The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-08-20
KAMEHAMEHA THE CoNQUERoR
SKETCHES EY
WALTER NJ. GIBSON.
CHAPTER H.
FIRxSEss USDER FIRE

serted itself all the time. lie was formed for
calm observation amid the shock Of battles On
this occasion some practise with cannon took
place IL may be that the commander ordered
discharge Of guns in order 70 astOnish and in
timIdate the natives. We can imagine the curl
o-ity of Kamehameha and bi- companions exam
ming these ponderous dark tubes; and possibly
there some shining brass ones. 4 stout
sailor spOnges out the piece. Another one inserts
powder cartridge And on this occasion, the
natives must have noticed some loose powder
spoken Of as a black sand Of their first curious
observation The cartridge il rammed home:
and then a ball Of iron, which has excited num-
brrle-s expressions Of barbarous interes:. And
now a sailor approaches with a small cord in his
hand. which shows a small sparkling ignition at
one end. The man blows slightly on the lighted
end, IiVening up the sparkle and the glow, and
applying it TO the small aperture a, the breach
of the gun there follows n terrible bang, fash and
cloud Of smoke; so surprising and stunning to
these ignorant and unconscious observers, that
some shrink back. some fall down PROSTATE, and
all are moved and agitated;-all except Rameha-
meha, who stood firm and erect;-not needing
this startling and unexpected explosion, and not
losing his self possession, although in the pres
ence OF new and terrible forces, whose extent and
power he could not determine; like great
soul. that under any circumstances is never
surprised: and would maintain his dignity Of
manhood, though world were breaking up
under his ieet.
However, though Kamehameha was not ont
wArdIy moved by the exhibition Of strange and
startling things; yet his intelligent spirit was
strongly aroused in observing these evidences Of
skill and power in the hands Of the wonderful
strangers. Their great ships were such wonders;
with the great s1ils, the complicated cordage,
the blocks and gearing Of all kinds, the governing
helm, and the greas guns, the small arms, and
the bright flashing bayonets and cutlasses. How
pany were Hawaiian canoes. paddles, and wood
en- and bone Iances alongside the powerful struc-
tures and instruments Of the strangers,
A strong mind like that Of Kamehameha seeking
and desiring control Of his fellow men, must have
been powerfully awakened by the wonders now
presented to him. lie got glimpses Of the wond-
erful world that lay beyond his islands, and If
he did not fear, he deeply respected the new
powers Of man presented to his gaze. And a
spirit Of inquiry and profound observation con-
tinued with Kamehameha. He was not thought
less barbarian warrior like Kiana, RameeaumOku
and many other Hawaiian chiefs of his time; who
sometimes fened, and sometimes hated and
fought the power OF the white strangers. Kane
hameha always respected the white foreigners,
and never feared OF hated them. lie studied like
a wise man to learn the secrets of their power,
and be was quick scholar; for although at the
time spoken Of when he was about 24 years Of
age. he was a wondering barbarian on board the
ship Of war Of the great English Navigator. he
,ia1h
like Peter Of the Pacific, the building of sea
going vessels, thai carried great guns. which he
himself could handle. Yes, Kamehameha became
a ship builder for the benefit of his nation; and
more remarkable in this character, considering
his opportunities, than was Car Peter Of Rus
ala learning to build ships in the well appointed
ship yards, Of Holland and OF England.
Is - not necessary TO dwell on the particulars
Of the visit Of KalaniOpuu and his chiefs on board
the ship OF the English Discoverer Cook. They
we're entertained courteously, and returned with
gifts on hand; and it is stated by foreign and
native authorities that Kamehameha remained
behind on this occasion, and that this the
time when after remaining all night on board the
ship, his absence was bewailed by the people on
shore But this is Of no consequence; the point
of interest to note. is that Kamehameha attracted
the attention Of Cook; and the Commander snd
the ConauerOr that was to be, established rela-
tions OF mutual regard and amity- The old un-
biassed chroniclers Of Maui and Lanai. say that
there was aloha between Kamehameha and LonO;
(Cook), and the particulars that can be presented
m connection with the death of the navigator. 60
far 70 support this statement.
LAH,INA AND VICINITY.
D., -. . -l,-., ,Io,~, the shore of Mani
whose people then observed the ships OF the Dis
eoverer, and who had alternately obeyed hehekiii
and KaIaniopuu. The town OF ;he Lahaina was
then the most honOred and the most Fopuluns
among all the kuanakauhales or towns in the
Hawaiian Islands. There was a continuous line
Of well thatched houses along the shore, from
Ukumehane, and OlOwalu, 10 Kaanapali, an
extent Of SIX miles; and thrOng Of huts lay
inland, all emboweced amid beautiful groves 1i
candle nut (kukuD trees, and lofty coc'anut
palms. The abodes Of the chiefs were canopied
over BY the stately and umbrageous kou tree-
These trees were regarded as sacred q the chiei-
and IL is a curious and impressive coincidence
10 the Hawaiian mind, that when the kou trees
all died out, as happened in Llhaina, the chiefs
had all passed away But at this time, the kou
49, spread his ample leafy hOnOrs, and rich
orange eoIored blossoms, and Hawaiian chiefs
aourisbed beneath their shade. And the kanaka
then was strong and healthiul who sat beneath
the Nh the breadfruit, and the mn, the cocoa
mt ualm. There were more than ten thousand
Hawaiians IN those days, In'-or 1eiongins 70 Ia
haina The streams Of kapOulu and oi Lau-
nipoko then watered more than thousand
taro MATCHES which fed bOunteOu=ly the people
The great poi boards Of kOa wood, were 10 De
seen beneath the shade of almost every iTee' ana
a stout kanaka squatting down by the board
IL IN hnr