Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-12
TAMAAHMAAHg
KING OF THE SANDWICH ISLANDS

This Indian Prince, illnstrious for
his maguanimity, his love Of civiliza-
ton, aud his great abilities, was one OF
natures great men who led the van OF
the age in which he lived. The report
If his death recently received. leads the
mind TO consider the transactions at his
| life. he was the hero, and conquefcr oi
that cluster Of Islands in the Pacific
Ocean, (cxcepting Caehooi and AttoI,)
Of which Owhyhee is the principal. Be
sides Owhyhee, there are Moratia, Wa
hoo, Atool, Onehoo, Mowce, Ranai.
Tahoorowa, Tahoona--all but two OF
which are inhabited. The Sandwich
Islands, from the exuberant fertility of
the soil. their situation directly between
Asia and America. their active and in
tellgcnt population; but above al, from
the noble character of their King, have
become the most important groupe, in
habitcd merely by sa,agcs, in the known
world. English and American ships,
visiting Owhyhec, We're sure of a kind
reception, and abundant provisions and
refreshments. The latter have carried
ON aIsn a tolerabie extensive traffic in
Sandal wood, and other articles.
When Capt. Cook, in 1888, discover
ed these Islands, Tcreoboo was king of
Owhyhce, aud the rest Of the cluster
were under the dominion Of their re
spective princes Or chiefs. aamaah-
maah. known al that .ii:;: by the name
of hlaiha- Maiha was young and only
brothc. III i'ereoboo. Upon capt. Cooks
last visit at Owhyhee, our hero had
made an agreement to proceed with
him in the Resolution to England, and
was actively preparing to embark, wien
the death Of that distinguished conlnan-
DIR defeated his intentions. After the
death IF Tereobno, hc had several bat
ties TO obtain the ascendanCy in the
island, with another Chief, Teama
wheere, WHO being finally shot by Ii
anna, a warrior Of great bravery, Under
the command Of Tamaahmaah, the lat
ter became the supreme head Of the ma
ton.
The melancholy death Of Cock. and
subsequent murders committed by the
natives of different islands, inspired
such notion Of the savage nature OF
the people. that but few ships Ventured
to visit them for some years. In the
year 1882, the iphigenia, capt. Doug
lass, touched at Owhy hee, and after
wards in 1892, S--Capt. Vancouvre ar
rived there but il the interim, the
Fair American, and other vessels, and
seycra! American masters. had also
stopped at the islands, for the purposes
OF trade. Capt Vancourt is very mi
mute in his account of The difficulties
apdgi> aIsIIips existing among the chiefs,
and tho Ii oujIe he experienced to allay
their animosilirs. Iamaahmaah. at
that period, had become completely as
cendant in his own island, but had not
reduced to subjer ton, though he had
much enleebled several chiefs Of The
surrounding clester.-His noLlcness of
character, great intelligence. personal
proves, and dignity of conduct, pla-
ced all his rivals a great distance below
him---who possessed 10 other good
quality but bravery, and were besides
treacherous and rcvengcinl.
The seeing small vessel, which capt.
Mears and Douglass had caused to be
built at Nootka Sound, inspired Ia.
maahmaah with the idea OF obtaining
another--Nhich object be finally effect
ed by the assistance OF Capt. Van
couyrc, in the year 1894. Boyd, a
carpenter, who had lett the American
sloop Washington, and had entered into
the service OF the Indian King, toge-
thcr with Young and Davis, being aid
ed ty the shipwrights in The employ
meut OF that navigator, completed
sma!i vessel the same year. The length
OF Tie keel vas Sc feet, the extreme
breadth feet and a quarter, and the
depth OF the hold about FIVE feet.
OAhyhee was coded 10 the King of
Great Britain in full form, on the 25th
Of February. 1874, in presence OF the
principal Chiefs Of the Island, and capt.
VancoWre represented His Britannia
Majesty. lhe King reserved, however,
full freedom in all matters of religion,
internal government and domestic eco
Monty. Since that time strangers have