412 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, protege Kryraakoo, in 1817, became sovereign of all the Sandwich 
XV 
^ “ group. 
Vancouver was very instrumental in establishing the power of this 
' chief on a firm basis, by noticing Tamehameha in a manner which could 
not escape the observation of the other chiefs, and by building him a 
decked vessel, which gave him a decided superiority of force, and 
enabled him to keep them in subjection. In return for these important 
benefits, the grateful chief in presence of Vancouver and the Eries ot 
the group made a formal cession of the islands to the king of Great 
Britain, and the natives have ever since considered themselves under 
the immediate protection of this country. 
In the early stage of our intercourse with these islands, several 
acts, such as the death of Cook, the murder of Lieutenant Hergerst, 
and the treacherous seizure of an American vessel, rendered merchant 
vessels cautious of communicating with savages of apparently so fero- 
cious a character ; but when it was known that the perpetrators of these 
murders were punished by Tamehameha, and when his real character 
was made public by the voyages of Vancouver and other navigators, 
every vessel employed in the Pacific w as desirous of visiting his domi- 
nions. In course of time a regular market was established for the sale 
of the productions of the islands ; the natives were instructed to accept 
Spanish dollars and European clothing in exchange for their goods; 
and several foreigners, by the king’s persuasion, w'ere induced to settle 
upon the islands. The native chiefs, in imitation of their sovereign, 
began to dress in the European style. A fort was built for the pro- 
tection of the principal town, and a number of the natives were instructed 
in the use of fire-arms. The harbour of Honoruru soon became crowded 
with ships of all nations, and latterly the place has assumed the ap- 
pearance of an European colony. 
The discovery of sandal wood in the mountains opened a profitable 
channel of commerce ; and several adventurers, chiefly from the United 
States, remained to collect it from the natives. They found a ready 
market for it in China ; the goods of that country w^ere brought in return 
to the Sandwfleh Islands, and thus M^as laid the foundation of a trade, 
which still continues. Tamehameha having purchased several vessels 
