292 FROM CALIFORNIA TO 



the eclipse of the sun. As long as the wind con- 

 tinued S. W., we remarked every evening much 

 liglitning in the south. 



The society of Mr. EUiot de Castro, who possess- 

 ed much natural understanding, was very agree- 

 able to us. Impelled by a desire to become suddenly 

 rich, he had tried his fortune in all parts of the 

 world J but as soon as he had acquired a little 

 fortune, he lost it again by ill-judged speculations, 

 and was even once imprisoned inBuenos-Ayres, and 

 afterwards in California. I was very much pleased 

 on hearing that Mr. Elliot had, two years before, 

 resided some time in the Sandwich Islands, as 

 physician and chief favourite of the king, Tamaah- 

 maah. The king had made him a present of much 

 land, (which he still considered as his property,) 

 and he succeeded very well ; but still striving at 

 wealth, the hope of gain induced him to go to 

 Sitka, to M. Baranofl^ where he expected to grow 

 suddenly rich ; and in consequence of which, he 

 got acquainted with the prison of California, as 

 my readers already know. Mr. Elliot possesses a 

 real knowledge of medicine, and was for several 

 years surgeon to the hospital at Rio Janeiro. His 

 acquaintance with King Tamaahmaah was after- 

 wards of great service to us. 



November the 21st. At one o'clock in the 

 afternoon, we w^ere distant only fitly miles from 

 Owhyee, and were in sight of the mountain, 

 Mouna lloa. By Elliott advice, I determined 



