February. flua'ntance by the moll favage countenance we had hitherto feen amongft
i--- „--- i thefe people ; but I was agreeably furprized in finding that his riper years
had foftened that ftern ferocity which his younger days had exhibited,
and had changed his general deportment to an addrefs characterijfic of
an open, cheerful, and fenfible mind ; combined with great generality,
and goodnels of difpofition. An alteration not unlike that I have before
had occafion to notice in the character of Pomurrey at Otaheite.
Tamaahmaah came on board in a very large canoe, accompanied by
John Young, an Englilh feaman, who appeared to be not only a great
favourite, but to polfefs no fmall degree of influence with this great
chief. Terrehooa, who had been fent to deliver the bull and cow to the
king, was alfo of the party, and informed me that the cow had died in
her pafiage to the ifland, but that the bull arrived fafe, and was lodged in
a houfe where he ate and drank heartily.
After the ufual ceremonies and aflurances of friendlhip had pafled between
Tamaahmaah and mylelf, he faid that his queen, with lèverai of
his friends and relations were in the canoe alongfide, and requefted they
might be admitted on board. This was inllantly granted, and I was
introduced to her majefty, who we had previoully underltood was the
daughter of Kahovmotoo, by his favorite wife now on board, Natna-
hanna. The meeting of the daughter and her parents fufficiently
indicated the relation, and the affeftion that fubfifted between them.
She appeared to be about fixteen, and undoubtedly did credit to the
choice and tafte of Tamaahmaah, being one of the finelt women we had
yet feen on any of the illands. It was pleafing to obferve the kindnefs
and fond attention, with which on all occafions they feemed to regard
each other; and though this mode of behaviour in public would be
confidered as extravagant in the polilhed circles of fociety, yet to us,
fo far removed from the civilized world, the profulion of tendernefs was
very admilfible, and could not be regarded without a warmth of fatis-
faftion at thus witnefling the happinefs of our fellow creatures ; though
fo far behind us in that fate of civilization, from which alone we
imagine, the eflèntial comforts and happinefs of life can be derived.
3 The
The foie objeft of this vifit was to invite and intreat our proceeding
to Karakakooa : to their folicitations I replied, that our boat was exa- 1-
mining Tyahtatooa, and that on her return I Ihould determine. With
this anfwer they were perfeftly fatisfied, but obferved, that I Ihould not
find it fo convenient as Karakakooa.
I was much pleafed with the decorum and general condufl of this royal
party. Though it confifted of many, yet not one folicited even the moll
ineonfiderable article; nor did they appear to have any expeftation of
receiving prefents. They feemed to be particularly cautious to avoid giving
the leaft caufe for offence ; but no one more fo than the king himfelf,
who was fo fcrupulous, as to enquire when and where it yras proper for
him to be feated. The inhabitants, who had alfembled round the lhips,
were by this time very numerous; on being denied their requells to be
admitted on board, which was obferved towards all but the principal
chiefs, they remained perfeftly quiet in their canoes, and in a moll orderly
manner carried on an honell and friendly intercourfe.
The demand, amounting to clamour, for arms and ammunition, which
on our firlt arrival feemed at that time to be fo formidable an obftacle to
our procuring refrefhments ; appeared now to be intirely done away,
whillt the cordial manner in which we had been received and treated, the
profulion of good things we had purchafed at an eafy rate, and the value
attached to our articles of traffic, imprefled me with a more favorable
idea of the chara&er of thefe people than that which had been recently
given to the world.
Being determined that nothing Ihould be wanting on my part to preserve
the harmony and good underftanding that feemed to have taken
place between us; and having learned from Young, that our royal
vifitors did not entertain the moll dillant idea of accepting any thing
from me until they had firft fet the example ; I confidered this a good
opportunity to manifell our friendly difpofition towards them, by prefents
fuitable to their refpeftive ranks and fituations. In the hope that
by fuch an early compliment I Ihould confirm, or perhaps heighten the
favorable opinion of us, that they already feemed to have imbibed. Accordingly,
fuch articles were diftributed as I knew were likely, and (as
R 2 they