1-42
1793* February.
A V O Y A G E O F D I S C O V E R Y
of the inhabitants, who, being fearful of their guns, did not moleft them.
Some o f the natives however endeavoured to prevent their reaching a
point, that was nearly furrounded by water, from whence being near to
the Ihip, they were in hopes of effecting their purpofe. In accomplilh-
ingthis, Young was obliged to ftrike one man with the but of his piece,
(for they did not like to fire) and unfortunately broke its flock. They
had not long been here before , the king arrived in his canoe, attended by
many others.- Tamaahmaah very difpaffionately advifed them to return
from whence they had come ; and faid, that he would do any thing they
could wilh to render their lives more comfortable, but that he could
not confent they Ihould leave the illand; affuring them that his people
would rebel, and put him to death, the inftant they took their departure.
Tianna, who was prefent, feemed to be o f a different, opinion; and offered
to take Young and Davis on board Captain Colnett’s veffel, in his
own canoe. But the king, well: knowing that Tianna only wanted to ac-
complilh their deftruftion, immediately interpofed;. and in the kindefl
and moft perfuafive manner requefted they would on no account accept
Tianna’s offer, but that they would return in his canoe with him. The
confidence they repofed in Tamaahmaah, that they Ihould be fubjeft to
no inconvenience in confequence of their attempt to efcape, and the
earneftnefs with which he folicited them to go back with him, at length
had the defired effect, and they both embarked on board his canoe.
Davis was in the fore part, and Young in the after part of the canoe,
when they were boarded by many others ; and Tamaahmaah, obferving
fome violence was likely to be offered to Davis, went forward to refcue
him, and to prevent any accident took Davis’s rnulket away from him ;
in the mean time many of the natives fell upon Young, who received
feveral wounds before the king could return to his afliftance, who was
obliged to ftrike feveral of them with his paddle before they would
defift.
After this projeft was defeated, Young and Davis were never fuffered
to be both afloat at the fame time until our arrival; and they were
given to underftand, that the efcape o f the one would be fatal to the
other. This feemed to be a very political meafure, as the intereft they
had
R O U N D T H E W O R L D .
had in each other’s happinefs and welfare, and the fincere friendfhip and «793-
regard that fubfifted between them, could not efcape the obfervation of > -,-r>'*.
Tamaahmaah, who would readily fuggeft the expediency of fuch an interdiction.
Thus have Young and Davis fince remained, obferving that
fidelity towards each other, which the true principles o f honor diftate
under fuch circumftances.
Young and Davis had now been refrdent in Owhyhee nearly three
years, which had afforded to each of them frequent opportunities o f noticing
the characters o f the principal chiefs, and leading people, on the
illand. I derived from them fuch information refpefling the conduft
o f certain chiefs, as may be confidered important; at Ieaft to thofe
whofe purfuits may lead them into thefe feas. 1
Tianna, they reprefented, as poffefling the moft turbulent and ambitious
difpofition, with great afilivity o f mind, and a thorough contempt
o f danger. Had his power been fufficient, or had his plots and defigns
been countenanced and adopted by Tamaahmaah, they muft have proved
fatal to many o f the fmall trading veffels that have vifited, thefe iflands.
Ever fince Tianna had been fettled on Owhyhee with the arms and
ammunition he had brought from China, his mind had eonftantly been
direfted to the feizing of' every fmall veffel that had arrived amongft
them; whilft the plans he had repeatedly concerted for fuch enterprizes
had been feconded by his brother Nomatahah and Tarnaahmootoo, and as
Uniformly oppofed and over-ruled by Tamaahmaah, Kahowmotoo, Cry-
mamdhoo, and Cavaheero. The chief, Commamvs, was o f the king’s pacific
party, had uniformly rejefted the counfels of Tianna, and was ad-
verfe to his ambitious projefts, exceptingin one inftance ; that o f the capture
of the (loop PrinCefs Royal. In juftification however of his conduct
on this occafion,' he lays the reafon that induced him to concur in that
enterprize, was, that the Spaniards had taken the Princels Royal from
the Englilh, and therefore he thought there could be no harm in taking
her from the Spaniards.
Nomatahah and Tarnaahmootoo are artful, defigning, and relMefs- characters,
and have difpofitions to aft on all occafions of hazard, or unlawful
attempt, in conjunction with Tianna» One fingle inftance may ferve
tOs