Page:Voyage of discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and round the world in the years 1791-95, volume 2.djvu/144

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>793- Februarv. qualntance by the mofl favage countenance we had hitherto feen amongfl thefe people ; but I was agreeably furprized in finding that his riper years had foftened that ftcrn ferocity which his younger days had exhibited, and had changed his general deportment to an addrefs charafLeriftic oi" an open, cheerful, and fenfible mind ; combined with great gcncrofity, and goodnefs of difpofition. An alteration not unlike that I have be- fore had occafion to notice in the character of Pomurrey at Otaheite. Tamaahmaah came on board in a very large canoe, accompanied by John Young, an Englilh feaman, who appeared to be not only a great favourite, but to poIFefs no fmall degree of influence with this great chief. Terrehooa, who had been lent to deliver the bull and cow to the king, was alfo of the party, and informed me that the cow had died in her paffage to the ifland, but that the bull arrived fafe, and was lodged in a houfe where he ate and drank heartil)'. After the ufual ceremonies and alTurances of friendfliip had paffed be- tween Tamaahmaah and myfelf, he faid that his queen, with feveral of his friends and relations were in the canoe alongfide, and requefted they might be admitted on board. This was inflantly granted, and I was introduced to her majefty, who we had previoufly underflood was the daughter of Kahowmotoo, by his favorite wife now on board, Nama- hanna. The meeting of the daughter and her parents fufliciently indicated the relation, and the affeftion that fubfided between them. She appeared to be about fixteen, and undoubtedly did credit to the choice and tafle of Tamaahmaah, being one of the finefl women we luid yet feen on any of the iflands. It was pleafing to obferve the kindncfs and fond attention, with which on all occafions they feemed to rcgar<l each other; and though this mode of behaviour in public would be confidcrcd as extravagant in the poliflied circles of fociety, yet to us, fo far removed from the civilized world, the profufion of tenderncfs was very admiffible, and could not be regarded without a warmth of faiis- faftion at thus witncfling the happinefs of our fellow creatures ; though fo far behind us in that ftate of civilization, from which alone we imagine, the elTential comforts and happinefs of life can be derived. 3 The