396 HONOLULU. 



only time at which the harbour can be entered, for the wind is then 

 light and well to the eastward. 



On the 25th, early in the morning, we got under way, in charge 

 of the pilot, and stood into the harbour, the wind just enabling the 

 fore-and-aft sails of the ship to draw full. Hawsers were prepared as 

 guest-warps, with two or three hundi'ed natives on the reefs to man 

 them. The ship was given a strong headway by coming up with the 

 outer buoy under all sail, when every thing was clewed up, and the 

 ship luffed up to pass on, until the hawsers were reached, which, 

 being taken on board and made fast, the natives marched off with. 

 At this time it might almost have been thought that Bedlam had 

 broken loose. The whole shore, harbour, fort, boats, vessels, and 

 housetops, were covered with a mass of human beings, and a con- 

 tinual shouting kept up ; for on the arrival of a man-of-war, all 

 Honolulu is abroad, and at the water-side, or on the housetops. It is 

 not novelty alone that creates this excitement, for they have many 

 times witnessed the advent of a man-of-war ; but they look upon it as 

 a kind of silver shower that is to fall upon them, and joy and gladness, 

 with a kindly welcome, were depicted upon every countenance. 



During the day, the foreign consuls, residents, and missionaries, 

 called on board, and gave us a hearty welcome to the island, offering 

 all the assistance that might lie in their power. This kind reception, 

 received from all, both foreigners and natives, gave us much pleasure, 

 and tended to make us at once feel at home. Our arrival had been 

 anxiously expected for at least six months. It was to us most agree- 

 able to see and meet so many of our countrymen, and feel ourselves 

 so immediately identified and connected with the place and its inha- 

 bitants. I must, however, leave Oahu, and its chief town Honolulu, 

 and return to the other vessels of the squadron. 



On the 30th of September, the Peacock reached Oahu, all well. 

 On parting company with the Vincennes, Captain Hudson passed 

 over the position assigned to a reef, by Captain Swain, in longitude 

 176° 56' W., latitude 9° 55' S., without seeing any thing of it, and 

 continuing to the northward, crossed the line on the 27th of August. 

 The winds, until the latitude of 3° S., were from the east, after 

 which they became more variable, between northeast and southeast, 

 accompanied with light squalls of rain and frequent lightning. The 

 weather on the 25th being favourable, they tried the current every 

 hour, and also the depth at which the white object could be seen. 

 A table of these experiments is given in Appendix I. It was clear 



