VOYAGE TO THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS. 113 



mixed with fear among them. Tiicy were silent, sad, and weary; I read 

 in their looks nothing but disaster, and, I almost repented of my efforts, 

 Tlie signal was given, and the boat moved on a short distance, and then 

 stopped and became immovable. To the silence of the preceding mo- 

 ment now succeeded murmurs of discontent and agitation, and whispers, 

 and shrugs. I could hear distinctly repeated : '/ told you so — it is a 

 foolish schema. — I ivish ice were well out of it? I elevated myself on a 

 platform, and stated that I knew not what was the matter; but if they 

 would be quiet, and indulge me for half an hour, I would either go on, 

 or abandon the voyage. I went below and discovered that a slight mal- 

 adjustment was the cause. It was obviated — the boat went on; we left 

 New York — we passed through the highlands — we reached Albany! Yet 

 even then imagination superseded the force of fact. // ivas doubled if 

 it could he done again, or if it could be made, in any case, of any great 

 value.'''' Well may our countryman Willis, exclaim : " what an affect- 

 ing picture of the struggle of a great mind, and what a vivid lesson of 

 encouragement to genius is contained in this simple narration." His ex- 

 ample should teach us the value of industry, indefatigable patience and 

 perseverance — his difficulties lead us never to despair in any great en- 

 terprise, but even, if opposition should offer, to persevere until success 

 crowns our efforts. 



SKETCHES OP A VOYAGE, AND RESIDENCE IN THE SOUTH 

 SEA ISLANDS. NO. II. 



On the 2d day of Jan. 1835, we made several islands of the Sand- 

 wich group : tlawaii, Maui, Morokai and Morokinne ; and on the after- 

 noon of the 5th, came in sight of Oahu, our destination. The evening 

 being clear and free fiom haze, and the moon shining brightly, we were 

 enabled to run until we dropped our anchor off" Diamond Hill," a high 

 point of land, within sight, by day, of the town of Honorura. As I 

 leaned over the rail of our vessel, gazing at the shore on our quarter, 

 with its lofty peaks and lovely sleeping vales, clearly defined by the 

 light of the full-orbed moon, I thought 1 never had witnessed any thing 

 so perfectly enchanting. The warm breeze which came in gentle puffs 

 from the land, seemed to bear fragrance on its wings, and to discourse 

 of the rich and sunny climes from which it came. The whole scene 

 was to me like fairy-land. I thought of Capt. Cook, and fancied his 

 having been here, and gazing with delighted eyes upon the very pros- 

 pect before me, little dreaming, that after all he had endured, lie should 

 here be sacrificed by the very people to whom he hoped to prove a ben- 

 15 



