Although there can be no poffible excufe offered in vindication of the
unjuftifiable conduft of this turbulent and ambitious chief, yet it appears
to have been alrnoft as ineXcufable on the part of the elder Metcalf,
that he fhould have thrown fuch a temptation in his way. The
veffel in queftion had been a pleafure boat, and was lengthened at
China ; her gunwale was not a foot higher than that of the double canoes
of this country, and being navigated and protefted by five perfons
only, under the'command of an inexperienced young man, fine became
not lefs a defirable acquifition to Tamaahmootoo than a prize of eafy attainment.
To rilk therefore a veffel fo circumftanced, among!! a fet of
Indians, whofe daring and ambitious character was fo well known in
every corner of the civilized world, mull ever be regarded as highly imprudent
and inconfiderate.'
John Young, who was about forty-four years of age, born at Liverpool,
and Ifaac Davis, then thirty-fix years old, born at Milford, have,
fropi this period refided intirely with Tainaahmaah; are in his moil perfect
confidence, attend him in all his excurfions of bufinefs or pleafure,
Or expeditions of war or enterprize; and are in the. habit' of daily experiencing
from him the greateft refpeft, and the higheft degree of efteem
and. regard. Near-the bay of Whyeatea the king has give® them three
very fine eftates ; and Kahomnoioo, who is the firm friend of Tamaah-
maah, not only from connexion, but a fincere regard, and who, from
his achievements in war and advice in council, is confidered1 as the fe-
cond chief in the ifland, has likewife Ihewn them, on all occafions, the
greateft marks of friendfhip and relpeft, and has prefented each with a
very fine eftate near the eaft point of the ifland. Kavakeero and Comma-
nowa, who are confidered the next chiefs in power and authority to the
two former, have alfo treated them both in the moft friendly manner
but neither of them could fpeak of Tianna in the fame favorable terms.
This chief eyes them with great jealoufy, and has made fome attempts
on their lives ; particularly on the return of Captain Colnett from St.
Bias. On this pccaiion Captain Colnett, underftanding that there were
two white men on the ifland, very humanely defired, by letter, that:
they would repair on board his velfel, and that he would afford them
2 = all
all the protection and fervice in his power. Young,and Davis being ‘793*
extremely averfe to their prefent way of life, concerted a plan for efca- ,Kbf“" y'
ping to Captain Colnett’s velfel; a meafure very contrary to the wilhes
and inclinations of Tamaahmaah and the chiefs, I of the ifland; left revenge
for the capture of the fchooner fhould follow their departure,
to prevent which they were always very narrowly watched, and ftrongly
guarded, whenever any velfel was in fight.
In reply to Captain Golnett’s letter Young wrote to him, and ftatedhow
he and Davis came to be on the ifland, what had happened with refpeft
to the fchooner, and the means that were ufed to prevent their efcaping;
This letter was fent off by one of their attendants, who; meeting Tian-.
na, fhewed him the letter. This Tianna immediately took to the king,
and, in confequence of his voyage to China, and having lived fo long
in the fociety of Englifhmen, perfuaded the king that he could read its
contents. He pretended that Young: and Davis had defired, Captain
Colnett to get the king into his poffeflion, and to keep him until the
fchooner and they were delivered up to him: and that he then fhould
kill the king and many more of the iflanders. To prevent this calamity,
he earneftly advifed1 the lting. to kill Young and Davis ;. afteii which, he
faid, no one would know any thing about them but thenrfefves,.
Captain Colnett concluding the two men were prevented by the natives
from getting off to him, very kindly wrote them another letter, and
faid, that if that they were fo circamflancecl, he begged they would fend
for any thing they wanted, and if he had it it fhould be fent on lhoire
to them. To this very kind letter Young wrote an anfwer, and told
the man who undertook to carry it on, board, that the captain would
make him a handfome prefent for fo doing. The next day the man
returned, and faid he was afraid to1 deliver the letter, as the king had
given orders, that every man fhould be punilhed-witli death, who. fhould
carry anything from either Young or Davis to Captain Colnett, This,
difappointment determined them if poffible to effeCt their efcape-.
They had in their poffeflion two mulkets, with fome powder and ffiot;
they loaded their pieces and fat out, but before they had got near to the
water fide oppofite-to the veffel, they were followed by a great number
of