CHAPTER XX. 



CONCLUSION OF LIEUT. GAMBLe's ADVENTURES. 



Having received a box of tea from a Spanish gentleman 

 who had resided on the Island upwards of twenty years, to- 

 gether with several goats, swine, and vegetables, from dif- 

 ferent persons near the Bay, lieut. Gamble weighed anchor 

 on the 1 1th of June, and left fVaohoo, one of the richest of 

 the Sandwich Islands. Maha, and about forty of his people, 

 took passage in the ship, with five tons of paie, a food ex- 

 tracted from the taro root, and a quantity of dried fish, 

 which they were taking to Tamaahmaah, the king. They 

 had been prevented, for some time, by the roughness of the 

 sea, from carrying this tribute in their canoes; and there- 

 fore very eagerly embraced the opportunity which the Sir 

 Andrew Hajnmond afforded. 



But the hour of misfortune again approached. At day- 

 light on the 13th, a strange sail was discovered, close in 

 with Owi/hee, and directly ahead. Being now too near to 

 effect a retreat, and having every reason to suppose her to 

 be the American ship Albatross, daily expected at TVaohoo, 

 lieut. Gamble concluded to stand towards her. On nearing 

 her, he was impressed with an idea that she might perhaps 

 be the Seringapatam ; and therefore, to make her recap- 

 ture certain, he ordered the guns to be cast loose, and as 

 many of them to be loaded as the powder and ball on board 

 would permit. At half past 7, the stranger showed a sig- 

 nal at the foremast head, but being destitute of spy-glasses 

 and trumpets, lieut. Gamble was unable to distinguish it, 

 or to ascertain, by hailing, what it meant. He was still, 

 however, under the impression, that she was either an 

 American ship from Canton, or one of the Northwestern 

 traders ; having understood, from some person on board, 

 that these vessels had established for themselves a set of 

 signals, and were in the habit of displaying them on meet- 

 ing with a ship. His doubts were soon cleared up. At 8 

 it fell perfectly calm, and the stranger, having hoisted 

 American colours, lieut. Gamble was now convinced, that 



