298 FROM CALIFORNIA TO 



with his Majesty, and therefore requested him not 

 to leave Ti-utatua, where he hoped to arrive to- 

 morrow: the Naja also announced his arrival to 

 the king. During the night a fresh breeze carried 

 us near to Ti-utatua. The current set by day 

 towards the south, and at night towards the north, 

 parallel with the coast, which is a consequence of 

 the land and sea winds. 



November the 24th. At day-break we ap- 

 proached the bay ; several boats, sent by the king, 

 came to meet us, and I embraced this opportunity 

 of sending Elliot and our gentlemen on shore, to 

 acquaint the king with the object of our voyage. 

 As the island of Owhyee does not aiford a conve- 

 nient harbour, I had determined as soon as I had 

 settled with the king respecting the delivery of the 

 provisions, to sail to the island of Woahoo, where 

 Elliot assured me there was a very safe harbour, 

 not mentioned by any preceding navigator. 1 left 

 the Rurick, got under sail, and made short tacks 

 close in shore. We saw the American ship which 

 had been lying at Karakakooa, sailing to Ti-utatua, 

 where she cast anchor, though the bay is not secure, 

 being open, and the bottom consisting of corals. 

 At eight o'clock in the morning Elliot had happily 

 executed his commission advantageously for us, 

 and came on board with two of the most distin- 

 guished chiefs of the country, of whom one was 

 the queen's brother ; and these welcomed us in 

 the name of the king. They were two extremely 



