The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1886-08-17

Visit of Commodore Thomas Ap. Catesby
Jones in the u. S. Ship Peacock, to Ho-
uoIulu in Oct. 1926, to Jan. 1927, and
OF Capt. William Compton Bolton
Finch, in the q. S. Ship Vinoennes, in
Oct. 1929.
Under the instruction of the Hon. Sam'l. South
ard Secretary Of the Navy of the Onlteo states
and bv direction of the Hon. John quincy ADAMS,
President of the United States, Capt. Jones IN
command of the .. S. Ship of war Peacock, was
Gent TO these islands in the year loZo sixty years
since to look after American interests generally,
80 amongst other things to secure the acknowl-
adoan,ent and pavment OF debts due from the
Hawaiian King and Chiefs to American citizens. Ii
Is said that there is record OF the TRANSACTIONS
of Capt Jones in this MISSION entrusted 70 MIN,
. otbar fban his report to Congress through the
Navv Department and letter 10 the Hon. Ogden
Hoffman in which he claims to have secured
~ T,avr,,ent of over 100000 due by the late King
Kamehameha of the Sandwich lslands TO sundfy
citizens of the United States.
We are surprised at the largeness of the amount
lrt onr surprise will cease when we take into &C
couut the surrounding circumstances. 10 form
far Judgment of the whole transaction 1t should
he considered in connection with Its surroundings.
me government was a despotic one, neither
chiefs or people had known any other, and like all
arbitrary government, it would be mild or harsh,
accordinr TO the personal character of the reign
inc King The will of the King was the law of
the subject. The people did not seek to have 1t
otherwise, The King was the undlsputed owner
services of the people, and they had no disposition
TO call these claims IN question. but two days OF
each week were SET apart for the special service of
the King and chiefs as permanent tax, ana
called the Paahao days. and, although the King
could at any time command the service OF the
subject, yet in in the main the Kings and Chlefs
and public labor was performed IN these days,
specially set aside and considered by cnlets ana
peopIe as belonging to the rulers. None bat KING
and chiefs sold or traded III Sandal Moou,
which they had monopolized for many years and
this had been gathered for them by the people III
the Paahao DAYS Jarves, the Historian, speaks OF
Kamehameha being early engaged IN this trace.
he saws: " His trade IN Sandal Wood and pearls
and various monopohes, acquired consloeraple
wealth" His stores OF European, american anu
China goods were extensive and valuable Arms
and ammunition, he possessed IN abundance, ana
his Golfers we're we'll filled with dollars In ioio
two Ships one RdhehdHeha, hne war brig OF 40
guns and the other newly purchased ship ues-
tined for China with cargo of sandal wood, bore
the national flag, the war brig was COMMANDED py
Capt Adams an Englishman, whilst the otneI
vessel was laded with sandal wood, and under the
charge of English officers and native super
CARGO sent TO China. ExtravaRant port charges,
and the dissipation of the Captain and Supercargo
ran away with the proceeds OF the cargo Inc
ship returned safely but IN lieu OF the rlcnes e1
uected the King found himself 5000 IN debt.
Sandal wood had become great article OF export
amounting in one year to near S4O0,0Oo Mnlie IL
lasted il was mine of wealth to the chlet; put IL
engendered luxury, and e1travaganoei anu
labor and heavy taxation. On the sth of May,
1919 the King died, aged sc years, and was sue
ceeded by his son Ilholho.
The rich stores and treasures OF his father were
suuandered on favaorites, and the monopoly OF
the sandal wood trade, carried to such an extent
as to produce the most disastrous consequences
DAYS were spent in drunkenness and aepaucnery:
Whilst intoxicated the King purchased largely OF
foreigners and profusely bestowed gifts OF proao-
cloths rich silks and satins, AMI other costly
goods upon his retainers. Vessels were bougnt on
credit for large SUMS S80,000 in sandal wood was
paid for the Cleopatra's Barge yacht sent our
by a Boston house at an expense OF $5O,VVO- S4o,-
600 were given for the brig 1daddeus Sl6OOO for "a
small schooner, and their cargoes purchased at
corresponding rates. Through such extrayagan-
Sies heavy debts were contracted, andt pay Them
monopoIies created, and taxation TO It's utmost
bounds. Vast quantities of sandal wood we're col
lected and sold, but debt augmented Inc in1 s!,
nation prevailed during Liholiho's reign, and did
notscsase until some of the principal chiefs were
we're converted to Christianity In the hgu5atve
Language Of Hawaii 1nm was poison Go % ana sIIa
Cl9bt moth which consumes the islands, On the
18th Nov. 1898, Lihoiiho with has -ayorite wlte
Ksmamalu and small retinue embarked for
England, on an English whaleship They reached
Portsmouth Nav 22nd, 1924, and were kindly re-
ceived by the British King, George the ~. On
the 9Th of June, the Queen, and on the l4tn the
King died, both of measles. They received the
best medical attention, with all that good nursing,
in addition could do for them. They were treated
with great kindness by the King and MIR. Canning,
and the frigate Blonde, commanded by Lord
Byron dispatched to convey their remains to Ho-
nOlulu, where the frigate arrived on the 9th OF
May, 1925.
In these early years the larger part Of the traders
at these islands, on the Pacific Coast and KAN
schatka was in the hands of the Americans and
English chiefly Americans. These were all dis
taut almost unknown countries then, to be reached
only by long and perilous voyage around Cape
Horn, and usually occupying from = 20 years, be-
fore returns could be looked for at the port OF
shipment.
was the Hudson Bay Company Agency. The
great American house of Bryant d Sturges took
the lead of American Merchants and traders III
this ocean. l think they never established a per-
manent house here, but their Agencies here was
committee to James Hunnewell Esq, after he had
established his own house, which has been con-
tinued through various changes to this time 1t is
now represented by G. Brewer Co.. Mr.. Hum
neweII;s trade here on his own account commenced
In 1873 Although he made the acquaintance OF
the King and Chiefs in 1917 when In the BORDEAUX
Packet, brig of 160 tons, which with her cargo
was sold for sandal wood. He, and fellow officer,
on the Captains departure for China, remained to
sell the balance of the cargo and ship the pro-
ceeds, sandal wood, to China. In Sept. 1910, ne
left for home via China. In 1873, be was attached
as an officer to the brig ThGddeHs, IN both which
brig and cargo he had an interest and which
brought to these islands the first American Mis-
sionaries The acquaintance then formed, con-
tinued with mutual confidence and esteem through
life The KING and chiefs also gave to him their
uninterrupted friendship and confidence from
first to last Said one of Its Kings, " his long and
nsefnl life was marked by such constant good will
TO my kingdom, that L shall always cherlsh his
memory with sincere regard
The conditions favorable TO the accumulation of
a large debt by the king in those days, were those
recorded by the historians, VIA despotlc KING,
owning the whole OF the land andats prouucts ana
the services of his Subjects to be used in any way
tl,ot would minister most to mis- qualification The