||<79ï- Thefe, and other arguments to the fame effect, induced the king and •March» o
<---- -— 1 his councilors to liften to the conditions I propofed. They were founded
on the fpirit of their original laws, and the ancient cuftom o f governing
Owhyhee and Mowee, with the illands in their immediate vicinity ;
at which time, according to their own account, they lived in great
harmony and friendlhip with each other. My firft propofttion was, that
Owhyhee Ihould remain a feparate aild diftinft government o f itfelf,
under the authority of Tamaafimaah and his heirs : that Titeeree and
Taio Ihould remain in the fovereignty o f the other illands, as diftinft or
foreign dominions : and that the king o f Owhyhee Ihould furrender all
claim or pretenfions to thofe territories ; experience having already de-
monftrated his inability of retaining conquered countries, without endangering
his authority, and difturbing his peace at home. After due con-
fideration, it was agreed that I Ihould on my arrival at Mowee ufe my
endeavours to eftablilh a permanent peace on my own principles ;
and, by a letter to Young from thence, inform Tamaahmaah with the
progrefs of my négociation, which they promifed to conclude and ratify,
i f a chief, properly authorized, brought the letter from Mowee.
I avoided noticing this bulinefs whilft it was pending, in the order of
my narrative, under the idea that new obje&ions would arife from after
confiderations, and additional confultarions on the fubjeft ; all matters
however now feemed finally adjufted, and it may not be uninterelfing to
ftate the circumftances that firft gave rile to this.- difpofition towards
peace, as I do not claim the merit o f the thought having originated with
myfelf.
The king and feveral of the chiefs folicited my alfiftance in the con-
queft they meditated o f all the illands to leeward. They entertained
great hopes of my concurrence from the friendlhip I had uniformly mani-
fefted, and from the utter abhorrence I had as uniformly exprelfed of the
cruel and horrid murder of our countrymen at Woahoo, belonging to
the Dædalus. This veflel they confidered as belonging to me, and for
the purpofe of exciting my revenge, and inducing my compliance with
their wilhes, they alledged, that this lamentable outrage was committed
in the prefence, and by the pofitive order, of Titecree’s brother. This
aflertion however feemed to be intended for no other purpofe than to
aggravate
aggravate the crime o f their neighbours, and to increafe our misfor- 1793-
tune : and they were not left difappointed than furprized that, notwith- ■ . __
Handing the forcible reafons they had urged, I peremptorily refufed them
any alfiftance. Inftead of encou raging hoftilities between them, I pointed
out the many important advantages that would refult from a friendly in-
tercourfe with each other; and recommended, that a permanent peace
Ihould be eftablilhed with the inhabitants of all the illands. Still they
endeavoured to prevail upon me to liften to their folicitations, and dif-
regarding the pacific meafures I had recommended, thought to influence
my conduft by reprefenting, that Mr. Ingraham, commanding the American
brig Hope, on fome mifunderftanding with Titeeree and Taio, had
fired feveral fhot at them as they went from his veffel to the fhore; and
that in confequence o f this treatment, thofe chiefs had given direftions
to the inhabitants o f all the illands under their authority, to kill every
white man they Ihould meet with, whether Englilh, American, or of
any other nation. What impreffion this intelligence might have made
at any other time I cannot fay, but on this occafion it did not in the
leaft tend to affect my determination, founded on the caufe of humanity,
and many weighty political confiderations.
A general periodical taboo was to take place this evening, and as mod Tutfday s.
o f the chiefs our friends had difpofed of fuch matters as they had brought
for our fervice, they took their leave, knowing our departure was nigh,
and returned to their refpeftive places o f abode; well fatisfied with their
vifit, and intreating us to return again foon to-Owhyhee.
The taboo demanded the removal o f our tents, obfervatorv, &c. thefe
of eourfe were duly received on board; and I acquainted Tamaahmaah
that it was my intention to fail on wednefday night, or the following
morning. The king earneftly requefted that we fhould not depart until
friday, as he fhould then be able to accompany us fome diftance along
the illand to the northward; but as the feafon was fall advancing I entered
into no engagement, but left our flay to the event o f circumftances.
Tamaahmaah conceiving this might be his laft vifit, prefented me with
a handfome cloak formed of red and yellow feathers, with a fmall col-
legion of other natiye curiofities; and at the fame time delivered into
rav