'793- a youth of about eighteen years of age, in a fmall fchooner, called the
. c !.rU-J''' - Fair American, of about twenty-fix tons burthen, and navigated with
five men, one of whom was Davis the mate.
Thefe two veffels had failed from China, and in the year 1789 the
Fair American was detained by the Spaniards at Nootka, but the Eleanor
came On in the autumn of that year to the Sandwich idands, and
remained principally about Owhyhee during the winter.
Young dated, that in february 1790, they proceeded to Mowree, where
a boat belonging to the fnow, with one man in her, was dolen by the
natives'from the ftern of the vedel; and, on a reward being offered for
the boat and the man, Mr. Metcalf was informed, that the former was broken
to pieces’; and that the latter had been killed. The bones-of the man
were then demanded, which, with the dem and dern-pod of the boat,
were carried on board the fnow in about three days. The natives in the
mean time had continued to trade with the crew; and after delivering up
the remains of the man, and parts of the boat, they fuppofed the anger
of thofe oh board was intirely appeafed, and demanded of Mr. Metcalf
the reward he had offered. This, Mr. Metcalf replied, they fhould foon
have, and immediately ordered all the guns to bè .loaded with mufket
balls, and nails; and having tabooed one fide of the fhip in order to get
all the canoes on the ftarboard fide, next the fliore, the ports were
hauled up, and the guns fired amongft the canoes. The guns, bet ween
decks, being nearly upon a level with the canoes, did great execution,
as did the fmall arms from the quarter-deck and other parts of the fhip.
On this occafion, Young reprefented that upwards of an hundred-were
killed, and a great many were wounded.
Having thus taken fuch revenge as he confidered equivalent to the
injury received, Mr. Metcalf quitted Mowee, and . returned with his veffel
to Owhyhee; where, to all appearance, they were on very good terms
with the chiefs, and the inhabitants of that ifland.
On the 17th of march, Ypung had permiffion to be on fhore until the
next day, when the fnow flood clofe in, and fired a gun as a fignal for
him to return on board;, but, to his very great aftonifhment, he.found
the canoes all tabooed, and hauled up on the fhore, and was informed
. by.
by Tamaahmaah, that if he attempted to take a canoe by himfelf, he
would be put to death, but that he fhould have a canoe the next day.
Having no other refource, Young was obliged tofubmit; and in the
evening he was informed, that the fchooner Fair American had been captured
by Tamaahmootoo, to the fouthward of Toeaigh bay; and that Mr.
Metcalf’s fon, and the four men compofing -the crew, had been barba-
roufly murdered.
The fnow remained two days off Karakakooa, firing guns, and Handing
in fhore, as a fignal for Young; but after the news was confirmed of
the fchooner having been captured, the king would not permit him to
leave the ifland, but behaved to him in the kindefl manner ; telling him
that he fhould not be hurt, and that he fhould be at liberty to depart in
the next fhip that arrived ; but that he would, on no account, allow a
canoe to go off to the fnow, left his people fhould be killed.
Tamaahmaah, who had been on the ftrifleft terms of friendfhip with
Mr. Metcalf and his people, took Young immediately to his houfe,
where he was treated with every kindnefs and attention.
The king, being exceflively concerned, and very angry at the late inhuman
bufinefs, collefited a very confiderable force; and, as if he intend,
ed to chaftife thofe who fhould be found the perpetrators of this barbarous
tranfaftion, he fat out, accompanied by Young, on the 22d of the
fame month, in order to inquire into the circumftances that could have
caufed fo great a breach of hofpitality. The fchooner was found in
the fituation already deferibed, deftitute of almoft every thing that was
moveable. Tamaahmaah demanded that the veffel fhould inftantly be
delivered up to him, that he might reftore her to the proprietor Mr.
Metcalf, fhould he ever again vifit Owhyhee. This was complied with
by Tamaahmootoo, who received from the king a very fharp rebuke for
the great impropriety of his late conduft in the capture of the fchooner,
and his unpardonable barbarity in murdering the commander and the
people ; in excufe for which, he alledged he had been ftruck and other-
ways ill treated by the father of the unfortunate young man.
Here they found Ifaac Davis, the mate, ftill alive, but in a moft de.
plorable condition. Tamaahmaah ordered that he fhould immediately
Vol.II. T be