SANDWICH ISLANDS.

LETTER I.

ARRIVAL AT THE ISLAND OF HAWAII.

U. S. Ship Vincennes, off Hawaii,

October 2d, 1829.

AFTER a passage of eighteen days from Raiateaincluding four of a dead calm, previously to taking the northeast trade wind-yesterday afternoon, at 5 o'clock, "land ho!" was called from the mast head.

I had been anxiously gazing, for an hour, from one of the quarter-boats, at a mass of clouds and mist on our lee-bow, expecting the outline of Hawaii momentarily to make its appearance. First rate chronometers, accurate sights, and nice calculations, enable us to judge very closely of the time of making land and the sailing master having said, at 12 o'clock, that we should see the island between 3 and 5, we were almost certain that such would be the fact.

Before the call from aloft was made, my eyes had been fixed for some minutes, on what I believed to be the summit of MOUNAKEA; but I dared not assert it, lest I might be deceived: I was correct, however, though a thick haze prevented any more dis

tinct sight of it. The southeast point, in the neighborhood of Kearakomo, was the only part clearly in view before dark, and that at a distance of forty or fifty miles.

Captain Finch did not fully determine, until a short time since, whether he would run on directly to Maui to-night, or lie to, and send a boat into

Much to my satisfac

Byron's bay in the morning. tion, and indeed principally on my account, he has made up his mind to look in upon Hido: and thus to give me the interview of an hour, with those of our missionary friends who inay be at that station, and, at the same time, an opportunity of learning the general news of the nations, before proceeding to Oahu.

Our voyage from the Society Islands has seemed long, and most tedious to me, notwithstanding its having, in reality, been short. A near approach to this group has necessarily given rise to many feelings and associations, both of joy and of pain; and, for the last few days, especially during and since the calm to which we were subjected, I have been as restless and feverish in mind, as a child on the point of realizing some long promised and eagerly anticipated delight; and have been incapable of confining my attention for an hour to any one subject. Such utter uncertainty hangs over the scenes immediately before me, that I find myself harassed by an exciting and painful impatience, when I ought to be under the exercise only of emotions of gratitude and joy, for the kind protection of God, in permitting me to reach this "desired haven" in health and safety.

As you, my dear H, will readily believe, I was on deck this morning by day-break, in anticipation of a sunrise view of the land and mountains, as splendid and impressive as that with which we were favored, when under similar circumstances, on board the Thames in 1823-but I was disappointed: instead of the rich and mellow tints of a fine morning in the tropics, I found a beclouded sky with occasional strong puffs of wind and dashes of rain, while an impenetrable curtain of mist entirely cut off a sight of the land. By 7 o'clock, however, the rain had ceased-the clouds began to gather round the mountains, and the mist over the lowlands, retreating before the sun, left the wide districts of Puna and Hido, with their extensive forests and gradually ascending open grounds, in all their rich verdure and freshness in full view. We were then directly off Kapoho,the east point of the island-twenty-five or thirty miles south of Byron's Bay-and within twelve or fifteen miles of the shore.

For the last two hours, we have been running along the coast, which momentarily increases in richness. I am happy, that the ship's company thus have an opportunity of seeing this section of the country, so widely different from every thing on the leeward sides. Hawaii is, without hesitation, pronounced by them the finest and most important island we have yet seen: and evidently rich in its capacities for improvement,

We are now so near the entrance of the bay, that orders are given for two boats to be in readiness for lowering-one to carry me to the mission house, and

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LAND IN A SMALL BOAT.

the other to enable the sailing master to take a view of the harbor, that we may have it in our power to speak from observation of its advantages and disadvantages. I must, therefore, drop my pen-only to resume it, I trust, with good news from "a far country."

LETTER II.

VISIT ON SHORE, AND DESCRIPTION OF THE SCENERY.

Mission House, at Byron's Bay,

October 3d, 1829.

You will be as much surprised, dear H- at the place of my present date, as I am at the opportunity I enjoy of making it. When I wrote yesterday

morning, I little thought of spending the night under this roof: but such I am most happy and thankful to say is the fact.

At 11 o'clock I left the ship, in the captain's gig, accompanied by Lieutenant Dornin, and Midshipmen Huntt and Wurts: Lieutenant Lardner, the Master, and Midshipmen Maury, going in the third cutter. A tremendous swell was setting towards the land, and it was almost as much as one's life was worth, to attempt getting into the boats, as they rose and fell, apparently ten or twelve feet, with every returning billow. We got off safely however, and as the sea did not break, did very well, with the excep

RECEPTION BY MR. GOODRICH.

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The

tion of the long pull to the bottom of the bay. ship was farther off the land than we thought-not less than eight or nine miles, and it was half past 12 o'clock, before we got into the harbor.

An immense thatched building, beautifully finished, on the western side of the bay, near the river of Wairuku, I rightly judged to be the chapel; and we steered for it, knowing that the mission house would be found near. While still a considerable distance from the beach, I recognized Mr. Goodrich among a crowd of natives, beckoning us to the best spot for landing. Shortly afterwards, our boat touched the Hawaiian shore-a thousand varied thoughts and emotions rushed upon my mind and heart, and I was incapable of lifting up my head, lest I should betray what might be interpreted into a weakness by my companions, till I found myself in the strong grasp of a missionary friend and brother. Our meeting was the more impressive and affecting to Mr. Goodrich, from its being entirely unexpected. He had had no further intimation of my proposed visit, than that of having heard of my appointment in the naval service, and of the possibility of my visiting the islands, at some future period.

After introducing my fellow-officers, a few minutes walk inland, brought us to the mission house, where I was happy to meet Mrs. Goodrich and two little daughters, in good health. Mr. Goodrich is at present without an associate.

The captain had felt it necessary to limit our stay on shore to half an hour; and consequently all was hurry and excitement-a hundred things to learn, VOL. II.

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