n 8 A V O Y A G E OF D I S C O V E R Y
Februa3’ different notions, particularly Ka/ioicmotoo’s favorite, Na-ma-han-na, who
'— ----' contended, that although the taboo prohibited their embarking in
canoes belonging to Owhyhee, it could not poffibly extend to the boats
of thofe who totally difregarded their laws and reftriftions. This ingenious
mode of reafoning feeming to meet Kahowmotoo’s concurrence, we
foon embarked, leaving Mr. Menzies, who had been of our party, on
■ Ihore, in purfuit of new vegetable produ&ions. He returned in the
evening, after receiving much hofpitable civility from the natives,
Kahowmotoo went on Chore with his lady in one of our boats. On its
return a meffage was brought from Tianna, defiring to be-informed, who
we were ? adding, that if we were his friends, he would make all poffible
hafte to- vifit us; but, as it would be late on account of his diftance before
he-lhould be able to arrive, in order that he might he admitted oivboaid in.
the dark, he would carry in the bow of his canoe a large fire, as a fignal by
which he might be known. He accordingly arrived about four o’clock the
Saturday 16. next morning, juft as we were getting under fail. In his canoe were
half a dozen fine hogs, thefe he defired might be taken on board, and
laid, he had many others on the road, that would'follow the fhip to the
fouthward. Kahovmotoo, attended by his favorite wife, agreeably to- a
preconcerted fignal with him of firing a gun on our departure, came on
board to fulfil his engagement of condufting us to Tyea-ta-tooa. The
wind-proved very variable, not only in direftion but force,. The weather
fometimes was perfeftly calm, at others we had violent guffs from
the land, fo that it was not until the evening that we were abreaft- of the
Jbuth point of this bay, forming the weftern extremity of Owhyheer
The Weather continued fqually, with thunder, lightning and rain. A
little before it was-dark, a. brig and a Hoop were feen.in the offing,
From the natives we learned that thefe were the Chatham, and the Tackall
trader, under the orders, of- Mr. Brawn of the Butterworth:. We im-.
mediately made towards them,. and as 'they, feemed' to be under little fail,
foon expefted to join our confort. But, to our great aftonilhment, next
Sunday 17. morning, notwithftanding. the night had been moftly calm, we found
ourfelves at leaft g or 10 leagues from the land, and had loft- fight of
both veffels. A frefij breeze from the: N.:?.,during the morning, carried
Us at the rate of .3 or 4 miles an hour, direflly towards the land, yet
wé did not appear to approach its fhores: and at noon its neareft part,
being about the fouth point of Toeaigh bay, bore e . by N. 10 leagues
diftant. The obferved latitude was 190 42'. The north-eaft wind was
foon afterwards fucceeded by a calm.
The morning o f the 18th brought the two veffels .again in fight, and
towards noon the Chatham was fufficiently near us to receive a vifit
from Mr. Puget; from whom I learned, that he had traced the Ihores
on the s. e . fide o f Owhyhee from its eaft to its fouth point, at the diftance
from one to three miles of the Ihore, without finding any place
that prefented a probability of anchorage and if foundings were to be
had, they muff exift upon an open coaft, expofed to the prevailing winds,
where fo violent a furf broke on the Ihores, that any communication
with the land, by fuch means as we poffeffed, ..would have been impoffi-
ble. From the fouth point o f the illand, their examination was not
attended with that minutenefs which was neceffary to-determine the
objefl I had in view. This it feems had been occafioned by baffling
winds, and a current fetting the Chatham fome diftance from the land
to the northward. That part which required the moft minute furvey
lies between the fouth- point and Karakakooa, where fome of the traders
are faid to have difcovered a more eligible fituation for the reception of
{hipping; than Karakakooa affords ; on this report Pplaced little reliance,
but as I expefted to have a future opportunity of afcertaining the faft, it
was of little importance on the prefent occafion. Mr. Puget informed
me alfo, that I lhould find Karakakooa a more formidable place than
I expefted, as he had underftood from thofe in the Jackall who had
vifited it, that it was by no means a defirable flopping place for fmall
veffels; fince Tamaahmaah had procured from the feveral traders a number
of cannon, with a proper affortment of ammunition. That thefe
cannon were planted, and in fome meafure protected by ftone walls,
thrown up by the natives along the beach in the Bay before his ho'ufes ;
fituated in the fame place where the habitations of the priefts were de-
ftroyed, after the unfortunate death of Captain Cook.
Monday 18,
Calms