Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 24.djvu/144

 124 Ralph S. Kuykendall the price of four hundred hogs." Boit states that while Captain Brown was in the harbor "the Chiefs of Whoa- hoo made him a formal present of the Island with all its contents, of which he accordingly took possession," but it is evident that Boit is here speaking somewhat loosely. It is true that the Haw T aiians were very generous, as they still are, in their hospitality, but it is also true that the chiefs did not give away whole islands without receiving some valuable consideration in exchange. Boit fails to show what the consideration was in this case. In fact he makes it appear that there was no consideration at all, for he does not indicate that either Brown or his men took any part in the war. But all our other authorities concur in saying that Brown furnished assistance to Kalanikupule, although they do not agree at all points as to the form that the assistance took. This assistance doubtless was the consideration for the "formal present of the Island with all its contents" or for the four hun- dred hogs, as the case may have been. From this it is clear that Boit has left something out. Greatheecl makes a statement which confirms Boit in some particulars and supplies a missing link in the latter's account. It will be remembered that Boit received his information from John Young. Greatheed says : Capt. Barber, who was wrecked at Woahu [in October, 1796], understood from John Young, that Capt. Brown had prevailed upon the natives to surrender the Island to him, and to supply him a long time with provisions, with flattering prom- ises, none of which being fulfilled, the Islanders determined to seize the ships by way of indem- nity. 31 31 The problem presented by the alleged surrender of the island to Brown is well-nigh insoluble. It will be seen that Boit reports an out- right "formal present," while Greatheed speaks of a "surrender" in con- sideration of certain promises. Kamakau, as will presently be shown, makes a statement which may possibly mean that Brown demanded the surrender of the island, the demand being refused by Kalanikupule, but Kamakau places this after the battle rather than before. One is also led to wonder whether this "present" or "surrender," if it occurred, had any relation to the gift of the islands of Oahu and Kauai reported to have