Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-05-04

whenever ii suits his occasions or capriceS."
Return ofH NJ s. Bionde, from the Sandaoich
Islands.
London, lf7rck Cove last week announced
the arrival at Portsmouth Of his Majesfy's ship
Blonde, commanded by Lord Byron, from the
Sandwich Islands, whittier she conveyed the
bodies of the King and Queen of those Islands,
with the Chiefs who had accompanied them TO
England The Blonde left England in the au-
tumn Of 1924; on her arrival at Valparaiso, Mr..
Charlton, Consul General Of the Islands in the
Pacific, was sent forward, to Woahoo, to an
nounce the death Of the King and Queen, and
the expected arrival of the Blonde with the bo-
dies 1t was regarded as a remarkable oircum-
stance by the natives, that Just previous 10 the
period Of Mr.. Charlon's arrival at Woahoo,
certain natural phcDomcna-such as the extra
ordinary OVERLOOKING and recession OF the tide,
an eclipse Of the moon, sc. had taken place,
which impressed them with belief that some
fatality had happened TO the King or Queen; ST.
miIar occurrences being observed when lama
hama died, the first sovereign who conquered
all the seven Islands, brought them under one
government, and afterwards coded them to Van
couver, in 1874. This omen or presentiment
was confirmed by Mr.. Charlton's arrival. When
the Blonde arrived al Honoruru, the anchorage
of Woahoc, in MAY last, she was, however, i'm
rediateiy saluted by nineteen guns from the
fort.
The day afterw ards Lord Byron had an audi
ence of the Regent iKaraimaku, the brother OF
Boki, the Governor, who came to England, at
hishouse, at which were delivered, in the pre-
ssnce Of ali the heads OF the nation, the pre-
sents Sc, out in the Blonde by our King. The
present King of the Islands is Kauklauli, lad
about years Of age, brother of Rio Rio, who
died in England. On the Esd of May, four days
after the arrival OF the Blonde, at u, A NJ. the
bodies of the King and Queen were landed, at
tended by Lord Byron and al the officers OF the
Blonde. dressed in their full uniforms. On the
arrival OF the boats at the landing point they
were placed on two funeral cars, and drawn by
native chiefs; Oorty 10 each carr TO the late
room Of audience belonging TO the Prince Re
gent, the tomb-housc not being finished. Kau-
kiaul, (brother of the late King.) and the Prin-
cess Nahienaen. were the chief mourners sup
ported by Lord Byron and the British Consul;
the numerous chiefs OF the Island and the otfi-
GERS of the Blonde formed an extensive funeral
cavalcade The Blonde continued at the Isl
and about six weeks, during which Lord Byron
attended the meetings of the chiefs, who grave
" delberated respecting the succession Of the
young King and Princess to the throne: as here
tofore, might had constituted right. This I'M
portanl matter, was however, very amlcably ar
ranged, the heads of the nation and all the
chiefs, expressing their earnest desire to con
form themselves strictly to the laws oil legetl-
macy, and Of consanguinity. This island is
described as the most fertile of all the Sand
WITCH islands The inhabitants, by late CEN
sus, amounted to about forty thousand.
The Blonde proceeded from Wooahoo to Vi
sit the Isle of Owyhee, (about three days rum
and reft there She anchored in one OF the FIN
est bays i'll the world, (nowcalled Byron's Bay)
which Vancouver was deferred from entering
by coral rock appearing to impede its en-,
trance but which actually forms its principal
security. 1t is a most safe position, and its
most beautifully varied scenery, has obtained
for i, the appellation Of The Eden OF the
Sandwich Islands, In the nelghborheod OF
this Bay the Island is in the highest state OF
fertility, but the natives are nearly IN the same
state as they were when Capt. Cook discovered
them in l779. An American Missionary had
arrived there about six months since, whose
instructions would, no doubt, advance them In