Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-08-29
SANDWICH ISLANDS.
From the PanopIist, for July.

For several years past, the Sandwich
Islands have presented objects Of great ca.
riosiiy. TO the inquisiive philanthropist
SIEGE Christian mission from this coun
try TO these Islands has been contemplated,
and especially siuce the sailing of the
missionaries last October, general inter-
est has been felt with respect to every
thing which relates to the civil policy and
present condition of the natives; as the
reception of our brethren might be much
affected by these things.
When the Thaddeus sailed, intelligence
had not been received of the death of the
old king TamaGhmGah, though such an
event was considered as likely TO take
place soon. The life and activity Of this
man, his acquisition Of property and pow
er, aud the order and subordination which
he had enforced, have Tor many years at
tracted 90 small attention in Europe and
America, and his name frequently appears
in English reviews. We have conversed
with many captains and others, who had
been long and particularly acquainted
with bin. They unite 10 declaring, that
uC as tUou VI tdtCnto >
and that, with superior advantages, he
might have made great statesman. He
was very fond Of property, aud Of COM
merce as the means of obtaining it. To-
wards the close Of bis life his avarice be.
came intense, as is generally the case with
avaricious men, 10 all parts of the world.
He boarded Spanish dollars, and almost
every kind Of personal property, which
was not Immediately perishable- He had
large stone ware. houses filled with dry
goods, axes, hoes, firearms, and other in
struments Of defence and offence. He had
fort, with guns mounted and senlinels
regularly ON duty. He owned three small
briggs, Schooner, and several small craft.
His control over the persons and property
of his subjects was absolute. To main.
tain this control it was part of his policy
to keep them poor and dependent, and TO
exercise bis power continually. To bis
chiefs he granted certain privileges. One
Of them named Krimakoo, was also called
bis prime minister by the English and
Americans, and was by them picknamed
Billy Pitt. He is described by all as
being an able, intelligent and faithful agent.
The principal queen is also said to be a
shrewd sensible woman, and to have ex-
erted great influence. The late king was
also high priest, an office which he assum-
ed many years ago, to obtain and secure
his political authority. He was very
strict in the performance of his sacerdotal
functions, though il is supposed that the
ceremonies OF his religion were perfectly
unintelligible even to the natives, aud that
he had no sort of confidence himself in the
system.
TamdahmGak was strong athletic man
till near the close Of life, when he became
quite emacia,ed, and died Of gradual
decay. He was apprehensive Of his ap-
preaching dissolution, appointed his only
remaining son to succeed him, established
his chiefs in their accustomed privileges,
associated Billy Pitt aud the principal
queen with the young prince as advisers,
and left the world without any fear that
the succession would be disturbed. His
subjects made a great lamentation over
him, and many Of them have these words
tattooed. that is pricked into the skin Of
their arms and breasts with indelible ink,
in large Roman letters: OUR GREAT AND
GooD KING TAMAAHMAAH DIED MAY g.,
1919. The age Of the old king is sup-
posed to have been about 10; the young
king is about %. His name is Rseo-rseo,
and he has assumed that Of his father.
The preceding facts are stated as intro
ductory to others Of much more inter
esting nature, and which seem to have a
most suspicious bearing on the mission,
which left our shores attended by so many
prayers, and had been the object Of SO
much affection aud solicitude.
Early in the month Of November, the
young king, (who had himself been in