SANDWICH ISLANDS. 180 



should be tempted to look upon this day as one of the happiest 

 I have enjoyed during my earthly pilgrimage. 



On the 2d of December the "Peacock" and "Flying 

 Fish 5 ' sailed for King's Mill Group, thence to Columbia River. 



December 4th. At 1.40 P. M. we took our departure for 

 Hawaii — P. A. Brinsmade, Esq., and Dr. Judd, physician to 

 the mission, taking passage with us. 



During our stay at Oahoo, much was accomplished in the 

 way of science. The artists of the expedition also were con- 

 tinually employed, and took many views of scenery, and por- 

 traits of the chiefs and common people. The harbor of Pearl 

 River, was, for the first time, accurately surveyed, and found 

 to be commodious and convenient for shipping, with twenty- 

 three feet of water over the bar, off its entrance. The road- 

 stead and harbor of Hanolulu were also thoroughly sounded 

 out. The Salt Lake of Ewa* which heretofore was supposed 

 to be connected with the sea, and to be influenced by the tides, 

 was examined, and the salt was found to be a mineral produc- 

 tion ; salt was found nearly two hundred feet above the sur- 

 face of the lake. This examination also settled the question 

 with regard to its depth. Instead of being fathomless, its 

 depth was no where found to be more than two feet. 



Meteorological and magnetical observations were daily 

 taken, both on board the ship and at the observatory, in short, 

 nothing was neglected that could add to the natural history of 

 the island. 



December 5th. At an early hour this morning we came 

 in sight of the mountains of Hawaii. Their immense 



* This is a small circular lake situated about seven miles to the west of Honolulu, 

 so impregnated with salt, that between five and six hundred barrels of fine hard chrys- 

 talized salt are taken out annually. It belongs to the king, and is a source of consid- 

 erable revenue — large quantities of the article being sold to the Hudson's Bay Company, 

 ani used for curinjr salmon and hides. 



