354 FROM CALIFORNIA TO 



confidence, and has been sent by him, with the brig 

 which was formerly kept at Owhyee, to Woahoo, 

 to prevent any insurrection occurring there. He 

 did not fear any thing in Owhyee, as he was born 

 there, and the gods themselves ordained him king ; 

 but the inhabitants of Woahoo seemed very dan- 

 gerous to him as conquered subjects. 



It was made known in Hana-rura that we intend- 

 ed to leave Woahoo to-morrow. We therefore had 

 to-day many visits from distinguished people, who 

 brought us presents, and wished us a happy voyage. 

 The women swimming, surrounded our ship the 

 whole day, and bid their friends a tender farewell. 

 Kareimoku sent to request me, through Mr. Beckly, 

 to salute the fort in sailing past, by which he would 

 in some measure consecrate it ; which I readily 

 promised to do. 



The 14th of December. At six o'clock this morn- 



had lost her mast and rudder. I was sent by the captain on 

 board, and found in the ship only three dying Japanese, the 

 captain and two sailors. I instantly had the unfortunate men 

 carried to our brig, where they were perfectly recovered, after 

 four months' careful attendance. We learnt from these people, 

 that they came from the port of Osaco (in Japan), bound to 

 another commercial town, but had been surprised immediately 

 on their departure by a storm, and had lost their mast and 

 rudder. They had been, up to this day, a sport of the waves for 

 seventeen months ; and of their crew of five and thirty men only 

 three had survived, who would have died of hunger." This note 

 is so far remarkable, as it proves that the currents in these seas, 

 i. e. north of the tropics, always keep their direction from west 

 to east. 



