THE AMERICAN WHALEMAN. 301 



which there were forty paddlers, although the craft seemed 

 made from a single log. As we were now under the lee of 

 the land, the winds became light and baffling. Opposite 

 Kirua we observed several double canoes fishing. They 

 were moved swiftly by a large number of naked Kanakas, 

 who timed the quick stroke of the paddles with a chant and 

 chorus. All we could see of their tackle was a swinging 

 pole, seemingly worked by guy-ropes. This arrangement 

 seemed to work with ease and certainty, for we saw them 

 swing numbers of large fish to the platform between the ca- 

 noes. Shortly after, a number of the natives came off in 

 their outrigger canoes, bringing bananas, bread-fruit, pine- 

 apples, nuts, cane, shells, etc., to trade for iron hoop, knives, 

 needles, hooks, and tobacco. We were somewhat immoder- 

 ate in our indulgence, as it had been months since we had 

 eaten of fruits or fresh vegetables, and the craving for them 

 was irresistible. 



At the set of the sun the shore natives were warned off, 

 and the cook made us a nice supper of fish and fresh vegeta^- 

 bles, the captain having procured onions and sweet-potatoes 

 for his half-sick crew. When the night settled on the deck, 

 Jack of Hawaii was inspired by his island home, and, sur- 

 rounded by the Kanakas of the watch, ho sang of the glories 

 of Kamehameha, the great war chief of Hawaii. The history 

 of this chief is known to most English readers, and it is not 

 for me to touch upon it; but the chanted traditions of the 

 common people are not so well known. I caught such scraps 

 of the chant, through the interpretations of WaheleheU, as 

 led me to regret that I could not understand the whole. 

 The bard sat on the bowsprit-bitts, surrounded by his com- 

 rades squatting on their heels, and accompanying the reci- 

 tative with a modulated " ha-ha-he-ha," and a curious wav- 

 ing of* the spread hands, at times bringing the palms to- 

 gether with a clap. Voice and motions were in absolute 



