porter's journal. 



miles from the land. I must here apprize my readers, that 

 the swine and vegetables purchased by lieut. Gamble at 

 Waohoo, previous to his capture, were paid for in new iron 

 hoops ; and that as these hoops were weighed out to Ta- 

 maahmaaWs agent, on that island, he requested lieut. Gam- 

 ble to take them with him to Tamaahmaah, as the swine and 

 vegetables all belonged to him. Accordingly, when the 

 ships arrived at Mowee, which was in the vicinity of Ta- 

 maahmaah? s residence, lieut. Gamble explained these facts 

 to Captain Tucker, and was very desirous of having the 

 hoops immediately landed. But Captain Tucker refused 

 his assent to so just a proposition, averring that everything 

 in the Sir Andrew Hammond must go home, as prize of 

 war ; and it followed of course, that not only was Ta- 

 maahmaah wrongfully deprived of these iron hoops, but the 

 poor natives who had taken passage in her, were deprived 

 of their five tons of paie and dried fish. What were the 

 motives of Captain Tucker for this conduct, it is hard to 

 determine. Perhaps, however, he was desirous of injuring 

 the credit of the Americans with the natives of the Sand- 

 wich Islands. If this was his object, he might have spared 

 himself the trouble. Tamaahmaah knows too well who are 

 his real friends, and who are not, to be the dupe of such an 

 artifice. 



The ships now made the best of their way for the island 

 o( Atooi, a fellow by the name of Betty (who had resided at 

 the Islands 16 years, and collected considerable property 

 by supplying American ships,) having informed Captain 

 Tucker, that the American ship Charon, Whittemore, was 

 then at that Island. At daylight on the 1 8th, in sight of 

 the Island, a sail was discovered on the weather beam, and 

 and at 9 o'clock, the Cherub came up with, and captured 

 her. She proved to be the Charon, but without a cargo, 

 and her captain just then happened, luckily, to be on 

 shore. Her crew were immediately removed to the 

 Cherub, and a prize-master and men sent on board. Early 

 on the 19th, another sail was discovered, with her fore and 

 mizzen-top-gallant-masts struck, and the Cherub immedi- 

 ately gave chase. At 9, she displayed Portuguese colours, 

 and the Cherub, having hoisted the American ensign and 

 pendant, fired a shot and brought her to. A boat was then 

 despatched for her commander, and having returned with 



