MAUI. 275 



their small vessels seldom pass from one to the other, without being 

 well filled with passengers. 



Among the visits I paid at Lahaina, was one to the regent Kekau- 

 luohi, who receives visiters during certain hours of the day. She lives 

 in a grass-hut near the water, and has several chiefs in attendance on 

 her : she appears to be a good-natured and contented person, and has 

 adopted some foreign customs in her way of living. She is not spoken 

 of as being equal to her sister, Kaahixmanu or Kinau. 



It has been mentioned, that on our passage from Hilo we had not 

 found the shoal said to exist off Kahoolawe. Receiving authentic 

 information that it really existed, I determined to send two boats, 

 under the command of Lieutenant Budd and Passed Midshipman 

 May, to seek for and examine it. The king, learning my intentions, 

 volunteered to send his yacht along with them. The yacht and boats 

 set out on this expedition, on the 17th of March, with a pilot who 

 knew the ground. 



On the same day we took leave of our kind friends, and at noon 

 got under way and stood for Kahoolawe, to pick up the boats under 

 Lieutenant Budd. Owing to the light wind, we did not succeed in 

 reaching the point till late, where we found the king's schooner and the 

 two boats, about to enter upon the examination. We, therefore, low- 

 ered all the boats and sent them to search for the shoal. It was soon 

 found, and proved to be much nearer the point of the island than was 

 anticipated. It lies a mile and a half oif the point, and has one and a 

 half fathoms of water on it. We fixed bearings, by noting which, it 

 may be avoided. Vessels may pass within two miles of the point 

 with safety ; but as it is difficult to estimate the distance, it will be 

 better to pass the point at three miles distance, as nothing is lost by 

 so doing. It is remarkable, that this is the only shoal around the 

 Hawaiian Islands that is hidden from the navigator ; and even this is 

 situated so near the land that it can scarcely be deemed dangerous. 



At nine o'clock, we took up the boats and bore away for Oahu. 

 Passing to the southward of Lanai, though at the distance of twenty 

 miles, we felt the effects of its highlands upon the winds. 



Lanai is a dome-shaped island, and appears to have been frequently 

 rent, large fissures being apparent on its sides. It is exclusively of 

 volcanic formation. 



The fish of these islands are numerous; and to Mr. Richards and 

 Dr. Baldwin, this department of the natural history of the Expedi- 

 tion is much indebted. Dr. Pickering remarks, that the natives 

 appear to be much better acquainted with the fish of their waters, 



-iik 



