A V O Y A G E OF D I S C O V E R Y
diftanee from the land, the whole party appeared pretty well fatisfied,
and about dark retired to the fhore in high fpirits, and in extremely
good humour, fome of them having taken their grog and wine very
cheerfully.
By feven the next morning we were abreaft of Karakakooa bay, from
whence, and the adjacent Ihores, we were vifited by a vaft concourfe of
people, who brought in their canoes the greateft abundance of refreffi-
ments, and who feemed to be as eager to exchange them for our articles
of traffic, as on the firft difcovery of thefe iflands. But as we were well
ftored with fuch good things, I dire&ed that no more ffiould be purcha-
fea until the ffiip was properly fecured. This was effected by noon; the
bell bower anchor lying to the s.s.w. in 22 fathoms, and the fmall one
£. N. E. in 12 fathoms water, foft fandy bottom. The points of the Bay
lying s. 5 w. and n. 87 w. diftant from Kakooa the neareft ffiore, about
the length of a cable and half.
This village as already ftated, we found to be the refidence of Tamaah-
maah; from whence, before the ffiip was well fecured, eleven large canoes
put off from the ffiore with great order, and formed two equal fides
of an obtufe triangle. The largeft canoe being in the angular point,
was rowed by eighteen paddles on each fide ; in this was his Owhyhean
majefty, dreffed in a printed linen gown, that Captain Cook had given
to Tem o bo o ; and the moll elegant feathered cloak I had yet feen, com-
pofed principally of beautiful bright yellow feathers, and reaching from
his ffioulders to the ground on which it trailed. On his head he wore a
very handfome helmet, and made altogether a very magnificent appearance.
His canoe was advanced a little forward in the proceffion, to the
aftions of which the other ten ftriftly attended, keeping the moll exaft
and regular time with their paddles, and inclining to the fight or left
agreeably to the directions of the king, who condufted the whole bufi-
nefs with a degree of adroitnefs and uniformity, that manifefted a knowledge
of fuch movements and manoeuvre far beyond what could reafon-
ably have been expected. In this manner he paraded round the veflels,
with a flow and folemn motion. This not only added a great dignity to
the proceffion, but gave time to the crowd of canoes alongfide to get
out
out of the way. He now ordered the ten canoes to draw up in a'line >793-
under our Hern, whilft, with the utmoftexertions of his paddlers, he rowed , February‘ ,
up along the ftarboard fide of the ffiip; and though the canoe was going
at a very great rate, ffie was in an inftant flopped, with that part of the
canoe where his majefty was Handing immediately oppofite the gangway.
He inftantly afcended the fide of the ffiip, and taking hold of my hand,
demanded, if we were fincerely his friends P To this I anfwered in the
affirmative; he then faid, that he underftood we belonged to King
George, and a deed if he was likewife his friend ? On receiving a fatis-
fafiory anfwer to this queftion, he declared that he was our firm good
friend ; and, according to the cuftom of the country, in teftimony of the
fincerity of our declarations we faluted by touching nofes. He then
prefented me with four very handfome feathered helmets, and ordered
the ten large canoes that were under the ftern to come on the ftarboard
fide. Each of thefe contained nine very large hogs, whilft a fleet of
fmaller canoes, containing a profufion of vegetables, were ordered by
him to deliver their cargoes on the oppofite fide. This fupply was more
than we could poflibly difpofe o f ; fome of the latter he was prevailed
upon to referve; but although our decks, as well as thofe of the Chatham,
were already encumbered with their good things, he would not
fuffer one hog to be returned to the ffiore.
The remaining live flock I had on board, confifting of five cows, two
ewes and a ram, were fent on ffiore in fome of his canoes; thefe were all
in a healthy ftate though in low condition, and as I flattered myfelf the
bull would recover, I had little doubt of their fucceeding to the utmoft
of my wiffies. I cannot avoid mentioning the pleafure I received, in
the particular attention paid by Tamaahmaah to the placing of thefe animals
in the canoes. This bufinefs was principally done by himfelf; after
which he gave the ftrifteft injun&ions to his people who had the charge
of them, to pay implicit obedience to the directions of our butcher, who
was fent to attend their landing. At the departure of thefe canoes, I
was unacquainted with the extent of Tamaahmaah’s intended compliment.
In addition to his magnificent prefent of provifions, other canoes