THE SANDWICH ISLANDS. 305 



took him under his protection, and sent him to the 

 Sandwich Islands ; with what intention is not 

 known. How he conducted himself there, the 

 reader has been informed. 



I assured Tamaahmaah that the bad conduct of 

 the Russians here must not be ascribed to the will of 

 our emperor, who never commanded his subjects to 

 do an unjust act; but that the extent of his empire 

 prevented him from being immediately informed 

 of bad actions, which, however, never remained 

 unpunished, when they came to his knowledge. 

 The king seemed very much pleased on my assuring 

 him, that our emperor never intended to conquer 

 his islands; the glasses were immediately filled, to 

 drink the health of the emperor; he was even more 

 cordial than before, and we could not have desired 

 a more agreeable and obliging host. He conversed 

 with a vivacity surprising at his age, asked us vari- 

 ous, questions respecting Russia, and made observ- 

 ations. Cook was not always able to translate the 

 w^ords that the king used, which were peculiar 

 to the Owhyee language, and so witty, that his 

 ministers often laughed aloud. One of Tamaah- 

 maah*s wives passed by our house, and in a friendly 

 manner, wished me a good morning through the 

 door, but she was not allowed to enter, it being the 

 king's eating-house. With the king's permission, 

 we took a walk, accompanied by Cook, and a guard 

 of honour of five naked soldiers. We visited the 

 favourite queen Kahumanna, mentioned by Van- 



VOL. I. X 



