe people more deeply with our fuperiority, his curiofity was gratified
in the evening, by the difplay o f a fmall aflbrtment, from the after
■ part of the fhip. Thefe were beheld by the furrounding natives with
more than the ufual mixture o f the pallions already defcribed ; for, on
the prefent ôccafion, they were regarded with a degree o f awful fur-
prize, that I had not before obferved. This exhibition being finilhed,
Trytooboory was conveyed into his canoe, in the fame manner as he
. had entered the fhip. Before his departure I complimented him with
feme additional articles, and with thefe, as well as his' reception and
entertainment, he feemed highly delighted.
Sunday 24, ' With a pleafant breeze from the weftward, on funday morning we
plied to the windward, along the fouth fide o f Woahoo, until the after-
2 - ^ noon,
noon, when we anchored abreaft of the wefternmoft opening or lagoon, >793-
mentioned in our former vifit to this ifland, called by the natives 0-poo- ■ ’
ro-ak, and which had fence been reported to us, by the natives, as capable
of admitting velfels by warping into it. About half a mile from
the reef that binds thefe Ihores, we found the foundings irregular from
5 to 15 fathoms, rocky bottom ; but where the fhip rode, the bottom
was tolerably even, and compofed o f fand and coral ; the depth of water,
about half a league from the reef, was 25 fathoms. The evening
was too fall approaching to inveftigate the truth o f the report given by
the natives. This was deferred until day-light the next morning, when
Mr. Whidbey, with two armed boats, accompanied by Tomohomoho,
was difpatched for that purpofe.
The part o f the ifland oppofite to us was low, Or rather only moderately
elevated, forming a level country between the mountains that
compofe the eaft and weft ends o f the ifland. This traól of land was of
feme extent, but did not feem to be populous, nor to polfefs any great
degree of natural fertility ; although we were told that, at a little distance
from the fea, the foil is rich, and all the neceflaries of life are
abundantly produced.
Whilft we remained in this fituation, a few only of the natives paid
us'their refpe&s ; their canoes were fmall and indifferent, and their
vifit was that of curiofity only, as they were furnilhed: with little for
barter.
Mr. Whidbey returned in the forenoon. He found the opening in
the reef, about four hundred yards wide, to be occupied by a Tandy
bar about two hundred yards acrofs, on which there was not more than
nine or ten feet water ; but on each fide o f it the water fuddenly increa-
fed in depth to 5 and foon to 10 fathoms. Thefe foundings were regular
on each fide o f the bar ; on the inftde the bottom is a ftiff mud,
or clay ; this, with the fame foundings, continued to the entrance o f a
fmall harbour about half a mile within the bar, formed by two low
Tandy points, about the fame diftance afunder. From each of thefe
fandy points extended a fhallow flat, near a cable’s length on either fide,
contracting the width of the deep-water channel to not more than the
fourth