190 VANCOUVER'S VISIT. 



fortunate star of these islands. Among the in- 

 numerable benefits he conferred upon them, they 

 are indebted to him for the possession of sheep 

 and cattle. Tameamea declared these animals 

 under a Tabu for ten years, which allowed 

 time for so large an increase, that they now 

 run wild in the forests. Had Vancouver en- 

 joyed Cook''s advantages, the islanders might 

 still have believed him their Rono. 



Tameamea, during Vancouver''s visit, swayed 

 the sceptre only over the islands of O Wahi and 

 Muwe, and was engaged in wars with his neigh- 

 bour kings, whom he fought with the assist- 

 ance of cannon purchased from European ships. 

 He commanded in every battle, both by sea and 

 land ; and Karemaku, as first in authority under 

 him, was his constant companion. The O Wa- 

 hians, however, could not have well understood 

 the use of their cannons and other fire-arms, as, 

 after Vancouver's departure, the war was main- 

 tained for ten years. O Tuai, the most north- 

 westerly island, even then held out, though the 

 others had submitted. In the year 1817, Ta- 

 meamea conquered this also, after many unsuc- 



