February.1 a^ways at their pofts, with a certain number of fmall arms kept con-
L—«----' ftantly loaded, and every man in the Chip was at all times ready to fly to
quarters. Thefe precautions did not pafs unregarded by Tamaahmaah ;
who, in the confidence of our friendfhip, inftead of being difpleafed, or
apprehending any danger from the occafion, highly applauded the mea-
fures that were taken ; as they would effeftually prevent the ill difpofed
part of his people from planning or attempting any enterprise to our
prejudice^ I learned, from him that he had iffued the ftri£beft injunctions
to prevent any offence, or caufe of complaint, arifing from any
improper conduft, or behaviour in his fubjefts, and that he entertained
no doubt of their being punctually attended to and obeyed.
The king obferyed, there were- perfons in the neighbourhood, who
were fervants and valfals belonging, not only to the chiefs i of the other
illands who were his. inveterate enemies, but alfo to many belonging to
Owhyhee, who were not better inclined ; and conceiving it to be very
likely that fome of thefe might think proper to, make depredations:, on
our property; or to infult our perfons, he had taken due precaution to
prevent any fuch. mifchievous défign ; fearing left I might be impelled
to feek fuch redrefs as would prove fatal to his perfon or his “government,
or.probably to both; although he and his people might be perfectly
unconcerned in - the offence committed.
This converfation was "urged by Tamaahmaah in the cooleft. manner,
though in the moft forcible language, and concluded by . hoping,
that I would caufe fuch meafufes to be purfued for the regulation of our
conduft towards them, as would avoid all poflible chance of any mif-
underftanding. To this end he made the following requefts; that. I
would give the moft pofitive orders that none of our people, on. any
account whatfoever, fhould be fuffered to enter their morai’s, or confe-
crated places, or be permitted to infringe on their rights or facred privileges
; that no perfon Ihould be allowed to ftray about the country ; and
that I would fcrupuloufly adhere to my praftice of admitting none but the
principal chiefs into the veflels ; and that in the day time he fhould be frequently
on board. This, he faid, woulddeter the lawlefs from any impro-
.. per
per conduft, whilft in their canoes about the veflels for the purpofe o f 1793:
trading ; that when any of our people wifhed to travel into the country, i
they fhould firft apply to him, and he would appoint a proper perfon to
be their guide ; and a number o f others in whom he could confide, to
proteft them, carry their baggage, and render them every fervice of
which they might Hand in need; that, under thefe -regulations, as many
of the officers and people as were inclined to make excurfions, might
extend their travels over the whole ifland, provided they committed no
aft contrary to the advice o f their guides, and he would himfelf be accountable
for their fafety,, and alfo for their receiving every attention of
friendly hofpitality; that if any of the natives, were daring enough to
commit any afts of" fraud, or were guilty of other irregularities, the
offenders fhould be delivered over to him ; by which means a more
public example would be,made, and they would receive a feverer pu-
nilhment than he conceived it Was likely I fhould caufe to be inflifted.
Regulations fo well concerted, and diftated by fo much good fenfe
and found policy, could , not fail to meet my hearty concurrence, and
to infure my utmoft, exertions to have them duly obeyed.
Thefe were all, Tamaahmaah faid, which on his part he had to propofe;
but he begged that I would make fuch additions to them as circumftances
might hereafter teach to be neceflary.
. Convinced of the advantage, as' well as the neceflity, of preferving
peace with thefe people, not only on the fcore of humanity, but as it
refpefted our own prefent and future welfare ; it became indifpenfably
requifite that I fhould leave no objeft unattended to, that was likely to
co-operate with the judicious meafures the king had concerted.
Notwithftanding that the fpot on which our tents and obfervatories
were fituated, became confecrated from its vicinity to, or rather from
forming a part of, the morai, yet it was very much confined, and afforded
but little room for "our people to aft in their defence, fhould any
fudden change take place, and the natives be hoftilely inclined. In the
event of. any mifunderftanding, I was by no means certain, that the
fanftity of the place, would render facred the perfons of our party refid-
ing within its precinfts; and fhould they be unfortunately cut, off, the
lofs