480 



ANNUA L REGISTER, IS16. 



be rewarded or punished for their 

 conduct in this world. There were 

 no missionaiies on the islands. 



" The use of rtr«, is now giving 

 way to that of ardent spirits ; 

 they are very fond of smoking 

 tobacco, winch grows in great 

 abundance. Many of the natives 

 Avho arc employed as carpenteis, 

 coopers, blucksmiths, and tailors, 

 do their work as skilfully as Eu- 

 ropeans ; and at the king's forge 

 none but natives were employed. 

 All dealings are conducted by 

 barter ; they know, however, tlie 

 value of dollars, and take them 

 in exchange ; but these are larely 

 brought out again into ciicnla- 

 tion : vessels are sup'plied witli 

 fresh provisions, live-stock, salt, 

 and other articles of out-fit, 

 giving, in return, fire-aims and 

 all other European articles. Sandal 

 wood, pearls, and mother of pearl, 

 the pioducc of these islands, are 

 frequently purchased for the China 

 niarket. It is probable that the 

 Russians will in future derive 

 from hence the principal supplies 

 for their settlements on the Fox 

 islands, and noith-west coast of 

 America, and even Kamschatka. 

 Whilst the author was with tlie 

 Russians, it seems it was in con- 

 templation to establish a settle- 

 ment at one of these islands, though 

 this project was afterwards aban- 

 doned ; and it is obvious that at 

 no very distant period, these 

 islands must become objects of 

 great importance to America. 

 Provisions, from the frequent 

 arrival of ships, are not cheap. 



" Tlrere is no regular armed 

 force, except about fifty men of 

 the guard, who constantly do duty 

 abouttheking's residence ; twenty 

 mounting guard each day, armed 



with muskets and bayonets : in 

 their exercises, rapidity is more 

 regarded tlian precision. All the 

 natives are trained to arms, and 

 are bound to attend the king's 

 person in his wars. Although he 

 is anxious to induce white people 

 to remain, no encouragement is 

 given to deserters j nor are those 

 who wish to depart detained. In 

 1809, says Campbell, the king 

 seemed about .50, stout and well 

 made ; the expression of his coun- 

 tenance agreeable; mild and affa- 

 ble in his manners, and appeared 

 to possess great warmth of feel- 

 ing; and though a conqueror, is 

 very popular amongst his subjects : 

 he has amassed by trade a con- 

 siderable store of goods, and trea- 

 sure in dollars. He encourages 

 his subjects to make voyages in 

 the sliips which touch at the 

 island : and many have been to 

 China, and even to the United 

 States, and has amongst the na- 

 ti\es many good sailors. His re- 

 sidence was built in the European 

 style. He had two wives, and 

 was about to take a third. 



We shall conclude our extracts 

 from this book, with the follow- 

 ing description of the author's 

 joui ney to take possession of his 

 farm. " We passed by foot paths 

 winding through an extensive 

 and fertile plain, the whole of 

 which is in the higliest state of 

 cultivation ; every stream was 

 carefully embanked to supply 

 water for the taro beds ; where 

 there was no water, the land was 

 under crops of yams and sweet 

 potatoes ; the loads and numerous 

 houses are shaded by cocoa-nut 

 trees, and the sides of the moun- 

 tains covered with words to a 

 great height; we halted two or 



three 



