Page:Voyage of discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and round the world in the years 1791-95, volume 3.djvu/49

32 179.). Fcbni:irv.

(ler my command a6led under the authority of a benevolent monarch, whole chief obje61: in fending us amongll them was to render them more peaceable in their iiitercourfe with each other ; to furnifh them with fuch things as could contribute to make tliem a happier people ; and to atford them an opportunity of becoming more refpe6lable in the eves of foreign vilitors.

Thefe ideas at the fame time naturally fiiggcRed to them the belief, that it might be in my power to leave the Chatham at Owhyhee for their future prote6lion; but on being informed that no fuch meafure could polTibly be adopted on the prefent occafion, they feemed content to wait with patience, in the expeftation that fuch attention and regard might hereafter be Ihewn unto them ; and in the full confidence that, according to my promife, I would reprefent their fituation and condu61 in the moil faithful manner, and in the true point of view that every circum- ftance had appeared to us.

Thefe people had already become acquainted viui four commercial nations of the civilized world ; and had been given to underftand, that feveral others fimilar in knowledge and in power exifted in thofe diftant regions from whence thefe had come. This information, as may rea- fonably be expefted, fuggefted the apprehenfion, that the period was not very remote when they might be compelled to fubmit to the autho- rity of fome one of thefe fuperior powers; and under that impreflion, they did not hefitate to prefer the Englilh, who had been their firft and conftant vifitors.

The formal furrender of the ifland had been delayed in confequence of the abfenceof two principal chiefs. Commanozo, the chief of Aheedoo, was not able to quit the government and proteftion of the northern and eaflern parts of the country, though it had been fuppofed he might have delegated his authority to fome one of lefs importance than himfelf ; but after fome meflages had pafTed between this chief and Tamaahmaah, it appeared that it had not been pofTible to difpenfe with his prefence in thofe parts of the ifland.

The other abfentee was Tamdahmotoo, chief of Koarra, the perfon that had captured the Fair American fchooner, and with whom I was not