The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-03-11

confirmed In this opinion by lowering away and going
in with the boat heavy swell into the passage,
and could not head off either tack. Considering
that there real necessity for coming anchor
here, made known to the gentlemen my doubts as
t. the propiety Of going in, and the next morning,
Saturday, being clear and pleasant, sent, charge
of both officers. all three boas bring off the goods.
At about O'Clock the gentlemen came on board and
informed me that they considered it expedient that
the vessel should go in, and come to anchor as MIR.
Doane had promised the chief she should, and 1t
would crafty them and himself also. After having
represented the dangers of the passage and absence
of all real necessity for going in, and perceying it
had little or effect the minds of some. finally
told all the gentlemen that If they would all sign
writing, iberating from all responsibility in the
matter, would consent. This they refused to do,
and so the affair ended; but much time had been
expended in argument that the tide fell, and we we're
obliged to lay off TIL Monday night. Having taken
all on board w1h mutual good feeling, We bid adeu
to Jokoits. 1t calm during the night, but with
daylight light breeze sprang up from W. n W., and
at noon off Roam Kidd The pilot on
board and recommended anchoring in the outer har-
Dor, as could not work through the narrow chan
mel connecting the outer and inner harbors, 1t being
only 200 feet wide. The next morning the wind was
fair, and in without difficulty, and came to in
five fathoms water, about one-half mile from Mr..
Sturges house The shore ali around this island is
lined with almost mpenetrable jungle of mangrove
This makes the landing in some places dsagreeable,
and destroys n good degree the beauty of the line
of shore, which in places rises abruptly and in
others stretches away inland, burdened with heavy
growth of timber, and intersected by rapid streams
aording an immense water power, where mills might
be erected and of which, opine, it couli never be
affirmed that they driven by the force of crcuu
stances. DIR. Gulick informs that he has given
full descriptions of this island in his correspondence
to the Mission House, there is necessity of my
repeating il here. After remaining here week re-
ceved orders to get under way and go round to Meta
lanim harbor, and take on board Dr. Gulick's wife,
three children and servant, and then to proceed to
Strongs Island touching Dupereys and McAskill's
n6s fcir nafay We nun rbar
now forty two souls on board, all told.
OCTOBER 20TH-Yesterday we hove in sight of
Duperey's Island The wind being light
till p. VI. getting up with it. Mr.. Higgins came
off and received his letters, and invited the Mission
aries to go shore. Accordingly Messrs. Snow,
Doane and Bingham went. They returned soon after
sunset, bringing two turtle and 200 cocoanuts.
should have noticed previous to this, circumstance
that happened in coming out of Metalanim harbor.
The experience have in navigating these seas,
the more become convinced of the necessity OF ex
treme caution the part of those who have the
management of vessels here. During my absence at
Roam Kittie, DIR. Gulck had surveyed the reefs in
the outer harbor, and planted limbs of trees the
extreme points. After we had weighed anchor,
sent the I'd officer, Mr.. Gulck, with boats crew
ahead to tow, it being calm, and at the same time
we manned our sweeps, and, with the tide in
favor, swept along at about two knots. Going
aloft to look out for the landmarks, saw we were
going all clear of them on our starboard bow, but
the sun being directly ahead, L could not see the
reeI tlll MI. dullck maze me aware OF IL from
boat. Immediately gave him orders to pull around
to port. The vessel swinging around with the tide,
struck on the reef, and had she struck rock, it
might have damaged her seriously, but an ever
watchful Providence ordered it otherwise, and
went clear This reef had escaped DIR. Gulicks
notice, and not only he, but old native who was
on board did not seem to be aware OF It, There IS
nothing but extreme caution that will ensure our
safety These reefs spring up suddenly from un-
fathomable depths, and there is no such thing as
safety night or day. On coming around from Kittie
harbor, where, according to all had heard or read
dangers existed, l looked over the side, and
saw the bottom just in time to haul off. The reefs
are some times perpendicular, and then again when
you would suppose them to be barrier reefs, they
take the form of fringe reefs and shoal water extens
great way out The discoloration of the water is
criterion either; for times the clouds Will
to he deceived in the appearance of the
water. As yet, have found no object in nature,
that will indicate the presence of sunken reef
OCTOBER 2oTH-At P. VI. the look ont at mast
head announced land in sight. This VI M'AskilPs
Island. 1t bore E. 300 s. The wind being light,
did not get near the land till next morning. At
early hour a canoe came of, loaded with banan-
mas and cocoanuts and containing seven men, who
seemed very friendly. Their heads were bound
around with wreaths of red and white flowers, and
around their were wreaths likewise, which lat
ter a token of friendship Their only covering
was belt of grass about three inches wide, worn
around the hips, which answered as n marc. After
they had passed up their trade, we invited them on
board, and they readily complied. After looking
round they formed themselves into circle, and set
up a wild cry chant, at the time striking
their breasts and pointing upward, and downward,
and throwing their arms around vehemeutiy. This
seemed to be Introductory ceremony, for they
seemed very ftmiliar and fond of us, throwing
their arms around ms, and rubbing our noses with
theirs The weather was very unpropitious. Heavy
SQUALLS of wind and rain, followed each other in
quick succession, which precuded the possibility OF
lowering our boats. At about 10 A NJ II cleared up
in some degree, and Messrs. Snow and Doane, with
DR. Pierson went shore, while I sounded off the
village close in, with bottom at 100 fthoms and
sought for the ship passage through the reef which
is described by Finley and others; but there IS no
ship passage and here is another proof of how little
reliance be placed upon the statements of navig
tors in these seas. The king received them with
great demonstrations of joy, after which he fastened
off to the ship, attended by his chiefs lie was about
so years old, well built, and exceedingly voluble, |
begging, singing and dancing almost at a breath ,
Here is a specimen of his requirements in the English
language: "Capin go shore. me give cocoanut, ba-
nannas taro all plenty chicken, pig, me like hachet,
tobacco, one fe.'' The language of these natives
the Bonabe language much. MIR. Doane
could make himself understood The king said he
wanted Missionary to come and live on his island.
He would give him land to live on, &C.. &c.
I should say more about this island and its inhsb
itants were it not that understand the missionaries
intend to give DIR. Anderson full description OF
their visit. The boat returned at p. NJ. and
hauled on the wind which was now E. n. f., blow
ing fresh, and heavy clouds rising fast. At the
turning of the monsoons, it sometimes happens that
heavy gales will be experienced in these latitudes.
The clouds assuming threatening aspect as
night drew on. ordered the nearly all in,
and battened down the matches fore and aft. At 10
o'clock it blew heavy accompanied with sharp light
ming and very soon began to rain hard, when the
wind ceased, leaving very bad SWELL, causing the
vessel to pitch and roll badly, doing more damage
however than to rie up some stomachs rather un-
At daylight light breeze from s.
W. sprang up and we lay our course for Strong's
Island.
MONDAY 26rH-Found us close in with the land,
but it being calm, Mr.. Snow and family set on
shore. Heavy rain fell during the night. and day
light disclosed to us the disagreea5le fact that we
had drifted nearly 40 miles to the eastward. All
that day was spent in getting back, and lowering
under the land till daylight, when were towed in
by boats from two vessels lying in the harbor. All
hands were now employed in getting on board the
three families that to take from this island.
and their effects The best possible arrangement of
stowsge was needful to do this, the vessel being