196 SANDWICH ISLANDS. 



It is justice due to those men to state, that not one of them 

 waited to be ordered ; they came forward and volunteered 

 their services the moment they learned they were needed. 

 During the night the reflection from the Volcano Kilauea, 

 was uncommonly vivid, insomuch that we concluded some 

 new eruption had taken place. 



December 21st. In the afternoon we hauled the seine, and 

 in two hauls captured fish enough to supply every mess in the 

 ship for several days to come. Both hauls were made near 

 the beach, and the last one in the presence of a great number 

 of the Kanakas, and it was amusing to see the astonishment 

 which they expressed. 



They have seines of their own, but they are of such misera- 

 ble construction as to be of very little use. There are many 

 varieties of fish found in the bays of Hawaii ; but the mullet 

 is considered superior to all others in point of flavor. 



December 22d. More letters have been received from the 

 Mauna Loa party, and they all state, that the natives are 

 giving out hourly ; one cause of complaint is, that the loads 

 which they are required to carry, are too heavy, which, no 

 doubt, is too true ; we should think that fifty pounds was 

 altogether too much for any one man to carry, especially on 

 so long a journey, and one beset with so many natural difficul- 

 ties. It would have been better, we believe, to have had the 

 loads lighter, and employed more people. 



December 23d. To-day the Headman of Hilo, and family, 

 and the King's agent and his lady, dined in the ward-room. 

 The former is a large man with European features and of dig- 

 nified manners. He also bears the reputation of being a man 

 of great energy of character. The females were neatly dressed 

 after the European fashion, and, considering their oppor- 

 tunities, conducted ^ A emselves remarkably well. 



