an imposition from his wine merchant in the villagė, that extended to his guests; for while he had ordered the best in store, and had paid an exhorbitant price, as Governor Boki informed us, notwithstanding a great show of seals and marks, as if from the cellar of a genuine bon-vivant, it was, for the most part, a villainous manufacture. This, however, was no drawback to the enjoyment of the evening, and it was near twelve o'clock before, serenaded by the band, we pulled off to the ship. LETTER XIX. SECOND VISIT TO LAHAINA. U. S. Ship Vincennes, off Hawaii, EARLY after the arrival at Oahu, of the chieftains from Maui and Hawaii, Captain Finch determined to invite them to return to their respective islands, in the Vincennes, with a design of asking the king also to make the voyage. I acted as interpreter in delivering the invitation. It was highly gratifying to them; and the general exclamation on hearing it was, "This is indeed a joy-making man-of-war!" Thursday the 5th inst. was the day appointed for the embarkation; and at four o'clock in the afternoon, the whole company were brought on board by the captain, in a procession of 232 CHIEFS AND THEIR LUGGAGE. the ship's boats, under a salute of twenty-one guns, returned by the fort; the Tamehameha having previously fired the same number, as the boats passed her in the harbor. Were we in the vicinity of a Court Gazette, the notice of the trip, with the names and titles of our royal passengers, would form quite an imposing paragraph. His majesty the king, private secretary, and suite, including the noble whose special duty it is to guard his head, and whose prerogatives extend to the exclusive privilege of awaking his sovereign from sleep, the keeper of the wardrobe, steward of the household, &c., &c.; her royal highness the princess Harieta, and attendants; the ex-queens Kekauruohe and Kekauonohi; Madam Boki, lady of the Governor of Oahu; their excellencies the Governors of Maui and Hawaii; Naihé, chief counsellor of state, and lady, &c. &c., with their respective attendants, making in all the goodly number of thirty-six. Mr. Bingham, at the united request of Captain Finch and the king, was also of the party. Pleasantry aside, however, the whole party was highly respectable in their appearance and demeanor, as well as in their rank. No one, unacquainted with the state of the nation, would have believed the baggage brought on board, previously to the embarkation, to be that of a company of natives; consisting of highly ornamented and showy traveling trunks, carpet-bags, portmanteaus, writing-desk, dressingcases, portfolios, bandboxes, &c., the whole in an elegance and good keeping that, set down in advance of the company, before an American or English hotel, ARRIVAL AT LAHAINA. 233 would make the eyes of the landlord glisten, at the assurance afforded by the luggage, of the rank and resources of the owners. During the voyage, the chiefs were seated at the cabin table, going through all the forms of polished society; changing their dresses for dinner, &c., and exhibiting, in other respects, no little acquaintance with the etiquette of high life. A principal amusement with them, especially in the evening, on deck, was in singing hymns. Of these they are very fond; and have learned to sing so well, especially the king and his sister, that no one can listen to them without interest and pleasure. On the second evening from Oahu, we arrived at Lahaina. The princess and governor of Maui were to be left here; and the captain, wishing to honor them with a salute, boats were ordered out to carry them on shore, when yet some distance from the anchorage, in the apprehension that we should not be able to drop anchor before sunset, after which time, in our service, it is not customary to fire a salute. The captain himself intended seeing them on shore; and as soon as the boats had pulled ahead of the ship, the compliment was paid, and our probable name and character at once made known by it, throughout the settlement. The visit was equally a surprise and a joy, both to the missionaries and the people; and I have had the happiness of spending two more days delightfully with them. Yesterday at noon, however, I was called painfully to bid them a final adieu; and we VOL. II. 21 . 234 LETTER OF THE PRINCESS once more took our anchor, from the midst of a fleet of whale ships, and filled away for Hawaii, with a salute, answered by a battery planted near the landing. Among other tokens of affection and remembrance sent to you, dear H, I find a letter of the princess, of which the following is a literal translation. Lahaima, Maui, Nov. 10th, 1829. Where art thou, my greatly beloved mother, Mrs. Stewart? I write to you with anguish of heart, that we no more meet in person, and that our eyes no more fall upon each other; though, I believe, that in mind and feelings, we are ever one, and thus dwell together. Still my heart is pained within me. At the time we met Mr. Stewart, my sorrow of spirit was relieved; but as my eyes fell on his face, my love for you was revived. How shall I express my affection for you, and for your children? It becomes me to acquaint you with some of my feelings at the present time. I am, externally, among the people of God, and employed in acts of religion, though not perhaps with full purpose of heart. It is, however, my inmost desire forever to repose on the couch of righteousness; and for this I daily entreat the Lord, that he would establish his kingdom in my heart, and grant me his exceeding grace. My mind is often on passing trifles, but by no means with that intensity of feeling and strong desire with which, I think, my soul is fixed on the TO MRS. STEWART. 235 ways of piety. I truly feel that my supreme wish is after holiness: but still I perceive that a single day by no means passes without sin. thoughts are fixed on God; another snared and thus it is continually. One day my day I am en These things I say that you may be acquainted with my real character. I think that my inmost spirit seeks after righteousness as my constant companion. Jane Young (her bosom friend) sends much love to you, with strong regret that she never saw you. She in reality has great affection for you. Again I must express my own affection for you, my beloved friend in the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone can give us life in the world without end. Great love to all your friends and connections. HARIETA KEOPUOLANI. LETTER XX. THREE DAYS AT KEARAKEKUA AND KAAVAROA. U. S. Ship Vincennes, off Hawaii, November 17th, 1829. AT mid-day on the 13th, we came to anchor in the memorable bay of Kearakekua. We had the evening before been so near the entrance of it, that the double canoe of Kapiolani, a beautiful boat of the kind, with neatly made canvas sails, and well manned with |