12 CRUISE OF THE 'CUBAfJOA.' 



completely won me at first sight by their apparent amia- 

 bihty : I say apparent, having had experience of the man- 

 ners of the half-castes of Hawaii, who are perpetually smihng 

 and making the most gracious advances, but who, at bottom, 

 are notliing more than actors skilled in inspiring kind feel- 

 ings which tliey do not reciprocate. But I will say at once, 

 and sincerely too, that nothing authorizes me to throw 

 doubts upon the sincerity of these islanders. 



Oil June 10, 11, and 12 we remained on shore, contrary 

 to our expectation and our intention, but by no means to 

 our regret. Foul weather had compelled the ' Cura^oa ' to 

 put out to sea the night of our landing, and she did not return 

 to her anchorage till the morning of the 12th, which gave 

 us an opportunity of testing the hospitality of the inhabit- 

 ants ; and, we one and all acknowledged, they neglected 

 nothing that could speed on the time agreeably, which the 

 capricious elements had ordained we should pass among 

 them. They placed themselves entirely at our disposal ; 

 housed us as best they could; made us a hearty offer of 

 what they possessed ; and even went so far as to beg us to 

 take any peculiar specimens of their workmanship Avhich 

 their houses contained. As they neither make nor import 

 spirituous liquors of any sort, it was impossible to attribute 

 their extremely kind treatment to any passing and factitious 

 excitement ; and the warmth of their manner proved very 

 clearly to us that their offers proceeded from no formal 

 and routine politeness, such as is to be found among more 

 than one people of Europe. 



