150 A V O Y A G E O F D I S C O V E R Y
March not however be unimportant to oblerve, that we repaired on fhore with
>- — —' both boats well armed, our men drefled, as was the ufual practice on a
funday, in their bell attire, and with a guard of marines. Poflibly our
appearance had fome influence on their general behaviour, though for
my own part, I entertained not the leaf! fufpicion that fuch protection
was at all necelfary. - The vanity of Tamaahmaah was however highly,
gratified by the parade, and he much regretted that he had not an
Englifh drefs to wear upon this occafion. For this he had fubftituted a
garment I had given him, that had not before been expofed to public
view, which much attrafted the notice and applaufe of the furrounding
multitude. Tianna, with feveral other chiefs, were alfo prefent; the latter
had every appearance of a cheerful and happy difpofition; but the
countenance of the ambitious Tianna could not conceal the envy he felt
in not being treated with the fame degree o f refpeft that was fhewn to
his fovereign. His jealoufy became confpicuoufly evident in our walk
through the village, by his afking in a furly tone of voice, why I gave
that man fb many things, and himfelf fo few ? This I endeavoured to
explain, though pofhbly not intirely to his fatisfaftion.
Nothing worthy o f notice occurred during our perambulation on
fhore; which, being ended, we returned on board to dinner.
Notwithftanding we had completely finifhed the principal bufinefs of
refitting the veffels, yet, as I confidered the meridian of this place to have
been accurately and unalterably fixed by Captain Cook and Captain
King, for the better regulation of our chronometers, I much wifhed for
the further obfervations of a day or two at the obfervatory; and having
promifed to give the king an entertainment with fire works, that exhibition
was fixed for monday evening; and that he might contribute to
the pleasures of the day, he propofed to have a fham-battle on fhore in
the afternoon, between fuch of his belt warriors as could be affembled
on fo fhort a notice.
Monday 4. As foon as dinner was over on monday we were fummoned to this
review, and as Tamaahmaah confidered all ceremonies and formalities on
my part as adding to. his confequence, he requefted that I would be attended
on fhore bv a guard.
We
We found the warriors aflembled towards the north corner of the 1793.
beach, without the limits of the hallowed ground. The party confifled Mar<:h'
o f about an hundred and fifty men armed with fpears ; thefe were divided
into three parties nearly in equal numbers, two were placed at a
little diftance from each other; that' on our right was to reprefent the
armies of Titeeree and Taio, that on the left the army o f Tamaahmaah.
Their fpears on this occafion were blunt pointed flicks, about the length
o f their barbed ones ; whilft, on each wing, we were to fuppofe a body
of troops placed’ to'annoy the enemy with flones from their flings.
The combatants now advanced towards each other, feemingly without
any principal leader, making fpeeches as they approached, which appeared
to end in vaunts and threats from both parties, when the battle began
by throwing their fham fpears at each other. Thefe were parried in moll
inftances with great dexterity, but fuch as were thrown with effeft produced
contufions and wounds, which, though fortunately of no dangerous
tendency, were yet very confiderable, and it was admirable to ob-
ferve the great good humour and evennefs of temper that was preferved
by thofe who were thus injured. .This battle was a mere lkirmifh, neither
party being fupported, nor advancing in any order but fuch as the
fancy o f the individuals direfted. Some would advance even from the rear
to the front, where they would throw their fpears, and inflantly retreat
into the midfl of their affociates, or would remain picking up the fpears
that had fallen without effeft. Thefe they would fometimes hurl again
at the foe, or haftily retreat with two or three in their poffeflion. Thofe,
however, who valued themfelves on military achievements, marched up
towards the front of the adverfe party;: and in a vaunting manner bid
defiance.to the whole o f their adversaries. In their left hand they held their
fpear, with which in a contemptuous manner they parried fome of thofe
of their opponents, whilfl with their right they caught others in the aft of
flying immediately at them, and inflantly returned them with great dexterity.
In this exercife no one feemed to excel his Owhyhean majefty,
who entered the lifts for a fhort time, and defended himlelf with the
greateft dexterity, much to our furprize and admiration ; in one inftance
particularly, againft fix fpears that were hurled at him nearly at the
fame