Page:Voyage of discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and round the world in the years 1791-95, volume 3.djvu/81

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64
A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY


1794. I'cbru.iiy. Mirth. Sctuiday Sunday 2.

behind which the plains of Whymca are ftatcd to commence, which are reputed to be very rich and produ6live, occupying a (pace of feveral miles in extent, and winding at the foot of thefe three lofty mountains far into the country. In this valley is a great traft of luxuriant, natural pafture, whither all the cattle and fheep imported by me were to be driven, there to roam unrcftrained, to " increale and multiply" far from the fight of Grangers, and confequently Icfs likely to tempt the inhabitants to violate the facred promife they had made; the obfervance of which, for the time flipulated in their interdiction, cannot fail to render the extirpation of thefe animals a talk not eafiiy to be accomplilhed.

This day being devoted to their holy rites, the king, with all the pro- vincial chiefs, remained in facred retirement. The fame caufe operated to deprive us of the fociety of our other vifitors, particularly the females, who are on no account permitted to be afloat on thefe occafions.

The next morning the king, with all our friends, were again about the veffels. In the courfe of the day a further proof of the liberality of Tamaahmaah's difpofition was given, by his prefenting us with near an hundred hogs of the largc/l fize, and as great a quantit) of vegetables as both veffels could well difpofe of; with offers of a further fupply if thefe were infufficient.

It was my intention to have failed with the land wind in the evening, but Tatnaahmaah pointing out that fince thurfday his engagements on ftiore had totally deprived him of our fociety ; firfl by his attendance on their religious ceremonies, and afterwards in procuring and fending us the fupplies we required ; and foliciting, at the fame time, in the mofl earnefl manner, that the laft day fhould be dedicated to the enjoyment of each other's company, I was induced to remain the following day, to prove to him that there was no indulgence in my power, compatible with my duty, that I would not grant, in return for the friendfhip and regard he had on all occafions manifefted towards us, and that in the moft princely and unlimited manner.

The fucceeding day was confequently pafTed in recei ing farewell vifits, and making farewell acknowledgments to our numerous friends ; who all expreffed