The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-06-13
Honolulu Sixty-Five Years Ago.
TContinued.l

lOOulluutuI
The island of Wahoo lies about seven leagues
to the northwest of Morotai, and about thirty
from Owyhee, in the same direction it is nearly
forty miles in length from northwest to southeast
and almost half that extent in breadth,
Although only of secondary size, it has become
the most important island in the group, both on
account of It's superior fertility, and because it
in the Sandwich Islands.
In consequence of this, and of the facility
with which fresh provisions can be procured,
almost every vessel that n~avigates the North Pac-
ifc puts in here to reft. This is probably the
principal reason why the king has chosen it as
his place of residence perhaps the vicinity to
AtoOi and Onehow, the only islands independent
of himself, and the conquest of which he is said
to mediate, is another and no less powerful
motive.
The south coast of the island extends from
Diamond Hill on the east, to Barber's Point on
the west, a distance of about twenty-four miles.
\ range of mountains run almost parallel to the
shore, from which 1t is separated by 4 fertile
plain, which varies in breadth at Hanaroora,
where it is b broadcast, the distance from the sea to
the mountains is about five miles.
A reef of coral runs along the whole extent of
this shore, within a quarter of n mile of the
land the greater part of it dries at low water,
and in the inside it is in many places too shallow
even for canoes, except at full tide.
Whyteeto bay, where Captain Vancouver an
chored, is formed by the land falling back from
the southern prOmOntory of the island, called by
the white people Diamond Hill. 1t is open to
the south one half of the compass, and there be-
ing no channel, ships are obliged to anchor on
the outside Of the reef.
Tamaahmadh formerly resided at this place,
and great part of his navy were hauled up on
the shore round the bay. l counted more than
thirty vessels they are kept with the utmost
care, having sheds built over them, their spars
laid alongside, and their rigging and cables pre-
served in stores.
They are chiefly sloops and schooners, under
forty tons burden, and have all been built by his
own carpenters. principally natives under the
direction of an Englishman Of the name Of Boyd.
He possesses one ship Of about two hundred
tons, called the Lily Bird. This vessel was
originally an American, which arrived from the
cast of California in 4 leaky condition. He
Purchased her from the captain, by giving his
largest schooner in exchange, and paying the diff
ference in dollars. She was repaired by his own
carpenters, and laid up at Hanaroora, alongside
wharf built for the purpose. The remainder
Of his fleet, ten or twelve more, were hauled up
ut the same place, except one small slOop, which
he kept as n packet between Wahoo and Owy-
h.e. She was navIgate6 by native seamen, I'M
der the command Of an Englishman, of the name
OF Clerk, who had formerly been mate Of the
LILY Bird:
Three miles to the west of Whyteete is the
town of Hanaroorn, now the capital of the isl
and, and residence OF the king. The harbOr l.
brned by the reef, which shelters it from the
sea. and ships can ride within in safety in any
weather. upon a fine sandy bottom. There is a
good channel through the reef, with three or four
hthoms water but if there is a swell 1t is not
easily discovered, as the sea often breaks COM
pletely across. Pilots, however, are always 10
be had John Hairbottle, captain of the Lily
Bird, generally acted as such. The best anchor
age is in five fathoms water, about two cables
length from the shoe, directly in front of the
village Ships sometARes anchor on the outside
of the reef, but they ne risk Of having their
cables cut by the corr