SANDWICH ISLANDS. 191 



December 9th. At 3.30 P. M., we reached the harbor of 

 Waiakea, or Byron's Bay, and anchored in three and a half 

 fathoms of water. The entrance into this bay is so easy that 

 a pilot is altogether unnecessary, for you have only to keep 

 the western shore aboard until the reef, which makes off the 

 mouth of the bay, is passed, and then haul up for Cocoa-nut 

 Island, off which is the best holding-ground. 



We had no sooner let-go the anchor, than the king's agent 

 came on board to welcome us to the island, and to make Cap- 

 tain Wilkes a present of some mullet, which had just been 

 caught in the king's fish-pond.* He was neatly and respect- 

 ably dressed in the European style, and from having been 

 brought up in Mr. Bingham's family spoke our language per- 

 fectly well. 



* The Hawaiians take great pains to have fine fish. They take them from the sea 

 when very small, and put them into ponds of salt water, where they remain several 

 months ; thence they are carried into brackish water, and finally are introduced into 

 ponds of fresh water, where they are carefully attended. 



