1832.] 
SANDWICH ISLANDS. 
399 
CHAPTER XXII. 
The Sandwich Islands, their number and location — The Island of Oahu — Indolence 
of the natives — Presentment at Court — Town of Honoruru, markets, houses, fur- 
niture, food, &c. of the natives — Hospitable reception and entertainment— A 
Luau, or barbecue — Arrival of the young king — Dinner on board the frigate — 
Honours paid him — His attention to the Americans — Indian war-dance — A royal 
banquet — Battle-ground of Tamehameha — A supper at the palace — Dramatic per- 
formances — The commodore's official interview with the king — Taking leave- 
Sailing of the frigate— Reflections on her visit — Missionaries and foreign residents. 
That celebrated group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, which 
Cooke named in honour of his patron, the Earl of Sandwich, 
comprises ten in number, which are situated just south of the 
tropic of Cancer, in longitude from 154° 50' to 160° 24' east. 
These islands are about five thousand miles east of^Canton, in 
China ; and about two thousand eight hundred miles west of the 
American coast. 
The four principal islands of the group are called Hawaii, Mowee, 
Oahu, and Tauai ; which were once governed by separate and in- 
dependent kings ; but the whole are now under one monarch, a 
young prince called Kauikeaouli, who is grandson of the cele- 
brated Tamehameha, whose wisdom and prowess first subdued 
and united them under one government. 'The young king is not 
yet of age ; but acts under the advice and direction of his aunt, 
the queen regent, daughter of the great conqueror just mentioned. 
An amicable visit to this court (which is located at the Island of 
Oahu) for the purpose of improving our commercial relations, was 
comprised in the instructions of our government to Commodore 
Downes, when he sailed in the frigate Potomac, on her present 
voyage around the world. 
The first sight of the Island of Oahu, which she made on the 
morning of the twenty-third of July, was far from interesting. 
In the evening previous. Diamond Hill was seen at the north- 
eastern extremity of the roads, in which it was intended to anchor. 
At sundown, the wind hauled, and compelled the frigate to stand 
