THE MARCH OF LUXURY. 221 



From the partiality of the Sandwich Islanders 

 for a sea-life, and from their geographical situa 

 tion, it is probable that, in time, they will be 

 come powerful at sea. Tameamea left to his 

 successor above a dozen good ships, all manned 

 with natives. They obtain excellent nautical 

 educations on board the United States vessels 

 trading between America and Canton ; and the 

 Americans, who are equal to the English as sea 

 men, bear witness to the abilities of the islanders. 



Luxury has made great advances in Wahu. 

 Even among the lowest class of the people, some 

 article of European clothing is universal. The 

 females especially set their hearts upon the 

 most fashionable mode of dress : whatever the 

 Queen wears is their model, which they imitate 

 to the utmost of their power. The men are 

 importuned to gratify this feminine vanity ; and 

 if their means will not enable them to do so 

 fairly, they will often have recourse to fraud. 

 The love of foreign wares, and especially of 

 such as serve for dress and ornament, is by far 

 the most fertile source of crime. The shop 

 keepers are emulous to make their assortment 

 of goods as attractive as possible, and some- 



