i; q i. o ur oourfe was now direflied round the eaft point of the ifland, along
■ V*’""““7', ;ts fouth-eaft fide • we made a tolerably good progrefs; and as we paffed
Saturday ta. ^ < ^ 3 - 0f Opoona, on the morning of the llth , the weather being
very clear and pleafant, we had a moil excellent view of Mowna Roa’s
•fnowyfummit, and the range of lower hills that extend towards the eaft
end of Owhyhee. From the tops of thefe, about the middle of the descending
ridge, feveral columns of Smoke were feen to afcend, which
Tamaahmaah, and the reft of our friends faid, were occalioned by the
fubterranean fires that frequently broke out in violent eruptions, caufing
amongft the natives fuch a multiplicity of fuperftitious notions, as to give
rife to a religious order of perfons, who perform volcanic rites ; confift-
ing of various facrifices of the different produ&ions of the country, for
the purpofe of appeafmg the wrath of the enraged demon.
On approaching the fhores of the diftrift of Kaoo, we were met by
feveral of the inhabitants, bringing in their canoes fome refrefhments and
other produ&ions of the country. Thofe who firft approached us feemed
to be much furprized, and many of them were not a little alarmed at
feeing their king on board; inquiring with great earneftnefs, whether
his being there, and having broken the taboo, was by his own choice,
or by compulfion. On being affured by all prefent that Tamaahmaah,
and the reft of the chiefs, were under no reftraiht whatever, but were
accompanying us by their own free will, they became perfeaiy fa-
tisfied; and appeared to be equally fo on underftanding, that it was
the king’s pleafure, that the hogs and vegetables they had brought off
fhould be delivered on board, without their receiving any equivalent in return
; nor could we, without giving Tamaahmaah ferious offence, have
infringed this order, which feemed to be very cheerfully complied with
on the part of his fubjefts ; and, in the courfe o f the forenoon, the
veflels procured a fufficient fupply for their prefent confumption. Whether
the king accounted with thefe people afterwards for the value of
their property thus difpofed of, or not, I could not rightly underftand;
but from the great good humour with which they complied with the royal
order, and from fome converfation with one of the king’s attendants, refpefting
fpe&ing the value of the refrefhments fo delivered, I had reafon to be-
lieve that a compenfation would be allowed to them. L— *
Shortly after noOn we were oppofite the fouth point o f the ifland ; and,
as a report had been circulated that clofe round, on its weftern fide,
good anchorage and excellent Ihelter had been found, (though it had
efcaped the notice of Captain Cook) Mr. Whidbey was difpatched in thé
cutter, in order to' afcertain the truth of this aflertion, which was foon -
proved to be-’void of foundation ; for although a ftrong wefterly gale prevented
Mr. Whidbey from making a very minute examination, yethe clearly
difcovered that the Ihores were nearly ftraight, and expofed to a raoft
tremendous furf, that broke with fuch fury as to render landing, if not
impoffible, highly dangerous, even to thofe of-the inhabitants who are
moft expert in the management of their canoes. I
The wind continued to blow very ftrong between weft and N .w .
until the Morning of the 12th; when it became variable, and allowed-us
to make -but a very flow prögrefs' towards Karakakooa. Tamaahmaah
being very anxious that we fhould gain the place of our deftination, went
on fliore for the purpofe of placing lights to conduft us in the evening
to our former anchorage; where,-- about , ten the following night we anchored
near an American brig, named the Lady Wafhington, commanded
by Mr. John-Kendrick.
- As we worked info the bay many of the inhabitants were affembled on
the fhores,. Who announced their congratulations by lliouts of jov, as, on
our different'tacks, we approached the fhores of the neighbouring villages.
At this late hour many- of our former friends, particularly of the- fair fex,
loft no time in teftifying the finCerity of the public fentiment in our favour.
Young and Davis, we had likewife the pleafure of finding in the
exercife of thofe judicious principles they had fo wifely adopted, and by
their example and advice had fo uniformly been carried into- effea. The
great propriety with which they 'had condufted themfelvés, had tended
in a high degree to the comfort, and happinefs of thefe people, -to the
gratification of their own feelings, and to a pre-eminence in the good
opinion of-the king, that had intitled them to ! his warmeft - affeÊtions:
The fame fort of efteem and regard, we underftood, was Ihewn to
V ol. III. C them,