Voyage of H. M. S. Blonde to the Sandwich Islands, in the Years 1824-1825Captain George Anson Byron was the cousin of Lord Byron and succeeded to his title. The purpose of this expedition was to return to the Hawaiian Islands for the remains of King Kamehameha II and his Queen, who died of measles on a state visit to England. The work was edited by Maria Graham, later Lady Callcott. The folding map shows the route of the H.M.S. Blonde. The plates depict native Sandwich islanders and views on the islands. "Much interesting information is given on Hawaii and its natural history and inhabitants, but the work spoke ill of the American missionaries" - Hill. |
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adorned American anchor anchorage ancient appeared arrival beautiful birds Blonde boat Boki brother brought Byron Bay Callao called canoes Captain Cook Captain King chiefs Chilian civilization cloth coast colour Cook's coral crater Dampier death deities dressed England English European fathoms feathers feet fire formed gods governor ground guns harbour Hawaii Honoruru honour huts inches Isles Kahumanu Kairua kanakas Karai Karaimoku Karakakoa Kiaukiauli kind King of England king's Kuanoa Lahaina land lava ledge length Liliah London Lord Byron Majesty's ship Maui miles missionaries morai morning Mouna Keah mountain Nahi nation native name night Oahu officers party Peli Peneleo port priest procure queen received reef regent remains Riho Riho rock Rono sailed Sandwich Islands seemed shore side soon spot by Rob Talcahuana Tamehameha tapa Teraiopu things tion trees Vancouver vessels volcano voyage whole wind wood young
Popular passages
Page 68 - The King, in the midst of this deep sorrow, manifests a firmness of mind which has penetrated every body around him with a feeling of respect. Though very anxious to express his grief in the manner of his country, and to show the marks of deference which are usually paid to the dead there, he submits, with good sense and patience, to every suggestion which our habits dictate.
Page 60 - Sandwich Islands, ." that, unaccustomed to our habits, they little regarded regular hours for meals, and that they liked to eat frequently, though not to excess. Their greatest luxury was oysters, of which they were particularly fond ; and one day, some of the chiefs having been out to walk, and seeing a grey mullet, instantly seized it and carried it home, to the great delight of the whole party ; who, on recognising the native fish of their own seas, could scarcely believe that it had not swum...
Page 202 - ... with this inscription ; In memory of CAPTAIN JAMES CoOK, RN, who discovered these islands in the year of our Lord 1778, This humble monument is erected by his fellow-countrymen, in the year of our Lord 1825.
Page 209 - ... two handsome canoes were building. They were each eighty feet long ; the lower part, as usual, of a single tree, hollowed out with great skill. The road was rough over the fragments of coral, but it wound agreeably through the grove, which improved in beauty as we advanced, and at length, to our surprise...
Page 235 - I ? is it a dream?" — but it was not until the next day that we heard the particulars of their sad story, As the night came on, it began to blow fresher and fresher, and ere morning the weather had, as we thought, been violent enough to have destroyed these poor creatures had they remained upon the vessel ; but as day advanced the wind again moderated, and the master of the vessel, being somewhat recovered, gave the following account of the wreck : — About the end of January, 1826, the ship Frances...
Page 60 - As they ate little or no butcher's meat, but lived chiefly on poultry, vegetables, and fruit, by no means the cheapest articles in London, their gluttony could not have been great. So far from their always preferring the strongest liquors, their favourite beverage was some cider, with which they had been presented by Mr Canning.
Page 208 - Two persons, who, by their dress and appearance, seemed to be of some importance, now stepped on board, and, to our great surprise, produced a written document from that branch of the London Missionary Society settled at Otaheite, qualifying them to act as teachers in the. island of Mauke. They were very fine looking men, dressed in cotton shirts, cloth jackets, and a sort of petticoat of very fine mat, instead of trowsers.
Page 147 - That a port-duty be laid on all foreign vessels. strictly comprehended in their professional undertaking, nor closely allied to their spiritual functions. " We believe," says one writer, " mistaken zeal to be the source of many of the errors we see ; but we fear also, that in some the love of power has mingled with zeal, and that the government of the country, through the medium of the consciences of the chiefs, is a very great, if not the principal object, of at least one of the mission...
Page 211 - It stands on rising ground, about four hundred "yards from the cottages. A fence, composed of the trunks of cocoa-nut trees, surrounds the area in which it stands. Its form is oval, and the roof is supported by four pillars, which bear up the ridge. It is capable of containing two hundred persons. Two doors and twelve windows give it light and air : the pulpit and reading-desk are neatly carved and painted with a variety of pretty designs, and the benches for the people are arranged neatly round....
Page 210 - We were exceedingly struck with the appearance of elegance and cleanliness of all aiound us, as well as with the modest and decorous behaviour of the people, especially the women ; all of which formed a strong contrast with the habits of the common people of the Sandwich Islands : but this is a small community, easily inspected by its teachers, and having, as yet, had no intercourse from without, to disturb the effects of their admonitions and example.