1827. 



PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 91 



In the early stage of our intercourse with these chap. 

 islands^ several acts, such as the death of Cook, the . ^"' 

 murder of Lieutenant Hergerst, and the treacherous jan. 

 seizure of an American vessel, rendered merchant 

 vessels cautious of communicating with savasjes of 

 apparently so ferocious a character ; but when it was 

 known that the perpetrators of these murders were 

 punished by Tamehameha, and when his real character 

 was made public by the voyages of Vancouver and 

 other navigators, every vessel employed in the Pacific 

 was desirous of visiting his dominions. In course of 

 time a reeular market was established for the sale of 

 the productions of the islands ; the natives were in- 

 structed to accept Spanish dollars and European 

 clothing in exchange for their goods ; and several 

 foreigners, by the king's persuasion, were induced to 

 settle upon the islands. The native chiefs, in imita- 

 tion of their sovereign, began to dress in the European 

 style. A fort was built for the protection of the prin- 

 cipal town, and a number of the natives were instructed 

 in the use of fire-arms. The harbour of Honoruru 

 soon became crowded v^ith ships of all nations, and 

 latterly the place has assumed the appearance of an 

 European colony. 



The discovery of sandal wood in the mountains 

 opened a profitable channel of commerce ; and several 

 adventurers, chiefly from the United States remained 

 to collect it from the natives. They found a ready 

 market for it in China ; the goods of that country 

 were brought in return to the Sandwich islands, and 

 thus was laid the foundation of a trade which still 

 continues. Tamehameha having purchased several 

 vessels with this precious wood, attempted to conduct 

 this trade with his own resources, and sent a schooner 



